More than 20 local groups to perform at Chicagoland Show Choir Festival

Show choirs from around the Midwest will be at John Hersey High School Friday and Saturday, March 4-5, for the 18th annual Chicagoland Showcase Show Choir Competition.

More than 20 high schools and middle schools will compete, starting with the middle schools at 5 p.m. Friday.

Starting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, some of the most talented show choirs in the region will take the stage. The Festival Division begins at 9:30 a.m., followed by the Unisex division at 12:30 p.m. and the Open Division at 2:45 p.m.

Then, starting at 7:25 p.m., the top six groups from the day will compete head to head in the final round to see who will be named Chicagoland Showcase Grand Champion.

In addition to the group competition, there will also be a solo competition. More than 40 high school students will perform Saturday, competing to be named the top male and female soloists.

The two winners will perform before the final round at 7:15 p.m.

Making a special guest appearance this year will be An Octave Above, an award-winning, Chicago-based a cappella group.

An Octave Above features eight professional vocalists who perform a variety of musical styles, from doo-wop to jazz, standards to pop, Bacharach to the Beatles.

General admission for any individual round is $10, $5 for senior citizens or students with an ID. An all-day pass costs $15, $10 for senior citizens or students with an ID. Tickets for An Octave Above only are $5.

John Hersey High School is at 1900 E. Thomas in Arlington Heights. Contact Joann Langley at (847) 718-4942 or e-mail joann.langley@d214.org.