By Jason Wesseldyk
Sports Editor
Former Plainwell High School choir director Keith Cahoon will take the stage at the Plainwell Performing Arts Center on Saturday, Nov. 23, at 7 p.m.
And he’s bringing some friends with him.
Vocalists Ann Berchem and Tony Beacco will join Cahoon—who will provide piano accompaniment—for a show called “Ballads to Broadway and Beyond.”
According to Berchem, the show includes selections from a variety of genres.
“Our concert repertoire includes solos and duets from Broadway, pop, folk, blues, jazz and a couple of my original pieces,” she said.
Sharon Green, a former music educator at Marquette Area Public Schools and Northern Michigan University, organized the concert. She will also join the other three on stage for a few songs to provide guitar accompaniment.
Like Cahoon and Green, Berchem and Beacco are also music educators.
Beacco taught in the NICE Community School District in West Ishpeming for 33 years, while Berchem has been teaching for 29 years. She is currently the elementary vocal music teacher in Sheboygan, Wis.
The group first got to know each other more than 30 years ago.
“I have known Sharon, Tony and Keith since I was an undergrad music student at (Northern Michigan University) in the early ‘90s,” Berchem said. “I performed in several musicals both on stage and in the pit, as well as doing solo work with Tony for the Marquette Choral Society.”
Berchem and Beacco also did their student teaching under Green, who was named Michigan State Teacher of the Year in the mid ‘90s. Later, all four friends worked and taught together for many summers at Wolverine Vocal Music Camp.
“Although we’ve always lived in different places, we would make a point to get together to attend summer choral workshops or to see a show, because we all truly enjoyed spending time together,” Berchem said. “After all of these years, we still get together a few times a year. The power of music has kept us all connected in some way for over 30 years.”
Performing together started at the summer camp, as Green would insist on Beacco and Berchem singing duets for the campers, with Cahoon on the piano. The trio even made a recording together to surprise Green for her retirement.
A few years ago, Green decided it was time to take the show on the road.
“Sharon had the vision to pull us all together to share in a collaborative concert at the Erickson Arts center in Curtiss,” Berchem said. “The past two summers, we’ve performed the show in Marquette as well, to sold out audiences.”
And given Cahoon’s strong ties to Plainwell, it only made sense to perform there, as well.
“The concert is being held in Plainwell so we can share our music in Keith’s hometown, to honor the place he has made such an impact and legacy through his 34 years as choral director and music educator,” Berchem said.
Tickets are $10 for general admission and can be purchased in advance at buytickets.at/beaccoberchemcahooninconcert/1390935. For ticketing questions, email cramer.jonathan.a@gmail.com.
“We hope to encourage everyone to come out and hear the magic that happens when a group of musicians and longtime music educators collaborate for a powerful and memorable evening of music,” Berchem said.
