Choir Performs Spring Break Tour Concert
The Alma College Choir will perform a preview of its 2009 Spring
Break Tour Concert, which includes a variety of sacred hymns, psalms,
spirituals and folk songs.
The performance takes place at 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19 in the
Remick Heritage Center. Admission is free and open to the public.
The concert offers both classical and gospel perspectives on the
spiritual themes evident throughout each piece.
The concert features two pieces by Mozart, “Regina Coeli” and “Ave
Verum Corpus.” Will Nichols, director of the Alma Choir,
describes “Regina Coeli” as an “elaborate and splashy church work with
an operatic feel.” The piece, which translates from the Latin to
“Queen of Heaven,” showcases the talents of four soloists: seniors
Stephanie VanSteenburg and Kim Lyon, junior James DeZeeuw, and
sophomore Justin Sluiter.
Also on the concert are several spirituals, such as “Ride on King
Jesus” and “Sweet Canaan.” The first is an Easter spiritual
typically sung for Palm Sunday, while the latter is a less traditional
African American spiritual.
“‘Sweet Canaan’ expresses the desire to escape slavery,” says
Nichols. “Canaan becomes a code for freedom which resonates with
the audience.”
The College’s a cappella groups, Scots on the Rocks and Pretty in Plaid, also are expected to perform.
The 50-member choir will tour the East Coast during the College’s
Spring Break. It will perform in Milford, Mich., on Friday, Feb. 20
before traveling through Washington D.C., Annapolis, MD, Philadelphia
and New York City. The choir will return to campus Saturday,
March 5.
Posted: Sun, February 8th, 2009 at 11:05AM
