Tri-Cities Residents Share Thoughts about The Fox Valley Festival Chorus Love Stories from The Great American Songbook to be

As members of the Fox Valley Festival Chorus, under the direction of Mary Beth McCarthy, put the finishing touches on the spring pops concert, Love Stories from The Great American Songbook, several Tri-Cities share what their involvement with the 66 year old Chorus means to them.

Although Peter Mitchell of Geneva has never sung with this group, his patriotic works have been performed by them. According to Mitchell, The Fox Valley Festival Chorus “is arguably the finest mixed-voice chorus in all of Chicagoland, as evidenced by the invitations it has received recently to perform in New York's famed Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center. Their recordings have been largely responsible for my music being performed by choral groups outside this area and in Europe." The Chorus’ recording of his “In Flanders Field” is available on YouTube .

Batavia resident Hogan Nguyen, who is president of the Chorus, says “Belonging to the Fox Valley Festival Chorus makes me feel truly connected to the local community. When I sing amongst the 55 or so other members, all other thoughts of the day disappear, and i just concentrate on the music and harmony of other voices around me. It's a wonderful and priceless experience.”

A newer member of the group and temporary Batavia resident, Robin Bjorkquist, is a graduate student from Cornell University, working on her Ph.D at Fermilab. She joined the group because "Singing with a chorus adds so much richness to my life. I love coming to rehearsal every week; the music and the camaraderie within the group are both wonderful.

Members of the 60+ voice Chorus live and work in all areas of Kendall, Kane, Grundy, and DuPage counties and rehearse weekly in Aurora. There are two performances scheduled—Saturday, June 11, at 7 pm at the Oswego Village Hall, 100 Parkers Mill in Oswego, and Sunday, June 12, at 3 pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 10 N. Edgelawn in Aurora.

Tickets will be available at the door and are available from Chorus members. Prices are $12 for adults, $10 for ages 65 and up, and $5 for ages 12 and under. A cheese cake reception will follow the concert.

The Chorus has begun the countdown to its June 2017 performance tour of Italy and may be performing several selections from this concert in Florence, Italy. The group will be performing sacred selections only in three religious venues in Italy, highlighted by a performance in the Vatican. Openings are still available for the Italy tour for new members who join the group in the fall.

Additional information is available at www.foxvalleyfc.org or from foxvalleyfc@gmail.com or on the group’s Facebook page.