The Sentinel: Music Performance

Free youth orchestra concert this Sunday in Urbana

Members of the East Central Illinois Youth Orchestra performed at Smith Recital Hall in Urbana during their 2022 Winter Concert. The orchestra will perform again this Sunday.

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

URBANA - The East Central Illinois Youth Orchestra will perform its annual Winter Concert this Sunday, Jan. 19, at 7 p.m. at Smith Music Hall on the University of Illinois campus.

Orchestra members are the top classical student instrumentalists in the area. The musicians, who hail from Champaign, Urbana, Mahomet, Monticello, and Danville, go through a rigorous audition process for their chairs.

Sunday's program features the overture to Giuseppe Verdi's opera Nabucco, a medley from the musical Les Misérables, Norwegian Dances by Edvard Grieg, Andante Festivo by Jean Sibelius, and the first movement of Antonín Dvořák's Eighth Symphony.

The CUYO focuses on providing young musicians in the Champaign-Urbana area with opportunities to perform in an orchestral setting. It serves middle school and high school students, offering them a chance to enhance their musical skills, work with experienced conductors, and perform a diverse repertoire of classical and contemporary works.

"This is challenging music for the students, and they’ve worked hard since mid-September to bring it to performance level," Kevin Kelly, music director for the youth orchestra, said. "You will be impressed and entertained!"

Admission to the event is free and begins promptly at 7 p.m. Smith Music Hall is located on the University of Illinois campus at 805 S. Mathews Ave.

On Stage: Soulja Boy Tell 'Em Big Draco coming to Canopy Club

URBANA - A stop on his The SODMG Tour promoting his latest album release Swag 6, Soulja Boy Tell 'Em Big Draco is set to perform at the Canopy Club on September 27 at 9 pm.

The Urbana show is in the middle of a five-day swing by Soulja Boy that starts in Mechanicsburg, PA, on Tuesday, September 24. The next night he will be in Louisville, followed by a quick stop in Nashville at the Main Stage before his Friday night performance at the Canopy Club. After that, he is on his way to Minneapolis before a two-day schedule break.

Born in Chicago in 1990, DeAndre Cortez Way, July 28, 1990, moved to Atlanta when he was six years old. At the age of 14, he moved to live with his father in Batesville, Mississippi, where he explored and developed his musical chops while building a network of music connections.

The now 34-year-old music veteran performer quickly became a leader, using grassroots social media and digital marketing strategies to grow his popularity. Thanks to several groundbreaking online promotional strategies he pioneered in 2004, Soulja Boy took the next step, moving back to Atlanta, booking live performances, and expanding his network and knowledge of the music business even further.

After hooking up with Atlanta producer Mr. Collipark, also known as DJ Smurf back in the day, he transitioned from a local wunderkind to a hip-hop household name. Under the roof of Interscope and Collipark Music imprint, Soulja Boy Tell Em rose to number one on the pop music charts for seven non-consecutive weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

“Crank That” is still remembered as a prominent dance song from the 2000s. The cut earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Song in 2007. In addition to the Grammy Award nomination, Soulja Boy has earned three BET Awards and four Teen Choice Award nominations.

He also has a platinum album to his credit titled Souljaboytellem.com. Released on March 23, 2007, it peaked at #5 on Billboard 200 and sold 125,000 in the first week. The album was certified Platinum on June 16, 2007, and has sold over 1.5 million copies in the US & over 3.1 million copies worldwide as of May 2008.

Early tickets are on sale now, in advance for $25-29.50. Concertgoers can also buy tickets at the door for $35.

Upcoming Canopy Club shows

K-Squared Presents: CU in the 2000s - Sat, Aug 3 - Canopy Club - More Info

Reign of Z w/ Beautiful Skeletons - Fri, Aug 16 - Canopy Club - More Info

Deeper Purpose - Sat, Sep 7 - Canopy Club - More Info

Slacker University (Fall Fest) - Thu, Sep 12 - Canopy Club - More Info

PYGMALION 2024:
ROYEL OTIS w/ Friko - Thu, Sep 19 - Canopy Club - More Info

PYGMALION 2024
: X AMBASSADORS w/ Rosie Tucker - Fri, Sep 20 - Canopy Club - More Info

PYGMALION 2024
: CupcakKe w/ Queen Key - Sat, Sep 21 - Canopy Club - More Info

Soulja Boy - Fri, Sep 27 - Canopy Club - More Info

Emo Nite - Sat, Sep 28 - Canopy Club - More Info

Andy Frasco & The U.N. - Sun, Oct 6 - Canopy Club - More Info

MARAUDA - Thu, Oct 10 - Canopy Club - More Info

K-Pop Night - Fri, Oct 18 - Canopy Club - More Info

TVBOO - Thu, Nov 14 - Canopy Club - More Info

Riot Ten - Fri, Dec 6 - Canopy Club - More Info

Unity's All Out A Cappella show Feb. 16

Members of Unity High School's Surreal Sound perform at the 2023 All A Capella show. The annual music booster fundraiser is back.

Photo: UnityPhotos/Jamie Price

TOLONO - The Unity Music Boosters are organizing an All Out A Cappella fundraiser on February 16th at the high school auditorium. The event will begin at 7 p.m. and will showcase performances from eight a cappella groups. The funds raised from the event will be used to support music programs in the Unit 7 school district. These programs include music trips, scholarships, costumes, risers, instrument repair and more. Your participation in this event will help to ensure the continued success of these programs.

Members of No Comment perform at the 2022 All A Capella show. The ensemble returns to this year's line-up on February 16.

Photo: UnityPhotos/Jamie Price

In addition to UHS' very own Surreal Sound and Unity West's 5th Grade Choir, two groups from Illinois State University and four ensembles from the University of Illinois are slated to perform.

Acafellaz, a tenor-bass Capella group now in its 25th year, and the coed Clef Hangers, both from ISU, will once again lend their award-winning vocal talents at the annual fundraiser.

Concertgoers will also hear select tunes from No Comment, No Strings Attached, the Rip Chords, and the male counterparts, the Xtension Chords. The four groups from the Illinois campus are high-level competitive performers.

Tickets are still available and can be purchased online at https://unitymusicboosters.seatyourself.biz. Admission is $15 for adults and $10 for students/senior citizens.

Jam packed weekend planned for Urbana's Folk & Roots Festival

URBANA - The 15th annual CU Folk & Roots Festival kicks off tomorrow at 5 pm at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.

Louie Pappas plays a saxophone solo during the second set of the Hot Club Urbana's show during the band's rendition of Christmas is Coming in December of 2021. Listen to the entire live performance recorded by Sean Kutzko for Chambana Jazz here. The group will perform at Cloud Mountain Kombucha on Saturday from noon to 2 pm.

Photo: PhotoNews Media Archives

Featuring more than 50 performances at various venues throughout Urbana, this year's festival artists include Adeem the Artist, Dom Flemons, Eddie Barbash + KASA and Friends, Son Monarcas, Tee Dee Young, Anika Emily, Allie Jean, Arco & Aire, Bandoneon Massacre, Big Daddy Pride & the East Side Five, Bill Kirby, Black Eyed Lillies, Brian Krumm and His Barfly Friends, Cajun Strangers, Camellia Moon, Cole Bridges, Congress of Starlings, Derrick Streibig, Fox Crossing, The Gospel of Qui, Hannah Rose and the Sweet Nothings, Hooten Hallers, Hot Club of Urbana, Jaik Willis, Jean Rene Balekita, John Coppess, Kate Campbell, Keith Hall and The Creepin' Grass, Los Texano'z, Meadowhawk, Merry Travelers Duo, Mr. Dave, The Paw Paws, Sixth Street Brass Band, Spencer and Rains, Tumbleweeds, Tyler Lance Walker Gill, and The Young and the Fretless.

The event schedule is online at CU Folk & Roots master schedule and will be updated live with additional performances, venue changes, and last-minute events.

All-access festival tickets are $50, with single-day and single-venue tickets available at The Cohen Building at 136 W. Main Street in downtown Urbana.

The festival will also host dances, instructional sessions, jam sessions, and song circles. A family-oriented event, there are other activities such as storytelling, instrument-making, and other children's programs during the three day event.

For more information visit the Folk & Roots website at https://folkandroots.org/

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Tickets for Unity's All Out A Capella now on sale

Tolono - Tickets are now on sale for the Unity Music Booster All Out A Capella on Friday, February 10, at the Unity High School Auditorium. In addition to performances from collegiate a cappella groups and Unity's Surrell Sound, there will also be a raffle for prizes at the annual fundraiser.

Proceeds from the fundraiser are used to enhance music programs in the Unit 7 school district.

The doors open at 6:30 pm and the curtain rises at 7 pm. Tickets are available online here or at the door prior to the performance. Admission is $15 for adults and $10 for students and senior citizens.

For more information contact the Unity Music Boosters at alloutacappella@gmail.com or at UnityRocketsMusic@gmail.com.