The Sounds of Sweetness is Walter Payton College Prep High School’s male a cappella ensemble. The ensemble is made up of freshman through seniors, and students must audition to be in the group. The group’s repertoire is varied and includes pop, doo-wop, spirituals, gospel, contemporary and barber shop genre: that is, four part, close harmony arrangements of popular songs of the ‘20s, ‘30s, and ‘40s. The Sounds of Sweetness is one of the only groups of its kind in the Chicago Public Schools.   

 

Since its inception in 2001 The Sounds of Sweetness has performed for Mayor Richard Daley, former police superintendent Terry Hillard, and Connie, Brittany and Jarrett Payton (wife and children of the late Walter Payton). They have performed at the Michigan Avenue Lights Festival, the Shedd Aquarium, the Art Institute of Chicago, and U.S. Cellular Field. Sounds of Sweetness has performed at the half time shows of the Harlem Globetrotters games at the United Center, for the Cathedral District of Chicago’s downtown caroling at the Omni Hotel, and at numerous fundraisers, benefits and corporate functions in and around the Chicago Area. They have appeared in live performances on the NBC, Channel 5 and CBS 2 morning news programs, and a holiday special on Channel 26, WCIU. In April of 2005 the Sounds of Sweetness were the special guest performers at the Illinois District S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A (Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America) convention in Peoria, where they received a standing ovation from the crowd of 600 barber shoppers from around the state. In May of 2005 the Sounds of Sweetness was selected by American Music Salute to represent the great state of Illinois, at ceremonies in Washington, D.C. and New York City, commemorating the 60^th anniversary of the ending of World War II. They performed, along with one choir from every state, at the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. and on the flight deck of the U.S.S. Intrepid in New York Harbor. The group performs annually at the Salvation Army’s Christmas Tree Lighting at the Hancock Plaza. In 2007 the Sounds of Sweetness was the featured entertainment at the annual Christmas tree lighting at the Sears Tower, where Connie Payton and her children Brittany and Jarrett lit the Christmas tree. They performed at the 2006 Dickens Holiday Festival (Lincoln Ave. and Dickens St. in Chicago), where they met Lucinda Dickens (Charles Dickens’ great great granddaughter). June of 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 saw the group performing on the entertainment stage of the Old Town Art Fair, the nation’s oldest, adjudicated art fair. The Sounds of Sweetness performed the national anthem at the Bears game on Sunday, November 1^st as the Bears paid tribute to the late Walter Payton. The group also performed the national anthem at the Bulls game on Friday, January 15^th and will be singing the anthem at a White Sox game in May. During the holiday season the boys caroled in the lobbies of various office buildings in the loop. In early December they entertained the crowds at the main stage at Lincoln Square’s Christkindl Festival (for the second year in a row). You can check out the group by going to http://sites.wpcp.org/sos/ .

           

The Sounds of Sweetness is Walter Payton College Prep High School’s male a cappella ensemble. The ensemble is made up of freshman through seniors, and students must audition to be in the group. The group’s repertoire is varied and includes pop, doo-wop, spirituals, gospel, contemporary and barber shop genre: that is, four part, close harmony arrangements of popular songs of the ‘20s, ‘30s, and ‘40s. The Sounds of Sweetness is one of the only groups of its kind in the Chicago Public Schools.   

 

Since its inception in 2001 The Sounds of Sweetness has performed for Mayor Richard Daley, former police superintendent Terry Hillard, and Connie, Brittany and Jarrett Payton (wife and children of the late Walter Payton). They have performed at the Michigan Avenue Lights Festival, the Shedd Aquarium, the Art Institute of Chicago, and U.S. Cellular Field. Sounds of Sweetness has performed at the half time shows of the Harlem Globetrotters games at the United Center, for the Cathedral District of Chicago’s downtown caroling at the Omni Hotel, and at numerous fundraisers, benefits and corporate functions in and around the Chicago Area. They have appeared in live performances on the NBC, Channel 5 and CBS 2 morning news programs, and a holiday special on Channel 26, WCIU. In April of 2005 the Sounds of Sweetness were the special guest performers at the Illinois District S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A (Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America) convention in Peoria, where they received a standing ovation from the crowd of 600 barber shoppers from around the state. In May of 2005 the Sounds of Sweetness was selected by American Music Salute to represent the great state of Illinois, at ceremonies in Washington, D.C. and New York City, commemorating the 60^th anniversary of the ending of World War II. They performed, along with one choir from every state, at the Capitol Building in Washington D.C. and on the flight deck of the U.S.S. Intrepid in New York Harbor. The group performs annually at the Salvation Army’s Christmas Tree Lighting at the Hancock Plaza. In 2007 the Sounds of Sweetness was the featured entertainment at the annual Christmas tree lighting at the Sears Tower, where Connie Payton and her children Brittany and Jarrett lit the Christmas tree. They performed at the 2006 Dickens Holiday Festival (Lincoln Ave. and Dickens St. in Chicago), where they met Lucinda Dickens (Charles Dickens’ great great granddaughter). June of 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 saw the group performing on the entertainment stage of the Old Town Art Fair, the nation’s oldest, adjudicated art fair. The Sounds of Sweetness performed the national anthem at the Bears game on Sunday, November 1^st as the Bears paid tribute to the late Walter Payton. The group also performed the national anthem at the Bulls game on Friday, January 15^th and will be singing the anthem at a White Sox game in May. During the holiday season the boys caroled in the lobbies of various office buildings in the loop. In early December they entertained the crowds at the main stage at Lincoln Square’s Christkindl Festival (for the second year in a row). You can check out the group by going to http://sites.wpcp.org/sos/ .