Chamber choir goes caroling in Vernon Hills
The Vernon Hills High School chamber choir spread some multidenominational holiday cheer Friday with a string of performances throughout town.
The teens sang Christmas carols at three Hawthorn Elementary District 73 campuses, the main Libertyville-Vernon Hills Area High School District 128 office and the Rust-Oleum headquarters.
The performances are a District 128 tradition that dates back at least to the early 1980s, long before there was a Vernon Hills High. When the district office was in Libertyville, choir members from Libertyville High School treated workers to Christmas songs.
The Vernon Hills High choir took over the job eight years ago.
"It isn't the holidays until the choir sings for us at district office," District 128 spokeswoman Mary Todoric said. "It's a tradition that we all look forward to in the office, and we appreciate that they make time in their very busy schedule to share their amazing voices with us."
The Vernon Hills chamber choir has sung carols at the elementary schools and at Rust-Oleum each December for several years, too.
About 20 singers, all wearing matching blue-and-silver scarves knitted by director Jeremy Little's sister-in-law, performed Friday.
They sang numbers including "Caroling Caroling," "The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." The traditional Hanukkah song "Sevivon" got a chamber-style delivery, too.
At the District 128 office, the audience consisted of various staffers and administrators and a few visitors. Superintendent Prentiss Lea had a choice seat in front of the choir, and he beamed throughout the performance.
"We're really blessed that you're here today," Lea said afterward. "Thank you for really making our day and setting the table for the holiday season for us."
The choir isn't done entertaining audiences this month. It will perform Sunday at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. the Byron Colby Barn in Grayslake.
And on Dec. 9, the group will sign at Feed My Starving Children in Libertyville, the Brookdale senior living center in Vernon Hills and the Chapel in Libertyville.
Performances on two Chicago radio stations are scheduled, too.
"We're delighted and proud that they can share their wonderful voices with people throughout the Chicago area," Todoric said.