Barrington's White House to host Lakeside Singers
Come enjoy the sounds of the season when the Lakeside Singers perform the "Let There Be Peace" Family Holiday performance from 3-6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, at Barrington's White House, 145 W. Main St.
The 20-plus member chorale ensemble's a cappella concert opens with a classical theme featuring music of Joseph Haydn, Frances Poulenc and Richard Dering. It also includes traditional carols from China, France and Romania in addition to a Hanukkah medley.
"We sing music from all over the world," said Executive Director Mary Stewart, a 30-year Barrington resident who runs the business side of the operation. "We strive to be perfect in our linguistics."
The second half of the show features more contemporary songs made famous by artists like Ella Fitzgerald, Stephen Sondheim, Michael McDonald and Arianna Grande. The audience is invited to join in a singalong to help close the show.
"It's a very fun show," Stewart said, "and you can't do better than getting to singalong with the band."
Artistic Director Robert Bowker and Stewart are the creative forces behind the Evanston-based group's inception. He didn't want to teach music after graduating from Northwestern University and the Music Institute of Chicago. Forming a chorus was his idea, says Stewart.
"He wanted it to be a blend of classically trained people and people of contemporary music - pop, rock, jazz, gospel, you name it," Stewart said. "He believed he could find the right people and make it work."
It's been working so well that 2017 will be the group's 19th year of performing. A summer date at Ravinia is on tap, too, Stewart said. Each member of the ensemble is a professional musician. Many are teachers, some are working performers.
"They've studied all over the world. They've performed all over the world. We have no problem attracting the very best," said Stewart.
Admission is $20 and $10 for students. To purchase tickets, visit BarringtonsWhiteHouse.com. For questions, call (224) 512-4284.
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