For the finale to its 75th anniversary season, the voices of the Bel Canto Chorus will raise "Together With One Voice" at the Marcus Center for Performing Arts' Uihlein Hall, at 3 p.m. April 30.

Bel Canto's music director and conductor since 1988, Richard Hynson says that the chorus headed into this momentous season on the upswing.

"Bel Canto is one of, not the only, but one of the long standing choruses of the United States. The 75th anniversary is significant," Hynson says. "Not too many groups that have the history we do. I'm lucky enough to be the fourth music director."

But he gives the city which is Bel Canto's home all of the credit for the thriving chorus.

"(Lasting this long) speaks more about Milwaukee than Bel Canto and, interestingly enough, a study done by Chorus America Magazine found that choruses reflect the spirit of the community," he says. "More people perform in choral singing than any other art. Choral music is an expression, a manifestation of how a community relates."

For this final performance, the community will be getting somewhat of a history lesson.

"For this performance, I've gone back into the history books. Bel Canto was the only thing going beside the Florentine opera in the '40s, '50s and '60s. In the '60s, things started to change, but in the '40s and '50 they were at the top," Hynson says.

As music director, Hynson says he has set out on exploring new music since there's already a symphony chorus in town -- in reference to the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra chorus. But with the final performance of the season, it's back to the basics.

"I've selected movements from different requiems along with Francis Poulenc's 'Gloria,'" Hynson says.

The night will host music from Mozart and Bach to Brahms and Beethoven along with Mendelssohn. But there are a few more surprises for those in attendance.

"We're going to have a birthday cake. We will have several opportunities for members to reminisce, something the audience will find fascinating," Hynson says. "It's as much Bel Canto's birthday as it is Milwaukee's."

The chorus will also release information on next year's season. Hynson says that audiences will be "thrilled and entranced with music next season."

In preparation for next season, as with every season, the Bel Canto Chorus will be holding auditions for the primarily voluntary chorus.

"We have an audition process, an annual audition process. Every member is asked to audition. We assess the skills of each singer and offer suggestions for improvement," Hynson says.

"We're constantly improving ourselves internally."

The 100 voice strong chorus doesn't seem like it has plans to fold any time soon. Instead, after 75 years, the group finds itself reinventing and working together.

"No matter what piece we sing together, what program we perform for the Greater Milwaukee area, we continually grow as a group, unifying and combining artistic talents," Hynson says.

"What we find at the end of each program and season is that we've not only gotten to know each other better, but we've pushed our own musical envelopes. We're together with one voice on this road, making music together and we'll continue for a long time."

The Bel Canto Chorus will be at Uihlein Hall performing "Together With One Voice" at 3 p.m. Sunday April 30. Tickets are $25 for reserved seat tickets and $18 for general admission. Bel Canto's Web site is belcanto.org.