Batavia High School grad competes in national collegiate a cappella championship

It's hard to say if we'll ever see Vinnie Cesarone of Batavia appear on "American Idol" or "The Voice," but it's far more likely the junior at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, may at least try out at a regional audition for one of those reality shows in the near future.

That's on his radar, though he has a more immediate goal in mind. He'd like his Belmont a cappella group Prismatics to advance in a national, virtual "UpStagedAID" National Collegiate Performing Arts championship.

As of this writing, Prismatics had advanced past a regional round by topping James Madison University and was awaiting results of its latest matchup against Vanderbilt. The all-gender group performed "Soul's Anthem" by Tori Kelley in its match against Vanderbilt.

It's hard to predict how the voting will go after judges view submitted videos of the competing groups' songs. The winner advances out of the South bracket to continue in the tournament.

"It was a very close race, so we don't know which way it is going to go," said Cesarone, a baritone in the 16-member group.

As much as getting notoriety for the group's talent, Cesarone and his fellow singers are hoping to advance to keep earning prize money to be donated to its elected charity, Mental Health America of the MidSouth.

"The mental health program is really important to us," Cesarone added.

Regardless of how the competition turns out, Cesarone plans to continue pursuing a career in music, whether as a performer or teacher.

"Many of my friends in the group have auditioned for 'American Idol' or 'The Voice,' and a lot of people here at Belmont have done it," Cesarone said. In the past year, a Belmont student advanced far in "American Idol" after a regional tryout was held at the university, which is known for its arts program, he added.

Cesarone, a 2018 graduate of Batavia High School, came to Belmont University with an impressive music background from his school years in Batavia.

"I started singing in fourth grade and did it throughout middle school and did show choir," Cesarone said. "I was really lucky to have gone to Batavia for its great music program."

Cesarone cites his fondest memories in high school as a member of the Batavia Swingsingers, but he was on stage for many other performances.

He was part of the Chamber Singers and Chromatics, and had theatrical parts through the drama program in "Hello Dolly," "A Midsummer Night's Dream," "Rent," "Cats," and "Letters to Sala."

"I'm hoping to be an artist someday, and I've recently been trying to do some songwriting but mostly am focused on my voice and what my sound is," Cesarone noted.

For now, that sound is quite good - hopefully good enough to keep Belmont's a cappella group advancing and the university program getting stronger through students like Cesarone.

<h3 class="leadin">Helping the families:

For the past 23 years, TriCity Family Services has offered the Adopt a Family program to area businesses and individuals who would like to sponsor a Thanksgiving basket or Christmas gifts for client families during the holidays.

This year, TCFS is creating Thanksgiving baskets for 74 families - and it could use some sponsors to help out.

While sponsors are needed, individuals can also drop off a bag of nonperishable foods or grocery gift cards by Nov. 20 at the TriCity Family Services office, at 1120 Randall Court in Geneva.

"Those are always a great option to make a donation," said program organizer Mary Kay Dowling. "It is really helpful and doesn't have to be for a specific family."

The agency will be doing the same thing in the coming weeks for Christmas gifts.

Those interested in sponsoring or donating for the upcoming holidays can contact Dowling at TCFS, (630) 232-1070.

<h3 class="leadin">More about wrecks:

Readers who enjoy digging into history were busy after my column two months ago about past train wrecks that occurred in downtown St. Charles or just west of the city.

Phil Kessler of St. Charles said the article reminded him of a freight train wreck in Geneva in the mid-1970s at the west end of the train trestle.

"Viewing south from the State Street bridge, there were train cars hanging off the trestle into the river," Kessler noted.

At the west end, near the small trestle over South First Street, freight cars carrying lumber and corn toppled over, he said, and the cleanup effort took place at the Geneva city dump, now a Metra parking lot.

Greg Swedberg of St. Charles sent a note about a 1905 milk train derailment west of the Fox River at was then a crossing with Fifth Street.

He also pointed out a freight train derailment in June of 1960 just east of Tyler Road in which debris was strewn for a quarter-mile in front of what was then the St. Charles Ready Mix cement plant.

"The cars and freight were all over the place and looked liked child's toys," Swedberg said.

Ultimately, it was a freight train derailment between St. Charles and Wasco in 1977 that tore up the tracks and forced Chicago & Northwestern to abandon and dismantle the entire line west of St. Charles, he added.

<h3 class="leadin">Not so picky:

I'm on to a new thing in my culinary world. Well, at least it is new to me.

It's chicken salad or tuna salad sandwiches.

I had the grilled chicken salad at McAlister's Deli in Geneva last week, and for most of my childhood and adult life, such an order would be unthinkable.

As a kid, I may have been the most prolific picky eater in history. I did not like anything with sauces, or mayonnaise, which means I certainly did not like egg salad, chicken salad or tuna salad.

If my mother put anything other than a peanut butter or bologna sandwich in my lunch for school, I would trade it with another kid for something else - or just pitch it.

So, from that standpoint, I am a late bloomer for this thing called chicken salad sandwiches.

It started as a curiosity, as much as anything, in buying chicken salad at the store a few months ago. When realizing it was pretty good, the next step was trying it at a deli.

It's been a wonderful discovery. It's definitely a case of it's better late than never.

Or, as chicken salad lovers across the world might say about me: I've been a fool for a long time. No argument here.

dheun@sbcglobal.net