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)

Spring Concert Rehearsals Begin January 12th!

Broadway Rocks!  Everything Old Is New Again!

The concert will focus on the current spate of "catalog" musicals on Broadway that feature retro-pop and old rock-n-roll music from the '50s, '60s and '70s.

Come join us!  Rehearsals begin on Jan 12th at St. Peter Church (see sidebar on the right for directions.)  We are a non-auditioned choral and all are invited to join us. 

Come Join us for our Spring Concert!

Rehearsals resume in January.

We are a non-auditioned community chorus and all are welcome to join regardless of where you live or what your singing experience is.  All members receive a rehearsal CD with your part as well as expert instruction from our professional musician director, Martin.

Here are a couple excerpts from our recent Christmas Concert -- two of our a cappella numbers:

Join in the fun!!

Let's Party after the Concert!

Our hostess, Barb, working in the kitchen...

Since we never get to see or hear the concert from the audience's perspective, we really relish being able to watch the DVD at our after-concert party!

Christmas Concert 2014

The Village Singers of Lake Zurich 2014 Christmas Concert was another huge success!

(click to enlarge photos)

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Behind the scenes:  Our accompanist, Tara, director Martin, and in the background, audio engineer, Jean, all contributed big time to our successful performances!

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As is our custom, audience members were invited to join us for our final number from Handel's "Messiah" -- the Hallelujah Chorus.  It's wonderful when there are so many joining us that it gets crowded up there!

NOTE: New Location for Rehearsals

We will now rehearse at St. Peter United Church of Christ in Lake Zurich.  See sidebar to the right for the new address and the map to the church.

Meet Our New Director!

Martin Pazdioch has over 20 years experience as a choir director, conductor, soloist, section leader, pianist, organist, and liturgical musician.  He was a member of the voice faculty at Dominican University, sang with the Chicago Symphony Chorus for 19 seasons, has performed on five Grammy Award-winning recordings, and has vast experience in opera, concert, recital, musical theatre, and in the recording studio.  As well as teaching voice at area high schools, colleges, and in studio settings, he maintains a standard of musical excellence while working with people of all musical abilities and uses his knowledge and skills to help volunteer choristers improve their vocal skills while having fun.  Obviously, he is well suited to work with our group and is excited about working with a non-auditioned group of men and women who love to sing, and we are delighted and excited to have him as our new director!

Rehearsals for Christmas Concert Starting Soon!

Our first rehearsal at The Chapel in Lake Zurich is on Monday, August 25, 2014 at 7 p.m.

All interested in singing with us are welcome to come and meet the group and our new director. We are a non-auditioned choir so come give us a try for a few weeks. We think you'll be impressed and have a good time, and join our group

Spring Concert 2014

 Presenting "The Lullabies of Broadway" 

--- showcasing love songs from George & Ira Gershwin;

--- a mini-version of "Guys and Dolls" so you can tap your toes to "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat" and "Luck Be a Lady Tonight";  

--- a mini-version of "South Pacific" by Rodgers & Hammerstein (celebrating its 65th anniversary this summer), including the haunting "Bali Hai." 

 
The Village Singers will be  performing this marvelous concert at:

                          The Chapel in Lake Zurich  
                           330 S. Old Rand Rd
                           Lake Zurich, IL      60047

Performance Dates are:

                         Saturday, May 3rd   at 7.00 p.m.
                         Sunday,    May 4th   at 3:30 p.m.


Ticket prices:   

                        8.00 Adult/Seniors
                        Children Under 12 are Free

Spring 2014 Concert Song List

Here's the tentative list of songs for our Spring, 2014 Concert...

• "Everything's Coming Up Roses"
• "Grand Night for Singing"
• "Luck be a Lady Tonight"
• "On the Sunny side of the Street"
• "Put on a Happy Face"
• "Singing in the Rain"
• Rogers & Hammerstein (Broadway medley)
• George M. Cohan medley
• Irving Berlin's America medley
• Gershwin's  Portrait  medley
  

Come join in the fun!  We rehearse each Monday evening (7 to 9 pm) at The Chapel in Lake Zurich on Old Rand Road (see map in the sidebar on the right.)

All are welcome to join our non-auditioned community chorus.  We are sponsored by the Village of Lake Zurich Parks and Recreation Department but our members come from numerous surrounding suburbs, too.

Rehearsal canceled on 1/6/14...

...due to the Winter storm warning.  rehearsals will now begin next Monday, January 13th.  See you all then!

Rehearsals begin for our Spring concert

Our first rehearsal for our spring concert will be Monday, January 6, 2014 at 7 p.m.  We are a non-auditioned chorus and heartily invite all to come join us for our next concert which will feature Broadway tunes.

Directions to our rehearsal site are in the sidebar on the right.

 

Video of our performances at Hackney's in Lake Zurich Friday and Saturday...