Graceland choir members fill the stage at the Shaw Family Auditorium.
Combine an excellent selection of musical numbers with beautiful performances and you have the recipe for a musical Christmas feast. The Graceland University choirs and orchestra, under the skilled direction of Sara Blessing and Jack Ergo, did themselves proud Friday night at the Shaw Family Auditorium in Lamoni, Iowa. The evening was filled with beautiful musical renditions.
Emily Briggs, Phillip Richard, and Melinda Leoce add some percussion to “Betelehemu”.
The theme, Peace on Earth, was brought to life with Christmas music selected from countries around the world. All of the vocal numbers were performed in their original languages with the original languages and English translations printed in the concert program.
The choir sings “Betelehemu”, a carol from Nigeria.
Some numbers like “Stille Nacht” (Silent Night) were very familiar classics while others, like the lively and rhythmic “Betelehemu” (about “Bethlehem, the city of wonder”) from Nigeria were new.
Beth Presler (left) and Shianne Cook (right) play the solos in J.S. Bach’s “Double Concerto for Two Violins”.
Featured performers were Beth Presler and Shianne Cook who each had solos in J.S. Bach’s Double Concerto for Two Violins.
Professor Stephen Cunningham sings “Twas in the Moon of Wintertime”, accompanied by the orchestra.
Professor Stephen Cunningham sang “Twas in the Moon of Wintertime”, written in 1642, which has the unique distinction of being the first Christmas carol written and published in North America. It is also called the “Huron Carol”.
The orchestra and choir (not all visible in this photo) lead the audience in a lively sing along version of “The First Noel”.
The audience had several opportunities to sing carols along with the choirs and orchestra.
Graceland University Polynesian Club dances to “Waikaloa”.
Vocal groups included the Concert Choir, Chamber Singers, and No Stings Attached.
The cellos (played by Jolia Poltorak and Zach Grover), and double bass (played by Ashlynn Perkins) add to the rich tonal range of the orchestral chords.
The Polynesian Club danced and the orchestra played their own arrangements as well as accompanying other groups..
No Stings Attached does an exquisite rendition of “Glow”. Left to right: Dustin Robinson, Daryn Nowlin, Dora Martz, Anthony Ginger, Allie Weston, Brendan Chandler, Abbie Williams, Noah Wood, Kinsey Collins, Jordan Bradford, Nicole Snider
The audience was treated to music from (in order of performance) Scandinavia, Russia, United Kingdom, Germany, USA/Hawaii, China, Australia, Puerto Rico, Canada, France, Latvia, Poland, Italy, Israel, Ukraine, and Austria, and again from the USA.
“Stille Nacht” (Silent Night) by “candle” light, performed by the Chamber Singers, Concert Choir, and Orchestra.
Be sure and watch for this event next year in early December.
“The First Noel”, the choirs and orchestra.
Upcoming music department concerts at the Shaw Family Auditorium:
February 18: Graceland Symphonic Band
February 22: Graceland Choirs
February 25: Graceland Orchestra