CHICAGO CHILDREN’S CHOIR RETURNS TO
ELMHURST’S BETHEL UCC FOR
ANNUAL CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION CONCERTS
ELMHURST, ILL., (Nov. 12, 2013) –The much anticipated return of the world-renowned Chicago Children’s Choir to Bethel United Church of Christ in Elmhurst is slated for Saturday, December 7, with performances at 3:30 and 7:00 p.m.
“Music@Bethel is incredibly honored to bring this new holiday tradition to so many in Elmhurst and all around the Chicago area,” said Jeff Panko, Minister of Music and Artistic Director of the Music at Bethel Concert Series.
Hailed by the Chicago Tribune as a “stirring wall of voices,” the 60-member Emmy-winning Voice of Chicago ensemble returns to Bethel under the direction of Judy Hanson for its third annual performance.
“We’re so thrilled that our holiday performance has quickly become a tradition for both the Choir and for Music@Bethel, said Judy Hanson, Director of Choral Programs. “While our Voice of Chicago ensemble will perform many seasonal favorites, we also will add some pop, Gospel and traditional South African music to demonstrate the Choir’s unique command of divergent genres. This will be great fun, and our talented group of young voices can’t wait to perform,” she added.
Chicago Children’s Choir is a multiracial, multicultural choral music education organization, shaping the future by making a difference in the lives of children and youth through musical excellence. The Chicago Children’s Choir conducts in-school programs in over 60 schools serving over 3,500 youth, providing interactive arts instruction to schools that have essentially no arts programs. These in-school programshelp recruit children to join the nine neighborhood choirs, comprised of over 600 youth, ages 8 – 18. From the neighborhood choirs, auditions are held to select the best voices for admission into the Voice of Chicago ensemble which tours nationally and internationally. The Voice of Chicago ensemble will tour South Africa in 2014, having returned from internationally acclaimed tours of India and Italy in 2012-2013.
The Music@ Bethel Concert Series is celebrating its fifteenth year under the direction of Panko, who produces and frequently performs in, an impressive array of diverse musical programs, including classical, jazz and world-music performances for the Music@Bethel Concert Series. The intimate setting has played host to some of the world’s most accomplished classical musicians and singers from the Chicago area. The series concludes with two concerts in spring 2014. Grammy-nominated Guitarra Azul will perform on March 8 at 7:00 p.m. and thirteen year-old sensation, pianist Victoria Young, returns to Music@Bethel on May 10, time TBD.
Two Chicago Children’s Choir concerts take place on Saturday, December 7, 2013 at 3:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at Bethel United Church of Christ, 315 East St. Charles Road in Elmhurst. Tickets are available on-line through www.musicatbethel.com or call (630) 279-4040. Ticket prices range from $15 to $35. Parking is free and the church is handicapped-accessible.