SUN CITY – While many Americans will spend the Friday after Thanksgiving battling Black Friday’s shopping hordes, about 70 Sun Citians will gather in Drendel Ballroom one last time to practice for an upcoming performance.
A performance, they hope, that can help the Huntley community ring in the Christmas holiday.
The Prairie Singers’ annual fall concert, appropriately titled “Sights and Sounds of the Holidays,” has a full lineup of holiday-themed songs. The concert, scheduled for 3 p.m. on Dec. 1, will take place at Huntley High School.
“It’s so we can accommodate for the space,” Prairie Singers president Ge
Prairie Singers President Dwight Esau leads a Prairie Singers sectional practice at his home. (Photo by Chris LaPelusa/Sun Day)
ne Rhodes said. “Huntley’s theater is larger than what we have, so we’ll be able to bring more people to the show.”
In addition to instrumental sup¬port from the Encore Chamber Orchestra, the Singers are bringing something a little different to the table this time around. After the original program concludes, the group will have a sing-a-long with members of the audience (prior to their encore performance of the “Hallelujah Chorus”).
The song wasn’t mentioned; Rhodes still wants to keep some details of the show private, but “this is the first time we’ve wanted to do that. We’ve been practicing a lot to get ready for it, but we’re all pretty excited that it’s going to happen,” Rhodes said.
While the song list is set for the concert, Rhodes said the group had over 5,000 pieces of music to choose from – items collected over the years: “and we always buy extra music to add to that for something new.”
“We want to have a happy occasion and start off the holiday season right. Since it’s right after Black Friday, too, we may be one of the first to ring in the holidays. But we just want to do it right,” Rhodes said.
Rhodes said the Singers are always looking for additions and encourages any and all who are interested to reach out to him or head to a practice to learn more information.
“There are over 100 people who have just moved to the area and we have at least 9,000 to 10,000 people in this community. We’re just always looking to grow, and we hope some feel the same way about singing as we do.”
Sights and Sounds of the Holidays
When: Dec. 1 at 3 p.m.
Where: Huntley High School
Tickets: $10; available at Prairie Lodge between 1 and 3 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 23 and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 24.
Also available at Huntley High School or by calling Gene Rhodes at 847-669-4862
More info: sccah.com
