Northwestern College Heritage Singers to present madrigal dinners

The Northwestern College Heritage Singers will present madrigal dinners Jan. 27 and 28 at 7 p.m. in the Allen Theatre.

The dinners, representing a 16th-century medieval feast, will feature a traditional English masque, “Murder Most Fowl.” “There has been a murder at the castle,” says drama director Lois Estell, a 2006 Northwestern alumna. “The second assistant inspector detective, Upson Downey, is on hand to solve it, but she needs our help. The cast of possible suspects include the jester, Mertonsire (Lord of Mis-rule); Gossage, the traveling goose seller; and Fiddlepants, the royal guard. Who committed the murder most fowl? Join us to find out. The evening is full of beautiful music, wonderful food and fantastically humorous entertainment for all to enjoy.”

The masque will be followed by a concert of serious and comic madrigals. The dinner will include a mixed green salad, herb-crusted beef tenderloin, horseradish mashed potatoes, fresh green beans and tiramisu cake. Dinner and dessert entertainment will include a parade of small-ensemble performances by members of the Heritage Singers.

The Heritage Singers are directed by Jaeeun Kim, instructor in music, who is serving as sabbatical replacement for Dr. Thomas Holm.

The royal court features Jacob Ven Huizen, a senior music major from Sheldon, as the jester; Clayton Ehlers, a junior Christian education/youth ministry major from Albert City, as the king; Erica Kitchenmaster, a freshman music education major from Lake Andes, S.D., as the queen; Celsey Aswegen, a junior psychology major from Parkersburg, Iowa, as Mertonsire; Charlie Hubbard, a freshman mathematics major from Orange City, as Gossage; Abigail Ver Mulm, a freshman history major from Rock Valley, as Upson Downey; and David Li, a senior public relations major from Diamond Bar, Calif., as Fiddlepants.

Other royal court attendants include Anthony Reno, a freshman music education major from West Des Moines; Michaela Van Riesen, a junior majoring in biology-health professions and chemistry from Omaha, Neb.; Mark Vos, a biology-ecological science junior from Pella; and Jorgia Weisser, a sophomore biology major from Lincoln, Neb.

Reservations are required; tickets are $30 per person. Tickets may be purchased at Northwestern’s music department office in DeWitt Music Hall between 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, Dec. 5–15, and again from Jan. 10 up to the performance.

Tickets also may be ordered by mail, accompanied by payment for the required number of tickets plus a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Make checks payable to Northwestern College and indicate your first and second choices of dates. Mail to NWC Murder Most Fowl, c/o Nora Verburg, Northwestern College, 101 7th St. SW, Orange City, IA 51041. Confirmation and tickets will be mailed in your self-addressed, stamped envelope.