Second Annual Make Our Gardens Grow Community Chorus Saturday

Saturday February 6th at 7pm in the Boutell Memorial Concert Hall on the NIU campus will be the second annual community chorus event to showcase a variety of local vocal talent and to raise funds for DeKalb County Community Gardens and the Walnut Grove Vocational Farm. This is a unique opportunity to hear four different area choruses, as well as a musical skit by the Stage Coach Players. It is the only community event of its kind in DeKalb County. This year there will be three choruses from Northern Illinois University, Sycamore and Kaneland high school choruses, along with the DeKalb Festival Chorus. They will be joined with musical skits by members of the Stage Coach Players. The program is under the direction of Dr. Eric Johnson, director of Choral Services of NIU Music Department.

“Last year we had nearly 800 local residents of DeKalb County attend. It is a great community event. An opportunity to enjoy wonderful performances, and support the county wide work of DCCG to end hunger right here in our own backyards.” Said Dan Kenney, Executive Director of DeKalb County Community Gardens.

The concert will feature Broadway Musicals. The event is free with donations collected for DeKalb County Community Gardens.

“I started this event last year with two goals, one to raise awareness of the wide variety of amazing vocal talent we have in this county, and also to raise awareness that there is an issue with hunger right here in our own neighborhoods, and that there is an organization working hard to do something about it.” Said Eric Johnson, Director of Choral Services for Northern Illinois University Music Department. “It is an opportunity for young students to learn that they also can use their vocal talents to give back to their communities.”

DeKalb County Community Gardens is nearing completion of its fourth year. In just four growing seasons DCCG has raised over 60,000 pounds of fresh vegetables for food pantries, community meal sites, senior citizen facilities, and others in over 50 gardens located across DeKalb County.

‘It is a great community event. Last year the air was electric with energy and excitement as community came together to support our local talent and the local efforts of DCCG and their volunteers to end hunger in DeKalb County.” Said Lisa Cumings, Kishwaukee Health Systems, now part of Nortwestern Medicine, Community Wellness liaison.

Funds raised at the event will help fund the work of DeKalb County Community Gardens and their programs such as the Walnut Grove Vocational Farm for individuals with special needs, and the Communiversity garden on the NIU campus.

For more information about the vent contact Dan Kenney at 815-793-0950, or visit www.dekalbgardens.org.