Lakewood Area Choral Society Postpones 35th Season to 2021 On March 9 of this year, just prior to the governor’s stay-at-home order, Lakewood Area Choral Society (LACS) met for the first rehearsal of the season. Members were geeked! We had had a successful recruitment, adding 19 new members to the choir. A wonderful 35th Anniversary season was planned; however, the realities of Covid-19 and the impossibility of social-distancing for choirs and their audiences has resulted in a postponement of the 35th season to next year for the safety of all.

During the hiatus, members will meet using all the wonderful new ways for people to meet online. One thing that our audiences may not realize is that for several years LACS member, John Myers, has made mp3’s of every part of every song LACS sings, allowing members to practice, even if they cannot play the piano. This will help keep singers ready to go for 2021. Founder and artistic director Dr. Robert C. Oster also has plans to keep members engaged in working on our music.

In 2021, LACS will still have all the wonderful concerts we planned, including the 35th Anniversary Gala LACS Concert at the Hastings Performing Arts Center, where we will be joined by the Jackson Chorale. This concert will feature the World-Premiere of “His Masterpiece” by renowned American composer Jill Gallina. The work was commissioned by LACS to celebrate its 35th year. And celebrate LACS will!

In a letter to the membership, Oster said, “I’m encouraging myself, and you, to be positive and to stay the course, so that long after this crisis has passed, we can be proud of the long tradition of choral excellence we’ve provided and will continue to provide in the future.”