(Nick Ulanowski photos/H-F Chronicle)
Chicago Southland Chamber of Commerce President Terri L. Winfree and Flossmoor Mayor Michelle Nelson presented a giant-sized $500 check to Spotlight Performance Academy Executive Director Carrie Bonanotte and Spotlight Performance Academy board members at the Homewood Science Center on the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 24.
The check was from the chamber of commerce. It was given to the Spotlight Performance Academy to honor the Bel Canto Community Choir and their performance at Southland Chamber Night in Flossmoor on Wednesday, July 19. The Bel Canto Community Choir opened for the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra at the event.
The Spotlight Performance Academy’s programming includes four Bel Canto Choir groups, music classes for parents and their kids and South of Chi Production’s improv classes. All Spotlight Performance Academy programming is held in the space they rent at the Homewood Science Center.
The four choirs under the umbrella of the Bel Canto Choir are the children’s choir (ages 5 to 7), the Youth Choir (ages 8 to 12), the Concert Choir (ages 12 to 15) and the Bel Canto Community Choir which includes adults and teens.
Winfree said the point of Southland Chamber Night is to make community members aware of the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, which performs at the event annually, local businesses and local music such as the Bel Canto Choir. She said since they’ve recently started getting sponsors, they’re now able to write checks to organizations they appreciate. She said they’ll be presenting another check to the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra’s youth program in the near future.
“Thanks for taking the chance on our event and coming out and singing,” Nelson said to Bonanotte, referring to the Chamber Night event. “We really appreciate all you do for the community.”
