Northern Michigan University's vocal ensembles, under the direction of Erin Colwitz, will present two free performances this month in Reynolds Recital Hall. The NMU Arts Chorale will join participating U.P. high school groups for the NMU Choral Festival evening concert at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 9. It will also perform with the NMU Choir in a fall concert titled "Women in Music" at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 15.
The NMU Choral Festival is a recruitment event hosted by the music department. Participating schools and their conductors are: Kingsford High School with NMU alumnus Curt Rogan; Ishpeming High School with NMU alumna Caitlin Palomaki; Calumet High School with Matt Riutta; and Gwinn High School with NMU alumnus Kyle Hantz.
The high school choirs will work with Colwitz during the day on three pieces, then perform them in the evening concert. This year's selections are “Heartbeat” by Kyle Pederson, “Fly” by Aryian Norman and “93 Million Miles” by Jason Mraz and arranged by Susan LaBarr. Jan Broderson will provide piano accompaniment. The NMU Arts Chorale will also perform two pieces for the high school students and audience.
For the fall concert on Oct. 15 featuring both the NMU Choir and Arts Chorale, Colwitz chose pieces by women composers or pieces that use poetry by women.
“Hildegard of Bingen is from the Middle Ages–a remarkable woman who was also a very prominent nun and leader in Germany," she said. "I also chose selections from the ‘Justice Choir' songbook, compiled by Abbie Betinis, a female composer living in Minnesota. This was created to give choirs a chance to explore social justice themes through music.”
The NMU Choir will perform “Time” by Jennifer Lucy Cook; Bettinis' “#5 Be the Change,” “#10 Lift My Voice” and “#22 One Foot/Lead with Love”; “Apple Tree” by Katrina Gamon; “I should be Glad” by Susan Labarr and “Stand Up” by B. E. Boykin.
The NMU Arts Chorale's selections are “Measure Me, Sky” by Hagenberg, “The Lantern of Your Heart” by Jocelyn Hagen, “Laus Trinitati” by Hildegard von Bingen and Lili Boulanger's “Soir Sur la Plaine.”