Spring celebration at La Grange Highlands Church

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Birdy

Updated: November 24, 2011 2:59AM

It seems appropriate to include a group named “Birdy” in a special music event that celebrates spring.

“They have exquisite voices and their original music is as beautiful as their covers,” said Maria Rohloff, who for 15 years has been director of music at Highlands Presbyterian Church in La Grange Highlands.

She was commenting on Birdy, the eclectic folk quartet composed of Sharon Speziale (vocals, guitar, fiddle), Bianca Bevard (vocals), Megan Thomas (percussion), and Roy McNaughton (acoustic bass).

Spring celebration

Birdy is on the program for the church’s celebratory worship service, “Sing When the Spirit Says, Sing!” on May 22.

Rohloff will direct the event, that includes performances by the Highlands Presbyterian Church Sanctuary Choir, The Children’s Choir, Birdy, and TriAngel Trio. A short, “folk with a twist” concert by Birdy follows the program, and a reception in Fellowship Hall follows that. The event is free and open to the public.

The adult choir, a mixed ensemble of 14 men and women, plans to perform a folk-based repertoire, including the spiritual, “Every Night When the Sun Goes In” and an old Shaker song, “Bow Down Low.”

The Children’s Choir will feature solo vocals by Robert Fritz, who will lead off on “Kumbaya,” and also the talents of Jennifer Carver, who will play conga drums.

“The Children’s Choir is small in number but very loyal,” said Rohloff, of Indian Head Park. “The children are absolutely part of our service every Sunday, accolading or singing, and sometimes as liturgists. We try to mesh them in and treasure our little ones, get them involved and they’ll stay involved.”

The children, in turn, respond, Rohloff said. “And the kids at our church have really excelled outside the church, too, and become great members of society. We find that they recognize how their upbringing through the church has helped them, and they give back.”

New trio

The newly-named “TriAngel Trio” is composed of Rohloff, Speziale, and Katie Reihsmann.

“I was typing up the order of the music and thought, ‘what can I call us?’ ” said Rohloff, “and ‘TriAngel’ just came to me. We’ll lead off on the program title song in our set, which will be one of the congregation sing-alongs.”

Speziale is doing triple-duty: singing with the adult choir, with TriAngel Trio, and with her group, Birdy. She is a long-time member of the church.

“I’m excited about Birdy being invited to participate, as this is where the whole thing began,” said Speziale. “We’re kinda home grown. But this is the first time we’re performing for a church service. We actually open the service with ‘Let Your Light Shine On Me’.”

She added that Birdy will also perform the traditional “Wayfaring Stranger” and “I’ll Fly Away” during the worship service. “Our Birdy mini-concert will begin around 10:45 and that will include Birdy standards as well as some new and old selections we’re pulling out and dusting off.”

Speziale and Wesolowski (formerly Bevard) started singing around a bonfire at a church camping weekend and realized their vocal blend was something special.

The duo started performing, then added percussionist, Megan Thomas, and more recently bassist, McNaughton. The quartet draws from a diverse range of influences, both traditional and contemporary.

From their website: “Birdy appreciates the haunting sound of wind blowing through the trees, golden autumn days, the hope of spring, and music born from church, gospel and truth.”

Birdy released its debut CD, “Journey Home,” in 2009, which received airplay on WDCB Public Radio. The group has performed widely in the greater Chicagoland area, from coffee houses to farmer’s markets, clubs
and special events.

More information about Birdy at www.birdytunes.org.