St. Charles Singers to kindle 'Candlelight Carols' Dec. 1-3
The St. Charles Singers' "Candlelight Carols" concerts have been an annual tradition since the choir's founding in 1984.
The 2017 edition of the Christmas program, to be presented Dec. 1-3 in St. Charles and Chicago, will offer "fresh and engaging new arrangements of favorite carols," says Jeffrey Hunt, founder and music director of the professional chamber choir.
These include "Jingle Bells" arranged for eight-part choir by Ben Parry. Hunt describes it as "jazz-inspired, complex, and rhythmically interesting."
The mixed-voice choir will perform "Candlelight Carols" at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1, at Baker Memorial United Methodist Church, 307 Cedar Ave., St. Charles; 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, at Fourth Presbyterian Church, 126 E. Chestnut St., Chicago; and 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 3, at Baker Church in St. Charles.
Hunt points out that despite the holiday concert's long-standing title, this will be the first edition that consists solely of carols, rather than a mix of carols, motets, and anthems.
"About 90 percent of the repertoire is new to the St. Charles Singers," he says.
Hunt has selected a half-dozen arrangements from a newly published collection titled "Christmas Carols of the World." Among them are Niels Gade's "Barn Jesus i en krybbe la," Jakub Zicha's "Byla cesta," Mark Sirett's "Huron Carol," Andre Thomas's "African Noel," Jehan Alain's "Noël Nouvelet," and John Rutter's "The Holly and the Ivy."
Also on the Christmas program: "In the Bleak Midwinter" by Ola Gjeilo, "My Lord Has Come" by Will Todd, "A Hymn to the Virgin" by Benjamin Britten, "Tuoro, Louro, Louro" by Robert Shaw and Alice Parker, "I Saw Three Ships" by Simon Preston, "Deck the Hall" by Hugo Cole, "Good King Wenseslas" by Paul Halley, and "Silent Night" by David Willcocks.
The choir will perform the world premiere of Geneva, Ill., composer and instrumentalist Scott Stevenson's original music to G.R. Woodward's "Unto Us Is Born a Son." The St. Charles Singers commissioned the piece from Stevenson, one of its resident composers.
Hunt says the concert aims to be "fun and entertaining to see, as well as to hear" and hints that there might be a few visual props - perhaps even a chorister or two in costume - and instruments creating atmospheric effects suggested by the lyrics.
Single tickets are $35 adult general admission, $30 for seniors, 65 or older, and $10 for students.
Tickets and general information about the St. Charles Singers are available at www.stcharlessingers.com or by calling (630) 513-5272. Tickets are also available at Townhouse Books, 105 N. Second Ave., St. Charles (checks or cash only at this ticket venue). Tickets may also be purchased at the door on the day of the concert, depending on availability. Group discounts are available.
Candlelight Choristers
St. Charles Singers choristers who'll be performing in the Candlelight Carols concerts include sopranos Jeanne Fornari of Batavia, Ingrid Burrichter of Chicago, Marybeth Kurnat of Cortland, Laura Johnson of Hanover Park, Cynthia Spiegel of La Fox, Meredith Du Bon and Jennifer Gingrich of Naperville, AnDréa James of St. Charles, and Karen Lukose of Winfield.
Members of the alto section are Christina Collins of Arlington Heights, Sarah Underhill of Aurora, Margaret Fox of Batavia, Mary Kunstman of Elburn, Bridget Kancler of Oak Park, Jennifer Hunt of St. Charles, Chelsea Rhoades of Sycamore, and Debby Wilder of Wheeling.
Tenors are Rob Campbell of DeKalb, Bradley Staker of Elburn, Jonathan Cramer of Gurnee, Aaron James of St. Charles, Gregor King of Sycamore, David Hunt of Wayne, and Steve Williamson of West Chicago.
The choir's bass section includes Phil Nohl and Michael Thoms of Aurora, Brandon Fox of Batavia, Antonio Quaranta of Carol Stream, Michael Popplewell of North Aurora, Chris DiMarco of Naperville, and Jens Hurty of Yorkville.
St. Charles Singers
Founded and directed by Jeffrey Hunt, the St. Charles Singers is a professional chamber choir dedicated to choral music in all its forms. The mixed-voice choir launched in St. Charles in 1984 as the Mostly Madrigal Singers. ClassicsToday.com calls the ensemble "one of North America's outstanding choirs," citing "charisma and top-notch musicianship" that "bring character and excitement to each piece."