The College of Lake County choir department continues its tradition of presenting all four of its singing ensembles in a spring concert that one of the group’s directors Jeffrey DeLay of Waukegan said will offer a wide range of musical experiences, as well as some fun surprises. It will be a music history lesson for the audience with pieces from the Renaissance era, as well as Broadway musical medley and some gospel tunes.
DeLay directs the CLC Singers and Choir of Lake County; Ingrid Mikolajczyk directs the CLC Chamber Singers; and Charles Thomas Hayes directs the CLC Gospel Choir. Hayes will conduct a piece performed by all four choirs at the end of the concert, which will be at the college in Grayslake on Saturday.
The CLC Singers, comprised mostly of younger college-age students, will present two novelty pieces written during the Renaissance period of the 16th century.
“It’s a fun way for them to get into historical choral literature,” DeLay said.
“One of them features animal sounds. Another one features echo effect and the silly things one might say to one self standing alone on a mountainside being answered by his own echo. Back then, composers every once in a while had the same desire to be silly that we do now.”
The echo piece, written by Orlando Dilasso in the 16th century challenges the students because they have to be divided into two groups and also learn correct Italian pronunciation, he said.
The Choir of Lake County, mostly made up of retired and working men and women with various experience in choral singing, will perform an extended medley from the musical, “Showboat” and a modern classical piece by Randall Thompson, one of the most famous American choral composers, he said.
“Between these two offerings, we get a great balance, which is appreciated by the singers and will satisfy the appetite of different concertgoers, as well,” he said.
The Chamber Singers is the equivalent of an honors choir, DeLay said. “They are singers distinguished for their sight reading abilities and musicianship. They’re able to tackle some more difficult works.”
The Chamber Singers will perform choral works using Shakespearean texts to honor the 400th anniversary of his death, which gives the audience the whole breadth of common practice music history in one concert, DeLay said.
The Gospel Choir will present a variety of spirited contemporary and traditional gospel songs. The mass choir finale, “Ye Shall Have a Song” from Randall Thompson’s “The Peaceable Kingdom,” will feature all four choirs.
This is the end of the second year for all three conductors to be in charge of these ensembles, said DeLay, who has been teaching private voice lessons at the college for 10 years.
“Charles Clency, who retired two years ago, really helped grow the choir program at CLC,” he said.
Sheryl DeVore is a freelance writer.
Spring Choral Concert
When: 4 p.m. Saturday
Where: Mainstage Theatre of the James Lumber Center, 19351 W. Washington St., Grayslake
Tickets: $3 to $4
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Information: 847-543-2300; www.clcillinois.edu/tickets