"Sing Into Spring: Americana" is April 24

April 22, 2014

The Santa Fe Singers will celebrate American music at "Sing Into Spring:  Americana" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24, in the Fine Arts Hall at the Northwest Campus, 3000 NW 83 Street, Gainesville.

Tickets are:  $15 orchestra; $12 balcony; $9 for University of Florida students, seniors, and children 12 and under; and free to Santa Fe College students and employees. For ticket information, call the Box Office at 352-395-4181 or visit the Fine Arts ticket website at:

https://www.sfcollege.edu/finearts

Under the direction of Music Professor Lynn Sandefur, approximately 40 singers will perform selections from different decades and different styles of American music including jazz, pop, rock, gospel and songs by classical composer Aaron Copeland.

"The students were not familiar with some of the songs on the program," Sandefur said. "They had never heard 'Shenandoah.' They weren't prepared to like 'Home on the Range,' but the arrangement by Mark Hayes-with harmonica accompaniment-is so beautiful that they fell in love with it."

Selections performed by the chorus include:

• "Steady My Tremblin' Soul," a gospel song.
• "Americana Suite," a medley of American tunes.
• A jazz arrangement of "Route 66."
• A heartwarming rendition of "Home on the Range."
• A pop/jazz combination, "Everybody Loves My Baby."
• "Haven't Met You Yet," a pop favorite.
• Two selections from "The Tender Land" by Aaron Copeland, "Stomp Your Foot" and "The Promise of Living."

The vocal jazz group will perform "Steam Heat" and "At Last." Soloist Andrew Netardus will sing "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" and soloist Kelli McGill will sing a torch song.

Joan Freese, a former SF College student, will be spotlighted on stage as she uses American Sign Language to interpret the concert for people with hearing impairments. "Having a sign language interpreter is a nice thing we do for all our concerts," Sandefur explained. "What makes Joan so beautiful is that she is a musician and a singer first, so when she interprets, she emotes warmth like the candlelight parade at Disney World!"

The Santa Fe Band, under the direction of Professor Gary Langford, will accompany the vocalists.

For more information about "Sing Into Spring," call Music Professor Lynn Sandefur at 352-381-3639.

For more information about Santa Fe College's Fine Arts Programs, call Fine Arts Department Chairperson Alora Haynes, 352-395-5296.

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