SRC Community Chorus - Spoon River College

Since 2005, the success of our musicals, concerts, revues, and plays, presented by hundreds of area volunteers, is proof that the performing arts are alive and thriving in west central Illinois. We perform not for fame or money, but out of passion – a passion to create quality live entertainment and to raise funds for Spoon River College scholarships. Our “performance hall door” is open to anyone who shares this passion. To become a part of the SRC Community Chorus family or to be added to our email distribution list, please contact us by sending an Email to SRC Community Chorus

-Carol Davis, Artistic Director

2025 Season

CELEBRATING OUR 20TH ANNIVERSARY IN 2025!

SRC COMMUNITY CHORUS PRESENTS HANDEL’S MESSIAH & WINTER OLIO

Celebrating 20 years in 2025, the Spoon River College Community Chorus presents Handel’s Messiah and Winter Olio on December 6 at 7 p.m. and December 7 at 3:00 p.m. The concert will be performed at the First Christian Church in Canton. Tickets go on sale November 1 and may be obtained at the Community Chorus Ticket Site. The concert features the talents of over 60 singers, musicians, and technicians and is under the direction of John L. Davis. Davis also conducted the two previous Messiah concerts offered in 2005, the year of the group’s inception, and again in 2012.

“The first half of the concert includes what is known as the Christmas portion of Handel’s Messiah,” Davis said. “We, of course, will also present the Hallelujah Chorus at the end of the classical portion. Concertgoers expect it and we won’t let them down.” The second half offers a mixture of winter, traditional, contemporary, and holiday songs from a variety of genres including Jingle Bell Fantasy, Over the River, Pure Imagination, and a beautiful arrangement of Fred Rogers’ It’s You I Like.

Singers include Erica Asendorf, Bruce Beal, Carla Bobell, Rob Bobell, Gloria Bradford, Edwin Brinklow, Janice Dare Bruster, Sherry Coffey, Vanessa Coker, Nana Cook, Carol Davis, Colin Davis, Katey Davis, Kevin Dearing, Jennifer Fletcher, Sarah Fouts, Presley Frank, Jim Gage, Jake Haarman, Angie Hale, Kevin Kessler, Denise Kirgan, Tammy Klinedinst-Kessler, Carol Kohler, Charlene Kornoski-DuVall, Lindsey Larson, Matt Luedtke, Naomi Rose Leudtke, Corrinna Markland-Pickel, Wendy Martin, Steve Mason, Sue Maurice, Janet Munson, Chad Murphy, Natalie Orwig, Cecily Pearson, Shirley Roberts, Tony Roberts, Lydia Robinson, Sara Mathis, Shane Smith, Stacy Smith, Jean Sprecher, Jeanine Standard, Trygve Meade, Michael Varnes, Larry Von Behren, Linda Von Behren, Melissa Walker, Kevin Watson, Jendy Way, and Lauren Wilcoxen.

Gretchen Fuller serves as accompanist and concert pianist. Also providing additional instrumental accompaniment are Drake Miller on oboe; Matt Buczko on trumpet, keyboard, and accordion; Jeff Burkhead, on trumpet; Anthony Roberts on harp; and the WIU International String Quartet. This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council Agency and the Two Rivers Arts Council.

Winter Concert Features the Western Illinois University International String Quartet

Portrait of WIU International String Quartet: Georgica Parvu, from Romania, on violin; Helena Iacob, from Romania, on violin; Gabriel Gene Regojos, from the Philippines, on viola; and Juan Marco Robledo Galvez, from Guatemala, on cello
The WIU International String Quartet program, now in its 20th year, was formed in 2005 by the Western Illinois University School of Music to give international students the opportunity to come to the United States and study in Illinois. The quartet members receive full scholarships to WIU.

Performing with the SRC Chorus in 2025 are Georgica Parvu, from Romania, on violin; Helena Iacob, from Romania, on violin; Gabriel Gene Regojos, from the Philippines, on viola; and Juan Marco Robledo Galvez, from Guatemala, on cello.

The quartet’s appearance is made possible by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council and the Two Rivers Arts Council.

Concerts and Productions since 2005:

The SRC Community Chorus presents 2-3 concerts, revues, plays, and musicals each year. To date, the list includes:

Concerts/Revues:

The Musical World of Disney
50 Years of Broadway
Somewhere Over the Rainbow
A Golden Holiday
Broadway, Too
Songs for the Season
A Joyous Jubilee
A Classic Afternoon with Alison Richter-Meuth and John L. Davis
Cole, Irving, George, & Jerome
An American Choral Mosaic
A Winter Tapestry
Lincoln’s America
Broadway, Start to Finish
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Songs and Snowflakes
Handel’s Messiah (twice)
Ken Bradbury in Concert
Winter Wonders
Winter Tales & Tunes
The River’s Song by Barry Cloyd
Frosty Airs & Fables
Burl Ives: Midwestern Minstrel by Barry Cloyd
Home for the Holidays: Virtually Unplugged (2020 Virtual Holiday Concert)
Silver Songs & Golden Gifts
Our Favorite Things
The Best of Barry Cloyd
48 Hours: A Musical Revue 2023
The Wonder-Full World of Winter, An International Concert
Playin’ Favorites: The Great American Songbook
Winter Blues & All That Jazz
Music from the Time of the Dust Bowl 2025

Musicals:

Man of La Mancha
Mass Theatrical*
Pirates of Penzance
Hotel Holidaze*
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown
25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee
Quilters
Guys and Dolls
Into the Woods
An Evening with Patsy Cline

Plays:

Vanities
Bleacher Bums
A Tuna Christmas
The Guys

*Denotes an original production written by a member of the SRC Community Chorus

Two Rivers Arts Council logo

The SRC Community Chorus appreciates the support of The Two Rivers Arts Council throughout the years. This not-for-profit arts organization keeps the arts alive by serving the 159,000 residents of Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Fulton, Greene, Hancock, Henderson, Jersey, Mason, McDonough, Pike, Schuyler and Scott counties.

Shows for a Cause:

The SRC Community Chorus operates under the auspices of the SRC Foundation and is entirely self-funded, with occasional support from entities such as Two Rivers Arts Council. Since its inception, it has raised well over $100,000 for the Foundation’s scholarship program and has established seven permanent, endowed scholarships, each named after a Chorus member or someone special to the Chorus: