This seasonal showcase will bring to life the diverse sounds of Chicago's Austin neighborhood through a concert featuring original music, exciting choreography and multimedia presentations. It will also feature performances by our two citywide ensembles, Dimension and Voice of Chicago.
Tickets are $10* per person, available for purchase at the concert. All seating is general admission.
*Uniting Voices Chicago has a pay-what-you-can policy, allowing guests to pay as much or as little as they like per ticket, including requesting free tickets if desired*
Uniting Voices Chicago strives to make music and performance accessible to anyone who wants it. Assistive listening devices are available at the ticketing desk. All public performance areas at Logan Center are equipped to accommodate wheelchair users. To request accommodations, please email info [at] unitingvoiceschicago [dot] org.
Voice of Chicago is presented by Allstate.
Use this text-only program to access translations using your web browser.
Austin Neighborhood Choir Community Concert
Featuring Voice of Chicago and Dimension
Saturday, April 15, 2023
Kehrein Center for the Arts
Conductors
Farlanda Buchannon, Austin Neighborhood Choir
Judy Hanson, Voice of Chicago and Dimension
Elisabeth Baker, School Programs
Alex Bravos, School Programs
George Cooper, School Programs
Veronica Román-Meyer, School Programs
About Uniting Voices Chicago
Founded in 1956 at the dawn of the Civil Rights Movement, Uniting Voices Chicago (formerly Chicago Children’s Choir) empowers and unites youth from diverse backgrounds to find their voice and celebrate their common humanity through the power of music. As a leading non-profit organization, we serve thousands of youth ages 6-18 from every zip code of Chicago through transformative and accessible music education programs and performance opportunities.
After the Show
Paint The Town Red
May 25
11am | Pritzker Pavillion
Join us downtown for our largest and most-anticipated event of the year! Singers from all levels of our programs will come together in song alongside dazzling special guests to celebrate the power of music and everything they’ve learned in our programs over the past year.
Paint The Town Red Giving Day
Support this transformative day that brings together
the next generation of global leaders in Chicago! Join in
the spirit of togetherness as young people from every
corner of Chicago harmonize in the heart of the city
with a donation to keep these programs accessible to
all singers.
Concert Program
AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD CHOIR
Anyhow/He Turned It
Tye Tribbett; arranged & orchestrated by Farlanda Buchannon; soloists Sydney Ingram, Nala Smith & Morgan Parker
Father I Stretch My
Hands
Jason White; arr. Farlanda
Buchannon; choreography by
Farlanda Buchannon; soloist
Ameeor Bunkley
Be Thankful
Natalie Cole; choreography by Farlanda Buchannon
ALL PROGRAMS
United
W. Mitchell Owens III
DIMENSION
Two Italian Art Songs
Giovanni Giacomo Gastoldi; arr. Matthew Michaels
I. Poi che’el mio foco e spento
Translation: Since now my anger’s burned out I’ll live
with joy, contentment.
And with laughing and dreaming and
dancing I’ll sing joyfully.
Since chained I’ve gained new freedom
I have my heart, abounding.
I’ll embrace happiness, jubilation not boredom
only great bliss.
II. Sonatemi un balletto
Translation: Play a dance for me,
I want to dance with my love!
As I have great pleasure
In dancing, I’m telling the truth,
Come on, what are you doing?
Start playing!
Pompeii
Dan Smith; arr. Jacob Narverud; choreography by Judy Hanson
Turning Red Medley
featuring Nobody Like You and You
Know What’s Up
Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell;
arr. W. Mitchell Owens III;
choreography by Farlanda
Buchannon
Sunny Days Ahead
George Harrison/Skip Scarborough & Bill Withers; arr. W. Mitchell Owens III
Kilometro
Thyro Alfaro & Yumi Lacsamana; arr. Joe Caigoy
Translation:
Kilometers distance
Why do they keep expanding
The distance between us
But the more they try to hinder
Our love grows deeper
It seems we’re stars apart
And I can’t see you
But the farther you are the more I call out to you
I’ll fearlessly cross the ocean
Even if the waves reach the sky
I promise to go wherever
Just to be with you
I’ll do whatever it takes so we’ll end up together
Even if I have to go through
kilometers distance
The world is dissenting
And we can’t find each other
Oh, do we have to listen
And go with the waves
Drowned, doused and can’t almost see you
After being covered with bruises
I still call out to you
DIMENSION & VOICE OF CHICAGO
There is Room for All from
Rainbow Beach
W. Mitchell Owens III
VOICE OF CHICAGO
We All Live Here
W. Mitchell Owens III; choreography by Judy Hanson
You Will Be Found
Benj Pasek & Justin Paul; arr. Mac Huff; staging by Judy Hanson
ALL PROGRAMS
Shosholoza
Trad. South African song (Xhosa)
Translation:
The train is coming from the mountains.
Stimela pushes the train to South Africa.
You must run to catch the train.
AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD CHOIR
Sisondela
Trad. South African song (Xhosa)
Translation:
We are drawing close to you, Lion.
Salaam
Mosh Ben Ari/Sheva; arr. Lisa Arnold
Grace
Jonathan McReynolds; soloist Sole’ Stampley
AUSTIN NEIGHBORHOOD CHOIR, DIMENSION & VOICE OF CHICAGO
The Better Benediction
PJ Morton; various soloists
ALL PROGRAMS
We Win
Vincent Bohannan; soloist Simone Cole & Brandon Lampkin
VOICE OF CHICAGO & SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Ode to Hip Hop Medley
Various artists; arr. Farlanda Buchannon & Bailey Haynes; choreography by Farlanda Buchannon
Tonight's Singers
Austin Neigborhood Choir
Amelie Middel
Autumn Ingram
Caiden Johnson
Christian Dean
Gusta Stampley
Haley Ivy
Jaedon Ingram
Jahanna Stephens
Jayla Conley
Justice Stephens
Khi Sheckles
Montserrat Calvillo
Morgan Parker
Nala Smith
Nasir Smith
Simone Cole
Sole’ Stampley
Sydney Daniel
Sydney Ingram
Dimension
Blaze Brown
Lincoln Burnell
Ravi Chandra
Jamion Cotten
Andrez Elliott
Henry Ellis
JeRonn Gamon
Edison Gong
Josiah Hill
Zion Hohenkirk
Vali Kizilbash
Rene Krall-Lanoue
Connor Lane
Jackson O'Brien
Exavier Pope, II
Alexander Rossi
Patrick Spera
Maxwell Stone
George Stoops
Vennes Tabiliran
Aris Velazquez
Eliot Warren
Owen Zeller
Voice of Chicago
Abiola-Fagba,Bolade Christabel
Anderson, Amir
Anello, Ella+*
Antoine, Ryan
Baker, Sarah
Bondurant, Sofia+
Bunkley, Ameeor
Bynum, Emily+*
Calderon, Gabriel
Calhoun, Seth+
Chandra, Rishi
Clark, Isis*
Cloud, Amber+*
Combs, Chloe
Copeland, Christopher
Cusick, Lauren+
DeAngelus, Sofia+*
DeKoker, Jack+
Din, Matt+*
Ferrall, Tobin
Ferrell, Emma+
Frauenheim, Monique*
Göker, Günes
Hampton, Christian+*
Hampton, Tori+
Hankins, Allison+
Hawk, Lucy
Hernandez, Andrea+
Hinerfeld, Theo+*
Hong, Nicholas+
Gekker, Victoria
Jacobson, Riley+
Jain, Mira
Javed, Hana+
Jones, Henry+
Kejo, Camille
Knox, Mia+*
Koss, Eleanor
Kuhr, Lydia
Licklider, J*
Matzke, Gretchen+
McMillin, Eve+
Medina Marerro, Isamary+*
Mellits, Nina*
Miller, Charlotte
Mooney, Tori+
Mueller, Kate+*
Nach, Olivia+*
Neal, Jevon
Nelkin, Sydney+
Nelsen, Colin
Nitzsche, Claire
Noback, Abbey
Nowlin, Yohance*
O’Connor, Megan
Parr, Wyatt+*
Pavkovic, Sofia+
Pazmino, Abigail
Pfetcher, Lauren+*
Pope, Emory
Rades, Abigail+
Roman, Olivia
Ross, Lucia+
Ruger, Nathan +
Sahai, Myra+*
Salomon, Atlas
Sazon, Rochelle
Schulz, Samantha
Sevig, Annika+
Smith, Sophia
Sneed, Gabrielle+*
Stone, Zachary+
Talmers, Katherine+*
Van der Bijl, Laelia
Vanada, Edie
Velez Lauria, Matilde+
Venson, Kaliyah
White, Fatima+*
Wieda, Nadia
Williams, Elijah+*
+: Encore
*: Groove
School Program Singers
Milton Brunson Math & Science Specialty School
Catalyst Circle Rock Charter School
George Rogers Clark Elementary School
Plato Learning Academy
Ella Flagg Young Elementary School
Musicians
John Goodwin (Piano)
Adrian Ruiz (Piano)
Brandon Lampkin (Synth)
Marquis Carter (Drum Set)
Dave Hiltebrand (Bass)
Matt Whittney (Guitar)
Dewey Bolz (Djembe)
SPECIAL THANKS
This project is supported, in part, by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Thank you to our Program Assistants Jackie Johnson, Karley Mayomi & Regina Robinson
Milton Brunson Math & Science Catalyst Circle Rock Charter School
Kila English, Liaison
George Rogers Clark Elementary School
Dr. Natasha Buckner-Pena
Principal Bonita Roy, Liaison
Specialty School
Elizabeth Jamison-Dunn, Principal
Dr. Carol Wilson, Principal Charlotte Myers, Liaison
Plato Learning Academy
Carole Davis, Principal
Rodney Quinn, Dean of Students
Ella Flagg Young Elementary School
Michelle Sellers
Principal
Lorraine Lockhart, Liaison