The Hope College choirs will perform outdoors on Friday, Sept. 25 at 5 p.m. in the Pine Grove on the college's central campus. The free concert is open to the public and will feature the Chapel Choir, SPERA, VERITAS and College Chorus — as well as vocal soloists and instrumentalists from the college's Department of Music.
Because the outdoor location has no seating, audience members are encouraged to bring a chair and blanket and to dress for the weather conditions to enjoy the evening of song. In the event of rain, the concert will be moved and held in the Jack Miller Concert Hall on campus.
The program celebrates the breadth and vitality of Hope's choral tradition, talented choirs and individual vocal soloists. The evening's repertoire spans continents and centuries — from South African and Latin American folk song to Romantic-era part-song, Russian Orthodox choral music and Broadway favorites.
The program opens with the combined choirs performing Siyahamba (Traditional, South African), featuring percussion by Professor Mark Lopez with Emersyn McCann, and Isaac Lindh. Highlights of the evening include:
- “Brothers, Sing On!” by Edvard Grieg (arr. Howard D. McKinney), performed by VERITAS
- “Priidite from All Night Vigil” by Sergei Rachmaninov, performed by the Chapel Choir
- “O, I Got a Light” by Bradon Waddles, performed by SPERA
- “Cielito Lindo,” the beloved Mexican folk song by Quirino Mendoza y Cortez (arr. Julio Morales), performed by the combined choirs
- Student soloists featured throughout the evening in selections from “The Music Man,” “Smash,” and “The Luckiest Girl.”
- The evening will conclude with the combined choirs singing “I Have Had Singing,” by Ron Jeffers and the Hope College Alma Mater
About the Hope College Choirs:
- The Chapel Choir is a 30-voice auditioned SATB (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) ensemble
- SPERA is an advanced treble ensemble of 41 singers
- VERITAS is a 27-voice tenor/bass ensemble
- College Chorus is an un-auditioned ensemble of students, faculty and staff
The ensembles are under the direction of Dr. Eric D. Reyes, assistant professor of music and director of choral activities, and Professor Pamela Pierson, who directs SPERA.
Reyes is a Mexican-American conductor, pianist and vocalist who serves as assistant professor of music and director of choral activities at Hope College, and artistic director of the Grand Rapids Choir of Men and Boys. An active presenter and clinician, Reyes has presented at national and regional conferences including NCCO and ACDA. His research explores the cultural and musical traditions that shape choral repertoire across the Americas, with a particular interest in helping conductors engage diverse repertoire through both musical and cultural understanding. Reyes holds a doctorate of musical arts and master of music degree in choral conducting from the University of Michigan, and a bachelor’s of music in music and worship (piano) from Moody Bible Institute.
Pamela Pierson, who directs SPERA, is an active adjudicator and clinician. Named MSVMA Teacher of the Year in 2015, she has conducted the High School SSAA State Honors Choir and led choirs in performances at the Michigan Music Conference and American Choral Directors Association conferences. In 2019, she directed the 80-voice Michigan Ambassadors of Music Choir during its 16-day European tour. She currently serves as director of adjudication for the Michigan School Vocal Music Association.