In a way, they’re coming home for the holidays.
Because of scheduling conflicts at its usual Naperville venue, Wentz Concert Hall, Chicago a cappella will perform this year’s “Holidays a cappella” concert back where it first debuted in the west suburban city: Community United Methodist Church.
“It was our first venue in Naperville. When we first decided we wanted to do performances in DuPage County, we looked all around. This was way back before Wentz Hall was even built, and we found this place, Community United Methodist Church … and really loved it … it’s a very warm, intimate space,” said Matt Greenberg, executive director. “The music sounds great there, it’s a great for singing. And so we were there for every Christmas from 2001-2008.
“It kind of really does feel like a homecoming, We’e very excited to go back to our first home out there where we haven’t been in many years,” Greenberg said.
Chicago a cappella will perform the “Holidays a cappella” concert at 4 p.m. Dec. 5 at Community UMC in Naperville. The venue is one of six throughout the Chicago area where the vocal ensemble will perform live.
Other venues include St. Josaphat Church in Chicago at 8 p.m. Dec. 3, Highland Park Community House at 8 p.m. Dec. 4, Buchanan Chapel at Fourth Presbyterian Church in Chicago at 8 p.m. Dec 10, Nichols Concert Hall in Evanston at 8 p.m. Dec. 11, and Pilgrim Congregational in Oak Park at 4 p.m. Dec. 12.
Audience members are required to show proof of vaccination and wear masks at all of the live venues.
“We are reducing capacity a little bit at all of our venues to try to accommodate some social distancing as well,” Greenberg said. “So I think it’s going to feel safe and welcoming to everybody.”
Audience members can go to the Safety page on the Chicago a cappella website for the latest updates,
In addition to the in person concerts, a livestream event will be held online at 7 p.m. Dec. 20.
“We’re going to produce a live virtual event with a smaller group of singers and they’ll sort of give people the behind the scenes, some information about the songs and sort of what the rehearsals were like. More insider information,” Greenberg said. “And then they’ll play video recordings of the performances. We’re actually videotaping one of the performances.”
This year’s “Holidays a cappella” program was created by Joe Labozetta with music direction by Paul Nicholson and Paul Langford. The set list includes range of songs about the holidays including Christmas, Hanukkah and Yuletide.
“One of the great things about the holidays program is it lends itself to a lot of variety,” said Labozetta, who sings bass. “The ability to dive into traditional seasonal music as well as more modern repertoires is really great for us, because I think Chicago a cappella thrives on variety. Stylistic variety, variety of language and different singing traditions. It’s really a testament to the group’s versatility.”
While American Christmas traditions are represented in the program, Labozetta wanted to include works the audiences may not have heard before, he said.
“I was thrilled to explore a few other cultures and languages that we may not have experienced,” he said.
Among the pieces he is excited to bring to the stage is “Najswietsza Panienka,” which he called a “wonderful Polish Christmas carol.”
“The arranger really took the melody and created this gorgeous atmosphere around it with the use of the other voice parts that are not singing the melody. And there’s some interesting rhythms,” he said.
“This sort of like bolero rhythm comes in toward the end and some nontraditional vocal techniques like overtones singing that is challenging to the singer. But it’s a really wonderful and beautiful experience for the listener.”
Music from the Republic of Georgia, which has a “very strong, very ancient tradition of folk singing,” featuring multiple parts. At Christmas, wassailing is common in Georgia.
“They sing from house to house and hope to get invited in for a treat. We’re bringing some of this in a way, familiar, tradition to the stage as well,” Labozetta said. “If you haven’t heard Georgian folk song before, it’s very different. Very compelling and exciting to listen to. I can’t wait to bring that to our audiences as well.”
Familiar carols the ensemble will perform include “O Come All Ye Faithful” as arranged by Pentatonix, “Coventry Carol,” “We Three Kings,” and an arrangement of “Jingle Bells” by the King’s Singers from Kings College in Cambridge, England.
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“They have a very whimsical arrangement of ‘Jingle Bells’ that’s just festive and what you think of when you think of the song ‘Jingle Bells,'” Labozetta said. “With a little but of cheekiness to it.”
Holidays a cappella
When: 8 p.m. Dec. 3
Where: St. Josaphat Church, 2311 N. Southport Ave., Chicago
When: 8 p.m. Dec. 4
Where: Highland Park Community House, 1991 Sheridan Road, Highland Parkcq
When: 4 p.m. Dec. 5
Where: Community United Methodist Church, 20 Center St., Naperville
When: 8 p.m. Dec. 10
Where: Buchanan Chapel at Fourth Presbyterian Church, 115 E. Delaware Place, Chicago
When: 8 p.m. Dec. 11
Where: Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 Chicago Ave., Evanston
When: 4 p.m. Dec. 12
Where: Pilgrim Congregational, 460 Lake St., Oak Park
Tickets: $45 preferred seating; $33 general seating
Holidays a cappella virtual event
When: 7 p.m. Dec. 20
Tickets: $33 link
Information: 773-281-7820; chicagoacappella.org
Kathy Cichon is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.