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newlenoxpatriot.com LIFE & ARTS
the New Lenox Patriot | June 21, 2018 | 21
Local singers, musicians kick off 2018 Live on the Lawn
Laurie Fanelli
Freelance Reporter
There’s no shortage of free
family fun in New Lenox,
but one concert series in particular
brings the entire community
together in song.
On June 10, the Village
of New Lenox presented its
first Live on the Lawn performance
of 2018 by hosting
the New Lenox Community
Band and Midwest Crossroads
Chorus for a night of
fun and music. The green
space in the Commons was
peppered with lawn chairs,
blankets and smiling faces as
music filled the air on what
turned out to be a beautiful
spring evening.
Rainy weather defined the
early afternoon, but by the
7 p.m. start time, the clouds
began to clear and a hint of
sun emerged for the first
time all day. The New Lenox
Community Concert Band
did its best to conjure even
more sunshine as its theme
for the Sunday night concert
was “Bringing Light.”
“Break Forth O Beauteous
Heavenly Light” by Johann
Schop and “With Each
Sunset” by Richard Saucedo
were among the captivating
themed pieces performed
while a march by John Philip
Sousa and Edwin Franko
Goldman’s “On the Mall” –
which the band plays at the
conclusion of most of its
concerts – proved to be perennial
fan favorites.
“These concerts are a
chance to hear what – culturally
– America was built
on,” said co-director of the
New Lenox Community
Band Matthew Doherty before
the show. “It’s a chance
to connect to people who
are 95-years-old or 5-yearsold.
Kids come and dance.
Grown-ups come and listen
to some music that maybe
they enjoyed from their
New Lenox Community Band co-director Cary Ruklic introduces the ensemble before the
group’s performance. The other director of the band is Matthew Doherty.
childhood. There’s some really
beautiful moments in
the music and some really
beautiful moments in the
park.”
Acoustically and atmospherically,
the New Lenox
Performing Arts Pavilion is
considered one of the best
places to enjoy live music by
both the artists and the audience.
The band’s co-director
Cary Ruklic was happy
to have the opportunity to
perform in the heart of the
Commons.
“This venue is fantastic
and the Village does such a
great job maintaining it and
finding different, unique
events to put on here. We’re
just really happy to be a part
of that and happy that the
Village supports us,” he said.
Prior to the band’s set, the
Midwest Crossroad Chorus
treated attendees to their delightful
brand of four-part, a
cappella, barbershop harmonies.
“It’s a shame it was such
a rainy day because this is a
beautiful venue,” Chorus Director
Tori Hicks said. “It’s
wonderful for New Lenox to
have this sort of event where
people can hear local groups
for free. It’s a really great
way to introduce different
types of music that people
could become involved with
or go hear again.”
Classic tunes like “Thank
You World” and “Crazy” had
audience members singing
along, and Hicks took time
out to invite any women in
the crowd to join the group
for open auditions on June
26 at 7 p.m. at Trinity Christian
School in Shorewood.
“Swing Low Sweet Chariot”
– performed by the quartet
within the chorus known as
the Sidekicks – was another
highlight of the opening set.
The weather may have
provoked a few fans to stay
at home, but everyone in
attendance was happy to
have the opportunity to get
outside to hear some good
music. New Lenox residents
Laura and Paul Neve saw the
Live on the Lawn concert as
a good reason to get a head
start on Paul’s birthday celebration
as he would be turning
a year older the following
day.
“We were monitoring the
weather,” Laura Neve said.
“We normally like to bike
here – we live off the Old
Plank Road Trail – but we
decided not to bike and drive
here just in case. We moved
to New Lenox last year and
we really enjoyed coming out
to the concerts and the Triple
Play so we try to get out here
as much as we can for the
events that they hold.”
On top of the popular
Movie Nights, Triple Play
Concert Series, Fridays After
Five and all of the special
events that are put on
annually, the Village is adding
a special Play Day in
the Commons for kids this
year. This free day of fun
– which takes place from 1
to 5 p.m. on July 15 – will
feature bounce houses, face
painters, character visits and
much more to amuse New
Lenox’s youngest residents.
Music fans will want to
mark their calendars for Sunday,
July 8 as the New Lenox
Community Band will be returning
to the Performing Arts
Pavilion for another installment
of Live on the Lawn, this
time with special guests Cloggin’
Craze. More information
about Live on the Lawn – and
all Village of New Lenox special
events – can be found at
www.newlenox.net.
Midwest Crossroad Chorus member and New Lenox
resident Nancy Rundin performs with the choir June 10
during the Village’s first Live on the Lawn event of the
summer at the Commons. Photos by Laurie Fanelli/22nd
Century Media
New Lenox residents Laura (left) and Paul Neve didn’t
let the weather stop them from coming out to Live on the
Lawn.