Heartland Voices opens season with gala performance
Heartland Voices, an Elgin-based adult choral ensemble, opens its 15th concert season with its annual gala performance.
This year’s theme is “Night and Day,” a musical journey highlighting some of the great pieces from shows old and new including music from the great Cole Porter and Stephen Sondheim.
The seventh annual gala will honor Sylvia Grady, coordinator of the Elgin Art Showcase and staff liaison to the Elgin Cultural Arts Commission.
Before serving in her current positions, Sylvia Grady taught in Elgin Area School District U-46 for 30 years, serving as both an art and elementary classroom teacher.
Heartland Voices will honor Grady for her numerous contributions to the Elgin art community, including being a driving force in the establishment of the Elgin Arts Showcase, a place that provides local community groups with an affordable and functional performance space and a gallery for local artists to exhibit their work.
The evening begins at 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19, with hors d’oeuvres, wine, a silent auction, and conversation. The concert program begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Elgin Art Showcase, 164 Division St.
Under the direction of Dr. John G. Slawson, a select group of Heartland Voices singers will take the audience on an entertaining trip through day into night. The first act, “Day,” includes the popular selections “Seize the Day” from “Newsies,” “Day by Day” from “Godspell,” “Good Morning” from “Singin’ in the Rain,” and “A Wonderful Day” from “The Roar of the Grease — The Smell of the Crowd.”
The second act, “Night,” includes the selections “Comedy Tonight” from “A Funny Thing Happened On the Way to the Forum,” “I Could Have Danced All Night” from “My Fair Lady,” “Some Enchanted Evening” from “South Pacific,” and of course, the great Cole Porter tune “Night and Day.” The evening will be infused with many surprises along the way.
Members of Heartland Voices performing the program are: Geri Larson of Glen Ellyn, Patricia Buerger of Elgin, Colleen Heffernan of Elgin, Elizabeth Hain of Hanover Park, Steve Hommowun of St. Charles, Ken Kordick of Schaumburg, Larry Wild of Elgin, and Chris Brittain of Huntley. Dr. Paul Satre of Elgin will accompany on piano.
Tickets are $40 in advance; $45 at the door. For information or to purchase tickets, visit www.heartlandvoices.org or call Heartland Voices at (847) 429-9486.