Musichorale, a community choir, began in 1947 as the Lindblom Alumni Accapella choir under the direction of Arthur Silhan with twenty-five others from the high school choir. Phyllis Ballin (soon to become Mrs. Silhan) was the first accompanist. Before long, we had grown to include more than just alumni, so we changed our name to Chicago Choral Club, and in 1951 we became Musichorale.

Arthur's son Jeffrey became our director in 1980. We began rehearsals at the Ogden Park field house, then moved to Marquette Park. We owned two buildings; first at 59th and Sacramento, moving to the old Clearing Town Hall on 63rd Street in 1971.

Our current home is at the Oak Lawn Community Church at 90th and Ridgeland where we are renting space and have built a garage for the storage of our trailer and equipment. You are always welcome to visit us there! We have sung many weddings, dedications, parties, and concerts in some of the most prestigious venues, including Symphony Center, and even in the great outdoors. But no matter where, we continue to bring song to Chicagoland! Variety is our specialty!

We are available to perform at your event. To learn more or discuss options, contact the director's secretary, Pat, at 773-239-9852. Group size can very from a few voices to the whole choir and can include seasonal or themed costuming.

Jeffrey Silhan is a well-known soloist, director and musician in Chicago and the southwest suburbs. He has won vocal competitions in both Chicago and the Quad Cities. He began his first directing position at the age of 19 in a small Lutheran Church in Bettendorf, Iowa. Under the watchful tutelage of his talented father, Jeffrey became our director first for the Christmas seasons, later directing full time with his dad as mentor. He now mentors his own daughter and son as they emerge as the next generation of musicians to lead us into the future. He has also directed church choirs across the city including Grace Church, Chicago Lawn Methodist, Zion Lutheran, (Tinley Park) and Oak Lawn Community Church. He directed the Beverly Hills-Morgan Park Community Choir for three years. Thanks to Mr. Silhan, we carry on the tradition of excellence begun nearly 70 years ago by that small group of twenty-five who loved to sing!

Arthur "Art" Silhan, 79, a husband, father, grandfather, and teacher passed away on August 16, 2004.

Art is best known for founding Musichorale, your Chicagoland Community Choir. He started the group in 1947 while trying to keep his high school choir together after graduation. He stayed on as director until 1980 when he handed the baton to his son Jeff. Art was always happy to put on his tuxedo and direct a few favorite numbers at the Spring and Winter concerts. Musichorale was the love of his life. He was the backbone behind it at all times. Every facet of his life was geared around music.

Art was born and raised in Chicago's West Lawn community and started singing at an early age. After graduating from Lindbloom High School, he earned a degree in education from the Chicago's Teacher's College.

By day, he taught music in the Chicago public schools, primarily at McKay Elementary school in Marquette Park and Hale Elementary school in Clearing. Evenings were spent with the Chicago Lyric Opera Chorus, where Art sang as a lyric tenor for 32 years.

He directed church choirs of many denominations including St. Bede's Catholic Church, Green Oaks Reformed Church, Calvary Lutheran, and Lutheran Church of the Cross.

Art was also a member of the Lawn Lodge, the Masons, and the Shriners.

In 1949, Art married Phyllis Ballin, a piano player and composer. The couple had two sons, Jeff and Marc, and two daughters, Cynthia and Shane.

Described as a real stickler for tradition and precision, Art began his concerts at 20 past the hour. In an uncanny coincidence, he died at 2:20 p.m. Accordingly, his memorial service began at 10:20 a.m. on August 21, 2004 with a selection of sacred music sung by 100 current and past members of Musichorale.

The man who donated more than 25 gallons of blood in his lifetime decided to leave his body to the Anatomical Gift Association to be used for medical research.