The Lake Michigan College Visual & Performing Arts Department presents “Life, Love & the Soul!” a vocal concert featuring the LMC Concert Choir and its chamber ensemble, SoundWaves, at 7 p.m., Friday, Oct. 22 in The Mendel Center’s Hanson Theatre on the Benton Harbor campus.
Under the direction of LMC Visual & Performing Arts Chair and Music Director Kristopher Zook, the choir and ensemble will sing a diverse vocal repertoire. Highlights include “The Quest Unending,” by Joseph Martin; “Rock My Soul,” a traditional African American spiritual arranged by Richard Jackson; “Amor de mi Alma,” by Z. Randall Stroope; “Lebenslust,” by Franz Schubert; and “All Flesh is Grass,” by Chris Massa.
“We are ecstatic to be back in full force making music again,” Zook said. “The choirs have never sounded better, and everyone is excited to share their gifts with the community. The pandemic forced us to delay many artistic endeavors, but it couldn’t stop the campus and community from keeping their creativity alive. Now we will once again be able to do so in front of live audiences, and it feels terrific.”
Zook added that the program also features an original piece with additional works by composers such as Rene Clausen, Charles Villiers Stanford, and Jacques Offenbach.
“There was a concerted effort to select music that bridges the spectrum from the traditional canon of choral repertoire to include representation from female writers and composers, people of color, and a diverse range of cultural influences,” Zook said. “The group will be singing everything from opera to spirituals, and even a piece from Ecuador that simulates the sounds of the rainforest. There is something for every taste.”
SoundWaves is comprised of a select group of student vocalists admitted by audition who have a passion for high-quality, advanced choral repertoire. Members are Samantha Alfaro; Shay Beeson; Lauren Bettis; JoAnna Blue; Jordan Cooper; Kayla Crematie; Aurelia Davis; Samuel Garrison; Tristin Jeffrey; Isabelle Mannell; Shannon Mitchell; Maddie Ostenson; David Ott; Andrew Quinones; Chloe Wells; and Jada Willis.
The Concert Choir is a mixed voice choral ensemble featuring LMC students and community members from Berrien County and beyond. The group performs regularly on the concert stage, both at The Mendel Center and throughout Southwest Michigan.
In addition to the students from SoundWaves, the Concert Choir includes Dyann Chenault; Jeanne Dunham; Barb Frank; Donn-Nee German; Elizabeth Grow; Harvey Johnson, Jr.; Tuija Ojala; Carol Orlaske; Marina Peter; Stephanie Pollard; Aaron Sanford; Betsy Trescher; Fred Wagner; Dennis Wojtczak; Mike Wolske; Cori Wright; and Ken Yates.
Jill Garcia and Alexandra Lee serve as collaborative pianists for the concert.
Admission is free and open to the public. A suggested donation of $5 collected at the door will benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton Harbor.
