Northwestern College ensembles to perform

The Northwestern College Symphonic Band will honor various heroes at a concert on Friday, Nov. 7, and the Heritage Singers and Jazz Band will perform Friday, Nov. 14. Three chamber ensembles will perform Friday, Dec. 12. All events will be held at 7:30 p.m. in Christ Chapel and are free and open to the public.

The Symphonic Band concert, titled “Heroes,” will honor a variety of heroes throughout history starting with “Everyday Heroes,” which the composer states “is an attempt to say ‘thank you’ to the men and women in the United States military, police, fire and EMT services who keep us safe every day.” The next piece will recognize Rosa Parks and her advocacy for civil rights, followed by Vincent Persichetti’s “Pageant.” Morton Gould’s “American Salute” will honor veterans. The music will then soften for reflection on those who have gone before, paving the way with courage and faithfulness. The final piece, “Alleluia! Laudamus te,” celebrates God, the ultimate hero. The Symphonic Band is under the direction of Dr. Angela (Holt) Carlson.

On Nov. 14, Dr. Thomas Holm will direct the Heritage Singers in singing Johann Sebastian Bach’s “Little Fugue in G minor,” a piece originally composed for organ but transcribed for voices. They will also sing a set of four of Johannes Brahms’ most beloved choral settings on poems about love, longing and death. From Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story,” songs “America” and “Officer Krupke” will feature solo vocalists and choreography.

Directed by Dr. Angela (Holt) Carlson, the Jazz Band will perform Benny Carter’s most famous piece, “Symphony in Riffs,” offering a taste of early jazz and featuring solo instrumentalists. “At Last,” a piece made popular by artists including the Glenn Miller Band, Etta James and Celine Dion, will feature vocalist Abbie Jo Segerstrom, a junior at Northwestern. The band will also share “I Remember Clifford,” written in honor of the famous American jazz trumpeter Clifford Brown. Senior music education major and lead trumpeter Angel Skippings will be featured for this piece.

The Dec. 12 concert will feature strings, piano and brass ensembles from Northwestern’s music department. Directed by music professor Dr. Juyeon Kang, the string quartet will perform “Andante” from Franz Schubert’s “Rosamunde,” and the piano quartet will perform the opening movement of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Piano Quartet in G minor.”

The brass ensemble will be directed by trumpet instructor Kevin Linder. Highlights include “Sailor’s Hornpipe,” a traditional folk melody arranged by Gary Slechta, and familiar hymns including “Amazing Grace” and “It is Well With My Soul.”

Northwestern’s music department has a tradition of dynamic performances, outstanding faculty and standout educational experiences in an environment committed to glorifying God. Students can audition for one or more of 10 ensembles, having the opportunity to tour around the world and perform in the award-winning Christ Chapel.