Elgin church celebrates 175 years with choral concert

Submitted by First UMC

As part of its 175th anniversary celebration, First United Methodist Church, 216 E. Highland Ave. in Elgin, will host a special choral concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 21.

The church’s Cathedral Choir will open the concert, along with performances by the Glenbard North Goldtones and the Second Baptist Church Choral Ensemble.

The Cathedral Choir is a choral ensemble that provides music for the weekly worship. The volunteer choir consists of members ages 15-80. In addition to worship music each week, the choristers render melodious anthems at each service.

The choir sings at least one cantata each year, notably during the Advent season in December. John G. Slawson has been the director of the music program at FUMC for more than 22 years.

The Glenbard North Goldtones is a 24-member mixed ensemble directed by Laura Johnson, which gives an opportunity for students to sing chamber and jazz music.

The students have performed with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, at the Chicago Flower and Garden Show at Navy Pier, and at the Pheasant Run Theater in St. Charles.

The Choral Ensemble, under the direction of Latrisha Jones, is a vital part of the music program at Second Baptist Church of Elgin. The major activities of the ensemble consist of providing leadership at two Sunday services, a Wonderful Wednesday service each month, a spring workshop in April, a spring musical in May, an annual concert in November and a Christmas musical in December.

The Choral Ensemble is one of five participating choral groups at Second Baptist Church.

For details, call (847) 741-0038 or visit www.fumcelgin.org.