麻豆视频网站 choirs will perform on Friday, Sept. 26, at 5 p.m. in the Pine Grove on the central campus. The concert will feature the Chapel Choir, SPERA, VERITAS and College Chorus, as well as vocalists and instrumentalists from the college鈥檚 Department of Music.
The public is invited. Admission is free.
Because the outdoor location has no seating, audience members are encouraged to bring a chair and blanket and to dress for the weather conditions to enjoy the evening of song. In the event of rain, the concert will occur in Dimnent Memorial Chapel.
The program celebrates the breadth and vitality of Hope鈥檚 choral tradition, featuring the Chapel Choir, SPERA, VERITAS, and College Chorus, along with individual vocal students. The concert will feature a wide range of repertoire, from timeless choral classics to Broadway favorites and modern works that speak to themes of faith, love, and joy.
Highlights of the evening include Oh! What a Beautiful City! (Traditional, arr. Rollo Dilworth), performed by the combined choirs, The Word Was God by Rosephanye Powell, a Michigan Premier of Are You Listening? by Kyle Pederson, featuring Dr. David Yandl on soprano saxophone, Stand By Me (Ben E. King, arr. Mark De-Lisser), The Last Words of David by Randall Thompson, as well as Broadway favorites including songs from The Sound of Music, Little Women, West Side Story, and Anyone Can Whistle performed by Hope student soloists. The evening will conclude with the combined choirs singing I Have Had Singing (Ron Jeffers) and the Hope College Alma Mater.
The Chapel Choir is a 34-voiced auditioned SATB (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) ensemble; SPERA is an advanced treble ensemble of 43 singers; College Chorus is an un-auditioned, 70-member ensemble of students, faculty and staff; and the newest ensemble, VERITAS, is a 37-voice tenor/bass ensemble.
The ensembles are under the direction of Dr. Eric Reyes, assistant professor of music instruction and director of choral activities. Born and raised in Southern California, Reyes is a Mexican-American conductor, pianist, and vocalist whose work seeks to communicate beauty, inspire hope, and build unity through music. He recently pioneered 隆Canto! A Latinx Vocal Intensive鈥攁 program funded by the Mellon Foundation in collaboration with Latin Americans United for Progress (LAUP), Dr. Sarah VandenBrink, and Professor Christina Krause. Reyes is currently pursuing a doctorate of musical arts in choral conducting at the University of Michigan.
Pamela Pierson, who directs SPERA, is an active adjudicator and clinician. Named MSVMA Teacher of the Year in 2015, she has conducted the High School SSAA State Honors Choir and led choirs in performances at the Michigan Music Conference and American Choral Directors Association conferences. In 2019, she directed the 80-voice Michigan Ambassadors of Music Choir during its 16-day European tour. She currently serves as director of adjudication for the Michigan School Vocal Music Association.
To inquire about accessibility or accommodations to fully participate in the event, please email accommodations@hope.edu. Updates related to events are posted when available at hope.edu/calendar in the individual listings.
The Pine Grove is in the central campus of Hope College directly behind Graves Hall, which is located at 263 College Ave., between 10th and 12th streets. Dimnent Memorial Chapel is located at 277 College Ave., at the corner of College Avenue and 12th Street.