Celebration Iowa Singers to perform in Newton on June 29

Celebration Iowa Singers and Jazz Band (formerly known as the State Fair Singers and Jazz Band), an elite ensemble of Iowa high school musicians, is pleased to announce their upcoming performance in Newton on June 29.

The show, a fund-raiser for Hospice of Jasper County, begins at 7 p.m. and will be at Community Heights Alliance Church. Admission will be $7 for adult tickets and $5 for children. Tickets are available in advance at the Newton Hy-Vee, local banks, Mattingly’s Music and Book Store and the Medicine Shoppe, or at the door on the night of the performance.

Now in its 27th season, Celebration Iowa showcases the quality of Iowa high school music programs through its educational and service-oriented summer performance opportunity. Together with a talented staff of teachers and professionals, students in Celebration Iowa present an action-packed two-hour production that includes song, dance and jazz band favorites for audiences of all ages to enjoy

Celebration Iowa’s 2009 show will open with a memorable America Off to War set, featuring ”Chattanooga Choo Choo”, “Rosie the Riveter”, “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy”, followed by excerpts from the hit musical, “Newsies.”

Some of the selections being performed are, “Carrying the Banner”, “King Of New York” and “Seize the Day.” The show will conclude with an entertaining One Hit Wonders set, some tunes being featured are, “Gloria,” “Turn the Beat Around” and “Macarena.”

The Celebration Iowa Jazz Band will once again perform an eclectic mix and fun jazz literature from many styles and eras. The group performs classic swing charts from Count Basie and Duke Ellington, as well as more modern big band charts from the likes of Charles Mingus and Dizzy Gillespie.

They also perform original songs and arrangements from some of today’s newest composers as well as original arrangements written just for this group. Popular selections from last year include: “Salt Peanuts”, “Anything Goes,” “Four” and “In the Mood.”

During the course of the summer, Celebration Iowa cast members are offered the opportunity to perform over 30 shows in all corners of the state while learning from some of Iowa’s finest teachers.

Every year cast members agree that their experience with Celebration Iowa is truly “the summer of a lifetime.”