Sept. 30, 2010

Morningside music department to present homecoming concert

The Morningside College Music Department will present a homecoming concert at noon, Oct. 9, at the Buhler Outdoor Performance Center, 3625 Garretson Ave., on the Morningside campus. The college will welcome back more than 60 alumni to perform with current students. This event is free and open to the public.

The Morningside Outdoor Band (MOB), Morningside College Jazz Ensemble, Eclectix Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Bel Canto Women’s Choir, Singing Men of Morningside, and the Morningside College Choir will perform during the concert.

MOB plays as a pep band and performs a half-time show at all Morningside home football games. During the concert, the band will perform “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond and “Tainted Love” by Soft Cell, among other tunes.  Jeff Bellgardt and student field commander Jessica Horsley direct MOB.

The Morningside Jazz Ensemble performs music composed in all jazz styles through the use of big band and combos.  They will collaborate with Eclectix Vocal Jazz Ensemble to perform "Come Fly With Me," arranged by Mac Huff, featuring words by Sammy Cahn and music by James Van Heusen.  Dr. David Lambert directs the jazz ensemble, and Tim Watson directs Eclectix.

The Morningside College Choir is an auditioned group of about 50 students that perform a variety of music.  At this concert they will sing “Hodie Christus Natus Est” by Giovanni Gabrieli and “Fly,” written by Sara Grove and arranged by Susan La Barr.  They will also collaborate with returning alumni to perform the first movement of “Gloria in D-Major” by Antonio Vivaldi and “Ain’t Got Time to Die” by Hall Johnson.

The Bel Canto Women’s Choir is a group of female singers dedicated to the performance of music composed specifically for women’s voices.  Electric bass and percussion will accompany the choir as it performs “Hold On,” an arrangement by Jay Broeker, and “Mouth Music,” a Celtic tune in which singers imitate the sounds of instruments. Dr. Jill Wilson directs the group.

The Singing Men of Morningside performs all varieties of music from classical to contemporary, and it also performs the national anthem at sporting events on and off campus. At the homecoming concert, the group will perform "Toccata of Praise" by Joseph M. Martin.  Watson also directs this choir.