Come Sing at Gorton!

Join us for the first Sing at Gorton community sing – a no cost easy, joyful way to come together through music. Dave Hiltebrand leads this one-night event with host Rich Torres, and features favorite hits from the ’80s and ’90s.

No experience is needed, and there’s no future commitment. Just show up ready to sing. First, we’ll warm up together. Next, we will spend 45–60 minutes singing through a mix of familiar songs in a relaxed, informal setting. Afterward, stay for refreshments and conversation.

Whether you love to sing in the car, in the kitchen or with friends, this is a fun way to connect with others through music.

The songs we will sing are:

Free Fallin’ – Tom Petty
Everybody Wants To Rule the World – Tears for Fears
Two Princes – Spin Doctors
I Want It That Way – Backstreet Boys

Good to know:

• No experience or vocal training needed
• One-time event with no ongoing commitment
• Hosted by Rich Torres and Led by Dave Hiltebrand
• 45–60 minutes
• Refreshments afterward

Meet Your Hosts

Dave Hiltebrand has been a full-time musician for over 25 years. Since graduating from DePaul University School of Music, Dave has extensive experience as a performer, composer and studio musician. Highlights include the national tour of Jersey Boys, co-writing and co-producing two national top-ten songs, composing work for The Oprah Winfrey Show, Nike and Allstate, TV appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Empire and Betrayal, and tours to South Africa, Cuba, Spain, Italy and Egypt. His debut solo guitar album Yoguitar, Vol. 1 was released in 2016. Dave is currently an adjunct professor of Digital Music at Elmhurst University.

Rich Torres has always had an interest in audio and video production. It dates all the way back to eighth grade when he walked into the television studio at Gordon Tech High School. Seeing the lights and cameras lit a fire in him and he chose to pursue an A/V career. It has been a long and winding road for Rich. He studied at Indiana University and worked as a reporter for the Fine Arts/NPR radio station while also working as a videographer for the IU Sports Information Department. After college, Rich worked at the Chicago Board of Trade as a clerk, Poplar Creek Music Theatre as the House Manager and then worked as an on-air talent and producer at WCKG and WXCD radio stations in Chicago. Rich started work in the A/V department at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates where he eventually headed the department before landing at the Gorton Community Center. Rich has a son in college and likes to spend his spare time playing golf or tennis and other sports or playing guitar and listening to music and attending concerts.

You Belong Here

Sing at Gorton is a welcoming community sing series designed to bring people together in a fun, informal way. Each event is themed around a different style of music, led by local hosts and open to everyone — no experience or vocal knowledge necessary. These one-off gatherings last about 45–60 minutes and end with refreshments, making it easy to join in, connect and sing.