The Hope College Orchestra will present its annual hymn-sing concert, “Ode to Joy,” at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 6, in the Concert Hall at the Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts. The concert will celebrate the 150th anniversary of Johannes Brahms’ Symphony No. 1 and feature a musical journey through the biblical story, from Genesis to Revelation.
The concert will explore the connection between Brahms’ First Symphony and Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Ode to Joy,” which served as a significant source of inspiration for Brahms’ composition. The program will feature the fourth movement of Brahms’ Symphony No. 1, along with Mikhail Glinka’s overture to Ruslan and Lyudmila and Pietro Mascagni’s intermezzo from Cavalleria rusticana.
A highlight of the evening will be a medley of hymns inviting the audience to sing along as the music traces the biblical narrative from Genesis to Revelation. The hymns will include “This Is My Father’s World,” “Amazing Grace,” and “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee,” among others.
The annual hymn-sing concert has been a tradition since 2023, drawing full audiences to the Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts Concert Hall in each of its first three years. The orchestra is continuing to build on its concert programming achievements and experiences, including recently winning The American Prize in the orchestral programming category for the college/university division.
Through the hymn-sing concert, the orchestra seeks to bring the community together
through music and celebrate the enduring role of hymns in the Christian faith.
The concert is open to the Holland community. Additional information about admission
and tickets can be found at hope.edu/tickets.
To inquire about accessibility or if you need accommodations to fully participate in the event, please email accommodations@hope.edu. Updates related to events are posted when available at hope.edu/calendar in the individual listings.