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Sound Of Illinois: Old School And Future Forward

Sound of Illinois

The Sound of Illinois Chorus is hosting a concert this weekend at the BCPA.  For 74 years, the barbershop chorus has maintained strong harmony.  On the eve of their diamond anniversary, members of the group say the current popularity of a cappella  singing is helping to bring barbershop back into the musical mainstream.

*The Sound of Illinois Chorus is a chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society, the oldest and largest all-male  a cappella singing organization in the world.

*The 75 or so members of the chorus stage several local shows each year, including taking part in the annual Sounds of Christmas concert, plus they regularly compete on the international level.

* The chorus actively reaches out to younger members of the community to get younger men to join the group.

*Shows like "Glee" and films like "Pitch Perfect" have inspired younger generations to take part in harmony singing.  Jimmy Fallon on the "Tonight Show" also fosters interest in barbershopping with the regular appearances of The Ragtime Gals to perform renditions of contemporary pop songs.

*The Sound of Illinois Chorus concert is Saturday, Feb. 27th at 2 and 7 PM at the BCPA.  The theme of the show is "Get Your Kicks On Rt. 66."

Reporter, content producer and former All Things Considered host, Laura Kennedy is a native of the Midwest who occasionally affects an English accent just for the heck of it. Related to two U.S. presidents, Kennedy appalled her family by going into show business.