Snippets from all our songs at the Winter Concert

Our 80 minute concert in 11 minutes:

Winter Concert Party

Once again, Barb hosted a post-concert party...

Following a delicious meal and socializing, we watched the video of our concert...

Winter Concert 2015

Our 2015 Winter concert performances will be on Saturday, December 5th at 7pm and Sunday, December 6th at 3pm at St. Peter Church in Lake Zurich. The address and directions are in the sidebar on the right.

Winter Concert Season Begins August 17th

Yes, our first rehearsal/meeting for our December concerts will be on Monday evening, August 17th at St. Peter Church (location info is in sidebar on the right) from 7pm to 9pm.

We will meet new members, reunite with old friends, fill out registration paperwork, and go over a few of the concert songs.

New members welcome!  We are a non-auditioned chorus, so all ARE welcome regardless of experience or lack thereof. Practice CDs will be available to help you learn your parts.

Farewell Party for Tara and Shel!

For those who didn't read the post prior to this one, scroll down to see the information regarding Tara and Shel retiring to North Carolina and leaving our group after 17 years.  Yesterday, in commemoration and grateful thanks for her nearly two decades of devoted service to the Village Singers of Lake Zurich and its predecessor group, her best friend, Karen, hosted a spirited "Farewell Party" for Tara and Shel, at her lovely lakeside home. 

About two dozen were able to attend on this gorgeous evening, and for 3+ hours, lots of memories, stories, and tears were shed as we ate, sang, toasted, and reminisced. 

 It has been our joy to have had their friendship and Tara's impressive musical skills for all our concerts and other performances, and everyone departed last night with a gaping hole in our hearts because of their departure.  We wish them well in their new home near their daughters and grandchildren!

"Bon voyage and Godspeed, Tara and Shel!"

Choir sings "Goodbye" to Tara, and responds with a song...

Goodbye and Godspeed, Tara!

Tara, our dedicated, kindhearted, and proficient accompanist for well over a decade and a half, is retiring to North Carolina.  Her years of service and friendship to our members will be missed as much as her musical talents, and her husband, Shel, has also served faithfully behind the scenes, organizing and running the ticket selling tables, ticket taking, and program distribution at performances

Tara has adapted to over half a dozen different directors’ styles and proficiencies over those years, as well as the styles and idiosyncrasies of numerous soloists and ensembles she’s accompanied.  Tara has also graced our stage numerous times in alto solos and small ensembles and was instrumental in creating the rehearsal CDs we learn from for each concert.  And no doubt her numerous piano students who have studied in her home studio will similarly miss her smile, kind correction, and knowledge. 

Tara was presented with flowers, a silver engraved locket, an autographed group photo, and this plaque which was lovingly handcrafted by one of our members, Ed.

Members also signed our recent group photo...

Here she is being given the silver locket

Thanks, Tara, for all you years of dedication to the Village Singers, for your friendship, your expertise, your substitute directing at rehearsals at the last minute, and for all the joy you've provided!  You have truly been our "heart and soul" and our one constant unifying factor through our succession of chorus directors.  You will be missed!

Performance at The Garlands in Barrington

Yesterday evening we were invited to repeat our "Broadway Rocks!" performance of classic '60s rock songs by the great groups of that era at the prestigious Garlands in Barrington, Illinois. An audience of about 50 retirees enthusiastically enjoyed hearing the hits from their era, though to be truthful, many of us performers were also around during those years!

Here's the entire chorus...

The Shirelles medley sung by Kathy, Barb, and Sonya...

Nancy, Luis, and Helen singing The Beatles' "Yesterday..."

Earl's solo in The Beatles' "Ob La Di, Ob La Da..."

Ken singing "Sloop John B..."

Chuck gets into the audience during "The Jersey Boys Medley..."

Pat's soulful blues rendition of Billie Holiday's "Detour Ahead..."

Pat, Cory, and Rich singing The Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby..."

Pat and Jan singing The Beatles' "In My Life..."

Pat, Bobbie, and Cory with "My Boyfriend's Back"...

Dave singing "My Girl" in "Motown Medley"...

Cheryl singing "Mister Postman" in "Motown Medley..."

Martin, our director extraordinaire, singing "Reach Out and Touch Somebody's Hand" in "Motown Medley..."

I began the performance with the opening narration for Proud Mary, a song often associated with Ike and Tina Turner, but which was also a staple in Elvis' concerts.

We also sang the songs of The Beatles, The Mama and Papas, Billie Holiday, The Beach Boys, Jersey Boys (The Four Seasons), and Motown.

And last but certainly not least, the extremely talented Tara, our accompanist

 for the last decade and a half or more (and the heart and soul of our group) who is at her final performance with us before retiring to North Carolina. Thanks, Tara, and Godspeed!!!  You will be missed!

Here's an 11 minute abridged version of our 90 minute concert, featuring snippets from all the choruses we sang...

Post-Concert Party!

About 25 of the chorus members met for our post-concert party at Gilmer Road House and enjoyed some fine food, sparkling conversation, as we viewed the video of our concert...

2015 Spring Concert -- Broadway Rocks

Here is our 90 minute concert in 11 minutes -- brief snippets from 28 classic rock and roll songs from the 60's by Elvis, CCR, Tina Turner, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Carole King, The Four Seasons (Jersey Boys,) and various Motown classics...

Spring Concert!!!!

(See the post below for the songs included in the concert.)

Rock and Roll Songs for the May Concert

Broadway Rocks: Everything Old is New Again!

Excerpts from Rock and Roll from Broadway musicals, tentatively including:

All Shook Up: The Elvis Musical

C'Mon Everybody

Love Me Tender

Proud Mary

Let It Be: The Beatles Musical

An A Cappella Medley

Yesterday

Ob La Di, Ob La Da

Good Vibrations : The Beach Boys Musical

Fun, Fun, Fun

Catch A Wave

I Get Around

Beautiful: The Carol King Musical 

It's Too Late 

Jersey Boys: The Four Seasons Musical

Can't Take MY Eyes Off of You

December, 1963

Let's Hang On

Stay

Who Loves You Pretty Baby

Working My Way Back to You

Motown: The Musical

(4 medleys comprising 17 songs)


Saturday, May 2, 2015 (7 pm)
Sunday, May 3, 2015 (3 pm)