Three days before Hillsdale students began classes, the chamber choir was already back at work.
The Hillsdale College Chamber choir participated in the Celebration of Music Concert Series put on by Trinity Lutheran Church in Grand Rapids. They began rehearsals on Sunday, Jan. 11, and continued intense practices until the concert last Sunday.
“We started with dinner together,” Professor of Music Jim Holleman said. “I made food, Debbie Wyse had made food, so we had homemade food. We had rehearsal Sunday evening after dinner, Monday morning, Monday afternoon, Tuesday morning, Tuesday afternoon. So we had five rehearsals before classes started in two and a half days.”
Holleman said the group also had five new members: Freshman Susena Finegan, freshman Jonathan Edelblut, freshman Mark Naida, sophomore Shelby Ripley, and freshman Jacob Hann.
“The new members had to not only learn the new music, but the system of chamber choir, how to rehearse, how to create a blend of voices,” Holleman said. “So they all jumped in the deep end, and thankfully no one drowned. They did a great job.”
The choir performed a mixture of new pieces and old ones performed at the last choir concert. With new members and new pieces, Holleman said he was very impressed with their performance.
“Basically this semester, with the new members and then new music we’ve already learned, we’ve already gelled, so now we just get to ride that,” Holleman said. “We’re not trying to figure out who we are as an ensemble any more.”
Junior Matt Sauer said he thought the experience was delightful.
“Our hosts were kind, the audience was enthusiastic, and the performance went just about as smoothly as we could hope for,” Sauer said. “The chamber choir is a mighty fine ensemble to be a part of, and I’m so grateful to perform with all of the people in it.”
Holleman said he’s glad the choir had the first two weeks of school to rehearse.
“I was thrilled with the performance,” he said. “With 11 a capella pieces, and with the difficulty in the pieces and harmonies, there was a consistency of quality on every single piece we performed, so I think the group really rose to the occasion.”
New chamber choir member Shelby Ripley said he enjoys the caliber of musicianship in the choir.
“I felt that we did really well,” Ripley said. “Considering the time we had to rehearse, the nature of illness just running around the group — some flus and colds and stuffy noses have been rampant in the past week — I think it came together well.”
