At 8:05 p.m. on Sept. 26, 2026, the lights in the Howard Performing Arts Center’s (HPAC) auditorium dimmed, signaling the beginning of Andrews University’s 2026 Alumni Homecoming Concert. The concert, a complimentary event for students, alumni and community members, featured performances from the AU Wind Symphony, University Singers, University Chorale and Symphony Orchestra.
Following brief opening remarks from Max Keller, the chair of Andrews University’s music department, the concert began with three pieces performed by the Wind Symphony, an ensemble of 75 students under the direction of Denisse Santos-Gooden. Santos-Gooden, an Andrews alum herself, led the Wind Symphony first in performing Franco Cesarini’s 1989 piece “Festival Fanfare,” before moving to “Sabre and Spurs March,” a piece composed by John Phillip Sousa in 1918. The Wind Symphony’s portion of the concert concluded with “Highlights from The Music Man,” a medley of songs from Meredith Wilson’s 1957 Broadway musical. The piece, which was arranged by Alfred Reed, included excerpts from “The Wells Fargo Wagon,” “Till There Was You” and “Seventy-Six Trombones.”
Before the Wind Symphony performed the medley, Santos-Gooden addressed the audience, displaying a trumpet with an inscription on the bell reading, “Made by RMC for the filming of Meredith Wilson’s ‘The Music Man’ by Warner Brothers.” This trumpet, which is a part of the Andrews University instrument inventory, was one of the trumpets played in the film adaptation of “The Music Man,” made in 1962. Although Santos-Gooden did not explain how the trumpet ended up in Andrews’ possession, her announcement earned a gasp of awe from the audience.
After the Wind Symphony, the University Singers, an ensemble of 63, not including the alumni who joined them, took to the stage, under the direction of interim director Brenton Offenback, to perform three pieces, beginning with Ivo Antognini’s “I Touch God in My Song.” Their second song, “Come Home,” composed by Craig Courtney, featured Kristi Corbett on the piano and soprano Elsie Mokaya as a soloist. The University Singers ended with the song, “Shall We Gather at the River” arranged by Blake Morgan, with a quartet of alums Abel Siamubi (lead), Narda Heimalala (tenor), Jahaziel Gutierrez (baritone) and Anthony Escotto (bass). This piece, which several concert attendees stated as their favorite piece of the evening, was met with thunderous applause and a standing ovation that lasted so long that Offenback, who had returned to the microphone to address the audience, jokingly stated, “I’m trying to tell you something but you won’t listen.”
Next, the Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Marc Élysée, performed Antonín Dvořák’s 1893 Symphony No. 9, Op. 95 entitled “From the New World.” The piece, which lasted just over 10 minutes, was followed by a collaboration with all four ensembles, performing “Te Deum,” a Latin hymn composed in 1858 by Georges Bizet. The piece included performances from two soloists, Annelise Burghardt, a soprano who graduated from Andrews in 2021, and Charles Reid, a tenor and associate professor of music and the voice area coordinator for the music department. The piece, which lasted about 19 minutes, received another enthusiastic standing ovation from the audience.
To close out, Élysée encouraged the audience to sing along to Andrews University’s anthem “Our Andrews U,” to accompaniment from all four ensembles, stating, “Even if you don’t sing in tune…just sing your heart out.”After the anthem concluded, the audience once again applauded the performances while the directors and soloists took their bows, before heading to the lobby of the HPAC for a dessert reception catered by Dining Services.
The concert drew many local alumni. Judy and Leroy Patterson, a married couple who reside in Berrien Springs, graduated with the Class of 1960 and 1963 respectively. For the two, who first met one another while performing in Andrews’ band, the Alumni Homecoming Concert is an annual event. However, this year was especially memorable as they had two grandchildren, Jasmine (violin) and Luke (violin), performing in the Symphony Orchestra. Judy stated that although the concert is “always a highlight” of Alumni Weekend, they “wouldn’t miss” this year’s concert and the chance to see their grandchildren perform.
Also in attendance were Barbara Trickett Gardner, who described herself as a “frequent flier” at the Andreasen Center for Wellness, and Phyllis Patterson Jewell, friends who graduated from Andrews Academy in 1965 and 1966 respectively, and attended Andrews University for several years, in the pre-med and nursing programs. “We’re here because it’s a free concert,” Gardner said, stating that she and Jewell enjoy living in Berrien Springs and near the university, where they are able to attend events like the Alumni Concert. “It’s a wonderful place to be from.”
Other attendees traveled from other states to attend Alumni weekend. Barbara Breakie-Keyes, a 92-year-old alum from the class of 1956, came all the way from Tennessee to celebrate her 70th reunion. Breakie-Keyes, who graduated with a degree in secretarial science, attended the concert after attending the Haystack Supper in Johnson Gym. “At first I thought the very first [song] was the best, and the next was better, and the next one was better,” she stated, eventually settling on “Te Deum” as her favorite piece of the evening and the choir as her favorite ensemble that performed.
The Alumni Homecoming Concert provided a festive evening of music and fellowship to celebrate Andrews and its alumni. For those unable to attend, a recording of the full concert is available on Andrews University’s YouTube account.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.