Heartland Pops Orchestra & Chorus to perform April 6

Mary Bauer is used to singing her favorite songs from Disney movies in pageants and talent contests she sometimes competes in. "Part of Your World" from "The Little Mermaid" and "Rockin' Robin" were her staples. The sixth-grade student at St. Mary Cathedral School in Cape Girardeau didn't know a thing about Cosette or "Les Miserables" until a few weeks ago.

As the abused waif who will be adopted by "Les Miz" hero Jean Valjean, she will sing the heartbreaking "Castle on a Cloud" April 6 when the Heartland Pops Orchestra & Chorus present "Broadway at the Pops."

The show at the Jackson High School auditorium is the second since the Heartland Pops Orchestra & Chorus formed last August. The group is the brainchild of Jerry Ganiel, who moved here from Georgia a year and a half ago. He is the music director at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Jackson.

The group previously performed a Christmas concert at Old St. Vincent's Church in Cape Girardeau. It has formed "just by word of mouth and people who have suggested other people," Ganiel said.

The chorus includes schoolteachers, a chiropractor, a wrestling coach, housewives, retirees and others.

Ganiel started the Heartland Pops to provide both local musicians and audiences with variety in their choices. "A lot of people who play in other orchestras like the opportunity to play something else other than classical music," he said. "It would be nice for people to have the diversity ..."

Audiences in the Midwest also don't get many opportunities to see musicals. "A lot of people can't get to St. Louis or Broadway, so we'll just bring it to them," Ganiel said.

The organization has a chorus of 18 and an orchestra of 29. In addition, there are 10 youths ages 7 to 14 in a group called the Heartland Pops Kids.

Also planned are tunes from "The Wizard of Oz," "Annie," "The Sound of Music," "Phantom of the Opera," "The King and I," "Fiddler on the Roof," "Oklahoma," "The Secret Garden," "Call Me Madam" and "Pirates of Penzance."

Ganiel held auditions for the role of Cosette, choosing Mary Bauer, the daughter of Teresa and Bob Bauer of Cape Girardeau. Mary's brother, Riley, also is a member of the Heartland Pops Kids.

Mary learned her part the night before the audition by watching a video of "Les Miserables." She takes voice lessons from Lori Shaffer, an adjunct voice professor at Southeast Missouri State University.

The orchestra is composed of college students and adults. Ganiel hopes the chorus eventually grows to about 30 people.

sblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182