Growing up in neighboring Wisconsin, I was well aware that Minnesota was the Land of 10,000 Lakes. What I didn't know until I moved from Washington, D.C., to Prior Lake six years ago is that Minnesota is also the land of 10,000 choruses. Or so it seems.

One of these choruses, CORO!, has been flying under the radar. The first I heard of the ensemble was from a colleague, who was effusive in her praise. Among other things, she told me that CORO! included many soloists, a fact that intrigued and puzzled me.

In my experience, all choruses seek to achieve a homogeneous blend of voices. I wondered how, with its strong soloist membership, CORO! could fit that mold. I contacted artistic director John-Scott Moir and learned that CORO! is anything but a typical chorus.

Q: What is your musical background?

A: I am a graduate of the Eastman School of Music and Shenandoah University, and have extensive solo experience in operetta and opera throughout the U.S. and abroad. The CORO! web site [www.corosings.org] includes my bio.

Q: What was the genesis of CORO!?

A: Another voice teacher and I formed it six years ago. We wanted to do something for singers who had big, beautiful voices but were not permitted to use these voices to their fullest in typical choruses. I suggested that we have a model of full-voiced singing, and let the sound emanate from the musicianship of individual singers, rather than have a director impose a sound on them. So we formed CORO!, an ensemble of vocalists with extensive voice training and often lengthy bios. Many are first-rate soloists. Others are music professionals such as conductors and music teachers. That's why I feel so privileged to direct them; they are peers, not just colleagues.

Q: How's it going with CORO!?

A: Something of this nature has a gestation period. We hit our stride about 2½ years ago, and have been growing vocally and professionally ever since.

Q: Does CORO! sing opera exclusively?

A: No, but much of our repertoire includes this genre, because it provides the challenges that CORO!'s voices relish. Also, opera has a very strong following in the Twin Cities and the surrounding suburbs. Our concerts enable devotees to experience a wide variety of opera at nominal prices.

Q: What's next for CORO!?

A: We are collaborating with Sonomento, a wonderful chorus directed by Craig Fields, and presenting two concerts on June 7 at 7:30 p.m. at MacPhail Center for Music in Minneapolis and June 9 at 5 p.m. at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Eden Prairie. We will feature highlights from 10 Giuseppe Verdi operas, to include La Traviata and Aida. Verdi understood the human psyche, and his music is very emotional, very Italian. Tickets are $10, and they can be purchased through our website.

I also spoke with Craig Fields about Sonomento.

Q: Tell me about Sonomento.

A: It is MacPhail's premiere mixed-voice, adult choral ensemble which I formed under the auspices of the center's expanding adult education program. Our section leaders are soloists with professional credits. My goal is to grow the chorus from its present 36 members to 60 outstanding singers dedicated to performing classical music at a high artistic level. Our Facebook page has more information.

Q: Where do you get your singers?

A: They come from across the metro area, to include the suburbs. Many of them are baby boomers who studied music early in their lives and have come back to the great music that once was their passion.

Q: Is this your first collaboration with CORO!?

A: We did an opera gala concert together last year. This weekend's concerts represent a planned, formal collaboration.

CORO!, Sonomento and their directors were featured yesterday on a Classical MPR program hosted by Steve Staruch. If you missed it, here's the link: minnesotapublicradio.org.

Jerry Goodrich is a Prior Lake resident.