The Northwestern College department of music held its annual Parents’ Day Concert this past Saturday, Oct. 25, to a packed house at Christ Chapel. The concert demonstrated the variety and excellence of the music department.
The evening started with the symphonette, which is led by Dr. Kimberly Utke Svanoe. They performed a four piece set that started off with two pieces from Mozart (“Kirchensonaten in C,” which featured Mary Lou Wielenga on organ, and an excerpt from the Seraglio Overture) and concluded with “Early One Morning” by Percy Grainger and “Somewhere Out There” from An American Tail by James Horner.
Up next was the a capella choir, directed by Dr. Thomas Holm, which performed a three piece set. Leading off was “Kyrie” by Giovanni Pierluigi de Palestrina, followed by “Crucifixus for 8 voices” by Antonio Lotti. “Elijah Rock,” a tune arranged by Moses Hogan, concluded the a capella choir performance and featured soprano Ruthie Umthun.
The women’s choir, led by Dr. Svanoe, was the next performance. They sang three pieces, beginning with “His Voice, as the Sound,” arranged by Milburn Price and featuring Rachel Mabrey on piano and Rebecca James on cello. Donna Schultz’s “Ye Banks of Doon” was the next song, and featured Monica Mitzel on flute and Erin Scholtens on piano. They concluded with “Song of Ezekiel (Ezekiel 17:22-24)” by Michael Torke, featuring Lori Vande Brake as a staff accompanist.
The Heritage Singers, directed by Dr. Holm and featuring Susan Remington on piano, were the next performance. They performed two songs, beginning with “Rytmus” by Ivan Hrusovsky and concluding with the entertaining piece “If You’ve Only Got a Moustache,” featuring tenor Dustin Heino.
Concluding the evening were three pieces by the symphonic band, led by Dr. Timothy McGarvey. Jan Bach’s “Praetorius Suite” was the first song performed, followed by “Allerseelen” by Richard Strauss. The finale was the rousing “Strathcarron” by Philip Sparke, a sword dance from Hymn of the Highlands.
Overall, the performance by every group was excellent, well-performed and directed, and enjoyed by all.
Up next for the music department is a concert by the symphonic band on Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m., and a concert by the jazz band and percussion ensemble on the following day, Nov. 8, at 7:30 p.m. Both performances will take place in Christ Chapel. All are encouraged to attend.
