From Chicago Splash

December 2008

Lakeside Singers Review--Holiday Music from Renaissance to Rock
By Patricia Simms

Well, I might as well admit it—I consider The Lakeside Singers Christmas concert at Evanston's Music Institute of Chicago a necessary part of our Christmas tradition. These singers deliver! The Lakeside Singers are dedicated to bridging the worlds of classical and popular choral music by presenting a wide range of musical styles—including cross-cultural, classical literature from around the world as well as stylistically authentic arrangements of jazz, gospel, rock, folk, R&B and other popular genres—at the highest artistic level.

Like every concert we’ve enjoyed so far, this one was filled with surprises consistently characterized by perfect diction. This is essential to the musicality of every piece. In an exotic Portuguese solo, "Sa aqui turo zente pleta," brilliantly interpreted by Ned Lott, the words were so musical he was accompanied only by a drum; a Chanukah song was at one moment peppy, the next sophisticated, but the Hebrew--whether you understand it or not--was crystal clear. This, of course, also applies to the numbers in English including my favorite, "The Twelve Days of Christmas," where, in some cases, the diction was squawking French hens, gabby calling birds, and bickering partridges, etc.

Last night, a full house of avid fans came in from the wintry cold to celebrate The Lakeside Singers tenth anniversary of performing in Evanston. A unique group of outstanding professional singers, composers and arrangers, half have the majority of their performing experience in classical choral music and half in non-classical styles.

Individually, they have performed in TV and radio commercials, operas, early music ensembles, film scores, Broadway shows, jazz clubs, cruise ships, cabarets and classical and popular concerts across the country. Artistic Director and Conductor Robert Bowker ties it all together with his wit, wisdom and winning way.