January Chorister of the Month: Jonathan Schildt

Jon Schildt, Tenor

How long have you been in WPCS? 

I joined WPCS in the fall of 2010.

What is your favorite WPCS memory so far? 

Probably our twelve-hour “Choirstravaganza”: the performance on the local news morning show with the early call time, a noontime concert at Fourth Presbyterian on Michigan Avenue, a  lunch outing with the choir, caroling at Cloudgate in Millennium Park, and an awesome end of the year choir party.  It was great!

What hobbies do you have outside of choir? 

Travel, outdoor adventures with my family, and attending any kind of music or dance performance wherever I happen to be.

If your life had a soundtrack what songs would be on it? 

Pretty much any song by Rufus Wainwright, Baroque opera arias of Cecilia Bartoli, and the Bach Goldberg Variations.  That’s all.

What is your guilty listening pleasure? 

Sigh . . . Britney Spears.

If the choir were to plan a flash mob, what location would you choose and why?  

8:30 a.m. on the el on a weekday morning.  We can break the silence and (hopefully) bring some joy to all those people dreading their workdays.

You can learn more about Jon and other choir members by visiting out Meet the Choir page!  Feel free to congratulate Jon on his leadership and tell him how awesome he is in the comment box below. 

La Caccina will present their second concert in Chicago at Luther Memorial Church of Chicago at 7:30 pm on Friday, January 27. The concert, entitled “Awake, My Heart”, will take audience members on a journey from darkness, both literal and figurative, into light. The concert will include a piece for Epiphany celebration by Ernst Krenek, the traditional French tune “Bring a Torch, Jeanette, Isabelle,” and medieval chants arranged by the women’s quartet Anonymous 4. $5 donation suggested.

La Caccina is a treble a cappella choral trio dedicated to the performance of classical music from all time periods, with a particular interest in arrangement of folk music from around the world. The trio has been praised for its blend and musicality, as well as for its self-produced arrangements of  folk songs. The group recognizes that classical music is frequently presented in a highly formal fashion, and strives to make the world of classical music performance accessible, personal, and emotionally appealing to all kinds of audience members.

Contact email: lacaccina@gmail.com
Luther Memorial Church of Chicago
2500 W. Wilson Ave
Chicago, IL 60625

Tenor

Why You Joined WPCS

Because now that I’m almost all grown up, I’ve learned to do exactly whatever Mark Tomasino tells me to do.

Day Job

Law student

Favorite Type(s) of Music

cheesy 80s pop/rock: love Michael Jackson

Favorite Composers

Beethoven & Palestrina

When and How You Became Involved in Music

Since I was 3 yrs when I sang “Memory” from Cats for my entire family, I then took lessons in high school, did musicals,  and eventually studied voice at Illinois Wesleyan University

What is Your Favorite Song to Sing in the Shower

What isn’t? Probably “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me” by Sir Elton John

Tenor

Bass

Bass

Sound familiar…?

• I’m a dude who was blessed with a good set of vocal chords.
• I sang in my top college choir, and probably even in an acappella group with some sort of musical pun as its namesake.
• 2011 is gone, 2012 has arrived, and I need an ensemble that will quench my thirst for choral singing.

If so, we’d like to encourage you to audition for Wicker Park Choral Singers!

What:  Auditions – Tenors & Basses
When:  Wednesday, January 11 | 6- 9:00pm
Where:  Wicker Park Lutheran Church, 1502 N. Hoyne Ave, Chicago, IL 60622

Auditions are approximately 10-15 minutes, and take place in a welcoming and relaxed environment.  The audition process consists of vocal exercises, sight-singing, and interval recognition.  There is no need to prepare a solo piece.

To schedule your audition, or for more information, contact Angela Tomasino at angela@wickerparksings.org.

WPCS is an all-volunteer, non-profit organization that believes in providing exceptional choral music that is free and open to everyone.  We believe this is the best model to reach the most people possible.

Membership perks:

• Make outstanding music in a collaborative environment with seriously talented musicians.
• Make friends and network with interesting, awesome people who share your love of singing choral music.
• Perform in front of large, enthusiastic audiences in famed venues such as St. Vincent de Paul, 4th Presbyterian Church on Michigan Avenue, and Millennium Park.

To learn more and listen to WPCS,  explore our website!