Concert to Feature Classical and Jazz Versions of “Nutcracker Suite”
The Hope College Symphony Orchestra and Jazz Arts Collective will present a unique opportunity to hear two versions of a holiday favorite with side-by-side performance of the Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Duke Ellington Nutcracker Suites on Thursday, Nov. 7, at noon and on Friday, Nov. 8, at 7:30 p.m. in the Concert Hall of the Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts.
The public is invited. Admission is free.
Both historic on their own merit, the two pieces are seldom performed together. The shared program will allow the audience to hear Ellington’s transformation of some of the favorite Tchaikovsky dances from the Nutcracker ballet in the context of the original.
Directed by Christopher Fashun, the Hope College Symphony Orchestra is one of the premier ensembles at Hope College. While seeking the highest professional standards, the orchestra performs a diverse repertoire of music from the Western classical tradition, jazz and global music, and contemporary works. The Symphony Orchestra regularly presents concerts during the academic year and features faculty and guest artists.
Directed by Jordan VanHemert, the Jazz Arts Collective is the premier large jazz ensemble at Hope College. The Collective places a creative focus on ensemble communication and improvisation. Comprised of a rhythm section and flexible wind/string instrumentation, this select group performs compositions and arrangements from across the full spectrum of music. The collective’s repertoire ranges from the great historical jazz composers such as Duke Ellington and Charles Mingus, to works by modern jazz masters like Vince Mendoza, Jim McNeely and John Hollenbeck. The Jazz Arts Collective frequently performs commissions, works by emerging young composers and originals by Hope College faculty and students.
The Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts is located at 221 Columbia Ave., between Ninth and 10th streets.