It’s not everyday that a piece written by an acclaimed composer makes its debut on Northwestern’s campus. NW students, faculty, staff and community members will have a chance to see just this at the Women’s Choir and Chamber Orchestra concert.
The concert is free and will be the final on-campus performance this year for each of the ensembles.
Glee Crippin, director of the Women’s Choir, said she was thrilled to hear that long-time college friend Jonathan Veenker was interested in commissioning a piece specifically for her ensemble.
The piece is titled “O Sing A New Song” and is based on the text of
Psalm 98. Veenker spent time in rehearsal with the Women’s Choir to help prepare the selection for its debut.
“It’s a very unique experience to hear the premiere of a piece,” Crippin said.
The Women’s Choir will perform a variety of songs during its portion of the concert including “Banks of Doon,” a traditional Scottish tune. “Eve’s Confession,” a spin-off on the Adam and Eve story focused on the consumption of an apple fritter; and “America” from the acclaimed musical West Side Story.
The Women’s Choir will also feature a few instrumentals in its selections including piano, violin, cello and French horn.
The second half of the concert will feature the college’s Chamber Orchestra, an ensemble including both string and wind instruments, under the direction of Chad Hutchinson.
The orchestra will be playing three pieces: “Coriolan Overture” by Beethoven, “The Petite Suite” by Debussy and “Symphony #40” by Mozart.
The Debussy piece will feature two harp players, NW harp instructor Anna Vorhes and one of her students, Toben Archer.
“The pieces are classic full orchestrated songs,” Hutchinson said. “Some of the tunes will definitely be recognizable to the audience.”
Hutchinson is wrapping up his first year of directing the ensemble with positive feelings about the atmosphere and
the group.
“Seeing the progress of the ensemble growing together both musically and spiritually has been very rewarding for me,” Hutchinson said.
The concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 19 in Christ Chapel. It will include a short intermission. NW students in attendance will receive points toward the “Raider Cup” contest currently being hosted by the Student Activities Council.
