Headphones and earbuds are a ubiquitous sight on campus. Whether it's on the sidewalks to class or in the corridors of the dorm, students walk while enjoying the modern ability to have their favorite music only a tap away. Private listening can be personal and intimate, but there’s a special power to live music performance that musicians and music lovers alike know can’t be captured and streamed on Spotify or Apple Music. “Live performance is a wonderful way to bring people together,” explains Kaitlin Nelson (senior, music), a member of the Andrews University Singers. The intentionality of meeting in a physical space with others for the shared purpose of enjoying art creates a uniquely meaningful listening experience. This special ability of live music drew Zoe Shiu (senior, music) to Andrews’ Symphony Orchestra, “I enjoy orchestra because I like being a part of something bigger than myself and the feeling of connection with other musicians and the audience.” Andrews students are fortunate to have access to the incredible power of live music through the Howard Performing Arts Center (HPAC), which for 20 years has hosted exciting performances from both University groups and special guests. This semester is no exception, with a lineup of the celebrated Andrews musical groups and award-winning musicians.
This Saturday, September 30, at 8 p.m., the Symphony Orchestra, the University Singers and Chorale, and the Wind Symphony will be performing as part of the Alumni Gala. This exciting collaboration of music groups on campus will also feature a performance of a very special piece, according to Zoe Shiu. “We’re collaborating with the choir on a piece my friend, Daniel Cerna (senior, music education), composed,” she shares, and promises, “it’ll be really fun for both us and the audience.” As September closes, the month of October promises many more performances to look forward to. On October 14 at 8 p.m., students can be delighted by the Heritage Singers, a celebrated non-profit gospel music group. Then, on October 15 at 4 p.m., students can be treated to a classical Chamber show by Jason Gresl and Friends.
The following weekend, on October 21, Andrews’ own University Symphony will be performing their fall concert, set to begin at 8:00 p.m. Then on October 22, at 4 p.m., HPAC will welcome the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra for a special double performance. They will begin the show with the famous modern composition Valerie Colemna’s “Seven O’Clock Shout,” a piece that was commissioned by the Philadelphia Orchestra during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic to honor frontline workers. For the second part of the show, they will perform Beethoven’s much-beloved Ninth Symphony.
On October 28, at 8 p.m., the Andrews University Wind Symphony will take the stage. The next day, October 29, at 7:00 p.m., the renowned acapella group, Take 6, will perform. Take 6 was formed at Oakwood University in 1980 and has gone on to travel the world, top the contemporary Jazz and Christian charts, and win 10 Grammys. Tickets for this must-see performance are available now.
Moving into November, The Andrews University Choir will have its fall concert on November 4 at 8:00 p.m. The following weekend, on November 12, 2023, at 4 pm: Pianist Chi Yong Yun and the Andrews Sinfonietta Orchestra, directed by Marc Élysée will perform the piano concertos of Johann Samuel Shroeter.
Then, beginning the Christmas season, on November 18 at 8:00 p.m., the AU Symphony Orchestra will have its holiday concert. The next day, the South Bend Youth Symphony Orchestra Concert will perform their show, “A Hero’s Call.” They will play a variety of pieces by Beethoven, John Williams, and Mozart. The following weekend, December 2, at 8:00 p.m., the Andrews University Wind Symphony will perform their Christmas concert. For the grand finale of the holiday music season, on December 9 at 8:00 p.m., the Howard Center Presents: Welcome Christmas. The “Peace on Earth” themed concert will be the 25th annual presentation of Welcome Christmas! Concertgoers can expect a range of holiday music from Giacomo Puccini's “Glorie” to Harry Simeon’s Choral Setting of “Twas the Night Before Christmas”
This school year brings many opportunities for students to take a break from their routine and deepen their music appreciation through live performances, which, Zoe Shiu says, “[gives] musicians as well as the listeners a connection that we don’t experience in an online or recorded performance.” She continues, “Music immerses you in something tangible and awe-inspiring.” Eleanor Joyce (senior, music education) echos the immense emotional effect live music brings to an audience, “There’s nothing better than laughing and crying together in person.” In community with others, music has the chance to bridge the gaps between individuals and, as Katlin Nelson comments, “speak to people in such a meaningful way,” in ways that “can inspire people even to learn more about the world around them.”
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.