BY DANI TIETZ
dani@mahometnews.com
Tickets for the 37th-annual Mahomet-Seymour High School Madrigal dinner go on sale to the public on Nov. 12.
This year’s Madrigal cast, directed by Nicole Kuglich and assisted by Brian Lonergan, features 22 members including: Lord Maxwell Bartlett, Lord Luca Bellini, Lord Logan Burdette, Lord Ryan Bushell, Lady Nicolina Di Girolamo, Lady Elizabeth Hanson, Lord Liam Henry, Lady Jillian Jordan, Lady Delaney King, Lord Kyle Kinnamon, Lady Abigail Loven, Lady Miranda Morrissette, Lady Averhy Sanborn, Lady Emma Schwaiger, Lady Jessica Smith, Lord Wyatt Taber, Lord Kyle Widener, Lady Neenah Williams, Lady Alexis Young, Lord Ty Zindars, Wench Leah Nykaza and Jester Kade Kinnamon.
The Madrigal Brass, directed by Phil Meyer, and the Madrigal Recorder Consort, directed by Sue Keeble, will also perform.
Madrigals were initiated in 1983 by former director Janet Watkins, who developed the premier choral group in the Mahomet-Seymour School District.
Rehearsing two afternoons per week, the Madrigals perfect a “madrigal,” which refers to a particular type of song that is sung without accompaniment and is written for 4-8 voices. The texts of madrigals sometimes deal with the subjects of animals or food; many madrigals talk about “love”– love from afar, unrequited love, or mourning the loss of love.
In addition to performing madrigal songs, the Mahomet-Seymour chorus performs Christmas songs in “madrigal style”—singing to one another in addition to the audience.
Traditionally, It was customary, after a large celebration in a banquet hall, to sit around the table and sing to one another as entertainment rather than watch someone else perform. The songs presented are designed to bring about the spirit of the Christmas season as well as to bring pleasure to the audience. Another highlight of the evening is the presentation of a short play or “masque” by the singers who also act.
In addition to the dinner performances, the Madrigals entertain guests at several other venues, including, but not limited to, Mahomet’s Village Christmas, the Mahomet Public Library and the Mahomet Christian Church throughout the holiday season.
Tickets for the performance, filled with elaborate decorations, ornate costume and dinner provided by Yoders must be purchased online prior to midnight Dec. 6.
No tickets will be sold at the door or after the deadline. Guests are seated according to the date of ticket purchase, so early-birds get the closest seats.
Prices for the full dinner performances on Dec. 14 at 6 p.m. and Dec. 15 at 2 p.m. are $25 each. A Saturday dessert performance is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Dec. 14. Dessert performance tickets are $12.
All tickets can be purchased through www.msmusicboosters.org.
