Community choral concert is slated for May 16 at high school auditorium

The Mariposa Community Chorus and Mariposa Children’s Choir will be conducting a spring concert this month.

The concert will be on Saturday, May 16, at 2 p.m. at the Mariposa County High School auditorium.

Cost for the event is $10 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under.

This is the 14th concert conducted by Gail Vanderslik, the director of both groups.

The concert will start off with a patriotic salute to America in honor of the country celebrating its 250 birthday. Audience members will be asked to sing along during this portion of the concert. The concert will open with the Star Spangled Banner.

The concert will open with The Wizard of Oz themes, including the last in that genre, Wicked. Both groups will be singing this part of the concert.

Of course, Somewhere Over the Rainbow will be included.

Also to be included are songs from Oklahoma and Les Miserables.

There will be an intermission, during which Faith Verrinder, one of Vanderslik’s private students, will perform five solo piano pieces.

In the lobby during intermission, there will be a variety of homemade cookies for sale and a few drink choices. There will also be a raffle with four baskets containing a variety of items.

Proceeds from those go toward an annual scholarship given to a high school senior pursuing a music career. A scholarship will be presented at the concert.

The second half of the concert will feature a wide variety of music, ranging from Sister Act to Phantom of the Opera to How the West Was Won.

Theatre group

Vanderslik also said there will be a theatre group forming for children.

It will teach what it is like to perform in front of an audience and more. There will also be programs on working behind the scenes including lighting, sounds, backstage and more.

That group will meet twice a week in the evenings. It will be open to second through eighth grade youth.

Summer Music Camp

The annual Summer Music Camp will be held in July this year. If is offered to any youth in grades two through six.

It is for two weeks and is all day for the participants. Lunch is included.

Youth will learn how to play various instruments and on the last day of camp, there will be a concert for the parents and others.

“You will truly be amazed at what they have learned in just two weeks,” said Vanderslik.

Sponsors and donations are welcome and needed, as are adult volunteers.

For information about all of these events and activities, call Vanderslik at (661) 496-3701.