About Us
The Lamplighter Chorus of Aurora, IL, has been entertaining audiences in Chicago's Western suburbs for almost 75 years, and is still going strong. The group is part of the national Barbershop Harmony Society and sings both traditional and contemporary barbershop songs.
THE LAMPLIGHTER CHORUS, 2019
THE LAMPLIGHTER CHORUS, 2019
Chorus members, left to right:
(Bottom row) Melanie Hansen, Gene Leifheit, Bob Webb, Loras Schuster.
(Middle row) Lester Grossman, John Parker, Mark Barone, Tom Erwin, Jon Meagher.
(Top row) Dan Britton, Ammon Allgaier (guest), Jim Fourmont, Rick Jakubiak.
(Not Pictured) Chris Barone
(Bottom row) Melanie Hansen, Gene Leifheit, Bob Webb, Loras Schuster.
(Middle row) Lester Grossman, John Parker, Mark Barone, Tom Erwin, Jon Meagher.
(Top row) Dan Britton, Ammon Allgaier (guest), Jim Fourmont, Rick Jakubiak.
(Not Pictured) Chris Barone
When chartered in 1946, the group was originally known as the Aurora chapter of SPEBSQSA. After 25 years with the original name, in 1971, the group changed its name to the Aurora Lamplighter Chorus. The name was a good fit, because the group's hometown, Aurora, is known as the City of Lights. Aurora took the nickname, "City of Lights," in 1908, because the town was one of the first cities in the U.S. to implement an all-electric street lighting system in 1881. In 2005, the chorus was renamed, Lamplighter Chorus. It no longer has Aurora in its title in order to encourage singers from all nearby towns - not just Aurora - to join in the fun and camaraderie of their group.
The Lamplighter Chorus is a very welcoming group and invites anyone interested in barbershop to come sing with them. All ages, genders, and skill levels are welcome. The group rehearses at the Neighborhood Church of the Brethren every Thursday night from 7:30pm until 10:00pm. Please contact them at (630) 546-2805 before your visit to verify the meeting time and location.
The Lamplighter Chorus is also available to hire and specializes in providing great barbershop harmony for any event, both large and small. The Chorus, and its quartets, are available to entertain at all types of functions and locations, including: Concerts, parties, parades, singing telegrams, sporting events, birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day and other holidays, at retirement communities, nursing homes, and for civic organizations and community group functions. The group performs both secular and sacred songs sung in the barbershop style.
Mark Barone, Musical Director
Mark Barone, Musical Director for the Lamplighter Chorus, received his B.S. in Music Education, with an Instrumental emphasis, from the University of Illinois in 1994. Mark taught Band in the Oswego public schools for three years before moving into Business and Sales.
The Lamplighter Chorus is a very welcoming group and invites anyone interested in barbershop to come sing with them. All ages, genders, and skill levels are welcome. The group rehearses at the Neighborhood Church of the Brethren every Thursday night from 7:30pm until 10:00pm. Please contact them at (630) 546-2805 before your visit to verify the meeting time and location.
The Lamplighter Chorus is also available to hire and specializes in providing great barbershop harmony for any event, both large and small. The Chorus, and its quartets, are available to entertain at all types of functions and locations, including: Concerts, parties, parades, singing telegrams, sporting events, birthdays, anniversaries, Valentine’s Day and other holidays, at retirement communities, nursing homes, and for civic organizations and community group functions. The group performs both secular and sacred songs sung in the barbershop style.
Mark Barone, Musical Director
Mark Barone, Musical Director for the Lamplighter Chorus, received his B.S. in Music Education, with an Instrumental emphasis, from the University of Illinois in 1994. Mark taught Band in the Oswego public schools for three years before moving into Business and Sales.
MARK BARONE (left), MUSICAL DIRECTOR OF THE LAMPLIGHTER CHORUS.
Mark has been an active Barbershopper since 2013, mostly as a quartetter, and took the Musical Director position with the Lamplighter Chorus in January, 2019. Mark lives in Montgomery with his wife, Carolyn, and their two college-aged children.
"I'm excited to be with a group of singers that share such a rich tradition and have such a solid core membership," Mark says. "We are looking forward to keeping the foundation and traditions that have been laid by my predecessors, and building upon them."
"I'm excited to be with a group of singers that share such a rich tradition and have such a solid core membership," Mark says. "We are looking forward to keeping the foundation and traditions that have been laid by my predecessors, and building upon them."
A Message from Our President
COMING SOON
COMING SOON
