Friday’s SMC fall choir concert a ‘triple threat’

Published 8:00 am Thursday, November 9, 2017

If Southwestern Michigan College’s “Choralbaret” was a pizza, it would be a supreme.

Yes, it is the fall choir concert, but loaded with extra “toppings,” including theatre and dance elements.

SMC choirs, conducted by Director of Choral Activities David Carew, present “Choralbaret” Friday, Nov. 10, at 7:30 p.m. in the theater of the Dale A. Lyons Building.

A highlight includes a stirring setting of Homer’s text “Odysseus and the Sirens” by Z. Randall Stroope featuring oboe, crotales (cymbals), a soprano soloist and soprano, alto, tenor and bass chorus.

There will be performances of “A Jubilant Song” by Rene Clausen and “Christus Factus est,” a Romantic period Latin motet composed by master Austrian composer Anton Bruckner.

Both selections were programmed for the American Choral Directors Association Michigan Fall Conference graduate-level master class.

Cabaret dance elements include choreography by Liz Coulston for “My Shot” from Hamilton and a small-group modern dance interpretation of a solo piano composition by SMC alumnus Nick Ferragut, who will be returning to play the piece live.

On the lighter side will be a comedy sketch of the classic Abbott and Costello skit, “Who’s on First?” and a hilarious comedic theatre song, “A Word on My Ear” sung by Heidi Ferris, SMC vocal instructor.

The program closes with a thick textured spiritual, “My God is a Rock,” by Stacey V. Gibbs. This work includes two female trios.

Southwestern Michigan College is a public, residential and commuter, community college, founded in 1964. The college averages in the top 10 percent nationally for student academic success based upon the National Community College Benchmark Project. Southwestern Michigan College strives to be the college of first choice, to provide the programs and services to meet the needs of students, and to serve our community. The college is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and is a member of the American Association of Community Colleges.