Community Chorus
Annual Holiday Concert
Sing, Sing, Sing! Friday, December 7 at 7:30pm Cutting Hall Performing Arts Center 150 E. Wood Street, Palatine
Kevin Kelly, Artistic Director and Conductor Tom Colao & Vicki Sowinski, Pianists Thomas Benko, Drums Phil Krawchuk, Bass
Allegro Community Chorus allegrochorus.com
Sing, Sing, Sing!
Friday, December 7, 2018, 7:30pm Cutting Hall Performing Arts Center 150 E. Wood Street, Palatine
Kevin Kelly, conductor Tom Colao & Vicki Sowinski, pianists Thomas Benko, drums Phil Krawchuk, bass
Program Sing, Sing, Sing! ������������������������������������������������������������������� Words & Music by Louis Prima Arranged by Philip Kern Early in the Morning ���������������������������������������������������������Words & Music by Paul Stookey Arranged by Clay Warnick Imagine �������������������������������������������������������������������������������Words & Music by John Lennon Arranged by Mac Huff All for the Best (from Godspell) ������������������������������������Words & Music by Stephen Schwartz Arranged by Arnold Freed Take Time in Life �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Liberian Folk Song Arranged by Tom Voorhis & Barbara Klemp Hallelujah ����������������������������������������������������������������������� Words & Music by Leonard Cohen Arranged by Roger Emerson I’ll Fly Away ����������������������������������������������������������������� Words & Music by Albert E. Brumley Arranged by Craig Courtney
Intermisssion This Is That Time of the Year ������Words by Martin Charnin; Music by Edward Thomas Arranged by Mark Brymer A Marshmallow World ���������������������������Words by Carl Sigman; Music by Peter De Rose Arranged by Gordon Krunnfusz Amid the Falling Snow �������������������Words by Roma Ryan; Music by Enya & Nicky Ryan Arranged by Audrey Snyder Lauren Herm, solo When Love Came Down ������������������������������������������������������Words & Music by Chris Eaton Arranged by Roger Emerson Allegretto
That’s Christmas to Me ����������������������� Words & Music by Scott Hoying & Kevin Olusola Arranged by Mark Brymer Allegretto Melissa Sakkos, Ginny Millar & Colleen Nelson, solos Mary, Did You Know? �����������������������������Words & Music by Mark Lowry & Buddy Greene Arranged by Jack Schrader Sopranos & Altos God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen ������������������������������������������������� Traditional English Carol Arranged by Philip Kern Tenors & Basses The Friendly Beasts ���������������������������� Words by Robert Davis; Traditional English Carol Arranged by Audrey Snyder Debby Taber, Bill Rosewell, Tim Schmidt & Deb Cross, solos Sleigh Ride ��������������������������������������Words by Mitchell Parish; Music by Leroy Anderson Arranged by Hawley Ades The Allegro Community Chorus is a program of Palatine Park District, Ashley Schiavone, Cultural Arts Coordinator.
We rule the harmonies when we sing ALTOgether
Deb C., Carol, Kim, Carrol, Lauren, Donna, Kumi, Deb N., Colleen, Linda, Lori, Annie, Nancy, Margaret
Allegro Community Chorus Kevin Kelly, Artistic Director Soprano CiCi Bailey* Janora Barlett Judy Greenwald Ilene Heyman Sonya Klopfleisch Linda Krug* Phyllis Lakofka* Carol Lange* Gabi McDonald* Kimberley Milfred* Mary Naughton Marilyn Russo Melissa Sakkos* Vicki Sowinski Debby Taber* Teana Wright Alto Deb Cross* Carol Durrant Kim Gallo Carrol Hercules* Lauren Herm* Donna Lin Kumi Nagaya* Deb Naylor Colleen Nelson* Linda Nelson* Lori Schmidt* Annie Teich* Nancy Van Camp Margaret Walczak
Tenor Patt Carmody Ginny Millar* Jim Ray* Bill Rosewell* Mike Vorel* Mike Zawacke* Bass Ron Crawford Frank Lakofka Thom Lange* Dick Mitchell Denny Schackter Tim Schmidt* Bernie Schofield Craig Williams* Pianists Tom Colao Vicki Sowinski Manager Patt Carmody *member of Allegretto
Special Thanks to
Cultural Arts Coordinator, Ashley Schiavone Theatre Coordinator, Jeff Greene The Cutting Hall Tech Staff Communications and Marketing Manager, Joan Scovic Digital Marketing Coordinator, Michael Noens Graphic Designer, LoriAnne Nelson Communications and Marketing Support Staff, Jill Kernan and Ann Patti Current and former Allegro Singers for donating raffle items and their time Our families and friends for your continued support
Kevin Kelly, Artistic Director
Kevin moved to the northwest Chicago suburbs in 2014, after 23 years living in Champaign-Urbana, where he served the musical community in multiple roles. In 1996, he founded a uniquely entertaining professional chamber orchestra called The Prairie Ensemble, with a mission to “make first-rate music fun, approachable and affordable.” Kevin has been honored three times by the Illinois Council of Orchestras for his work with the Ensemble. He has conducted the East Central Illinois Youth Orchestra since 1993 and continues to commute to Champaign for Sunday rehearsals. After 13 years as a classical music host at public radio station WILL-FM in Urbana, he served as host and producer of “Live and Local,” which featured interviews with, and frequent live performances by, local and visiting artists across many musical genres, theater and dance. In the fall of 2015, he became Artistic Director of the Allegro Community Chorus and Conductor for the Lake County Núcleo of Sistema Ravinia, an outreach program of the Ravinia Festival. This past summer, he was named Artistic Director of the Northwest Choral Society, based in Park Ridge. Kevin’s work with choirs includes 17 years as choirmaster at Emmanuel Memorial Episcopal Church in Champaign. As music director of The Prairie Ensemble, he conducted collaborative performances with the University of Illinois Concert Choir and Women’s Glee Club, Amasong, the Chorus of the Baroque Artists of Champaign Urbana and the Central Illinois Children’s Chorus. He previously directed the Illini Statesmen Barbershop Chorus in Champaign-Urbana and was active with the Champaign-Urbana Theatre Company. Kevin Kelly holds bachelor’s degrees in English (essay writing) and music history and criticism from Northwestern University, and master’s degrees in orchestral and choral conducting from the University of Illinois. Post-college, he sang with several professional choral ensembles, including the Chicago Symphony Chorus, the Grant Park Symphony Chorus, The City Musick, Basically Bach and His Majesties Clerkes (now Bella Voce). Kevin lives in Elgin with his wife, Ayano Sakai (a scientist at Tate & Lyle), and their virtual-twin cats, Farley and Percy.
Tom Colao, pianist
Tom enjoys a diverse musical career as an organist, conductor, collaborative pianist and tenor. He is currently Organist and Principal Choral Accompanist at Grace United Methodist Church in Naperville, and became Accompanist for the Allegro Community Chorus this fall. As a professional choral artist, Tom is currently on the roster of the Kinnara Ensemble, based in Princeton and Atlanta, where he has also served as an accompanist, and the choral ensemble Brevitas, based in Salt Lake City. From 2010-18, he served as Director of Music & Organist at All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Princeton, where he developed one of the premier adult choir programs in New Jersey. During this time, he also served as Associate Conductor of the Continuo Arts Foundation in Summit, NJ; as Music Director for then-Princeton based Opera MODO; and as accompanist for the Princeton Pro Musica symphonic chorus. Tom attended the Mannes College of Music from 2004-06, where he studied choral conducting with Mark Shapiro and vocal performance with Beth Roberts and Richard Cross; and Westminster Choir College from 2007-09, where he studied organ with Matthew Lewis, and was a member of the renowned Westminster Choir, serving as a singer and accompanist for two national tours, and appearing with the Choir at the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC, where he made his professional operatic debut as Le Chansonnier in Charpentier’s Louise. Tom received the certificate of Associate of the American Guild of Organists in 2016. In his spare time, he enjoys composing and arranging for choirs and instruments, and is also an avid outdoorsman.
Ron, Frank, Thom, Dick Denny, Tim Bernie and Craig
Basses may not hit the high notes; but we are not LOW-lifes either
Vicki Sowinski, pianist
Vicki enjoys a multi-faceted performance schedule, both as a pianist and organist. She holds a double major in piano performance and math from Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. Vicki comes from a musical family, often performing piano with her mother, who was also an accomplished concert pianist. She can be heard every Sunday as the organist at Calvary Lutheran Church in Wooddale, and is also the outgoing accompanist for the Allegro Community Chorus in Palatine. Vicki performs SharedArtistry concerts with her husband in his neo-classical group TwiceOne. These concerts make music personal by combining personal stories with unique musical arrangements. Vicki lives in Streamwood with her husband, Steve.
Thomas Benko, drum kit/percussion
Thomas Benko began studying percussion at age 9, taking drumset lessons from Greg Kulma and playing in all school ensembles offered. Thomas attended Lake Park High School and was a member of the Lake Park Lancer Marching Band. During his time there, the band won state in 2003 and two Illinois Class 6A drum titles in 2003 and 2004. He spent three summers with the Blue Stars Drum and Bugle Corps and was a member of the NorthCoast Academy Indoor Percussion Ensemble in 2008. Thomas earned a degree in Percussion Performance from Northern Illinois University, where he participated in the Philharmonic, Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, Pep Band, Percussion Ensemble and World Steel Band. Currently, Thomas is a percussion specialist at Maine South High School, teaching applied lessons and percussion methods and directing the percussion ensembles. He performs as a drummer with Blue Man Group Chicago at the Briar Street Theater and helps develop new Blue Men with their drumming abilities. Thomas is a member of the Chicago Bears Drumline and plays with Aurora-based folk-pop singer Kevin Presbrey and the Chicago based indie-rock band Minor Characters. Alongside Kyle Johnson, he is a member of the electroacoustic percussion duo Clocktower. Thomas also books and hosts a bi-monthly music series and collective called Emanation. He is part of the Innovative Percussion Education team, an Etymotic Signature Artist, and a member of the Percussive Arts Society.
Phil Krawchuk, bass
Phil Krawchuk earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Illinois Wesleyan University and a Master of Science in Library and Information Science from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He works as a software developer, and freelances on double bass and bass guitar. He lives in Mundelein with his wife and four children.
Thank you Vicki for your years of dedication to our choir!
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HIGH Allegro Tenors sing HIGH with a little help from our friends
Jim, Mike, Patt, Ginny, Bill and Mike
The following businesses are supporters of the Allegro Community Chorus. We encourage you to visit them. Briana’s Restaurant and Pancake House CC Additudes Cook, Cork and Fork Crate and Barrel Culver’s Doggie Playhouse Durty Nellie’s Evolve Chiropractic Firestone Complete Auto Care
Foxglove Cottage Garfield’s Beverage Warehouse IM Focused JP Woods Martial Arts Los Takitos Taco Shop The Music Room Nelson Group Salon Photo’s Hot Dogs Roberta Williams Salon Salon Mmm…
HOLIDAY FARE AT THE AL LARSON PRAIRIE CENTER FOR THE ARTS IN SCHAUMBURG
Schaumburg Youth Symphony Orchestra Joseph Malmquist, Director
Presto! Holiday Concert
featuring the Schaumburg Youth Choirs Prelude, Erin Kozakis, Director • Cantabile, Ann Espel, Director • Kammerchor, Timothy Koll, Director
Four accomplished youth ensembles combine talents to create a heartwarming program of seasonal classical works and holiday favorites. The award-winning youth orchestra has delighted audiences at Chicago’s Symphony Center and overseas in Europe and Asia, while the choral ensembles have been heard singing for the Chicago Bulls, Harlem Globetrotters and throughout the Chicagoland area. Together, these young artists use their worldly skills to create a homespun warmth in this one-of-a-kind holiday program.
Saturday, December 15 3 pm & 7 pm Tickets: $20 / $12 students & seniors
Saturday, December 22
Remarkable a cappella quintet puts their magical spin on timeless carols and holiday pop favorites. Tickets, $28 / $26 students and seniors
AL LARSON PRAIRIE CENTER FOR THE ARTS 201 SCHAUMBURG COURT, SCHAUMBURG, IL
(847) 895-3600 www.prairiecenter.org