The Purdue University Varsity Glee Club will bring its energy and popular following to perform with the La Porte Symphony Orchestra on Saturday.
“It’s amazing how many people follow this group and have seen them four or five times,” said Tim King, interim executive director of the orchestra. “They sell out 6,000-seat auditoriums, six performances in a row, and I know many major acts that can’t do that. People come from all around to hear them and never get tired of them because they do different selections each time.”
The April Pops Concert begins at 7:30 p.m. at the La Porte Civic Auditorium and is under the direction of William Griffel.
Founded in 1893, the glee club is comprised of men from across the country, with majors ranging from engineering to education.
“What’s so great about this group is they’re not only fantastic singers, but their energy is just off the map. They will be performing with an orchestra instead of one piano, so it will be fun for them as well as the audience,” King said.
The show will be filled with hits from Broadway, movies, and arrangements specifically written for this performance, including selections from West Side Story and Les Miserables.
The La Porte County Symphony Orchestra Children’s Chorus, under the direction of Matthew Nelson, also will perform.
It will be the first time for the glee club to visit the orchestra, but it’s not for lack of trying, King said.
“Our music director, Phil Bauman, has worked with the Purdue Varsity Glee Club in the past with the Northwest Indiana Symphony and he’s tried to bring them here for a few years now, but they are always booked. This year worked, so we decided to feature them as the last performance of our season,” King said.
The evening begins at 6 p.m. for those who have opted for the pre-concert dinner where a glee club member sits at each table. Tickets for dinner are $50 or a dinner-concert combo is $80.
Heather Augustyn is a freelance writer.
.
April Pops Concert
Saturday, 7:30 p.m.
More Top Picks Best Pond Pumps
La Porte Civic Auditorium
1001 Ridge St., La Porte
Tickets $20 for adults and $18 for seniors.
Tickets are on sale at 219.362.9020 or lcso.net.