The gifts of all of Hope College’s major musical groups, along with soloists, chamber groups and small ensembles, will be unveiled at the annual Musical Showcase on Friday, Feb. 2, at 7:30 p.m. in the Concert Hall of the Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts.
Hope College students take the stage for this fast-paced, musical spectacular, during which audience members hear everything from opera to jazz. The hardest part for those seeing the show is containing their enthusiasm, at least at first. In the tradition of the quick-moving musical event, audience members are asked to hold their applause until intermission and the end of the performance.
Following opening remarks from President Dennis Voskuil, pianist Daniel Tague will perform “Three Concert Etudes, S144 Un Sospiro,” by Franz Liszt. Hannah Karel, soprano, accompanied by pianist Janice Faber, will perform “Nur wer die Sehnsucht kennt,” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.
The Quintessentials will play “Concerto No. 1 Final,” by Joseph Bodin de Boismortier. Caleb Stuckey, violin, accompanied by pianist Sarah Bast, will perform “Tambourin Chinois,” by Fritz Kreisler. Following, is the OTD Trio with “Fried Pies,” by Wes Montgomery.
“Credo Gospel Mass,” by Robert Ray, will be performed by the Chapel Choir accompanied by pianist Jennifer Wolfe and guest soloist Edye Hyde. Next, the Hope Cello Quartet will perform “Paul Desmond,” arranged by the Rastrelli Quartet and Hope Cello Quartet.
Brooke Van Wyk, organist, will follow with “Priere,” by Jean Langlais; and soprano Mia Van Erp accompanied by pianist Janice will perform “I speak Six Languages,” by William Finn.
The Hope College Wind Ensemble will end the first half of the performance with “Variations on a Korean Folk Song,” by John Barnes Chance.
To begin the second half, the Women’s Chamber Choir, accompanied by pianist Sarah Bast, will sing “I Am Not Yours,” by David Childs.
The Accidentals String Quartet will play “String Quartet Op. 33, No. 3 ‘The Bird’ Finale-Rondo,” by Franz Joseph Haydn. Following, the Hope College Saxophone Quartet will perform “Quartette Allegro,” by Caryl Florio. Brianne Crouse, soprano, accompanied by pianist Janice Faber, will perform “Vanilla Ice Cream,” by Jerry Bock. Next, pianist Kennadi Hawes will perform “Sonata No. 1 (First Movement),” by Carl Vine.
The Jazz Arts Collective ensemble will perform “Chucho,” by Bill Cunliffe. Following, the Handbell Ensemble will perform “Acclamation,” by Karen Thompson. Emily O’Connor, soprano, accompanied by pianist Janice Faber, will perform “Immer leiser wird mein Schlummer,” by Johannes Brahms.
To conclude the program, the Hope College Orchestra will perform “Overture to ‘Candide,’” by Leonard Bernstein.
Tickets for Musical Showcase are $10 each and can be purchased at the ticket office in the Events and Conferences Office located downtown in the Anderson-Werkman Financial Center at 100 E. Eighth St. The Events and Conferences Office is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be called at 616-395-7890. Tickets are also available online at hope.edu/tickets.
The Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts is located at 221 Columbia Ave., between Ninth and 10th streets.