LMC presents “Songs for a Better World” choral concert In conjunction with OutCenter
The Lake Michigan College Visual & Performing Arts Department, in conjunction with LMC student life and the OutCenter of Southwest Michigan, presents "Songs for a Better World," a choral concert, featuring music by LGBTQ+ composers and allies, at 4 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 23 in the newly renovated Hanson Theatre in The Mendel Center on the Benton Harbor campus.
The LMC Concert Choir, its chamber ensemble, Soundwaves, and the acapella group, Harbor Lights, all under the direction of LMC Music Director and Visual & Performing Arts Chair Kristopher Zook, will perform during the event.
“’Songs for a Better World’ includes music by LGBTQ+ composers and allies with an uplifting message of unity and understanding between all people,” Zook said, “This is the kickoff event for a week of collaborative events on the Benton Harbor campus centered around LGBTQ+ education and support.”
Among the highlights of the concert program are “How to Sing Like a Planet” by Elizabeth Alexander; “This We Know” by Ron Jeffries; “Some Type of Love” by Charlie Puth; and Zook’s arrangement of “Love is Love is Love is Love.” The vast repertoire also includes pieces by Andre J. Thomas, David L. Bruner, Moses Hogan, Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, Paul Simon, and more.
The LMC Concert Choir is a mixed voice choral ensemble that features LMC students and community members from Berrien County and beyond. The group performs regularly on the concert stage, both at The Mendel Center and throughout Southwest Michigan.
LMC’s Soundwaves is an audition-based group of student vocalists who have a passion for high-quality, advanced choral repertoire. Current members are sopranos, Shay Beeson, Riley Cole, Sierra Dooley and Isabella LeClaire; alto Karen Smith; tenors Tristin Jeffrey, David Ott, Andre Steward, Gabriel Wright, and Tristan Wright; and basses Harold Milliner and Eric Theile. Harbor Lights, LMC’s newest ensemble, is an acapella group featuring Smith, Jeffrey, Ott, Gabriel Wright, Tristan Wright, and Tyler Criss.
In addition to the students in Soundwaves and Harbor Lights, the Concert Choir includes sopranos, Erika Bontrager, Jayla Harris, Barb Frank, Don-Nee German, Shannon Mitchell, and Cori Wright; altos Penny Jones Brant, Dyann Chenault, Jill Garcia, James Kraus, Marina Peter, Stephanie Pollard, Barbara Schofield, and Betsy Trescher; tenors Harvey Johnson, Jr., Richard Johnson, Carol Orlaske, Andre Steward, Dennis Wojtczak, and Mike Wolske; and basses Harvey Johnson, Sr., Armando Linares, Aaron Rennhack, Danny Wright, and Ken Yates.
Admission is free and the concert is open to the public. A $5 suggested donation will be collected to benefit the OutCenter of Southwest Michigan.
In addition to the concert, LMC Student Life, in conjunction with the OutCenter, will be hosting an LBGTQ+ art exhibition beginning Monday, Feb. 24 in the Hawk’s Nest on the Benton Harbor campus. Students also will take a tour of the OutCenter on Feb. 24, and the documentary film “State of Pride” will be shown at noon Tuesday, Feb. 25 in the Hawk’s Nest followed by a discussion.
For more information, contact LMC’s Visual & Performing Arts Department at (269) 927-8876 or visit www.lakemichigancollege.edu/arts or LMC Student Life at www.lakemichigancollege.edu/studentlife.
ABOUT THE HANSON THEATRE
The Mendel Center’s Hanson Theatre accommodates up to 234 guests. It is the primary performance space for the college’s choral, instrumental and theatre students, and attracts up-and-coming musical acts from around the country, and community events like dance recitals, talent showcases, variety shows and comedy nights.
A recent gift from the Hanson Family Foundation and Merlin and Carolyn Hanson, for which the theatre is named, helped fund more than $600,000 in improvements to the theatre. The renovations include visible changes such as new paint, carpet, seating and curtains, as well as major upgrades to the electrical and internet infrastructure, rigging and catwalks, light and sound boards, and a variety of acoustic and other sound improvements.
ABOUT THE OUTCENTER
The OutCenter is a community-based LGBTQ+ resource center serving Southwest Michigan. Its mission is to provide support and advocacy for respect, understanding and nondiscrimination to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and allied persons and their families. Located in Benton Harbor, it is the only organization of its kind in Berrien County and one of only seven in the state of Michigan. For more information, visit outcenter.org.
