music

Nate Widelitz is a singer, conductor, and educator. He is also the Founding Director of the Five Cities Baroque Foundation & Festival. He spoke with Community Voices about his music career, passion for teaching, and shares the story behind the foundation, which brings access to high-quality Baroque music to Central Illinois. Nate also previews what audiences can expect from the upcoming concerts, including featured pieces and performances. Learn more about the festival, including dates and locations here.

Stella Cole is releasing a new album containing jazz standards and more! She spoke to Community Voices about her social media following, performing in jazz clubs and touring with Postmodern Jukebox.

The Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater in Decatur, Illinois.

Favorite Albums of 2022

Dr. Albert Capati is a dentist and the owner of Capati Dental in Springfield, Ill. He has also performed with several bands and in several theatrical productions. He spoke to Community Voices about the lesser known aspects of dentistry, and he shared how he got his start performing in shows in Springfield.

The Harlem Gospel Travelers are performing at the Levitt Amp Springfield Music Series in downtown Springfield, Ill. on Aug. 4, 2022. Band members Ifedayo Gatling and George Marage spoke to Community Voices about how the group got their start. They also shared their experience meeting Elton John and learning how they are one of his favorite American music groups.

Tom Irwin is a local musician who wrote an album titled "Sangamon Songs", which has since been turned into a play with the same name. Irwin shared how a 100-year-old journal found in his home inspired the album. He also talked about what it is like to be a musician in Central Illinois. The play runs August 5-7, 2022, at the Salem on Seventh Theatre in Petersburg, Ill.

Nick Dodson is an activist, an organizer, and seeks to make his part of the world better all of the time. He's also a member of The Junior Varsity, a band that was gaining in popularity, had an enormous following, and then found itself just done...for a while. We discuss rugged individualism, social justice, the life of a traveling performer, the history of labor in America, and a ton more.The Junior Varsity are back for reunion shows and tickets are going fast!

John Love is a music director at Chicago's The Second City. He spoke to Community Voices about his come up in the world of music and the challenges as a musician in an improv group, in which he never knows what he is going to play next.

John Love is a music director at Chicago's The Second City. He spoke to Community Voices about his come up in the world of music and the challenges as a musician in an improv group, in which he never knows what he is going to play next.