Grammy-nominated Singing Hoosiers to celebrate 58th anniversary with spring concert at Auditorium

The Singing Hoosiers are bringing in spring with a celebration including jazz and Latin music and Queen. \nThe IU Auditorium will be filled with the sounds of the two-time Grammy-nominated Singing Hoosiers for the annual spring concert “A Celebration of American Popular Music,” at 8 p.m. Saturday. This is the 58th year for this annual event.\n“I’m really excited about some of the stuff we are doing,” said junior Anne Litchfield, the Singing Hoosiers’ social chair.\nThe audience can expect to hear familiar pieces, including one by Queen.\n“The Queen piece is very cool, and the choreographers did a fantastic job,” Litchfield said.\nThe Hoosiers look forward to performing older pieces that have sentimental value.\n“It gives the alumni a chance to reminisce, and they are traditional and fun,” Litchfield said.\nThe Singing Hoosiers will perform classic jazz pieces such as “Round Midnight” by Cootie Williams and Thelonious Monk. The family friendly event will also include a few shows off the Broadway stage, including “The Fantasticks.” \n“This year’s concert should be one of the greatest varieties we have ever done,” said Nicole Pollard, a senior in music education. “From Queen to classic, it has something that appeals to everyone.” \nThe event will also feature music from Hoagy Carmichael, an IU alumnus and a famous composer. \n“He just means so much to the Singing Hoosiers,” Pollard said. “He went to IU and is a wonderful composer.” \nPollard said Carmichael has been a constant force in many of her concerts. She said that because this is her last concert, doing a piece from Carmichael is nostalgic and perfect. \nIn addition to the singing, the show will also feature dancing, both by the Singing Hoosiers and the Varsity Singers, the choreographic unit of the Singing Hoosiers.\n“There is typical Broadway dancing, which is very showy, but we are doing a whole bunch of different choreography,” Pollard said. “They all match the music in some way.”\nThe show will feature Latin-inspired music during which performers will do a Latin couples’ dance. This particular segment should resemble something a person would see on the TV show “Dancing With the Stars,” Pollard said.\nThe show also has an underlying theme of friendships and togetherness as different students come together for this one night of music.\n“There will be all sorts of entertainment,” Pollard said. “To see 105 students from all walks of campus coming together on stage to make music is spectacular. It means a lot to have people come together and sing.”\nMichael Schwartzkopf, the director of the Singing Hoosiers, encourages the students at IU to come out and see a “wonderful display of individual talent” both from the Singing Hoosiers and the Varsity Singers.\nReserved seating tickets are $13 to $15 for adults and $10 to $12 for students. For more information, call the IU Auditorium Box Office at 855-1103, Ticketmaster at 333-9955 or visit www.iuauditorium.com.