History
Photo: Bruce Harkness
Photo: Jim Karolyi
St. James's Church, Piccadilly, London, England
Vanguard Voices was formed in 1992, building upon the long
choral tradition of the Dearborn Choral Arts Society and the Oratorio Society
of Dearborn. Under the direction of G. Kevin Dewey, the group set as its goal
to seek out and perform the best in contemporary and traditional choral music
and to present the best performances possible.
During its formative years, the group evolved from an all-comers,
community-based group to an auditioned mixed choir of 65 members from throughout
the Metropolitan Detroit area.
Repertoire has included grand choral works from the Classical,
Romantic and Modern eras, as well as Gregorian chant, Renaissance motets,
international folk songs, opera choruses, contemporary works and jazz standards.
The group has performed a cappella, with orchestra or with its own
Vanguard Brass Ensemble.
Over the past several seasons, Vanguard Voices has enjoyed a productive collaboration
with the Dearborn
Symphony.
Vanguard Voices was honored to accept an invitation to compete
at the prestigious Llangollen
International Musical Eisteddfod in North Wales in 2001, where
it placed second in the Mixed Choirs category.
In recent seasons, Vanguard Voices has performed with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra under the baton of British conductor Sir Richard Hickox as well as with international opera stars Irina Mishura and Ara Berberian. With the recent opening of a new home performance venue in Dearborn, the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center, Vanguard Voices' horizons have expanded. The choir was paired with with legendary singer-songwriter Judy Collins for a memorable holiday concert in 2002 and with composer Marvin Hamlisch, winner of the Pulitzer Prize, and Oscar, Emmy, Tony, Golden Globe and Grammy awards, in a 2003 show.