Quincy Symphony Orchestra Association to present choral production Kaleidoscope on Saturday

QUINCY — The Quincy Symphony Orchestra Association’s 75th anniversary season continues with the choral production “Kaleidoscope” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 5 at Salem Church.

The Symphony Chorus, conducted by Phyllis Robertson, performs the highly original “A Little Jazz Mass” by Bob Chilcott. Accompanied by piano, bass and drums, this unique rendition embraces a variety of jazz styles throughout the mass. Chilcott is one of the most popular choral composers and conductors in Britain today. 

Chilcott has worked with a host of noted jazz musicians, and this influenced “A Little Jazz Mass,” which was composed for the 2004 Crescent City Choral Festival in New Orleans. The music embraces complex and varied jazz styles. Chilcott brings together two very diverse traditions — the Latin mass and the jazz idiom — in an expressive and new way.

The chorus will perform Robert Shaw’s “Hark I Hear the Harps Eternal,” arranged by Alice Parker. Each vocal section gets a chance to shine, and the audience enjoys a harmonic interplay on a simple tune. 

With a nod to Veterans Day, the singers will present “Tribute to Armed Services” by Lloyd Larsen. This medley includes “America the Beautiful” and the official songs of the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Navy and Air Force. 

Single tickets are available at the door or in advance from Quincy County Market, HyVee, Sturhahn Jewelers and the QSOA website. Single ticket prices are $18 for adults and $15 for seniors. Children 18 and under are admitted free to all concerts. 

Through a special promotion with Arts Quincy and the Illinois Arts Alliance, anyone who received a flu or COVID-19 vaccine in October may present proof of vaccine at any QSOA concert and receive one free admission. The vaccine must have been received in October, but the ticket may be used at any concert through April 2022.

The concert is sponsored by Kohl Wholesale, First Bankers Trust, Quincy Medical Group and STARadio/WTAD. All QSOA 75^th anniversary programs are made possible by Blessing Health System, the Knapheide Manufacturing Company, and grants from the Tracy Family Foundation, the Katherine Broemmel Endowment for the Arts through the Community Foundation, the Stillwell Foundation, and the Illinois Arts Council Agency, a state agency.  

New singers are welcome to audition for the spring semester by calling the QSOA office. In-depth information is available at www.qsoa.org or by calling 217-222-2856.