Opera soprano Beverley Vanessa Hill and the Grover and Lula Mae Hill Memorial Choraliers performed in the First International Arts Festival and Peace Tour in February. In May, they’re coming to Milledgeville to stage the last concert of the 2005 Peace Tour series. Hill, the dramatic soprano for the Magic Circle Opera Repertory Ensemble in New York, is a Milledgeville native who never has forgotten her roots, and returns frequently to promote music, community and togetherness. Hill is in town now to promote the May 15 Choraliers’ concert, which is set for 3 p.m. at the new auditorium at Georgia Military College. The event will include singers from First United Methodist Church, Second Macedonia Baptist Church, Union Baptist City Church, Green Pasture Baptist Church, and GMC middle schoolers. The Choraliers, named in honor of Hill’s parents, are a concept that Hill uses to promote her ideas of enriching communities by bringing diverse groups of people together in song. Hill builds the Choraliers out of local talent found at each venue. Hill’s Peace Tour included four different performances in February, including concerts at the Church of Saint Catherine and Convent Avenue Baptist Church in Harlem. “Convent Avenue Baptist Church is a cornerstone church in Harlem, one where all the politicians go to get elected,” Hill said. “It’s very well known, and our concert there was televised.” For St. Patrick’s Day, Hill sang for New York governor George Pataki, and was interviewed on Irish radio as well. At each event Hill spoke about the Peace Tour – and about Milledgeville. “I was able to talk about the Choraliers, what our mission statement is, what we’re doing, and about our concert on May 15 in Milledgeville,” Hill said. “I’ve talked to politicians. I’ve talked to Sen. Edward Kennedy; I’ve talked to Congressman John Lewis in Atlanta. People are excited about this.” Wade Elkins is the director of music for First United Methodist Church and will be the director of the Choraliers in May. Each group of singers has been given the music and are already practicing, he said, and will get together shortly for a few rehearsals before the concert. “I think it’s a very honorable thing to teach our children how to work together,” Elkins said, “and you’re teaching them that through performing, through raising money and having a goal in sight, and coming together from different cultural and racial backgrounds. They learn to put those aside and just work together as people and create music, which is glorious.” Puerto Rican baritone Rafael LeBron will be the guest artist at the May concert, and he and Hill will perform a duet from Aida. The Choraliers will sing two songs, a gospel piece and an Israeli piece in Hebrew. The concert is more than a concert, however. It’s a fundraiser as well. Hill is looking for support for the Choraliers so they can perform in concert in 2007 at the Church of the Heavenly Rest, which is located on Museum Mile on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan. In 2008, she wants to take them to Europe. Established in 1995, the Choraliers have been privately funded, which usually meant that the money came from Hill. With the three Rs – respect, restraint and responsibility – emphasized among them, Hill sees the Choraliers not only as a chance for local singers to learn unity and a sense of belonging to mankind as a whole, but as a chance for local businesses to support praiseworthy ideals among local youth. “While the Choraliers have the responsibility of being responsible for their art.their future.for being entrepreneurs and raising money, they’ll also have the umbrella of knowing that their community supports them,” Hill explained. “They’ll be free and able to experience the world in a different way.”

For a box:

There are sponsorship opportunities with the Grover and Lula Mae Memorial Choraliers that range from $50 and up. Each level of sponsorship has special benefits. All donations are tax deductible. The May 15 concert is being supported by the Magic Circle Repertory Ensemble, Inc., a 501 c3 not-for-profit corporation. Checks should be made payable to the Magic Circle Opera for full tax advantages. Locally, checks may be sent to the Convention and Visitors Bureau (200 W. Hancock St., Milledgeville, GA 31061). Call the CVB at 478-452-4687 for more information.