Thursday, Jun. 25, 2009

These colors aren't afraid to sing

For those who love patriotic concerts, Belleville will be the place to be Sunday for a stirring red, white and blue doubleheader.

St. Paul's United Church of Christ will get the musical fireworks rolling with its 24th annual pre-Fourth of July program at 3 p.m.

"America the Beautiful" will boast a 70-plus-voice choir and three award-winning young soloists in a gala filled with the sounds of God and country plus a little Broadway and Dixieland thrown in for good measure.

It also should give concertgoers plenty of time to drive across town to St. Matthew United Church of Christ, where the flags will be waving proudly for its annual Freedom Celebration.

After the inspirational sounds of the Wanda Mountain Boys kick things off at 6, the main event will follow at 7, a multimedia extravaganza that this year will pay extra tribute to local veterans of the Vietnam War. You can even grab a bite to eat at the all-American food court starting at 5.

But that's just the start of the musical treats in the area this coming week. At 7 p.m. Friday, the Collinsville Chorale will celebrate its 15th anniversary at Collinsville High School with its own patriotic show that will feature appearances by its three previous conductors.

In Freeburg, O'Fallon fiddlin' virtuoso George Portz will team up with young Julia Garland, of Granite City, for an evening of bluegrass at 6 p.m. in the village park. And, in Lebanon, the Southern Illinois Music Festival will open at 2 p.m. Sunday with a chamber music concert at McKendree University.

Here's a closer look at the highlights:

St. Paul

He dreamed up the idea for the patriotic concert in 1986. Now, after a long absence, Norbert Krausz returns to the podium to direct his baby -- and he says he couldn't be happier.

"I had no idea that 12 years later, I would be standing back down there doing it," said Krausz, who returned to the church last fall after leaving for the glitter of Las Vegas in 1997. "But I'm glad to do it. Very thankful."

He'll be greeted by many familiar faces, starting with the choir that has members from Belleville to Nashville, Edwardsville to Waterloo.

"It's a great group," he said. "And when I asked the other night how many were there 24 years ago, there was a good amount of hands that went up."

You can add Belleville native Dave Wagner to that group, too. Now a rising star in the Chicago music scene, Wagner and his wife, Lisa, will serve as narrators and show off their own musical skills as well.

"Actually, I'd forgotten about it, but he sent me a bio down the other day and wrote in there that he started in music in our cherub choir here at St. Paul with me," said Krausz of Wagner, who will return to St. Paul Oct. 23 to perform with his new a cappella group, Fiveplay. "That's about 25 years ago, so it's good to see young people grow up and stay in the business and share their talent."

Also in the spotlight will be the winners of the Young Voices of America competition, including three-time champ Joseph "Bubba" Baker, a recent Belleville High School West graduate. Joining him will be Belleville West senior Adam Meirink and recent Belleville East grad Tyra Suggs.

"She will be doing a beautiful original song called "Faith" as well as another song written for the 9-11 event called 'With One Dream,'" Krausz said of the young woman, who landed a role last summer in the St. Louis Black Rep's production of "Sarafina." "It's a very moving song. She is a very talented and spiritual young lady."

Of course, all the favorites are included, including several variations of "America the Beautiful" and "Battle Hymn of the Republic." And, to start the concert, Krausz will join Linda Danford, of Mascoutah, at the church's Schantz organ for a rousing rendition of Sousa's "Stars and Stripes Forever."

"I think we've got a good lineup," he said. "I think it will be very celebrative, so we'll get that red-white-and-blue idea out there, because it's needed."

The church is at 115 W. B St.; an offering will be taken.

St. Matthew

Hank Oplinger is only half joking when he says that his church's Freedom Celebration at 7 p.m. Sunday will be rousing enough to wake the dead.

To add power to the production, they'll be throwing in both video and drama involving such historical figures as Lewis and Clark and Abraham Lincoln as well as Thomas Jefferson and other signers of the Declaration of Independence.

"We're bringing them back from the grave," the church's minister of worship said with a chuckle.

There will be plenty of exhilarating music, too, including "Blades of Grass and Pure White Stones," written, in part, by U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch.

"The lyrics are about a soldiers graveyard like Jefferson Barracks," Oplinger said. "And there's another new song called 'Because of the Brave.' We're free because of the brave men and women who have defended us through the years."

Some of those brave soldiers will be honored Sunday when the church pays tribute to all Vietnam veterans. Chris Higgins, meteorologist for KTVI-FOX2, will narrate the program, which will open with the traditional Southern gospel sounds of the Wanda Mountain Boys at 6.

Starting at 5, those attending are invited to sample the hot dogs, hamburgers and brownies in the food court and enjoy the Dixieland in The Vine Cafe. The church is at 1200 Moreland Drive; admission is free.

Collinsville Chorale

The Collinsville Chorale will be pulling out all the stops with it celebrates its 15th birthday with a reunion concert at 7 p.m. Friday in the Collinsville High School Fine Arts Auditorium

This concert will be a special one for many reasons, says Gary Humphrey, the group's executive director. To start the evening, the current chorale will perform a wide range of patriotic and folk favorites, including "American Hymn," "Shenandoah" and "The Star-Spangled Banner."

Then, for the second half of the night, the chorale has invited back all singers and directors from the past 15 years to join in the music-making. Returning to the podium will be Lisa Neal, the Rev. Gary Hoobler and Marty Johnson, each of home will lead two selection. Current director Andy Waggoner then will close the program with "God Bless America."

Admission is free, although an offering will be taken.

Music Festival

Southern Illinois University Carbondale will be bringing chamber music and an opera to McKendree University next week as part of its annual Southern Illinois Music Festival.

The series opens at 2 p.m. Sunday with a chamber music concert at the Hettenhausen Center for the Arts. The performance features selections from Mozart and Beethoven along with Schubert's "Trout Quintet" for piano and strings. Ticket are $12, $10 for seniors and $5 for students and children.

Then, on July 2, the festival will wrap up with its traditional twinbill -- a free Klassics for Kids concert at 10 a.m. for youngsters up to 5 years old followed by a fully staged performance of Verdi's masterpiece "La Traviata" at 7:30 p.m.

The opera will be sung in Italian with English supertitles. Feature singers include soprano Laura Portune, tenor Jay Morrissey, mezzo-soprano Katherine Calcamuggio and SIUC's own David Dillard, baritone. Tickets are $18, $15 for seniors and $5 for students. For reservations, call 537-6863.