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Get With The Beat With The Best Vocal Groups In Chicago

By Megan Horst-Hatch

While Chicago might be known for its blues music heritage, there are still plenty of other genres of music to be found in the Windy City. Whether you dig a cappella performances or want to give a listen to a choral group, you can find numerous shows to attend in the area. Not sure which group to see in concert? Many vocal groups have samples of their performances online so you can see which one appeals to you. To get started in finding a performance, check out the following groups.

Chicago Chamber Choir
(Credit: chicagochamberchoir.org)

Chicago Chamber Choir
Burst out Singing!
Unity Lutheran Church
1212 W. Balmoral Ave.
Chicago, IL 60640
(773) 878-4747
www.chicagochamberchoir.org

Date: April 7, 2013

For the Chicago Chamber Choir, making music accessible to everyone is the focus. The choir, which has 40 vocalists, has performed in nursing homes, homeless shelters and schools since it started in 1996. The Chicago Chamber Choir performs a mix of music, ranging from songs in Spanish to love songs. In "Burst out Singing!," the choir performs works by Bach, Bernstein and more while exploring the role singing plays in human existence. An additional performance is scheduled on April 13; for more information, consult Chicago Chamber Choir's website.

Chicago A Cappella
The A Cappella American Songbook
Nichols Concert Hall
1490 Chicago Ave.
Evanston, IL 60201
(847) 905-1500, ext.100
www.chicagoacappella.org

Date: April 20, 2013

For those who want to listen to classic songs, consider catching a performance of Chicago A Cappella. The group will perform standards by composers including George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter and Ray Noble, with songs like "Night and Day" and "I Got Rhythm" scheduled for the performance at Nichols Concert Hall. Chicago A Cappella was founded in 1993 and has performed more than 325 concerts worldwide. In addition, the group has performed the premiere of many new compositions. Additional dates are available; for more information, check out the group's website.

Acappellago
(Credit: acappellago.org)

Acappellago
Kaneland Community Fine Arts Festival
Kaneland High School
47W326 Keslinger Road
Maple Park, IL 60151
(630) 365-5100
www.acappellago.org

Date: April 21, 2013

Based in Chicago's western suburbs, Acappellago's goal is to help the audience "escape" to a different era or genre through its performances. The group, a member of Chorus America, performs a wide range of compositions, including those by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, John and Michelle Phillips, Irving Berlin and Stephen Chatman. In addition to the Kaneland Community Fine Arts Festival, Acappellago has performed for the Chicago Cubs, Chicago Rush and Chicago Fire. It has also performed at churches and nursing homes in Batavia and Oak Brook. For an additional list of performances, see Acappellago's website.

Apollo Chorus Concert
Cathedral Concert
Fourth Presbyterian Church
126 E. Chestnut St.
Chicago, IL 60611
(312) 787-4570
www.apollochorus.org

Date: May 3, 2013

Established in 1872, Apollo Chorus Concert is a mainstay in Chicago's music scene. The group features 125 members, and it has performed a range of compositions, including those by Bach, Mendelssohn and Orff. The Apollo Chorus Concert has appeared at numerous venues around Chicago, including Ravinia Festival, and has performed on local news programs. The group is also involved in community outreach, and has performed at schools and concerts in the Chicagoland area. In its Cathedral Concert at Fourth Presbyterian Church, the group will perform compositions by Stephen Paulus, including his "Pilgrim's Hymn." Apollo Chorus Concert will perform additional dates as well; for a list of the group's upcoming concerts, check out its website.

Chicago Choral Artists
France and England: Sacred and Profane
Ascension Catholic Church
808 S. East Ave.
Oak Park, IL 60304
(708) 848-2703
www.chicagochoralartists.org

Date: May 11, 2013

Be prepared to be transported across the pond for a concert highlighting songs from France and England. Through Chicago Choral Artists' concert, "France and England: Sacred and Profane," you can hear songs by artists including Benjamin Britten, Francis Poulenc and Vaughan Williams. Established in 1975, Chicago Choral Artists regularly performs compositions from all over the world, ranging from English carols to songs by Bach. Chicago Choral Artists will have additional performances throughout the Chicagoland area; for more information, check out the group's website.

Megan Horst-Hatch is a mother, runner, baker, gardener, knitter, and other words that end in "-er." She loves nothing more than a great cupcake, and writes at I'm a Trader Joe's Fan. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.

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