By Mark Ambrogi
When Purdue Varsity Glee Club makes its appearance at Zionsville Performing Arts Center, Purdue senior Austin Rauschuber will feel right at home.
“I’m so excited to be able to come back to Zionsville to sing for my senior year,” Rauschuber said. “Zionsville is a wonderful town that raised me well, and I can’t wait to be back among friends and acquaintances on the stage where I learned to love singing.”
The concert with the Purdue’s men’s choir will start at 7 p.m. on Oct. 2 at the ZPAC, which is connected to Zionsville Community High School.
“My time in the choirs at Zionsville Community High School have helped prepare me for so much in my life, from my musical experiences to my professional experiences,” said Rauschuber, a tenor. “From my time in Zionsville’s choir program, I was able to learn so much about my voice and help to train myself to become a strong singer, when I had very little experience with how my own voice worked before coming into the program. The choir program also helped to train me to develop a strong work ethic and a great sense of teamwork. In the modern collaborative work environment, it’s programs like Zionsville’s choirs that help set upcoming generations for success.”
Purdue’s Glee Cub, under the direction of William Griffel, features a versatile repertoire including gospel, vocal jazz, swing, contemporary hits, romantic ballads, classical choral selections, barbershop, folk melodies, patriotic standards, opera choruses, country and novelty tunes. The choral group utilizes small groups and talented soloists to further enhance each show.
The 90-minute show will include a combined song with Zionsville Show Choirs, Royalaires and Choralaires. Together they will sing the “The Battle Hymn of the Republic.”
“This is an excellent opportunity, for our students, to work with a collegiate choir,” said Deana Broge, who directs the choirs with Aaron Coates. “Our students will have a rehearsal with the Glee Club and their director, Bill Griffel, have dinner with them and then get to watch them perform.”
Broge was formerly a director of the Purduettes.
“Yes, there is a certain amount of nostalgia in hosting the Purdue Varsity Glee Club at Zionsville Community High School, but the best reason to host this fundraising concert is to have some area Purdue students back home,” Broge said.
Joining Rauschuber are five students from Hamilton County, included two Hamilton Southeastern High School graduates, Trevor Peters and Rob Mantock.
The others are Aaron Corbett, Noblesville High School; John Evelo, Carmel High School and Patrick Montgomery, Fishers High School.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for students. For ticket information, visit zchoirs.comor Zvilleperformingarts.com. Tickets also are available by calling 733-4833 and at the door.
Julie Tiller, who was president of Zionsville Show Choirs Inc. last year and the parent of a Royalaires member, said the money raised is going to help with costumes and travel for their competition season.
“It’s not only serving as an educational opportunity to show our kids what they can do in college to keep their interest alive, it’s providing the community with a wonderful evening of entertainment,” Tiller said. “And it’s helping raise funds for our current show choir program.”
