Heartland Voices lift for grand night of singing

Heartland Voices presents "A Grand Night for Singing," a benefit for Heartland Voices and a tribute to one of Elgin's supporters of the arts, Phyllis Ziegler, on Oct. 5-6 at the Elgin Art Showcase, on the eighth floor of 164 Division St. in Elgin.

The evenings begin at 6 p.m. with a selection of hors d'oeuvres and wine served by the singers of Heartland Voices. Also included will be a silent auction to benefit Heartland Voices, with such items as a barbecue grill donated by Ziegler's Ace Hardware; a collection of Jim Beam products; restaurant certificates; a 50/50 raffle; an opportunity to conduct Heartland Voices in the "Hallelujah Chorus" at Christmastime; and a variety of additional selections.

Starting at 8 p.m., be members of Heartland Voices will present "A Grand Night for Singing," a musical revue of songs written by the great Broadway duo, Rodgers and Hammerstein. "Shall We Dance?" from "The King and I," "Oh, What a Beautiful Morning" and "Kansas City" from "Oklahoma!" "Some Enchanted Evening" from "South Pacific," and "It Might as Well Be Spring" and "A Grand Night For Singing" from "State Fair" are just some of the numbers performed this evening.

Soloists for these performances are sopranos Cami Gerwen and Emily Smith; mezzo-sopranos Patricia Buerger, Denise Driscoll and Arlayne Pekofske; tenors Stephen Hommowun and Ken Kordick; and baritone Ben Stoner.

Phyllis Ziegler has been an arts patron in Elgin for a number of years. She has been active in numerous aspects of music in Elgin, including the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Elgin Choral Union and the First United Methodist Church of Elgin. She has received awards from organizations including Altrusa and the YWCA Leader Luncheon, receiving the Margaret Hillis Award in Music. She was the first chairwoman to serve on the newly founded Elgin Cultural Arts Commission in the early 1990s.

This nonprofit organization has the Daily Herald as its season media sponsor. It also is partially supported by a grant from the Elgin Cultural Arts Commission and the Illinois Arts Council.

Heartland Voices consists of professional and professionally trained singers from the greater Chicago area committed to excellence in choral performance. It is led by John G. Slawson, professor of music and director of choral studies at Elgin Community College; accompanied by Paul Satre, professor of music at the School of Music at Trinity International University and principal organist at the Moody Church of Chicago; and Marc Alan Brunelle, minister of music at St. Marcelline Catholic Church in Schaumburg, as assistant conductor.

Tickets are $40 and can be purchased by calling (847) 429-9486 or visiting www.heartlandvoices.org.

Seating is limited; tickets should be ordered early.