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Barrington Children's Choir Announces New Artistic Director

The Barrington Children's Choir is pleased to announce the hiring of Tom Vendafreddo of Chicago as artistic director, effective January 1, 2021. Vendafreddo, an alumnus of the choir, joins the organization with an impressive educational background and career as a choral director in Chicago's professional music and theater community. He assumes the position from retiring director, Carol Sesso, who joined the organization in 2007.

Vendafreddo grew up in Inverness, IL, and recounts his childhood choral experiences fondly.

"After a few years trying out tee-ball and basketball with my sporty twin brother, I soon realized that singing and playing piano was what kept my interest. I've sung in choirs since I was old enough to join the Palatine Children's Chorus at age 8. I traveled everywhere from Toronto to Austria with choral groups as a kid, and met some of my nearest and dearest friends along the way."

After receiving his Bachelor of Music degrees in Music Education and Vocal Performance from the prestigious Eastman School of Music (long regarded as one of the world's premiere schools of music), Vendafreddo then pursued a Master of Fine Arts degree in Musical Theatre from San Diego State University.

In 2014, Vendafreddo became the founding artistic director of the Chicago Artists Chorale, a nonprofit, volunteer-based choral organization serving a diverse community of artists from the Chicago area. Producing two choral concerts per year, the chorale has seen cumulative membership of over 300 singers. This past December, the group premiered a virtual concert offering that has now been viewed over 2,200 times by audiences in the U.S., Europe, Asia, and Australia.

Vendafreddo takes over the directorship as the Barrington Choir's 35th season was interrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"On behalf of the board and staff of Barrington Children's Choir, I am excited to welcome Tom Vendafreddo as our artistic director," remarks President Mike Lynch. "Tom brings to Barrington Children's Choir a passion for high quality vocal performance training, and a drive to help others find and share their best selves through music. I look forward to seeing the many ways Tom's experience and leadership forms our choristers across the landscape of their futures. I invite Barrington Children's Choir families, choristers, alumni, and community members to give Tom a warm Barrington welcome. I am excited to have him with us."

Established in 1986, by founding Artistic Director Peggy Crawford, the Barrington Children's Choir provides choral education and training with the finest traditional and contemporary choral music repertoire to children in grades two through 12. Choristers are recruited from many Northwest suburban communities. Annual concerts are held in December and May. Additional performances include civic, church and corporate events, Chicago sporting events, and the choir has been featured on local television programs. The choirs typically tour every other year, invited by international choral festivals or independent performance venues in the United States.

The staff of this nonprofit organization includes choral directors and accompanists, an operations manager and a board of directors that manage a high level of parental involvement which focuses on volunteerism and fundraising events. A virtual spring concert offering, "How Can I Keep From Singing?" is in development, and details will be announced shortly.

Vendafreddo explains, "Though the COVID-19 metrics are improving in Illinois at an encouraging rate, we know that hosting a concert with a large, live audience by this spring is not likely. Therefore, our plan is to rehearse and prerecord our spring concert and then premiere it online to a large (albeit virtual) audience on Saturday, June 12."

The Barrington Children's choir is currently in rehearsal, with no more than 10 in-person singers at any one time. Rehearsal schedules are organized for both hybrid (rotation) and virtual sessions, so that any singers wishing to rehearse full from home are welcome. For future audition information, schedules, rehearsal location and safety protocols, visit the website at www.BarringtonChildrensChoir.org.

About Barrington Children's Choir:

Barrington Children's Choir ignites the power and joy of music within the lives of children, inspiring them to be lifelong lovers and learners of music while uniting communities throughout the Chicago Northwest Suburbs and beyond. Visit us at www.BarringtonChildrensChoir.org. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

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