Fall choir concert bumped up
Jon Fisher
Issue date: 11/15/07 Section: Arts
The Hillsdale Choir and Chamber Choir plan to perform at the Fall Choir Concert at College Baptist Church Nov. 18 at 3 p.m.
Technically, the concert will feature three choirs, Music Department Chairman Jim Holleman said. Both choirs will perform pieces separately and then will combine into a larger group.
Unlike previous years, the concert will be held before Thanksgiving to avoid a conflict with the orchestra concert, Holleman said.
This year's scheduled time should allow for a larger audience at both performances, give a break to those in both the orchestra and choir, and allow the choir to prepare early for their performance of Handel's "Messiah" in the spring, he said.
Preparing for the concerts has also changed, Holleman said. Each of the three choirs meets once a week, allowing students to practice together twice a week but in different choirs.
Holleman said this year's students are particularly strong singers.
"The level of the college choirs has been growing and I'm choosing music accordingly," he said.
The fall concert would feature sacred music such as Haydn's "Mass in D Minor" and Daniel Pinkham's "Christmas Cantata."
"Students are doing a good job of being ready and retaining what they learn," Holleman said.
Freshman and choir performer Eric Anderson said he notices a big improvement in the quality of the choir.
"It's definitely taken some huge steps of improvement but we're sounding pretty good," he said.
The improvement came mostly from Holleman's slow, methodical practices, Anderson said.
Hillsdale College Collegian, 2007
Technically, the concert will feature three choirs, Music Department Chairman Jim Holleman said. Both choirs will perform pieces separately and then will combine into a larger group.
Unlike previous years, the concert will be held before Thanksgiving to avoid a conflict with the orchestra concert, Holleman said.
This year's scheduled time should allow for a larger audience at both performances, give a break to those in both the orchestra and choir, and allow the choir to prepare early for their performance of Handel's "Messiah" in the spring, he said.
Preparing for the concerts has also changed, Holleman said. Each of the three choirs meets once a week, allowing students to practice together twice a week but in different choirs.
Holleman said this year's students are particularly strong singers.
"The level of the college choirs has been growing and I'm choosing music accordingly," he said.
The fall concert would feature sacred music such as Haydn's "Mass in D Minor" and Daniel Pinkham's "Christmas Cantata."
"Students are doing a good job of being ready and retaining what they learn," Holleman said.
Freshman and choir performer Eric Anderson said he notices a big improvement in the quality of the choir.
"It's definitely taken some huge steps of improvement but we're sounding pretty good," he said.
The improvement came mostly from Holleman's slow, methodical practices, Anderson said.
Hillsdale College Collegian, 2007
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