Over the 13 year history of SSSBA, our mission has always included support of the Arts. During those years, this was accomplished through the individual efforts of the board members. This year we decided to formalize the process since the cultural arts contribute so much to the well-being and
Nancy Burrows, Albert M. Jackson, Melodee Leimnetzer
balance of a community. So, this year we are introducing a 4th category – that of Creative Arts Award.
The Creative Arts Award is an opportunity to recognize exceptional performance and the contributions made by a cultural arts organization for the enjoyment of the residents of the communities it serves. Nominations are evaluated according to the following criteria: Its ability to offer top-caliber talent to the community, the use of local talent representing the diversity of the communities it serves, demonstration of continued growth and success as an organization and its willingness to engage in collaborative efforts with other creative arts organizations.
The South Suburban Chorale was started by Al Kindig in the 1960’s. In 1998-1999 season, when the Chorale’s 5th and current director, Albert Jackson assumed leadership, there were 9 people at the first rehearsal. Since then, under Al’s extraordinary leadership, the Chorale has grown to 125 members. The Chorale met at south Suburban College for its weekly rehearsals until it outgrew the facilities and now rehearses off-site at St. John’s-Grace Lutheran Church in South Holland.
The 125 voice Chorale has established itself as one of the premiere singing ensembles of the Chicago Southland. Under the direction of Albert M. Jackson, the Chorale has performed in concerts throughout the Chicago South Suburbs and Northwest Indiana, presenting major works such as Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, Mozart’s Grand Mass in C minor, Mendelssohn’s Hymn of Praise, and most recently the Mozart Requiem with the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra. This summer’s European concert tour is the third international tour the Chorale will have undertaken in its 45-year history. About 110 people representing the Chorale along with members from other singing groups in the area will be collaborating to perform concerts and recitals in several of the major cathedrals in Austria and Prague. Each season, the Chorale performs 7-8 full concerts, and appears for the South Holland Martin Luther King Celebration, participates in the Il Philharmonic Holiday Concert and will be performing for the gala closing of the season for the IPO this coming May singing selections from Bernstein’s Mass and Candide.
The Chorale is an all volunteer, non-audition group consisting of members ranging in age from 17 to 70+, representing a variety of cultural, ethnic and religious affiliations, whose members live in Chicago, and all over the South Suburbs and Indiana. The members represent all walks of life from students to home-makers, nurses, teachers, doctors, dentists, pastors, social workers, human resource professionals, small business owners, accountants and retirees, to name a few – a very diverse group with a common interest – the love for music and singing.
The Chorale’s director, Al Jackson, has been an active musical force in the Chicago Southland & Northwest Indiana region for a number of years, after having lived and worked previously in the Los Angeles area. He has earned degrees in voice, German Literature, and sacred music, and has studied with such noted conductors as Margaret Hillis, Fiora Contino, and William Hall. As a Fulbright Scholar, he spent 2 years in Germany writing on the relationship of theology and music in the chorales of J.S. Bach.
Mr. Jackson has also sung professionally with the Chicago Symphony Chorus, Ravinia Festival Chorus and Grant Park Festival Chorus. Al Jackson has taught for the past 12 years at South Suburban College in South Holland, where he serves as Music Department Chair and Director of Choral Activities, as well as coordinator of the international studies program.