Musician and historian Chris Vallillo will give five performances of "Abraham Lincoln in Song."
CHICAGO – The Illinois Humanities Council is pleased to announce its second IHC Road Scholars Speakers Bureau whistle-stop tour of southwestern Illinois from August 4 to August 6, 2009. Acclaimed musician and historian Chris Vallillo will be performing "Abraham Lincoln in Song," his acclaimed musical history of Lincoln’s life, at five sites across southern Illinois, from Carmi to East St. Louis.
All events are free and open to the public. For more information about any of these events, please call the Illinois Humanities Council at 312.422.5580 or visit www.prairie.org/RoadScholars. The complete schedule of performances is below:
August 4:
- 2:00 p.m. – First Baptist Church – 590 N. Lincoln Blvd., Shawneetown (sponsored by the Shawneetown Public Library)
- 7:00 p.m. – Carmi Public Library – 103 Slocumb St., Carmi
August 5:
- 1:00 p.m. – Norris City Memorial Public Library District – 603 S. Division St., Norris City
- 7:00 p.m. – Steeleville Area Library – 625 S. Sparta St., Steeleville (sponsored by the Randolph County Genealogical Society)
August 6:
- 1:00 p.m. – East St. Louis Public Library – 5300 State St., East St. Louis
ABOUT THE SPEAKER
Singer-songwriter Chris Vallillo has been entertaining audiences with music that portrays the joys and sorrows, ups and downs of Midwestern life, for over 25 years. A graduate of Beloit College, with a degree in anthropology, he began seriously pursuing music, writing, and performing with various bands before beginning a career as a soloist. For seven years, Chris was the former host and co-producer of the nationally syndicated Rural Route 3 public radio program.
ABOUT "ABRAHAM LINCOLN IN SONG"
The life of Abraham Lincoln spanned a period of great change and growth in the state of Illinois. From his days as a flat-boater, through his time at New Salem, his years as a circuit lawyer and on up through his presidency, Lincoln’s life is a microcosm of the development of Illinois during that period. Award-winning folksinger Chris Vallillo uses historic narratives, contemporary folk music, and period folk songs Lincoln may well have known and sung to bring Illinois’ favorite son and his times to life.
ABOUT THE IHC ROAD SCHOLARS SPEAKERS BUREAU
The Illinois Humanities Council’s Road Scholars Speakers Bureau program encourages Illinoisans to reflect upon the human condition from a range of perspectives, providing a distinctive forum for discussion and dialogue. It places humanities scholars in diverse communities throughout the state where they give presentations on a variety of topics that include history, culture, literature, music, politics, ethnicity, science, and religion.
Nonprofit organizations that are interested in hosting a future IHC Road Scholars speaker should visit www.prairie.org/RoadScholars, email ihc@prairie.org, or call 312.422.5580 for directions on how to apply. Examples of eligible nonprofit organizations include-but are not limited to-historical societies, libraries, senior centers, museums, community colleges, professional groups, and community organizations.
The Illinois Humanities Council is a nonprofit educational organization [501 (c) 3] dedicated to fostering a culture in which the humanities are a vital part of the lives of individuals and communities. Organized in 1973 as the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, the IHC creates programs and funds organizations that promote greater understanding of, appreciation for, and involvement in the humanities by all Illinoisans, regardless of their economic resources, cultural background, or geographic location. The IHC is supported by state, federal, and private funds.
D A R E T O K N O W
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