Harmonizing for Fun and Profit

By TERRY WARD
Contributing Writer

ST. CHARLES—Music can be fun—and a source of revenue, too.

Ask Stacie Steinke.

It was Christmas in July at Naperville’s Arbor Vitae Java and Juice when the Festive Signers introduced their first commercial album—“‘Tis the Festive Naperville Season.”

For businesswoman Steinke, the album was the start of a new career.

“We have been in business almost two years,” said Steinke, whose idea gave birth to the group in 1999.

“We are especially excited about our CD, which was recorded in Geneva, because our first thrust was Christmas music and we’ve added some songs to our repertoire.”

Although Steinke formed the group in Naperville, she hails from Wayne. She also bears the title, “artistic director.”

“I was in the corporate world for five years and wanted to change my focus to a home-based business,” Steinke said. “My husband Kevin’s job took him to Mexico City for three years, where I saw singing waiters who inspired me to aspire to forming a group of performers who would be ‘up close and personal.’

“I advertised and talked to cohorts in the music field and actually found my first performer at my church,” Steinke added. “The response was positive and now I have 20 members.”

The first performance took place in Naperville, followed by several caroling stints.

Steinke always had loved singing, had lessons in her teens, studied music in college and earned her master’s degree in voice from Catholic University in Washington D.C. She later taught voice, a career which worked well with her lifestyle, but she always maintained her interest in performing.

“When the Festive Singers was formed, I tried to handle the records, but found that there is a gap between getting out of school and putting together a package, so I turned that part of the business over to my spouse, Kevin,” Steinke said.

Stacie is a coloratura soprano who permeates here lovely singing voice with trills. She loves opera and musical theater, especially the works of Victor Herbert, whose songs she sang at the Society for Suicide Prevention benefit in Aurora.

She played the part to the hilt, wearing a pink boa.

Other songs from that show are “If a Girl Isn’t Pretty” from “Funny Girl,” in which singer Al Pedersen donned a false nose and crazy glasses. He was accompanied by Stacie and Keri Elser.

Old favorite “Sing for Your Supper” opened the program as Stacie and Keri danced down the aisles. “Brush Up Your Shakespeare” from “Kiss Me Kate” was performed by Al Pedersen, Church Wolter and Pierrick Hanlet: it brought down the house.

“We do one benefit a year,” Stacie said, “and this was it.

“We can put on a two-person performance or use five or six of our group. Our singers have professional backgrounds. Church Wolter sings with the Lyric (Opera) and talks of Samuel Ramey. Cynthia Fortune Gruel, mezzo-soprano, of West Chicago sings with Light Opera Works in Evanston, at Tummy Guns and on the Spirit of Chicago. The singers need to be well versed in a cappella, but we do have an accompanist in Nancy Tabb, a pianist.”

Coming engagements for the Festive Singers include the City of Naperville, Geneva’s Festival of the Vine in September, St. Charles’ Scarecrow Festive in October and several holiday parties.

“We sing for small parties, anniversaries, weddings—whatever the occasion,” Steinke said. “We want your celebration to end on a high note.”