You can expect a pitch perfect performance when Another Round, Indiana University’s all-male a cappella group, performs a holiday music concert on Dec. 18 at the Theatre of Western Springs.
The group includes Downers Grove native Lars Feste, who serves as one of two business managers. Feste, a senior informatics major, has performed with Another Round since his freshman year at Indiana.
“We have a pretty classic repertoire. There are a few songs that we have held onto since the group’s existence but each year we try to bring in new songs,” Feste said. “Our music director Jake Forrestal usually decides when we’re singing what songs.” The entire group decides which songs to add to their repertoire, though.
The Western Springs concert will consist of two 45-minute sets of songs selected from the group’s repertoire of approximately six dozen holiday songs, plus a few classics and new songs.
Selections will include Boyz II Men’s version of “Silent Night,” “Prayer of the Children” by Kurt Bestor and several of the group’s classics, such as “Lean on Me” and “Stand by Me.” And they will definitely perform “Insomniac,” which was sung by the group in its first show in 1996, when it was known as Straight No Chaser. The name was changed to Another Round in 2012.
New members are selected via auditions every fall. “Usually between 40 and 50 guys audition,” Feste said. “They sing a verse and a chorus of a song that fits their voice and all members of the chorus will be listening — kind of like an ‘American Idol’ type of audition. We’ll call back around 10 guys, depending on our needs. We’ll have a 20-minute interview with them to figure out who they are and if they can fit the group’s personality, because we spend so much time with each other. We have to be friends, as well as performers.”
Feste noted that during his first three years in Another Round, none of the members were music majors. However, three music majors have been added to the roster this year.
Another Round performs for sorority and fraternity parties on campus, benefits for Riley Hospital for Children, other fundraisers and corporate events, and at venues primarily throughout the Midwest, although they have traveled as far as Texas to perform.
“I’m very excited for this show,” Feste said. “A lot of friends and family from my church community and my high school community will be able to see what I’ve been doing the past four years in college.”
Theatre of Western Springs presents Another Round
When: 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18
Where: 4384 Hampton Ave., Western Springs
Tickets: $30
Contact: (708) 246-3380; www.theatreofwesternsprings.com
