Brandon Fantozzi, director of the Chorus, introduced WEGO’s first choir concert of the year on Oct. 10 in the West Chicago Community High School auditorium, where the music echoed through the night.
The Fall Choral Showcase featured a variety of performances from the Mixed Chorus, Honors A Cappella Chamber Choir, Concert Choir, and Combined Choirs, offering the audience a dynamic range of styles and talent.
The showcase opened with the Mixed Chorus, whose members, including Alex Aguilar, Gianna Branly, and Berlyn Rubio, began with the lively piece “A Great Big Sea” by Lori-Anne Dolloff. Shortly thereafter, Fantozzi briefly thanked the audience, expressing his excitement for a “fun start to the school year,” before the chorus moved into the harmonically rich “Closer to the Flame” by David Lantz III. The group concluded their set with Felicia A. B. Sandler’s evocative “Sail Away,” highlighted by a poignant solo from Berlyn Rubio.
“I was a little nervous just because, like, it’s my first concert being in high school, but I’ve been doing choir for a while, so I didn’t have as much nerves,” Rubio said.
Next, the Honors A Cappella Chamber Choir took the stage, delivering a more intricate repertoire with songs like “April Is in My Mistress’ Face” by Thomas Morley and “Valparaiso” by Philip Lawson. The group captivated the audience with the emotionally charged “Danny Boy,” before ending on a lighter note with “Light in the Hallway” by Zac Jones.
As the evening progressed, the Concert Choir, a larger ensemble, delivered their own set. They opened with the energetic “Gather Ye While Ye May” by Eugene Butler, followed by a smooth rendition of George and Ira Gershwin’s classic “Someone to Watch Over Me,” which featured solos by Stephanie Flores Abarca and Bo Dragosh. The Concert Choir wrapped up their section with the lighthearted “Springfield Mountain” arranged by Vicki Tucker Courtney, drawing smiles from the audience.
“You can tell [the choir] put in a lot of effort,” Natalie Cabral, a parent attending the concert, said.
Cabral’s son, Jayden Morales, is not only part of WEGO’s choir, but is also part of Anima Glen Ellyn Children’s Chorus. Cabral said she enjoyed seeing her son singing in a “different environment” and in “school.”
Between the Chamber and Concert Choirs, Jen Riconosciuto, a member of the Music Boosters and mother of one of the performers, gave a brief speech, encouraging parental involvement in future fundraisers and events.
The night concluded with all the choirs joining together for a powerful performance of Dan Davidson’s “Exultate Justi,” a rousing end to an evening filled with impressive talent and heartfelt performances.
“I was very excited, because this is the first year in which I got to be in Concert Choir after being in mixed choir my freshman year, and I’ve always loved, like, singing with like, a really big choir, because like, the sound just like resonates more, and there’s much more different parts and stuff, and it just sounds way better,” Allison Montalvo, a sophomore, said.
Montalvo’s favorite part about choir is the upperclassmen and being able to sing with them
“They’re a very talented group, and they have much more experience than I do, and I learned a lot from them,” Montalvo said.
After perfoming, Nick Riconosciuto emphasized the dedication and passion that the group has, allowing them to not only do what they love, which is create music, but also to make genuine connections with each other. He described the group as a “really special” place to be. Those thoughts were echoed by others in the group.
“It’s been fun. I’ve been with friends that I’ve had since my eighth grade choir, and it’s just been really enjoyable to hang out with Mr. Fantozzi and stuff like that,” Rubio said.
Moving forward, the singers are looking forward to the Christmas concert, an annual favorite.
