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) 788-9001 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."
Melanie Hansen, Lampligher President
Melanie has been singing with The Lamplighter Chorus since August of 2018 and has been an official member since January of 2019, when she joined the Barbershop Harmony Society. That makes her one of the newer members of the Lamplighter Chorus. As of January 2020, she became the president of the group—the Aurora, IL, Chapter of the Barbershop Harmony Society.
Melanie may be new to the barbershop community; however, she is not new to singing or to leadership. She has been singing and performing for much of her adult life, both as a soloist and as a member of an ensemble.
In college, Melanie sang in several choirs and was the soloist for Aurora University at many of their concerts, their East coast and Great Britain choir tours, and for one of their commencement ceremonies. After college, she was a soloist at numerous weddings and events. “I love to sing and perform. I have always enjoyed barbershop singing but was never involved with a barbershop group before now,” said Melanie. Her ensemble work was as the co-founder and co-leader of a mixed acapella do-op quintet, called, “The Expressions.” They performed at many local venues; including concerts, parties, festivals, telethons, Cougar’s games, and singing the national anthem for the Chicago White Sox.
A native to Illinois, Ms. Hansen has lived in Oswego since 1997. “I’m happily married and have one son of whom I’m very proud,” she said. Her background includes receiving her B.A. in psychology and sociology and a Master’s Degree in social work (MSW). She currently works in a non-social work capacity for a great group of doctors at the Leasenby Wellness Clinic in Aurora.
Melanie may be new to the barbershop community; however, she is not new to singing or to leadership. She has been singing and performing for much of her adult life, both as a soloist and as a member of an ensemble.
In college, Melanie sang in several choirs and was the soloist for Aurora University at many of their concerts, their East coast and Great Britain choir tours, and for one of their commencement ceremonies. After college, she was a soloist at numerous weddings and events. “I love to sing and perform. I have always enjoyed barbershop singing but was never involved with a barbershop group before now,” said Melanie. Her ensemble work was as the co-founder and co-leader of a mixed acapella do-op quintet, called, “The Expressions.” They performed at many local venues; including concerts, parties, festivals, telethons, Cougar’s games, and singing the national anthem for the Chicago White Sox.
A native to Illinois, Ms. Hansen has lived in Oswego since 1997. “I’m happily married and have one son of whom I’m very proud,” she said. Her background includes receiving her B.A. in psychology and sociology and a Master’s Degree in social work (MSW). She currently works in a non-social work capacity for a great group of doctors at the Leasenby Wellness Clinic in Aurora.
A Message from Our President, Melanie Hansen
Welcome and Happy New Year!
I have been singing with the Lamplighter Chorus for the past year and a half and on January 1, 2020, became the President of our Barbershop Chapter. And I couldn’t be happier! We have a wonderful group and I have been having a blast! We are a mixed chorus—right now comprised of 12 men and myself—and are always looking to add new members. So, please contact us if you would like to sing with our group. We have a fantastic director, Mark Barone, who is doing a great job with the group! I am very proud of the Lamplighter Chorus. We are small, but mighty, producing the sound of a much larger group.
I am looking forward to a wonderful year with the Lamplighter Chorus! We have many performances and parades scheduled for 2020 and expect to increase our performance schedule over that of the last few years. We are always looking to add performances, so please call us to schedule your event or party. We have very reasonable rates and are available for any occasion, large or small, and would be happy to put together a performance for your event. Nothing adds fun like barbershop music!
Melanie Hansen
Welcome and Happy New Year!
I have been singing with the Lamplighter Chorus for the past year and a half and on January 1, 2020, became the President of our Barbershop Chapter. And I couldn’t be happier! We have a wonderful group and I have been having a blast! We are a mixed chorus—right now comprised of 12 men and myself—and are always looking to add new members. So, please contact us if you would like to sing with our group. We have a fantastic director, Mark Barone, who is doing a great job with the group! I am very proud of the Lamplighter Chorus. We are small, but mighty, producing the sound of a much larger group.
I am looking forward to a wonderful year with the Lamplighter Chorus! We have many performances and parades scheduled for 2020 and expect to increase our performance schedule over that of the last few years. We are always looking to add performances, so please call us to schedule your event or party. We have very reasonable rates and are available for any occasion, large or small, and would be happy to put together a performance for your event. Nothing adds fun like barbershop music!
Melanie Hansen
