Hinsdale Chorale Announces Annual Spring Concert
“Around the World in 80 Minutes”
April 27 & 28, 2024

Hinsdale, IL – March 26, 2024 – Hinsdale Chorale announced today that its annual spring concert, “Around the World in 80 Minutes”, will be held Saturday, April 27, at 7:00 p.m., and Sunday, April 28, at 3:00 p.m., at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, 203 S. Kensington in La Grange. Under the direction of Artistic Director Dr. Mary Hopper, accompanied by Kathy Christian on piano, the performance will feature a wide array of traditional, folk, liturgical, and dance songs from a variety of cultures around the world.

Nine different languages will be featured, including German, Hebrew, Romani, Farsi, Indonesian, Latin, Korean, Shona, and English. Additional accompanists will include Stephane Collopy on violin, Marsha Webster on piano, and percussionists Eli Ouoba, Nate Housman, and Jerry Gore.

“This multicultural celebration of choral music offers something for everyone,” said Dr. Hopper. “We’re telling the stories and honoring the cultures of different countries through music. While the world today is filled with strife and political upheaval, music and the arts can unite people and help us understand each other.”

The concert opens with a traditional Zimbabwe greeting, “Sorida,” followed by folk songs “Feller from Fortune” from Newfoundland and “Carrickfergus” from Ireland. Worship pieces include “Heilig,” a German song from the Lutheran liturgy, and “Salmo 150,” a Brazilian setting of Psalm 150 sung in Latin. More folk songs include “Three Hungarian Folk Songs”, the Korean “Arirang”, and “Barun Barune”, a traditional Iranian folk song.

Dance and celebratory songs include “TāReKiTa”, an Indian celebration piece, “Niška Banja”, a Romani dance song from Serbia, and “Indodana” a traditional South African song. A highlight of the program is Eric Whitacre’s “Five Hebrew Love Songs”, featuring lyrical and sometimes haunting melodies.

Tickets for “Around the World in 80 Minutes” are $20 for adults / $15 for students and seniors. For more information, visit www.hinsdalechorale.org or call 312-510-1823.

Hinsdale Chorale acknowledges support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency.

About Hinsdale Chorale

Hinsdale Chorale is a non-profit, educational organization comprised of dedicated professional and amateur singers led by a professional director. Its mission is to enrich the musical culture of Hinsdale, IL, and its surrounding neighborhoods by promoting the appreciation of choral singing in our community. The group performs formally twice each year as well as several special appearances, including the Hinsdale Christmas Walk and the Hinsdale History Museum’s holiday open house. The Chorale has a total of 46 voices representing 29 different communities throughout Chicago and its suburbs. For more information, visit www.hinsdalechorale.org.

Join us for our upcoming spring program:

Hinsdale Chorale tenor, JR Tomkinson, featured in
The Hinsdalean!

Please Check Out Hinsdale Chorale’s Web Series: Creative Musings

Our first installment features our beloved collaborative pianist, Kathy Christian – enjoy!

Hinsdale Chorale

Hinsdale Chorale is a non-profit and educational organization comprised of dedicated professional and amateur singers led by a professional director. The group performs formally twice each year as well as several special appearances for the Hinsdale community. The Holiday show has traditionally been the most extensive performance, often highlighted by orchestral accompaniment of solo and choral selections and often including an audience sing-along. The second formal show takes place in the spring and has provided the opportunity for us to extend the range of music selections. The group also often supports the Memorial Day services at Memorial Hall with patriotic selections and participates in Hinsdale’s annual Christmas Walk featuring holiday favorites.