Christmas music by and for all ages Monday night

Christmas music of all times and tempos can be enjoyed at a special holiday concert by the Spring Valley Chorus and its guests Monday night at Schaumburg's Friendship Village.

Though residents of the retirement community are expected to be strongly represented, the Friendship Center was chosen in large part because it has a venue that can cater to the wider community as well, chorus member Terri Calvert said.

"We're hoping for a good turnout from the community," she said.

"Carols, Cookies and Christmas," is the name of the show, not only because of the nature of the songs but because cookies will be a running theme of the performance - down to the refreshments.

Also performing will be the Oliver Holmes Junior High School Show Choir from Wheeling and an adult men's quartet.

Though Spring Valley Chorus has 22 members, the addition of the show choir and men's quartet will bring the total number of performers to nearly 60.

"We sing a song at the end when we'll all come together," Calvert said.

While the junior high students will be singing mostly carols, Spring Valley Chorus is aiming for a wide variety from the traditional to the past few decades, including songs by The Carpenters and a piece called "Jamaican Noel."

Spring Valley Chorus was first formed by five members in 1996, and became affiliated with the Sweet Adelines as it's grown.

Though Calvert lives in Hoffman Estates where the chorus rehearses, members come from all over the Northwest suburbs, including Schaumburg, Itasca, Palatine, Arlington Heights and Franklin Park.

The group performs about eight to 10 times a year, though this is their only specifically Christmas show, Calvert said. At other times of year, its sets include such songs as "One Fine Day" and "Strike Up the Band."