The MIC Chorale Celebrates 40 years!
October 26th, 2026
Over the past four decades, members of the MIC Chorale have shared more than a love of singing. They have watched one another move through different stages of life and built connections that extend beyond rehearsals.
As the MIC Chorale celebrates 40 years, its members reflect on the experiences that have made the ensemble such a meaningful part of their lives, from finding their place in the group to keeping music alive during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The People Behind the Music
The MIC Chorale brings together adult singers to perform the best in sacred and secular choral music. Under the leadership of Conductor Danny Wallenberg, the MIC Chorale has developed a wide range of repertoire and has collaborated with a variety of local choirs, symphony orchestras, and musicians.
Some MIC Chorale members have been singing with the group for just a few years, some have stepped away and came back, and others have spent decades making music together, but a common thread runs through their stories: the sense of community.
For Margaret Macdonald, joining the MIC Chorale in 2015 began with an audition she thought had gone poorly. She expected conductor Danny Wallenberg to tell her to practice and try again the following year. Instead, he reassured her with a simple statement: “I'm telling you you're in.”
“I was so happy,” she recalls. “He is so discerning and the kindest soul.”
For Ginna Cowan, a member for 30 years, highlights a sense of fulfillment.
“The MIC Chorale has been a highlight of my life for thirty years,” Ginna says. “I feel so lucky to have been part of this choral community, where I am musically fulfilled and challenged at every rehearsal.”
For Andrea Katz, who has sung with the MIC Chorale for 34 years, the ensemble has been a constant through different stages of life.
“There are always people that I’ve counted on, that I share a love of choral singing with, and that there’s a ‘family’ that has been around through so many stages of life,” Andrea says. “The music and Danny’s talent for providing us with such a variety has been a constant no matter what else is going on.”
Carol Liner has been part of the MIC Chorale since its first year and is the only current member who has remained with the group since its beginnings.
“What I’ve particularly enjoyed is making wonderful friendships in the group and seeing some of my fellow singers get married, have children and watching those same children become adults,” Carol says.
Finding a Way to Sing Together During COVID
When the COVID-19 pandemic brought in-person rehearsals and performances to a halt, choirs everywhere faced challenges. Without the ability to gather in the same room, the MIC Chorale had to find new ways to continue making music.
During this time, Danny Wallenberg helped members learn the music by holding virtual sectionals, then asked them to record themselves singing along to accompaniment through headphones. A sound engineer mixed the individual recordings into virtual performances, which members watched and sang along with on mute from home.
For Dawn Frase, a member for 6 years, hearing the combined recordings for the first time was unforgettable.
“The MIC Chorale saved my sanity when they offered the opportunity for singers to join their virtual chorale via Zoom during COVID, because like many of us who love music, I longed to be making music,” she says. “I’ll never forget the first time I was able to listen to all the different parts which had been mixed together as we sang our own part while muted, because it was so wonderful to hear others singing with me and to hear the harmonies in my headset. It truly felt heavenly.”
The virtual performances included Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, presented on June 6, 2020, as well as Mozart’s Mass in C minor. The Chorale also presented a virtual concert titled How Can I Keep from Singing, featuring pianist Gregory Shifrin in Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy and bringing together singers and instrumentalists from six countries.
For Susan McCracken, a member for 7 years, the experience showed how determined Danny was to keep the ensemble performing challenging music when many choirs had stopped singing together.
“When the Covid hit the U.S. in 2020, I thought, ‘Well, this is the day the music died,’” Susan recalls. “And then...I heard about Danny Wallenberg and the MIC Chorale. He did not let Covid stop him and carefully orchestrated a safe way back to performing complicated and beautiful chorale music. Not only did the music never die, but the music choices included more and more pieces of different genres, various languages, multiple ages of singers, dancers and talented musicians. Singing with the MIC Chorale has truly been a community experience and in that sharing the music, we were able to bring joy and healing to others. I am so grateful to have been a part of it.”
A Shared Love of Music
Danny Wallenberg’s connection to music began in his early years. Growing up in Bogotá, Colombia, he didn’t have opportunities to sing in a choir or play in an ensemble as a child. Instead, he found ways to make music at home, asking his parents to sing rounds with him. His path eventually led him to study music and choral conducting, and he has spent nearly four decades helping MIC Chorale members experience the joy of making music together.
“Making music together is magical and people enjoy it at every stage of their lives. Many of our members have had musical lives years ago and stopped because of other obligations in life. They are now happy to return to making music,” he says.
Members of the MIC Chorale consistently share that the wide range of repertoire Danny selects has been key to their experience. “Danny Wallenberg is an outstanding leader and a true visionary. He puts his immense expertise as well as his heart and soul into every concert,” says Ginna. “He is not afraid to take risks and encourages us all to come along for the ride! I look forward to many more years of making music in our beautiful venue.
Read our interview with conductor Danny Wallenberg
Forty Years On, the Music Continues
For its members, it's amazing to see how sharing life’s milestones, building lasting friendships, and having a conductor who believes in them can carry an ensemble for 40 years.
At the heart of it all, though, is a shared love of making excellent music together. “I love that we get to share all kinds of music with each other,” says Victoria Delgado, a 7 year member. “I appreciate Danny, our director, for giving me the opportunity to perform with a group of dedicated musicians who care about performing to the best of their abilities.”
As they reflect on its 40 years, the MIC Chorale looks forward to continuing making more memories and more music.
See an upcoming MIC Chorale Concert!
Concerts are free and open to the public and take place on
Sundays at 3:00 PM
Nichols Concert Hall | 1490 Chicago Avenue, Evanston
"AMERICA!" - Sunday, November 22, 2026
"ACTUS TRAGICUS" - Sunday, March 14, 2027
"FRENCH CONNECTION" - Sunday, June 6, 2027
Hear more from MIC Chorale Members!
Over the past four decades, members of the MIC Chorale have shared more than a love of singing. They have watched one another move through different stages of life and built connections that extend beyond rehearsals.
As the MIC Chorale celebrates 40 years, its members reflect on the experiences that have made the ensemble such a meaningful part of their lives, from finding their place in the group to keeping music alive during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The People Behind the Music
The MIC Chorale brings together adult singers to perform the best in sacred and secular choral music. Under the leadership of Conductor Danny Wallenberg, the MIC Chorale has developed a wide range of repertoire and has collaborated with a variety of local choirs, symphony orchestras, and musicians.
Some MIC Chorale members have been singing with the group for just a few years, some have stepped away and came back, and others have spent decades making music together, but a common thread runs through their stories: the sense of community.
For Margaret Macdonald, joining the MIC Chorale in 2015 began with an audition she thought had gone poorly. She expected conductor Danny Wallenberg to tell her to practice and try again the following year. Instead, he reassured her with a simple statement: “I'm telling you you're in.”
“I was so happy,” she recalls. “He is so discerning and the kindest soul.”
For Ginna Cowan, a member for 30 years, highlights a sense of fulfillment.
“The MIC Chorale has been a highlight of my life for thirty years,” Ginna says. “I feel so lucky to have been part of this choral community, where I am musically fulfilled and challenged at every rehearsal.”
For Andrea Katz, who has sung with the MIC Chorale for 34 years, the ensemble has been a constant through different stages of life.
“There are always people that I’ve counted on, that I share a love of choral singing with, and that there’s a ‘family’ that has been around through so many stages of life,” Andrea says. “The music and Danny’s talent for providing us with such a variety has been a constant no matter what else is going on.”
Carol Liner has been part of the MIC Chorale since its first year and is the only current member who has remained with the group since its beginnings.
“What I’ve particularly enjoyed is making wonderful friendships in the group and seeing some of my fellow singers get married, have children and watching those same children become adults,” Carol says.
Finding a Way to Sing Together During COVID
When the COVID-19 pandemic brought in-person rehearsals and performances to a halt, choirs everywhere faced challenges. Without the ability to gather in the same room, the MIC Chorale had to find new ways to continue making music.
During this time, Danny Wallenberg helped members learn the music by holding virtual sectionals, then asked them to record themselves singing along to accompaniment through headphones. A sound engineer mixed the individual recordings into virtual performances, which members watched and sang along with on mute from home.
For Dawn Frase, a member for 6 years, hearing the combined recordings for the first time was unforgettable.
“The MIC Chorale saved my sanity when they offered the opportunity for singers to join their virtual chorale via Zoom during COVID, because like many of us who love music, I longed to be making music,” she says. “I’ll never forget the first time I was able to listen to all the different parts which had been mixed together as we sang our own part while muted, because it was so wonderful to hear others singing with me and to hear the harmonies in my headset. It truly felt heavenly.”
The virtual performances included Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana, presented on June 6, 2020, as well as Mozart’s Mass in C minor. The Chorale also presented a virtual concert titled How Can I Keep from Singing, featuring pianist Gregory Shifrin in Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy and bringing together singers and instrumentalists from six countries.
For Susan McCracken, a member for 7 years, the experience showed how determined Danny was to keep the ensemble performing challenging music when many choirs had stopped singing together.
“When the Covid hit the U.S. in 2020, I thought, ‘Well, this is the day the music died,’” Susan recalls. “And then...I heard about Danny Wallenberg and the MIC Chorale. He did not let Covid stop him and carefully orchestrated a safe way back to performing complicated and beautiful chorale music. Not only did the music never die, but the music choices included more and more pieces of different genres, various languages, multiple ages of singers, dancers and talented musicians. Singing with the MIC Chorale has truly been a community experience and in that sharing the music, we were able to bring joy and healing to others. I am so grateful to have been a part of it.”
A Shared Love of Music
Danny Wallenberg’s connection to music began in his early years. Growing up in Bogotá, Colombia, he didn’t have opportunities to sing in a choir or play in an ensemble as a child. Instead, he found ways to make music at home, asking his parents to sing rounds with him. His path eventually led him to study music and choral conducting, and he has spent nearly four decades helping MIC Chorale members experience the joy of making music together.
“Making music together is magical and people enjoy it at every stage of their lives. Many of our members have had musical lives years ago and stopped because of other obligations in life. They are now happy to return to making music,” he says.
Members of the MIC Chorale consistently share that the wide range of repertoire Danny selects has been key to their experience. “Danny Wallenberg is an outstanding leader and a true visionary. He puts his immense expertise as well as his heart and soul into every concert,” says Ginna. “He is not afraid to take risks and encourages us all to come along for the ride! I look forward to many more years of making music in our beautiful venue.
Read our interview with conductor Danny Wallenberg
Forty Years On, the Music Continues
For its members, it's amazing to see how sharing life’s milestones, building lasting friendships, and having a conductor who believes in them can carry an ensemble for 40 years.
At the heart of it all, though, is a shared love of making excellent music together. “I love that we get to share all kinds of music with each other,” says Victoria Delgado, a 7 year member. “I appreciate Danny, our director, for giving me the opportunity to perform with a group of dedicated musicians who care about performing to the best of their abilities.”
As they reflect on its 40 years, the MIC Chorale looks forward to continuing making more memories and more music.
See an upcoming MIC Chorale Concert!
Concerts are free and open to the public and take place on
Sundays at 3:00 PM
Nichols Concert Hall | 1490 Chicago Avenue, Evanston
"AMERICA!" - Sunday, November 22, 2026
"ACTUS TRAGICUS" - Sunday, March 14, 2027
"FRENCH CONNECTION" - Sunday, June 6, 2027
Hear more from MIC Chorale Members!
