It's 1-2-3 for Heartland Voices' 10th gala
Band and chorus leaders often have started out a song by counting out "a 1 and a 2 and a 3." But surprisingly often, numbers also appear in the lyrics of a song. Some of the greatest will be sung by Heartland Voices as the Elgin singing group holds its 10th annual gala fundraiser Saturday.
Titled "Easy as 1-2-3," the gala will be built around hit songs about numbers, such as the 1950s hit "Route 66," "One" from "A Chorus Line," Chicago's "25 or 6 to 4," the Beatles' "Eight Days A Week" and "When I'm 64," Barry Manilow's "One Voice," and "16 Going on 17" from "The Sound of Music."
"Complete with dance, lights, sound and comedy, this toe-tapping show is sure to please audiences of all ages," said spokeswoman Karen Werth.
The gala also will include hors d'oeuvres, a wine and beer bar, a silent auction and a raffle, and it will be preceded Friday by a preview performance with the music and dancing only.
Artistic Director John Slawson said this is only the 10th year for the gala, but he recalled how Heartland Voices was founded by him and several other professional or professionally trained suburban singers 18 years ago. Slawson then was a music professor at Elgin Community College and was the moving force behind ECC's musical theater productions.
After retiring from ECC, this year he also founded Encore Theatre Productions to put on musical theater productions.
In 1999 "a number of singers I knew were part of a larger group, the Elgin Choral Union, but wanted to be part of a smaller, more chamber-like group of singers," Slawson said.
The new group has been performing three public concerts a year, delivered in the style of a small choir. Most of the performances were held at First United Methodist Church of Elgin, where Slawson is a member.
When the gala idea was born 10 years ago, to raise money for the group, HV aimed for a bigger audience and party facilities than the church could easily accommodate, so the galas were held for eight years at the Elgin Art Showcase in the Professional Building. When growing turnouts also made that too cramped, the gala was moved starting last year to the Kimball Street Theater on the Elgin Academy campus.
This year's gala performance was choreographed by Konnie Kay, who also choreographed Encore Theatre's recent musical "Forever Plaid." It will be accompanied on the piano by Dr. Paul Satre, who teaches music at Trinity International University and is principal organist at Chicago's Moody Bible Church.
The 10 professional or professionally trained singer-dancers are Jessica Yeska, Marjorie Lattimore, Geri Larson, Patricia Buerger, Colleen Heffernan, Ken Kordick, Steve Hommowun, Chris Britain, Santos Perez and Larry Wild.
Heffernan, an alto, said, "I joined Heartland Voices eight years ago looking for a choral home after college. I have loved singing with Heartland because of the diverse repertoire, the talent and the community feel of the group. It presents a different experience than I was able to find in a church choir or other large community group.
"Our group is versatile and sings pieces ranging from the Renaissance to modern day. If you're in the mood for pop tunes, dancing and a helping of comedy, this is the weekend to come."
Britain joined Heartland Voices six years ago. "HV provides an intimate musical experience for our audiences and we allow ourselves to feel the emotion of each piece we perform," said Brittain, a baritone, who is president of the HV board of directors.
"We also take great pride in our recent partnerships with area high schools in launching our annual HV choral festival," Brittain added. "This event gives our members and director an opportunity to work with the outstanding youth talent in the Fox Valley. With the gala, our audience gets to see a different, lighter side of our group."
Slawson said Heartland has added a fourth concert to its schedule this year. Its next program will be a spring concert on the theme "Essential Elements" that will go on the road. "All the music will be about elements that make up the world - earth, air, fire, water, nature," Slawson said.
The spring concerts will be April 21 at First United Methodist Church of West Dundee, on April 22 at First United Methodist of Elgin and April 23 at Bethany Lutheran Church of Batavia.
If you go
What: Heartland Voices 10th annual gala, "Easy As 1-2-3." Concert, hors d'oeuvres, wine and beer bar, soft drinks, silent auction and raffle
When: 6 p.m. Saturday with the concert starting at 7:30 p.m. A preview performance is 7:30 p.m. Friday.
Where: Kimball Street Theater, at the northeast corner of Kimball Street and Dundee Avenue, Elgin
Tickets: For the gala - $40 in advance, $50 at the door. For the preview - $20. Available at heartlandvoices.org or by calling (847) 429-9486