EOU CHAMBER CHOIR GOES POP!

EOU Chamber Choir ().

LA GRANDE - Anyone who has a hankerin' to hear some pop classics from years gone by will need to check out this weekend's Eastern Oregon University Chamber Choir concert.

The choir will present "A Pop Music Celebration" on Friday, Jan. 26, and Saturday, Jan. 27. Both performances begin at 7:30 p.m. in McKenzie Theatre. Admission is $5 at the door. All proceeds benefit the March 2007 Chamber Choir tour to China.

Each year, the Chamber Choir presents a concert titled "Night on Broadway." This year, the concert has changed in form and musical style.

"A Pop Music Celebration" will feature a cappella styles and music with recorded accompaniment in karaoke style.

The selection of music was one of the most difficult elements in putting this concert together, said Peter Wordelman, EOU music professor and director of the choir.

"Featuring songs from multiple decades and crossing styles from 1950s rock to country, the concert will be unlike any other that we have ever performed,'' Wordelman said.

EOU student Jennifer Sasser has served as the creative director. Wordelman and Michael Frasier have assisted with the musical aspects of the production.

"If you're like me and you enjoy listening to the music that was popular when you were growing up, you will love this concert," Frasier said. "Seeing young people get so excited about music of my youth is a real thrill."

Local DJ Ramsey Cowlishaw, also known as "RC," supports the karaoke portion of the concert. RC recently moved back to town and was a former student of Frasier's at La Grande High School. He will serve as the host for the concert as well as the karaoke DJ. He assisted in the song selection and has served as a vocal coach for the various popular styles.

The a cappella styles will embrace the music of the '50s and '60's. From "Heartbreak Hotel" to "Lollipop," the music will have an old "singing on the street corner" feeling.

In the past 20 or more years, singing a cappella arrangements of popular music has grown in popularity. Groups such as the Nylons, Rockapella, The Coats and even Boyz II Men have taken this particular style to new levels.

The concert is meant to be fun and entertaining and will even include an opportunity for the audience to participate in some of singing, Wordelman and Frasier said.

"Street corner-style a cappella singing is at the heart of much of the music featured, and is sure to take you back to when you listened to music on your old 45s," Frasier said.

The concert benefits the up oming Chamber Choir tour to China, which will take place in March.