The SRC Community Chorus kicks off its 20th anniversary year with a new logo and the announcement of a summer concert in conjunction with the City of Canton, Illinois’s Bicentennial celebration this June.  Participation in the concert is open to anyone.

“We look forward to offering the edu-concert Somewhere Over the Rainbow:  Songs of the Dust Bowl,” Artistic Director Carol Davis said.  “The concert, directed by John L. Davis, highlights an extremely difficult time in United States history, particularly throughout the Great Plains, but a great time for American music.”

Some of the country’s most beloved songs emerged from this era including The Red River Valley, Brother, Can You Spare A Dime, Stormy Weather, Dream, Happy Days Are Here Again, and Somewhere Over The Rainbow.”  The concert also includes narration connecting Canton’s history to the history of the Dust Bowl era (c.1930-1936) as well as visual slides of photographs from the period.

Rehearsals are generally on Thursday evenings from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the First Christian Church, 315 W. Elm, in Canton.  The first rehearsal is Thursday, February 27.  Two concerts take place on Sunday evening, June 22 at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. as part of a 10-day celebration offered by the Canton Bicentennial Steering Committee.

For more information about Somewhere Over the Rainbow: Songs of the Dust Bowl, please email srccommunitychorus@gmail.com.

The SRC Community Chorus, a funding arm of the Spoon River College Foundation, offers quality choral and theatrical performances utilizing local talent while raising funds for named endowed scholarships.  The Chorus will close out its 20th anniversary celebration year with a winter concert in December.

For more information about the SRC Community Chorus, please visit www.src.edu/chorus.