Elgin choral concert music is anything but traditional

Andrew Lewis, director of the Elgin Choral Union, wanted to get away - at least in part - from the traditional "fa la las" of Christmas carols.

Fear not, however - he's still planning to include some of the old favorites this Saturday, when the chorus presents its annual holiday concert at Elgin Community College's Blizzard Theatre.

"I wanted to make sure we have music that is going to be really recognizable to our audience," he said. "(But) we're (also) doing a couple of pieces by a composer named Michael Praetorius, a composer from the Baroque period."

The songs are German in origin but translate (into English as) "So Brightly Shines the Morning Star" and "Awake for Night is Flying."

Lewis spends a great deal of time seeking out the most unusual and beautiful Christmas music to present every year with the Choral Union. "I go through a ton of music. I spend a lot of time researching, studying music scores, listening to CDs, going to concerts, hearing other groups," Lewis explained.

"It is a challenge. More than any other season, there's just so much music written for the Christmas season that it's almost like sometimes you don't even know where to start," said Lewis. "I essentially plan about a year in advance."

Executive Director Jennifer Bolino also has her hands full with the business end of the production.

"I take care of everything that's not artistically related," she said.

Bolino, who is the chorus's only full-time staff member, relies on the volunteer spirit of the singers.

"Really it's the effort of the volunteers and I'm the master coordinator for all of the details," she explained. "Not only are they fabulous singers, but we couldn't do it without (their) dedication."

Part of that dedication comes in the form of a commute.

"We pull from about 17 major communities," said Bolino, who lives in Chicago.

The Choral Union, which is the oldest performing arts organization in Elgin and boasts more than 100 vocalists from aged 17 to 80, will welcome the Gaudete Brass Quintet, who are artists in residence at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wis., and have been featured in a number of prominent concert series.

The quintet consists of Justin Olson and Ryan Berndt on trumpet, Jean McCullough on horn, Paul Von Hoff on trombone, and Scott Tegge on tuba. "They're incredible. They'll be doing an arrangement for brass and choir and bringing some of their own music," Lewis said.

Lewis has made an effort to make the concert accessible to even the youngest music fans. "We really encourage parents to bring children to the 3 p.m. concert," Lewis said. "I think it's a great experience for kids ... as young as possible to learn what it's like to be at a concert."

Lewis, as a father to three boys - George, 6; William, 4 and Henrik, 2 - knows first hand about the average attention span of the young child. "We're keeping this concert pretty short; it's about an hour long and there won't be any intermission. I think it makes it so much easier for parents."

The conductor will put his money where his mouth is; all three boys will attend the concert with their mother.

"If the 2-year-old gets unhappy or wriggles too much or becomes loud, my wife will take him out and that will be fine," he said.

Bolino is of the same mind. Her daughters Genevieve, 5, and Sophia, 8, will attend the Christmas program with a little early planning.

"I really, truly believe that children can be exposed at a very young age with proper involvement," said Bolino. "I sit on the aisle and I'm ready to take them out if I need to."

"It's really a wonderful way to have a family tradition," she said. "It's a shorter program, we're having a sing-a-long, so it's really appropriate for the entire family to celebrate the holiday season."

"There's no better sound at Christmas than choruses and brass together. It really is the sound of the season," said Bolino. "It's so celebratory and upbeat and reminds of some of the more important things in life that we sometimes forget in the busyness of the season."

<p class="factboxheadblack">If You Go</p> <p class="News"><b>What:</b> Christmas Splendor, the Elgin Choral Union's holiday concert </p> <p class="News"><b>When: </b>3 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20</p> <p class="News"><b>Where:</b> The Blizzard Theater at Elgin Community College, 1700 Spartan Drive</p> <p class="News"><b>Tickets:</b> $23 adults, $18 seniors, $15 students, and $5 for children 10 and younger with adult admission</p> <p class="News"><b>Call:</b> (847) 622-0300</p>