Northwestern music department to present jazz, choir and strings concerts

The Northwestern College music department will present a series of concerts in April and early May, featuring music from the A cappella Choir, Women’s Choir, Jazz Band, Orchestra and Percussion Ensemble. The concerts, held in Christ Chapel, are free and open to the public and can be watched live at this link.

On Friday, April 21, at 7:30 p.m., the A cappella Choir will perform repertoire from its spring tour to central Iowa. Alice Parker’s arrangement of “Be Thou My Vision” is a nod to the hymn’s origin as a traditional Irish tune, while “Mata del Anima Sola (Tree of the Lonely Soul)” by Antonio Estevez calls for the choir to imitate string instruments in their vocal quality.

On Saturday, April 22, at 3 p.m., the Women’s Choir will showcase 10 selections that represent a wide range of music styles. Among the choir’s repertoire are American gospel settings of  “City Called Heaven,” “This Little Light of Mine” and “He Never Failed Me Yet”—along with Joni Jensen’s “Ave Regina Caelorum” and Ivette Herryman Rodriguez’s “Sigue.”

At 7:30 p.m. on April 22, Northwestern’s Jazz Band and Percussion Ensemble will take the stage with a mix of lively and smooth jazz tunes, as well as traditional Afro-Cuban and Latin percussion pieces. Jazz Band highlights include “Backrow Politics” by Gordon Goodwin and an arrangement of Henry Mancini’s “Dreamsville.”

On Friday, May 5, at 7:30 p.m., the Northwestern Orchestra will perform works that span different time periods and genres, including Haydn’s Symphony No. 104 in D Major “London,” an arrangement of the “Lord of the Rings” main theme, and Mussgorsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition: Promenade.”

The public is also invited to a joint concert of the Northwestern College Symphonic Band and Boston Brass on Friday, April 28, at 7:30 p.m. in Christ Chapel. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit orangecityarts.org/inspire_events/boston-brass.

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.