The Muskegon Community College Collegiates choir, under the direction of Thomas Clark, has been invited to participate in a performance on Sunday, June 11, in Isaac Stern Auditorium inside the famed Carnegie Hall in New York City.
The 27-member Collegiates will perform Ralph Vaughan-Williams’ “Dona Nobis Pacem” under the baton of Dr. Nina Nash-Robertson of Central Michigan University and also will be the featured Chamber Choir in a performance of Vaughan-Williams’ “Sancta Civitas” directed by Dr. Craig Jessop, the former conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.
Dr. Jonathan Griffith, Artistic Director and Principal Conductor for Distinguished Concerts International of New York which is coordinating the Carnegie Hall concert, extended the invitation to the MCC singers based upon a strong recommendation from Nash-Robertson.
“The students and I are excited and committed to bringing excellence to New York City,” said Clark. “It is quite an honor to be invited, but being asked to be the featured choir is truly amazing!”
A week prior to their concert, the Collegiates will travel to New York City and devote five days and four nights in preparing for their performance.
“The singers will spend approximately 9-10 hours in rehearsals over the five-day residency,” said Griffith. “Not all of the time is spent in rehearsals, since there is so much history and culture to see in New York City. However, the performance is the primary purpose for their visit to the city.”
The Collegiates represent graduates of 14 different area high schools:
Coopersville
Jesse Gish – Baritone
Fruitport
Caitlin Hegenbart – Alto
Spencer Kniat- Tenor
Kano Rivera- Baritone
Brittany Stack – Alto
Tosha Vander Kooi- Soprano
Grand Haven
Alex Fegley – Tenor
Ashley Klaassen – Soprano
Hesperia
Michael Hasty – Baritone
Mona Shores
Blake D. Filius – Tenor
Madison Hronek – Alto
Jay McMahon – Tenor
William Naill- Baritone
Riley Reeds –Soprano
Daniel E. Stewart – Tenor
Kassidy Vredeveld – Soprano
Montague
Angela Cudney – Soprano
Megan Urquhart – Alto
Muskegon
Nathan Dill – Bass
Muskegon Catholic
Cruz Russick- Bass
Oakridge
Elisabeth Pollack – Alto
Orchard View
Joseph Dixon – Bass
Ravenna
Hanna Schmiedeknecht – Alto
Reeths-Puffer
Annalisa Christensen – Alto
Nathaniel Christensen – Tenor
Waypoint Academy
Tré Perry – Tenor
Whitehall
Joshua Keller – Bass