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player ready...Through all of their concerts, Acappellago members and their founding director Dennis Smith hope to help audiences escape from life’s stresses.
The 24-musician group will usher audiences into a world full of names—exploring everything from gospel to The Beatles—when they present “Escape to…You Name It?!” at the Mayslake Peabody Estate in Oak Brook on March 12, and at the Congregational Church of Batavia on March 13.
“It’s an eclectic concert,” and will feature many soloists, said Victoria Jinich, an alto in the chorus and music director at Congregational Church of Batavia.
“We have jazz pieces, spirituals and we’ve got silly pieces and serious pieces,” Jinich said.
When Smith asked her to arrange a piece for the concert, Jinich went with “Windy,” a 1967 hit sung by The Association.
“Windy popped right into my head, partially because The Association has such wonderful harmonies,” she said. “It was a logical place to go.”
Since The Association is composed of all men, and Acappellago includes both men and women, she worked to layer the harmonies and give it a strong balance.
Two other members have arranged pieces: Soprano Lorinda Guenther-Wright arranged the tune “Amie” sung by Pure Prairie League and tenor Andrew Johnson arranged a satirical song from a Gilbert and Sullivan musical.
Finding music written or arranged specifically for an a cappella group can be challenging, said Smith, who also serves as choir director for the Community Congregational Church of Villa Park.
His wife, Pat Smith, combs catalogs to find pieces that would work for the group.
Some of those gems to be sung at the March concert include pieces by well-known choral arranger Alice Parker, who will turn 90 years old this year.
Parker worked closely with Robert Shaw, known for founding and conducting the Robert Shaw Chorale, Dennis Smith said. Their arrangements are staples for choirs of all ages.
Acappellago will sing Parker’s arrangement of “John Saw Duh Numba,” a spiritual.
“It’s very catchy and lively,” Dennis Smith said. “There’s a lot of syncopation and off-beat singing that I think the audience will like.”
The choir will also sing a retrospective Irish tune, “Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye.”
“There are places where the chorus has to sound like a drum. The words are very somber,” Smith said.
The group will additionally sing three pieces by American composer Stephen Foster, including “Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair,” and The Beatles’ “Michelle” and “Penny Lane.”
“I think people will really enjoy this,” Dennis Smith said. “It will give them a unique perspective on a choral concert.”
Acappellago’s ‘Escape to…You Name It?!’
When: 7:30 p.m., March 12 in Oak Brook; 4 p.m. March 13 in Batavia
Where: Mayslake Peabody Estate, 1717 W. 31st St., Oak Brook; Congregational Church of Batavia, 21 S. Batavia Ave., Batavia
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Tickets: $15-$17
Contact: (708) 484-3797; www.acappellago.org