Broadway salute to feature 300 voices in Norwalk

Young, old and in-between -- everyone seems to love Broadway show tunes.

"It doesn't make any difference with age," said Jon Noyes, the music director and founder of the Fairfield County Children's Choir, noting that universal emotions, such as love and loss, hope and despair are the focus of Broadway staples.

For more than a dozen years, the choir's annual Broadway-themed show has been one of the most popular events of the season with audiences -- as well as with the singers, who are in grades four though 12, he said.

This year, "Anything Goes, Annual Salute to Broadway and Auction" will take place on Saturday, Feb. 4, at the Norwalk Concert Hall. It will feature a combined choir of about 300 students strong -- all performing together regardless of age or grade.

The music will come from four musicals: Cole Porter's classic "Anything Goes" from the 1930s, and the 2006 Tony Award-winning "Jersey Boys," based on the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, both now running on Broadway; Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Pirates of Penzance"; and Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic "Oklahoma."

Live and silent auctions, to benefit the nonprofit group, will be offered prior to the concert and during intermission.

Broadway is "a genre that is such a lot of fun. I believe in a good, balanced diet" of music, Noyes said. "Show tunes are lighter fare" for the FCCC, "but certainly not junk food," he added, laughing.

In addition to having such a huge choir, Saturday's concert is special because it will feature a small orchestra with piano, bass guitar, drum set and keyboard synthesizer, as well as a number of soloists who Noyes described as "quite spectacular."

"Balance is so important to us. Throughout the year, we do everything from Bach to Beethoven, jazz to Broadway," and a majority of students seem to "love it all," he added.

On the program are such familiar tunes as "Oh What a Beautiful Morning" from "Oklahoma," and "Who Loves You Pretty Baby" from "Jersey Boys." Other recognizable pieces will include "People Will Say We're In Love," "The Surrey With the Fringe on Top," "I Get a Kick Out of You," "It's De-Lovely," "The Major-General's Song" and "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You."

The FCCC is made up of four ensembles -- Chorus, Concert, Chorale and Chamber Singers -- depending on proficiency in vocal technique, choral technique and music literacy. Each has its own conductor; Noyes is conductor of the most advanced group, the Chamber Singers.

For the Broadway concert, however, all singers perform together, and the conductors take turns at the podium. Along with Noyes, conductors are Cynthia Gisela Holberg, Lisa Bettke and Kevin Cotellese.

A silent auction, with doors opening at 5:30 p.m., will feature such items as autographed National Hockey League jerseys, vacation rentals, movie nights, spa/beauty treatments, gift baskets, karate lessons and tickets to major sporting events, Noyes said.

Intermission will be expanded to 30 minutes, he said, so that patrons will have time to finalize their silent bids. A few items also will be auctioned live from the concert stage at the end of intermission, he added.

"It's going to be quite a dynamic" evening, Noyes said.

Norwalk Concert Hall, 125 East Ave. Saturday, Feb. 4, 7 p.m. $20, $15. 203-414-4292, www.singfccc.org

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