The Baldwin Wallace Men’s Chorus, founded in 2007, is a men’s chorale ensemble run out of the Baldwin Wallace Community School. The Men’s Chorus is open to men from the Northeast Ohio community, including students from BW, to participate in. Singing anything from classical male chorus repertoire to pop, show tunes, and spirituals, the Men’s Chorus has become a force to be reckoned with in the Greater Cleveland community.

This semester, the Men’s Chorus is comprised of 110 members from ages 17 to 87, making the choir very unique.

“Other choruses have tried to copy this model, but have been unsuccessful. We are the only collegiate group like this,” said Men’s Chorus director, Frank Bianchi.

The ensemble is considered one of the best collegiate male choruses in the country, according to Bianchi. Each year, the Men’s Chorus produces a sold-out holiday concert, and receives great reviews from the Northeast Ohio community. The group has performed all over the area, and has collaborated with many choral groups and artists.

On top of their success as an ensemble, the chorus brings infinite value to the Community Music School.

“As witnessed in rehearsal and through performance, there is great emphasis in building an ensemble culture of respect, comradery and a commitment to excellence,” said Adam Sheldon, director of the Community Music School. “Their positive educational impact has no boundaries.”

The chorus’s strength not only lies with their musical success, but in their ability to build an environment of respect and understanding. The chorus brings men from the surrounding area together for one night a week to put aside their differences and focus on the music, says Bianchi. This is something he is extremely proud of.

“My biggest goal is to turn out the highest quality product of male choral music. This ensemble is made up of many backgrounds, ages, and beliefs, but we can still come together for a common cause and make a difference in the world through music,” said Bianchi.

This spring, the group is taking their talents to the Greater Cleveland community to share their hard work. Their concert on March 18 at 4 p.m. will be at St. Ignatius Church in Lorain. The concert will feature the BW Women’s Chorus, spirituals, folk songs, and sacred music.

In addition to this, the Men’s Chorus will be producing a concert April 29 at 5 p.m. at Baldwin Wallace University in Gamble auditorium. The spring concert will focus on mental health awareness, with a theme of “people, their stories, and overall wellness.”

The first half of this concert will have more traditional music of the Men’s Chorus, with genres such as folk and spirituals. The second half will be music that focuses on mental health. There will also be six local organizations that advocate for mental health in the lobby.

These concerts will showcase the pure musical talent and impactful community values that the Men’s Chorus embodies, according to the Men’s Chorus Business and Marketing manager, Cameron Cabot.

“Come and hear over 100 voices join together in one song,” said Cabot. “Feel community, feel uplifted, entertained, and engaged through high quality choral music.”