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Our Year in Brief
A typical season for the Men of Music consists of a fall season centered on a free Christmas Concert for the community. Free-will offerings have raised well over $100,000 for charities over the years. The group also performs for local nursing and retirement homes and other venues during the Christmas season.
The spring season focuses on a show built around a theme. This show is the primary revenue source for the group. During the year there are numerous other performances of the full chorus and a smaller subset of the Men of Music, the Dirty Dozen. These have included performances of the National Anthem for Great Lakes Loons baseball games, Saginaw Spirit hockey games, tennis tournaments and groups holding meetings in the Mid-Michigan area.
Men of Music, 2022
Grace Marra, Director
Grace Marra grew up in New York State and earned a bachelor's of music degree from State University of New York at Fredonia and a master's degree in vocal performance from Colorado State University. In 1985, Grace moved to Midland. She became the director of the Chancel Choir at First United Methodist Church in 1988.
She has served as conductor for the Music Society Chorale, and has been a volunteer conductor for Teenage Musicals Inc. An active performer, Grace has soloed with many civic organizations and has directed the Men of Music since January 1995. Grace has played hand bells at her church, and has also composed works for the Men of Music as well as her church choir. She maintains an active voice studio and many of her students have gone on to further study at the university level. In 1999 she was given the Kendall-Pelton Musician of the Year award.
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Joan Kinnett, Accompanist
Joan earned her music education degree from The King's College in Briarcliff Manor, NY. During her college years she accompanied various vocal groups and church choirs. After graduation, she taught for about 7 years, then became music director and organist for churches in Connecticut, New Jersey, and Chicago before moving to the Mid-Michigan/Tri-Cities area in 1999, and taught piano part-time for several years.
Currently Joan is involved with several high schools, accompanying their choirs and musicals, and has accompanied many instrumentalists for solo and ensemble performances. Most recently (in the Fall Season of 2022) she was selected to be our accompanist for the Men of Music. Joan is also on staff at Saginaw Valley State University, accompanying vocal students.
Grace Marra, Director
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Background
The Men of Music (MoM) chorus consists of men from the Mid-Michigan area who like to sing. It was founded in 1936 as the Dow Male Chorus with membership from the men of the Dow Chemical Company. In 1961, Dow discontinued its Music Department and the chorus became the Men of Music and along with the rest of the Dow Music Department formed The Music Society under director Ted Vosburgh. Since then, several women directors have continued to lead the chorus.
Dow Male Chorus, 1936
1936 --------- 2023
87 Years of Music
Joan Kinnett, Accompanist
Director & Accompanist
