Wicker Park Choral Singers pair music with food and drink

In concert in the Wicker Park Lutheran Church

"Eat, Drink & Be Merry" was the theme of the Wicker Park Choral Singers 2011 holiday concert in the Wicker Park Lutheran Church, Sat. , Dec. 10. The concert will be repeated on Fri., Dec. 16, in the Fourth Presbyterian Church on the Magnificent Mile at 12:10 (noon). Led by Mark Tomasino, founder and Artistic Director of the group, Tomasino shared conducting with Adam Schleinzer for two of the pieces.

Mark Tomasino talks about the concert during post concert social

The selection of music was refreshingly different for a Christmas program. Most had probably never been heard by members of the large audience which exploded with applause after each number.

Composers included Erasmus Widmann (1572-1634), Orlando di Lasso (1532-1594), Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958), Anton Bruckner (1824-1896) in addition to contemporaries such as Robert Applebaum, Stanford Scriven and  Edward F. Davis, soon to be graduated from Knox College.

Edward F. Davis

Invited by Tomasino to compose a piece for this concert, Davis, who has composed five other choral pieces, began a search for text on the internet. When he found "Sir Loin, the Noble" by an anonymous 17th Century writer, he knew he had his inspiration.  Davis, a Chicagoan, is a member of the Knox College Choir and of the Nova Singers, a 20-voice professional ensemble based in Galesburg. Following graduation, Davis plans pursue a masters in composition.

Singer Jamie Simone talks with Doug Wood

While audience members thoroughly appreciated the clear tones and excellent phrasing and modulation of a wide range of musical offerings, they did have the opportunity to continue the spirit of the concert by taking home the program.

Simone's daughter and mother were part of the audience

Words for each of the thirteen choral pieces were paired with a recipe from members and friends of the choraliers in a 20-page booklet. The music ranged from the 1500s to 2011 and the food and libations included Pfeffernusse spice cookies, goose liver pate & port syrup, vegan pumpkin cupcakes with maple cream cheese frosting, beef stroganoff, cider wassail and hot buttered rum.

Begun in 2008, the Wicker Park Choral Singers believe in making world-class choral music accessible to the community and is committed to producing concerts that are free and open to the public. To learn more about volunteer opportunities with the group, send an email.