Small in stature, big on talent. For two years, The Long Brothers have been gracing The 815 Stage and sharing their love of music.
Jake and Charlie are 7-year-old twins from Plainfield, IL. Their love of music comes honest, as their parents met in college while performing in DCI with the Glassmen Drum & Bugle Corps.
Last winter, Charlie "debuted" his (1/8th sized) violin at The 815 Christmas Concert at the Tin Roof, playing "Deck the Halls." Charlie has continued his study of the violin, and this spring, he was accepted into the Chicago Youth Symphony Orchestra's Overture Strings ensemble.
While Charlie rehearses upstairs, brother Jake will be busy a few floors down learning and grooving with the CYSO Steelplan "Jumbies" Ensemble. The "Jumbies" is an elementary-aged, entry level ensemble. Both boys are excited about their weekly journey downtown this fall.
A favorite performance from The 815 -
What Charlie says about The 815 -
The 815 is cool because you get to listen to all different types of music played by other students and you also get to play music. My favorite performance so far was singing "The Other Side" from The Greatest Showman with my brother Jake. I also loved performing last year at Canal Days.
What Jake says about The 815 -
I used to be very shy, but now I love to perform. I really like the drums.
When not tickling the keys or belting out a tune, Jake and Charlie can be found playing baseball, building with LEGO sets, or cheering on their beloved Cubbies.
The boys have been involved with theater productions under the direction of Monica Minogue, the founder of StagePlay: Musical Theater for Kids and the founder of The 815 event as well.
Click the link below to see more of the Long Brothers in action: