Back By Popular Demand: Tonic Sol Fa Returns To Warsaw With Christmas Show
Posted
David Slone-dslone@timesuniononline.com
By popular demand, award-winning Tonic Sol Fa is returning to the Warsaw Community High School Performing Arts Center. The a cappella foursome last performed in Warsaw Sept. 9, 2010. For this year’s Nov. 22 show, Tonic Sol Fa will entertain audiences with Christmas selections. “When we did the concert last year, a lot of people heard them who hadn’t heard of them before. They were very excited, and I think they nearly sold out their CDs. People kept asking when they are coming back. I knew they were doing a Christmas show and I was able to get them back,” said Jennifer Shepherd, WCHS assistant principal. Opening act may be the barbershop quartet The Chain Gang. Shepherd said Tonic Sol Fa will have merchandise for sale at the show. After their performance, the four men will make themselves available to talk to fans and sign autographs. More than 300 tickets have already been sold for the 7:30 p.m. Nov. 22 show. She said tickets have been sold to people as far away as Pittsburgh, Pa., as well as Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio, and Louisville, Ky. Tonic Sol Fa fans are making a weekend of it, and will be staying in local hotels, Shepherd said. By 2000, Tonic Sol Fa was voted into the Midwest Music Hall of Fame. In 2002, the quartet averaged more than 150 shows annually in 48 states. Then in 2009, the group’s second public television special was broadcast to more than 1,800 stations across the United States. Tonic Sol Fa has appeared in Newsweek, Country Weekly, MediaStyle magazines, on NBC’s “Today Show”, “A Prairie Home Companion” with Garrison Keillor and many other media. The group received two Emmy nominations, won an Emmy last year, and received two “Independent Grammys” for best original holiday song and best original pop song out of 650,000 entries. Shepherd said, “I think Straight No Chaser is hot right now. ‘The Sing-Off’ is hot right now. But (Tonic Sol Fa) were doing this together before it was cool.” The quartet started out in college. Over the years the group evolved and they had some member changes. Mark McGowan and Shaun Johnson were in the original formation of the group about 16 years ago, with Greg Bannwarth joining after the first year. Jared Dove joined in 2000. Tonic Sol Fa will do a master class with WCHS students before the Nov. 22 show. Scott Avery, WCHS choir director and teacher, said he’s had a chance to hear numerous professional singing groups over the years. Tonic’s level of musicality is high, but they match that with their entertainment factor. “The way they present it is accessible to everyone,” Avery said. “I enjoy the way they work with students, too.” Shepherd said Tonic Sol Fa is very interactive with the audience. During their last show, they brought in a lot about the community, talking about things such as Mentone’s giant egg. Afterward, Avery said, the quartet met with the audience. They don’t play that whole aloof game, he said. Shepherd said if people compare ticket prices of the Nov. 22 Warsaw performance to those out on the Internet, they will find that show tickets are very reasonable. Tickets to see Tonic Sol Fa at the WCHS PAC are $15 for adults and $10 for students. Shepherd said the concert would make a wonderful pre-holidays activity for any office, and it will get everyone into the Christmas spirit. The local sponsor of the show is Zimmer. To purchase tickets, call the box office at 574-371-5040. MasterCard and Visa are accepted. No refunds or exchanges. On the Net: www.tonicsolfa.com
