Christmas Concert 2011 Excerpts

Here are video snippets from our 2011 Christmas Concert.  Enjoy -- and join us for our next concert, either in the audience or up on stage with us!

Our New Director, Sara Pardo

Sara Pardo is the owner and program director of the Long Grove Performing Arts Academy, and has eight years of experience as a vocal instructor, over twenty years of performance experience, and sixteen years of training in the arts, including an undergraduate degree from Ohio State University and two graduate degrees (music and voice) from the University of North Carolina's School of the Arts. She is also an active performer with theater and opera companies in the Chicagoland area and beyond.

With direction of this week's successful Christmas Concerts completed, Sara is planning the 2012 Spring Concert lineup, and participation in these performances is open to all those interested in singing.  We are a non-audition chorus, so simply show up at our January 9th rehearsal and join in the fun!

Christmas Party at Barb's

Our traditional end-of-the-season party was again organized by hostess-extraordinaire Barb, complete with food, door-prizes, relaxed conversation, and a viewing of the concert video.

Thanks Barb!!!

"Christmas from the Heart" Concert

The Village Singers presented their Christmas 2011 concert on December 3rd and 4th.  Our president, Brian, introduced the songs and our new director to the audience...

Despite the disruption of losing our director after the third week of rehearsals, things got back on track with our founder, Jeannine Saltman re-assuming directorial duties until our new director, Sara Pardo, got on board.

"N-Tune" again entertained the audience...

...and Sara thrilled the crowd with her operatic-trained rendition of "Gesu Bambino"...

It is our tradition to invite audience members up to join us for the finale, Handel's "Hallelujah" chorus...

Thanks to Sara for rescuing us and for her superb directorial debut.  Thanks also to Jeannine for getting us through our rough patch, and a special thanks to our audience for supporting us with attendance and applause. We look forward to seeing all back here in May for our Spring Concert.

Christmas Concert December 3rd and 4th

(Click to enlarge)

Welcome to Our New Director, Alexis McCormick!

Alexis is a music teacher at Forrestal Elementary School in Great Lakes, Illinois, with over ten years of experience in choral singing and in classical vocal technique.  She has also been a church musician for five years, serving as a cantor, organist and choir director.  While completing her B.A. in Music Education at Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois, she trained to make all styles of music accessible to all ages.  She looks forward to working with the Village Singers on a varied repertoire and enjoyable, excellent performances! 


All the Village Singers thank former director Nick Juknelis for his two years as our director, and wish him well as he devotes more time with his  young family.

Rehearsals Starting for our Christmas Concert

All are welcome to join The Village Singers of Lake Zurich as we begin our 14th season, this year under the direction of our new director, Alexis McCormick, who is looking forward to a wonderful concert.
 
Our rehearsals begin on August 29th (7 pm) at the Alpine Chapel on Miller Road in Lake Zurich, Illinois.  We are a non-auditioned choral group open to all singers regardless of where you live or how old you are. Directions to Alpine Church can be found in the sidebar on the right.


Links to videos of our previous concert highlights can be found by scrolling down the page.

Spring 2011 Concert Excerpts

The Village Singers of Lake Zurich proudly present excerpts from their 2011 Spring Concert "Come to the Music!" (double click after video starts to view full screen)

Party at Koldens!

Spring Concert is Here!

The Spring Concert, "Come to the Music!" performances will be presented

Sat, April 9 at 7:00pm

Sun, April 10 at 3:00pm

at the Alpine Chapel at 23153 W. Miller Road (Miller and Echo Lake Roads) in Lake Zurich, Illinois.

  (see map in sidebar to the right)

New Rehearsal Time

NOTE:  Rehearsal time has been changed to 7-9 pm each Monday.

"Come to the Music!" -- Spring Concert Rehearsals Begin Monday, January 17th!

Mark your calendars now, singers! Rehearsals resume on January 17th, 2011 for our Spring Concerts entitled "Come to the Music!" Rehearsal times and location are detailed in the sidebar to the right.

NOTE: Rehearsal on January 17th will begin at 7pm (30 minutes early) to facilitate handing out music and getting organized.

New voices are always welcome to join our non-auditioned community chorus, so if you love to sing and enjoy the fellowship of other singers, come join us and make wonderful music with us!

Page down through the posts below and see what we've been up to over the years -- and check out the photos in the sidebar to see what we are all about. You'll also find links to YouTube excerpts of our concerts if you are curious what we sound like

Party at Kolden's

Last night we again celebrated another successful concert series with our traditional party at Barb's lovely home.  After a wonderful meal and stimulating conversation (something we aren't allowed during rehearsals)...

...all 25 adjourned to the family room to view the video of the concert and enjoy our efforts from an audience perspective...

Now we enjoy a few weeks off before beginning the process anew with 4 more months of rehearsals for our Spring concert series.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all!

"Messiah" Performance Excerpts

Our two performances of "Messiah" this weekend had record attendance, with a nearly full house on Saturday and a need to add extra seats on Sunday -- a grand total of approximately 500!

Here's a video of excerpts from all choruses and soloists (double click to view full screen.)

Hallelujah! (Chorus that is)

Concert week is here! The Village Singers proudly present Handel's "Messiah" this weekend, and here's a sneak preview for you -- the "Hallelujah" Chorus.  Our community chorus is composed of 50+ local residents under the direction of Nick Juknelis, chorus director at Lake Zurich High School, and we are accompanied by Tara on piano and as well as a dozen strings from the Lake Zurich Orchestra. (double click to open in YouTube and see full frame.)

Saturday Dec. 4th, 7pm

Sunday Dec. 5th, 3pm


at


Alpine Chapel

23153 W Miller Rd

Lake Zurich, IL 60047


Adults $8.00

Seniors and Students $5.00

Children under 12 - Free

Handel's "Messiah" Preview Video

Handel's "Messiah" (part 1) will be presented Saturday, December 4th at 7pm, and again on Sunday, December 5th at 3 pm. Below is a video from yesterday's rehearsal featuring brief excerpts from all 6 choruses in Part 1, as well as the "Hallelujah" chorus.  All will be accompanied by piano and strings, as well as all the solos which will be performed by outstanding soloists in our group.  Our community chorus is composed of 50+ local residents under the direction of Nick Juknelis, chorus director at Lake Zurich High School.

"Messiah" Rehearsals Underway

Excitement is running high following last night's first rehearsal of Handel's "Messiah" for our Christmas concert dates of December 4th and 5th.



Accompanied by violins, we will be performing the first two sections of the Oratorio, including the Recitatives and Arias, with the chorus singing "And the Glory of the Lord," "And He Shall Purify," "O Thou that Tellest Good Tidings to Zion," "For Unto Us A Child is Born," "Glory to God," "His Yoke Is Easy," and concluding with "Hallelujah."

Rehearsals are Monday evenings, 7:30 to 9:30 pm, at Alpine Chapel, under the direction of Nick Juknelis.

An oratorio is a sacred story set to music, essentially an opera without costumes or sets.

We are a non-audition chorus, with membership open to all who are interested. The group is sponsored by Lake Zurich Parks and Recreation but you do not have to live in Lake Zurich to join. For soloists interested in performing a recitative or aria, auditions will be held October 8th. The cost to enroll is $45.

Rehearsals Resume on Monday, August 23rd -- "Messiah!"

Mark your calendars now, singers! Rehearsals resume on August 23rd for our Christmas Concerts.

We're going to do something really special this season -- the Christmas portion of Handel's "Messiah." Should be a challenge but a lot of fun.

New voices are always welcome to join our non-auditioned community chorus, so if you love to sing and enjoy the fellowship of other singers, come join us and make wonderful music with us!

Page down through the posts below and see what we've been up to over the years -- and check out the photos in the sidebar to see what we are all about.

We're rehearsing for our April Concert...

...every Monday night, 7:30 to 9:30 pm, at the Alpine Chapel at 23153 W. Miller Road (Miller and Echo Lake Roads) in Lake Zurich, Illinois. (See map in sidebar on the right.)

All are invited to join our non-auditioned chorus!

Silent Monks perform the Hallelujah Chorus

We traditionally invite audience members to join us for the Hallelujah Chorus as we end a concert. Here's another way to present the Hallelujah Chorus!