University of Illinois Alumni Concert Choir to perform at Huntley's Shepherd of the Prairie
On Saturday, June 10, the voices of the 50-member University of Illinois Alumni Concert Choir will echo through Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Church in Huntley.
The concert, under the direction of Dr. Chester L. Alwes, a noted conductor, composer, and author, will begin at 7:30 p.m. at the church, 10805 Main St.
Admission to this performance is free and open to the public. Donations are gratefully accepted.
Sponsored by the SOTP artist series, a community outreach initiative sponsored by Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Church, the acclaimed University of Illinois Alumni Concert Choir will sing a variety of popular works suitable for all attendees who value the love and appreciation of music.
As a choral conductor, Alwes is known for his innovative programming, his sensitivity to tone and musical line, and his dedication to the musical success and growth of his singers. Throughout his career, Alwes has been widely hailed as a teacher/mentor, scholar, editor, and composer.
He holds degrees in music from Hanover College (BA), Union Theological Seminary School of Sacred Music (MSM), and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (DMA). Prior to joining the University of Illinois faculty in 1982, he held teaching positions at the College of Wooster (Ohio) and the University of Rochester/Eastman School of Music.
At the University of Illinois, Alwes has taught graduate courses in choral literature (both MM and DMA) and seminars on the works of J. S Bach and Henry Purcell as well as graduate and undergraduate conducting.
In 1996, he founded the Baroque Artists of Champaign-Urbana (BACH), an ensemble of singers and players drawn from the University and local community that specializes in the music of the 17th and 18th centuries.
Visit the church website at sotp.org for further information or email artistseries@sotpmail.com.
Shepherd of the Prairie Lutheran Church, under the leadership of Senior Pastor Mark Boster and Pastor Ryan Mackey, has served the Huntley community for over 20 years.