Symphony Orchestra Spring Concert

Performing Mendelssohn's "Lobgesang" with Singers and Chorale

The Andrews University Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Claudio Gonzalez, along with University Singers and University Chorale, under the direction of Stephen Zork, will perform their spring concert on Saturday, April 25, at 8 p.m. in the Howard Performing Arts Center. The concert is free and open to the public.

Two main pieces by Dietrich Buxtehude and Felix Mendelssohn will be featured. The piece by Buxtehude is “Chaconne in E minor,” a classic work where harmonic reiterations are decorated by various melodic iterations.

“Hymn of Praise,” also known as Symphony-Cantata No. 2 “Lobgesang,” will have its grand debut in this concert as it has never been performed on this campus. This great musical work, written by Mendelssohn, was inspired by two transcendent musical pieces: Beethoven’s “9th Symphony,” and “St. Matthew’s Passion” by Johann Sebastian Bach. Mendelssohn therefore used the symphonic style, with the addition of chorus and solo voices.

Soloists for this concert will be Charles Reid, tenor, artist-in residence, associate professor of voice and voice area coordinator at Andrews University; Julia Lindsay, soprano; and Julie Reid, mezzo soprano, adjunct voice instructor at Andrews University.

This concert promises to be a continuation of Andrews University’s rich musical tradition. In the words of Gonzalez, “…With an important choral movement and dynamic orchestra program, we are proud to produce one of these works every year.”