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Alumni Choir

Academics / Departments & Programs / Music / Ensembles / Alumni Choir

The Calvin Alumni Choir is established to organize and promote choral singing of the highest caliber.

Through rehearsal and performance, the choir, in community, will cultivate and develop an awareness, understanding, and appreciation for the Christian faith, for choral music both sacred and secular, and for Calvin University.

The Alumni Choir will achieve these purposes by sponsoring and participating in concerts, providing a ministry of music in church worship services, and by engaging in other performance opportunities.

Will you join the song? Become a patron of the Calvin Alumni Choir.

Donate to the Calvin Alumni Choir

 

2023-2024 Season

November 5  (Sunday)- Morning service, Woodlawn C.R.C (Calvin chapel) 9:30 service

November 27 (Monday) 4:45 p.m. Tree lighting ceremony, Calvin University campus

December 8 (Friday) - 7:30 p.m. Christmas Concert , First United Methodist Church 225 Fulton St. East  (no tickets required)  Livestream at www.grfumc.org/live   

December 12  (Tuesday evening)- Christmas caroling  6:30 Breton Woods Extended Care, 7:30 Beacon Hill auditorium

April 6, 2024 (Saturday)- Masterworks Concert ,University Chapel, 3:00 pm

April 14  (Sunday)- Morning service, Hillcrest CRC

May 11 (Saturday)- Spring concert, First (Park) Congregational, 10 E Park Pl NE, (no tickets required)

Worship Services

If you would like to have the Calvin Alumni Choir lead a worship service in your church, please contact: alumnichoir@calvin.edu

 

Explore Alumni Choir

 

History

The Calvin Alumni Choir was founded in 1977 by Helen Hoekema Van Wyck, now the Director of Choral Activities at Trinity Christian College, and conducted by various choir members. In 1981, Anton Armstrong, current conductor of the St. Olaf Choir, became the choir’s fourth conductor. During Dr. Armstrong’s tenure, the choir performed for the ACDA National Convention in Salt Lake City (1985). Dr. Charles Smith, Director of Choral Activities at Michigan State University (emeritus), was the choir’s fifth conductor. In 1998, Dr. Pearl Shangkuan became the choir’s sixth conductor and led the choir for twenty years. Sean Ivory, the seventh conductor of the choir, picked up the baton in the spring of 2019. He led the choir through their first virtual performance in the spring of 2020, a collaboration with Dan Forrest of “How Great Thou Art.” He also led the ensemble through a year of rehearsals culminating in their first virtual concert in May 2021. The choir was accompanied by Dr. Kenneth Bos from 1980-2022.The current accompanist is Dr. Julia Brown. Guest directors have included eminent composers and conductors such as Sir David Willcocks, Semyon Bychkov, John Rutter, Moses Hogan, André Thomas, Joseph Flummerfelt, and Maria Guinand.

Members of the choir are admitted by audition. Spanning from the most recent graduating class to the 1970s, the singers are all alumni of Calvin University and represent a variety of professions. In addition to its annual concerts, the Calvin Alumni Choir participates in worship services at area churches and other community functions.

The choir has released several commercial recordings and commissioned new works, many of which have become staples in choral repertory sung around the world. The choir has performed with the Grand Rapids Symphony as the featured guest chorus in performances of the B Minor Mass and the Magnificat by Bach at the Grand Rapids Bach Festival. In 2010 the choir received third place in the American Prize competition that recognizes the very best in the performing arts in the United States. The choir also performed at the prestigious Templeton Prize ceremony honoring Calvin graduate and former professor Dr. Alvin Plantinga.

Nationally recognized for its choral artistry, the Calvin Alumni Choir has been invited multiple times to performances at conferences of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) at national, division, and state levels. The choir has also performed for the National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM) and the American Guild of Organists (AGO). The choir has toured Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Taiwan, the Netherlands, and most recently as the anchor choir for an international festival in France and Switzerland.

2023-2024 Members

Soprano
Andrea Baas
Debra Paxton Buursma
Cynthia Persenaire DeBoer
Lucie DeMey
Annelise Folkema Hyrns
Jennifer Riemersma Ophoff
Ginny Medema
Rachel Quillian
Jennifer Schroder
Naomi Zylstra
Alto
Abby Brinks
Katelyn Mazzola Dare
Barb Eysenbach DeHaan
Katie DeVries
Eva Heetebrij
Jane Jansma Hofstra
Kaia Hurley
Hannah McNulty
Danielle Meyer
Sherry Veenema Merz
Fiona Miller
Tenor
Nick Baas
JR DeGroot
Greg Hofman
Henry Kingma
Stephen Mulder
Aaron Polet
Randy Van Wingerden
John Witte
Bass
Dave Bardolph
Kim DeStigter
Karel DeWaal Malefyt
Chan Gyu Jang
Darin Klooster
Tim Lautenbach
Paul Mulder
Harry Plantinga
Ben VanHof

Patrons

The Calvin Alumni Choir is a non-profit organization existing on the gifts of our supporters and patrons. If you would like to become a contributing patron of the Calvin Alumni Choir and receive advance concert information, please contact alumnichoir@calvin.edu to be added to the mailing list.

With deep gratitude, the Alumni Choir thanks our 2021–2022 patrons for their generous support.

Masterwork
Elaine DeStigter (in memory Of Mel DeStigter)
Phillip and Marie Huizenga
Bruce and June Klanderman
The Mulder Family (in memory of Wilma Mulder)
Jim and Melanie Pentecost
Rodger Rice (in memory of Ruth Rice)

Antiphonal
Gerald and Barbara Bakker
JR and Laura DeGroot
Thomas and Wendy Hofman
Marjorie Hoogeboom
Phil and Jenn Ophoff
Steven and Jennifer Schroder
James and Maria Vanden Bosch

Harmony
Dr. Anton Armstrong (in memory of Darlene Meyering)
Emily Brink 
Jerry and Annette Broersma 
Kim DeStigter and Patricia Gardner
Kurt and Dorothy Frisch
Janice Heerspink
Greg and Jude Hofman
Jane Hofstra and Norm Browe
BJ and Patricia Huizenga
Jack J. Jansma
Tim and Lindsey Lautenbach
Glenn and Sheryl Merz
Bob Meyering
Cornelius and Kathleen Plantinga

Unison
Dave and Mary Bardolph
Henry and Ruth Baron
Marc and Claudia Beversluis
Chuck and Karen Bos
Fay and Kenneth Bos
Benjamin and Rebecca Bouman-Buursma
Stephen and Rhonda Brink 
Debra and Randy Buursma
William and Annette Byl
Cindy De Boer
Kathy De Mey
Janice Doornbos 
Roger and Susan Griffioen
William and MaryBeth Haverkamp 
Cornelius and Marcia Huizinga
Sean and Leah Ivory
David and Barbara Klanderman
Stanley and Jayne Konynenbelt
Lois Konyndyk
Linda and Tim McCarthy 
Gordon and Carole Medema
Jason and Meredith Meyering
Sheryl and Paul Mulder
Stephen and Helen Mulder
A.C. and Karen Ophoff
Carol Peters
Alvin and Kathleen Plantinga
Harry and Pam Plantinga
Bill and Diane Ryckbost
Michael and Lynda Scholma
Jan and Dave Scholten
Howard and Marilyn Slenk
Lee and Marcia Smits
Bob and Joyce Storms
Steve and Barb Timmermans
John and Elsa Van Hekken
Ben Van Hof
Mary Van Hof
Carol Rooda Van Wyk
Melvin and Marilyn Veenema
Ruth Vis
Alrene Warners
John and Charlotte Witvliet
Nicholas and Claire Wolterstorff
Steve and Judy Zwart

Other Gifts
Anonymous (in memory of Darlene Meyering)
James Anderson
Ken and Laurel Bratt
Dwight and Cindy Burch
Duane Early
Lynn Mc Broom
Donald and Evonne Plantinga
Aaron and Rebecca Polet
Randy and Vicki Van Wingerden
Ken and Kristen Verhulst
Nancy Westra
Liam and Amy Worden
Abby Zwart

Recordings

Please call the Calvin Campus Store at 1-800-748-0122 for available recordings.

Sacred Space (2010)

Pearl Shangkuan, conductor
Kenneth Bos, accompanist

Sacred Space is a 15-song disc containing songs from the choir’s live concerts performed in 2006–2010. It includes spirituals arranged by Moses Hogan, gentle settings of prayers from Scandinavia, the majestic "Psalm 90" by Charles Ives and other audience favorites.

The Earth Adorned - Waldemar Ahlen
Ave Maris Stella - Mark Thomas
Veni Sancte Spiritus - Mozart
Day by Day - Bradley Ellingboe
How Lovely Is Your Dwelling-Place - Michael Bojesen
Psalm 90 - Charles Ives
Karin Boye’s Evening Prayer - Egil Hovland
Children of the Heavenly Father - Rene Clausen
When the Saints Go Marching In - John Rutter
How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place - Johannes Brahms
Kyrie - Mozart
And I Saw a New Heaven - Edgar Bainton
Elijah Rock - Moses Hogan
Chichester Psalms - Leonard Bernstein
The Lord Bless You and Keep You - Peter Lutkin



You Shall Have a Song (2008)

Pearl Shangkuan, conductor
Kenneth Bos, accompanist

Let All Creation Praise - Stephen Paulus
Psalm 23 - Stephen Paulus
Psalm 92 - Stephen Paulus
I Will Be With You - Stephen Paulus
You Shall Have a Song - Stephen Paulus
Kyrie - Stephen Paulus
Gloria - Stephen Paulus
Agnus Dei - Stephen Paulus
God With Me - Stephen Paulus
We Gather Together - Stephen Paulus
Redeemer God - Stephen Paulus
Lord, Help Us Walk Your Servant Way - Stephen Paulus
Canticle of Simeon - Stephen Paulus



A New Heaven and a New Earth (2006)

Pearl Shangkuan, conductor
Kenneth Bos, accompanist

Uyai Mose - arr. Roger Wesby
Old One Hundredth - arr. R. Vaughan Williams
And I Saw a New Heaven - Edgar Bainton
Here from all Nations - arr. Roy Hopp
We Will Rejoice! - arr. Roy Hopp
Alleluia! Jesus is Risen - Richard Hillert
How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place from The German Requiem - Johannes Brahms
Festival Concertato on Jerusalem the Golden - arr. Larry Visser
Arise, Shine - Donald Pearson
The Tree of Life - K. Lee Scott
E'en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come - Paul Manz
Go to the World - C.V.V. Stanford, Hal Hopson
"Allegro" from Concerto in G Minor - Karl Heinrich Graun



Hear our Prayer (2004)

Pearl Shangkuan, conductor
Kenneth Bos, accompanist

Antiphon - Kenneth Jennings
The Call - Kenneth Jennings
Hear My Prayer - Moses Hogan
O God We Kneel Before Your Throne - Roy Hopp
Te Deum - Franz Joseph Haydn
"Credo" from Neusser Messe - Vic Nees
Nu zijt wellekome Jesu, lieve Heere - arr. Roy Hopp
Notre Père - Maurice Duruflé
salm 118 - Setting by Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck
Psalm 77 - Setting by Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck
Christus Paradox - Picardy, French carol, arr. Alfred V. Fedak
I Can Tell the World - Traditional spiritual, arr. Moses Hogan
The Lord Is My Shepherd - Joel Navarro
Nunc Dimittis - Robert Scholz



Hymnale (2002)

Pearl Shangkuan, conductor
Kenneth Bos, accompanist

The Church's One Foundation - Samuel S. Wesley, arr. John Ferguson
How Firm a Foundation - arr. Paul Louis Anderson
Abide With Me - William Monk, arr. Lucy Hirt
How Lovely, Lord, How Lovely - Hal Hopson, arr. Roy Hopp
How Can I Keep From Singing? - Robert Lowry, arr. Z. Randall Stroope
The King of Love My Shepherd Is - arr. Mack Wilberg
O God, Beyond All Praising - Gustav Holst, arr. Richard Proulx
Take My Life and Let It Be - Timothy Hoekman, arr. Roy Hopp
All Creatures of Our God and King - arr. Mark Hayes
Sing a New Song - Dan Schutte
Shepherd Me, O God - Marty Haugen
Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us With Your Love - arr. Cindy Johnston
Go, My Children, With My Blessing - arr. Walter L. Pelz
O God, Our Help in Ages Past - William Croft, arr. Carl Schalk
John the Revelator - arr. Paul Caldwell/Sean Ivory



Many Colors Paint the Rainbow (2001)

Pearl Shangkuan, conductor
Kenneth Bos, accompanist

Praise Ye the Lord - Hugo Distler
"Sing to the Lord" from Three Meditations - Nöel Goemanne
Many Colors Paint the Rainbow - Roy Hopp
Sicut Cervus - Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina
Cantate Domino - Claudio Monteverdi
The Lord Is My Shepherd - Randall Thompson
At the River - Aaron Copland, arr. R. Wilding White
"Y'susum Midbar" from Zimrei Chayim - D. Zahavi, arr. Alice Parker
Daemon Irrepit Callidus - György Orbán
I'm Goin' to Sing - arr. Alice Parker/Robert Shaw
Eternal Light, Shine in My Heart - K. Lee Scott
My Shepherd Will Supply My Need - arr. Virgil Thomson
Give Me Jesus - arr. Moses Hogan
We Shall Walk Through the Valley - arr. Moses Hogan
Amazing Grace - arr. Alice Parker/Robert Shaw
Go Where I Send Thee - arr. Paul Caldwell/Sean Ivory



A Musical Feast (1998)

A taste of live concerts 1990-1998

Charles K. Smith, conductor
Kenneth Bos, accompanist

Kyrie Eleison - Louis Vierne
O For a Closer Walk with God - Charles V. Stanford
Glory to Thee, My God This Night - Thomas Tallis, arr. Brown
Deep River - Rene' Clausen
Now Thank We All Our God - J. S. Bach
Three Motets - Maurice Durufle'
* Ubi Caritas
* Tota Pulcrus Es
* Tu Es Petrus
My Shepherd Will Supply My Need - Virgil Thompson
River in Judea - Jack Feldman, arr. John Leavitt
Kentucky Psalms - Alice Parker
* Zion
* Vergennes
* Washington
Chorus of Homage - Johannes Brahms
Obey the Spirit of the Lord - Robert DeCormier
Come to Me, My Love - Norma Della Joio
Lovliest of Trees - John Chorbajian
Long Time Ago - Aaron Copland
Heart, We Will Forget Him - James Mulholland
A Red, Red Rose - James Mulholland
Let My Fly! - Robert DeCormier


The Gift of Christmas (1998)

A choral restrospective of live concerts 1990-1998

Charles K. Smith, conductor
Kenneth Bos, accompanist

Personent Hodie -arr. Lara Hoggard
O Magnum Mysterium (Gabrieli) - Giovanni Gabrieli
O Magnum Mysterium (Laurendsen) - Morten Lauridsen
Where Is the Newborn King? - Andreas Hammerschmidt
Gloria in Excelsis Deo - Tomas Luis de Victoria
Glory Be to God - Sergei Rachmaninoff
Carols and Lullabies from the Southwest - Conrad Susa
Oh, mi Belen!
El Desembre Congelat
A la Nanita Nana
Campana Sobre Campana
Chiquirriquitin
El Rorro
He Is Born - arr. Roger Wagner
A Babe Is Born - William Mathias
Estampie Natalis - Vaclav Nellybel
What Sweeter Music - Michael Fink
Star Carol - John Rutter
Mid-Winter - Bob Chilcott
I Saw Three Ships - arr. John Rutter
(encore) This Christmastide - Donald Fraser



To Him We Sing (1995)

No longer available

Charles K. Smith, conductor
Kenneth Bos, accompanist

If Thou But Suffer God to Guide Thee - arr. Jody Lindh
Let Nothing Ever Grieve Thee - Johannes Brahms
The Gift to be Simple - arr. Dale Wood
Be Unto Me, O Lord - William Byrd
I Will Not Leave You Comfortless - William Byrd
The Last Words of David - Randall Thompson
Sheep Fast Asleep - Chugoro Torii
Carol ("Wind in the Willows") - Frank DeWald
The Wexford Carol - arr. Douglas E. Wagner
The Snow - Edward Elgar
Ave Maria (Angelus Domini) - Franz Biebl
To Him We Sing - arr. Robert Young
Lone Wild Bird - arr. Frank K. DeWald
I Got Me Flowers - Daniel Burton
Hallelujah Chorus from Mount of Olives - Ludwig van Beethoven
Jerusalem the Golden - Alexander Ewing
Dan-u-el - Kirke Mechem
O Saviour of the World - Harold Moore



He Has the Power (1992)

Charles K. Smith, conductor
Kenneth Bos, accompanist

Holy God, We Praise Your Name - arr, John Ferguson
Not For Tongues of Heaven's Angels - Roy Hopp
Thou Who Wast God - arr. Katherine K. Davis
Lift Thine Eyes (from Elijah) - Felix Mendelssohn
He Watching Over Israel (from Elijah) - Felix Mendelssohn
Ave Verum Corpus - William Byrd
Like as a Hart - Herbert Howells
Passacaglia (from The Falcon) - John Rutter
Sanctus et Benedictus (from African Mass) - Norman Luboff
O Come, O Come Emmanuel - arr. Parker/Shaw
La Virgen Lava Panales - Josquin Nin-Culmell
Fum, Fum, Fum - Josquin Nin-Culmell
Still, Still, Still - arr. Norman Luboff
Just As I Am - arr. Alice Parker
Just A Closer Walk With Thee - arr. Ed Lojeski
Shenandoah - arr. James Erb
Down in the Valley - arr. George Mead
Witness - arr. Jack Halloran
Precious Lord, Take My Hand - arr. Roy Ringwold
He Has the Power - Leon Roberts



Salvation Is Created (1989)

Anton Armstrong, conductor
Kenneth Bos, accompanist

With a Voice of Singing - Kenneth Jennings
The Great Commandment - Ralph M. Johnson
Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing - traditional hymn
Beautiful Savior - arr. F. Melius Christiansen
This Christmastide - Donald Fraser
Away In a Manger - arr. Bradley Ellingboe
Salvation Is Created - Paul Tschesnokov
Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day - John Gardiner
Hombe (Kenyan song) - arr. L. Ekweueme
Go Where I Send Thee - arr. Andre' Thomas
All You Works of the Lord - Kenneth Jennings
God Is Seen - arr. Alice Parker
There is a Balm in Gilead - arr. William Dawson
Take My Hand, Precious Lord - Thomas A. Dorsey, arr. Ed Lojeski
This Joyful Eastertide - harm. Dale Grotehuis
Spirit of God, Who Dwells Within My Heart - Frederick C. Atkinson
Haleluya! Pelo Tsa Rona (South African) - traditional South African
Plenty Good Room - arr. Kirby Shaw



I Believe in God (1986)

Anton Armstrong, conductor
Kenneth Bos, accompanist

When in Our Music God is Glorified - Charles V. Stanford
For the Beauty of the Earth - John Rutter
Jehovah is My Light - (Psalm 27) - English, 1826
By the Sea of Crystal - John Vanderhoven
Ding Dong! Merrily on High - French carol arr. Carolyn Jennings
Snow Had Fallen; Christ was Born - Stephen Paulus
Nunc Dimittis - Alexander Gretchaninof
Evening Meal - Ralph M. Johnson
Singet dem Herrn ein neues Lied - J. S. Bach
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross - Lowell Mason arr. Gilbert Martin
Yom Seh Le-Yisrael - arr. Dudley Cohen
Three American Hymns - arr. Michael Richardson
The Morning Trumpet
Poor Wayfarin' Stranger
Promised Land
Keep Your Lamps - arr. Andre' Thomas
Credo (I Believe in God) from Gospel Mass - Robert Ray



In the Presence of His People (1988)

Calvin Alumni Choir and St. Cecelia Youth Chorale
Available from CRC Publications:
2850 Kalamazoo SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49510; (616) 241-0727

Comfort, Comfort Now My People
Arise, Shine; For Your Light Has Come
Rejoice in the Lord Always
Praise the Lord
The Lord's Prayer
Seek Ye First
The People Who Walked in Darkness
Song of Simeon
Here from All Nations
Alleluia-Alabare'!
In the Presence of Your People
I Will Exalt My God, My King-Te Exaltare'
The Lord's My Shepherd
As Moses Raised the Serpent Up
I am the Holy Vine
The Lord Bless You and Keep You
Lift Up Your Heads, O Gates

 

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