By CHLOE BLUNIER
For The Prince
PRINCEVILLE – A small group of Princeville students have been given the opportunity to sing backup for a series of Beatles celebration concerts.
Called the Yoko Ono Choir, the group, led by Chris Delbridge, included Princeville students Natalie Bashusen, Chloe Blunier, Brianna Olshawsky, Sophie Noonen and Leah Wieland, Princeville alum Alex Lopez, Midland student Maddy Colby and community member Hillary Hartley. Other performers were a group of local musicians, including Cherry Whittaker, Jimmy Willis and Mathew Curry. The group was led by Craig Moore.
Performances so far have been at the Scottish Rite Theater in downtown Peoria and last weekend at the Castle Theater in Bloomington-Normal.
The last show will be April 24 in Keokuk, Iowa. Amber Brawley, Bryanna Clark, McKenzie Chain, Nadine Daugherty, Olivia Potter, Ruby Williams, and Sadie Bays will be joining the group for those shows.
The group learned all of the music audibly. There was no sheet music and Delbridge did all of the instruction himself.
The group enjoyed the Scottish Rite Theater, which is a repurposed cathedral, and explored the building. There were stained glass windows everywhere and gorgeous architecture.
“It was a dream come true for me to be asked to participate with musicians that I have admired for many years,” Delbridge said. “ Getting to share the experience with a group of my current and former students made it even more special!