The Madrigal Singers are an elite group of singers enrolled in the music program offered at Rushville Consolidated High School. Under the direction of Choir Director Paul Grizzard, the group performs at various functions, community events and concerts throughout the school year.

One of the most moving performances by the singers, which has become a local tradition, is the annual dinner and program in the Rush County Courthouse. Due to the limited number of shows at the courthouse, tickets for the event are generally difficult to come by — although that is not the case for Tuesday’s show. To give additional people the opportunity to hear the uniqueness of the singers in the county seat Grizzard and the members added a performance this year.

“Last year we had a Wednesday through Sunday dinners and they sold out so this year we thought we’d give more of the community the opportunity to attend. We have plenty of tickets for the Tuesday show still remaining,” Grizzard recently said.

Tuesday evenings performance will kick off a week of nearly two-hour shows. As in previous years, a catered meal will be served prior to the performance. Dave Buening of J & D Meats will provide dinner again this year.

The two student leaders of the group, RCHS seniors Hanah Nigh and Barry Swigart, recently joined their choir director to talk about this year’s shows.

Swigart said that he has always enjoyed singing and has especially this, his second year as a Madrigal singer.

“I feel the Madrigal Singers is such a select group of people that everyone gets close to the others in the group. We conduct ourselves. We even had someone this year compose a piece that we are singing,” Swigart said.

The series of performances have been in the works since school began in the fall and the students are looking forward to the performances.

Nigh said those attending will really enjoy the performances and that performing at the courthouse is special.

“When you sing in the courthouse it is just amazing. Things you sing in there don’t sound the same anywhere else,” Nigh said.

She also echoed Swigart’s assessment that the family-like closeness of the group’s members is conveyed during performances.

Tickets remain for Tuesday’s evening show and are available for $15, which includes the dinner.

“We make no profit from the concerts and dinner. All the monies go toward the catering and the Connersville Brass Quintet, which includes our very own T.R. Campbell who plays with them. They accompany the singers and play in the background while the audience eats,” Grizzard said.

Frank Denzler can be contacted at (765) 932-2222 ext. 106 or via e-mail at frank.denzler@rushvillerepublican.com. To add a comment to this story visit our Web site at www.rushvillerepublican.com.