Returning to Carthage for a summer benefit concert for The Legacy Theater is a homecoming for Chenille Sheeran.
The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Joy Swearingen, Quill Correspondent
Returning to Carthage for a summer benefit concert for The Legacy Theater is a homecoming for Chenille Sheeran.
Contributing her talents to benefit The Legacy Theater, Chenille will sing Broadway and pop tunes, patriotic, gospel and classical songs with her amazing multi-octave voice. The show, begins at 7 p.m. July 13.
“The theme ‘Chenille: Then & Now’ is deeply personal to me,” Chenille said. “It’s a heartfelt tribute to my beloved hometown of Carthage, and the profound impact it has had on my life. Although I’ve been away for the past six years, Carthage remains the bedrock of my journey.”
Through songs and stories, Chenille will tell of her love of music, faith, family, and country.
She will be joined in some numbers by her husband, Dan, and members of her family. Several songs in the concert will include a back-up adult choir of local singers.
A local children’s choir will open the show. Area veterans will take part in a patriotic tribute.
Living in Carthage for 15 years, Chenille performed many times on The Legacy Theater stage. She sang in two locally-produced holiday musicals, “The Christmas Wish.”
She produced “Chenille and Friends” at the theater in 2016, bringing outstanding singers from around the country to Carthage. Many times her music students opened for acts performing at the theater. Most recently she made a guest appearance with the Nauvoo Bagpipe Band in 2021.
“This concert is more than just a reflection of my career; it’s a celebration of the values that Carthage instilled in me—music, faith, family, and a deep connection to my country,” Chenille said.
“I hope to convey not only my gratitude, but also the enduring influence Carthage and its friendships have had on shaping who I am today.”
Inspiring young people with music and performance has always been a goal for Chenille. While she was in Carthage, Chenille operated Center Stage School of Performing Arts. When she began to make the plan for this concert, she wanted to involve young singers and dancers.
“Music fosters creativity and self-expression, builds confidence as they perform, and teaches discipline and teamwork working with fellow musicians,” she notes.
“When I decided to open a music school in our community my entire purpose was to touch lives through the power of music.
“Research shows that music education can improve academic performance, enhance cognitive skills, and promote emotional well-being. We not only nurture their artistic talents, but instill values that will benefit them all their lives.”
Chenille has been busy since she moved from Carthage six years ago.
She and her children moved to Utah where she began studies at Southern Utah University. She earned her bachelor’s degree in music in two and a half years, taking up to 21 credits per semester. She traveled to China as an American guest performer for Hunan University’s 80th anniversary to a crowd of over 10,000. She made a recording with two of China’s renowned female singers, and opened for a forum of 150 university presidents from around the world.
At SUU’s sister university in China, she was preparing to teach the staff how to implement her western style of music education at to the experimental middle school in Hunan.
“We had the apartment, the car and the plan, and then COVID hit,” she said. “I guess God had other plans.”
The interruption gave her time to complete a master’s degree in one year.
There were two other highlights – she made a performance tour in England, and she met and married her husband, Dan Sheeran.
Their family has now moved to Nashville, where she is singing and recording.
“More than just performing worldwide and earning my degrees, the last six years have profoundly transformed me,” she said.
“I’ve discovered a deep love for learning, a genuine compassion for humanity, and an unwavering passion for personal and collective progression. These experiences shaped my purpose and drive, fueling my desire to make a meaningful impact in the world.”
Chenille remembers the early days of The Legacy Theater when its name was still undecided.
“I vividly recall the moment when ‘Legacy’ was suggested,” she said. “We all felt a strong connection to the concept of leaving a legacy, and Carthage indeed has a rich legacy to share. The name felt destined, and I am proud to be part of ‘The Legacy’ of Carthage.”
“My purpose in accepting the invitation to perform a benefit concert is to support the community, celebrate our shared legacy, and inspire future generations through the power of music and the arts.”
Tickets for the benefit concert are now available at The Legacy Theater box office from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Stop in at 1160 Buchanan in Carthage, call the office at 217-357-9479, or order on line.
For information, email Tom Robbins, theater director, at director@thelegacytheater.com. See the entire 2024 line-up at www.thelegacytheater.com.