The Calvin Alumni Choir, in its 15th year under the baton of Pearl Shangkuan, altered its concert schedule this year and gave full performances in November rather than January. One of those fall musical offerings was at Third Christian Reformed Church, presented to a large crowd of alumni and friends that filled virtually every pew.

Dr. Pearl Shangkuan, conductor
Dr. Pearl Shangkuan, conductor

The choir’s theme was “Celebrate Life,” and in addition to those concerts, the group prepared an evening worship service titled “All Is Well,” with seminary president emeritus Neil Plantinga bringing the message in a number of west Michigan churches.

This spring, the choir has prepared a concert under the rubric “A Year in Song,” to be performed April 20 at the Cathedral of St. Andrew (pictured) in Grand Rapids. On May 10 and 11, the ensemble will present Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis with the Grand Rapids Symphony and Chorus at the DeVos Performance Hall in downtown Grand Rapids.