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newlenoxpatriot.com dining out
the New Lenox Patriot | December 8, 2016 | 23
It’s the most wonderful time of the year for LWC Madrigals
Annual Madrigals Dinner
set for Dec. 8-10
Ryan Esguerra, Freelance Reporter
47th Annual Madrigals Dinner
Where: Lincoln-Way Central
High School, 1801 E. Lincoln
Highway, New Lenox
When: 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8
to Saturday, Dec. 10
Cost: $30 per person
For more information ...
Email: lwc_choirs@yahoo.com
Phone: (815) 462-2300
For the Lincoln-Way Central
Madrigal Singers, a tradition of
holiday spirit runs deep and is reflected
in all of their performances.
Madrigals director Mike Bultman
said that while many things
have changed about the program
during his 23-year stint directing
the group, the one thing that
remains unchanged is the feeling
their performances give audiences.
“The faces change, the songs
may change, but the spirit of the
group stays the same,” Bultman
said. “We always try to create that
same feeling during the holiday
season.”
The Madrigal Singers performed
for a packed house Nov. 30 at the
New Lenox Public Library. This
marked their latest stop in a series
of performances during which they
will have performed well over a
dozen times at churches, community
events and other locations both
within and outside of the school
district. The singers performed at
Mokena Community Public Library
District just a day prior.
“Attendance at both shows was
great,” Bultman said. “Coming to
places like these gives the kids a
chance to perform for the public,
and it gives the public a chance to
hear them, so it feels like a winwin.”
More than 30 singers — all
Lincoln-Way Central students —
dressed in their finest Madrigal
clothing and greeted the audience
with an introductory performance
that included the likes of holiday
favorites “We Wish you a Merry
Christmas” and “Three Blind
Mice.”
After the introduction, the singers
split into two different performing
groups which alternated
with more holiday favorites like
“Deck the Halls.” The singers also
performed various religious songs
that speak to bringing tidings of
comfort and joy. The performance
ended with a group singing of “Silent
Night.”
Taylor Autero, a senior at Central,
is in her first year of Madrigals.
She said that being a part of
this group of performers is something
that she has wanted to do
since she was a little girl.
“My great-grandma used to take
me to see Madrigals when I was
little, and I always wanted to do
it so badly,” Autero said. “I would
audition for Madrigals each year,
and up until this year, I wouldn’t
make it.
“This year I auditioned and I
made it, so from now on, I wear
my great grandma’s necklace to all
of my performances to remind me
of her.”
Autero, who plans on attending
Columbia College in Chicago, will
pursue a degree in musical theatre
and performing arts. She said
that performing with the Madrigal
group this year is helping her prepare
for her future.
“This group means a lot to me
because it is what I want to do with
my future,” Autero said. “I take
it very seriously. It is my life and
my passion, and it is amazing to
be able to perform here in front of
these wonderful people.”
Fellow LWC senior Vince Weiss,
who is also in his first year with the
Madrigal singing group, said that
while it is hard work preparing for
the holiday performance series, the
community support makes it all
worth it for him.
“We have a lot of rehearsals now;
we are after school every day in order
to prepare,” Weiss said. “It is a
crazy feeling, seeing that you have
so much support. It makes you feel
good about all of the work that you
Lincoln-Way Central senior Taylor Autero sings with the Lincoln-Way Central Madrigals Nov. 30 at the New
Lenox Public Library in preparation of the group’s 47th Annual Madrigal Dinners Dec. 8-10.
Photos by Laurie Fanelli/22nd Century Media
Performance attendees Geri Bronson, Matthew Kalchbrenner, of Mokena, and John Bronson enjoy the Madrigals.
put into the performances.”
With only a few performances
left, the Madrigal singers will soon
turn their attention to the biggest
event of the year: the 47th Annual
Madrigal Dinners Dec. 8-10 at the
Lincoln-Way Central Fine Arts
Center. The Renaissance-themed
fundraiser is open to the public and
will include a fully catered meal
and entertainment from singers,
actors and instrumentalists from
the school. Proceeds of the event
will got to funding the Madrigals
singers program.
“The dinners are my favorite
part of the season,” Weiss said. “It
is really fun. The actors we have
are awesome, and it is so funny.
The food is great, too. Overall, it is
a great night.”