SYCAMORE – Sycamore High School Choir Director Drayton Eggleson said those who attend the school’s 39th annual madrigal dinners this weekend are in for “a really special event.”

“It’s a bunch of high school kids who donate a bunch of their time to this project,” he said. “They are some of our best students.”

Madrigal singing was brought to England from Italy in the 16th century and was at first an informal type of private entertainment at the castle and country homes of the landed gentry, according to a press release from the madrigal group. During the 12 days of the Christmas season, madrigal entertainment was most common, and modern madrigal performances often feature traditional Christmas songs during the holiday season.