Events & Tickets

FREE Admission but TICKETS are required.

TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE at the Howard Center Box Office or online.

The United States Air Force Band of Mid-America Concert Band represents the professionalism and excellence found every day throughout the Air Force. This diverse, 45-piece ensemble's repertoire ranges from symphonic band masterworks to traditional marches, to modern compositions, to pops and jazz. During a concert, you are likely to hear stirring works from contemporary composers as well as the familiar sounds of John Philip Sousa or Major Glenn Miller. The band also features a talented vocal soloist, performing a wide variety of popular, classical and patriotic selections.

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Voice students of the Andrews University Department of Music present a delightful program of arias and ensembles from a wide range of operas. Be wowed as the students meet the demands of this challenging singing. You will be treated to beautiful music by Mozart, Verdi, Rossini, Menotti, Ward, Gershwin, Charpentier, Bizet, Gounod, Offenbach, Massenet and more! Proceeds from this concert help offset the cost of future AU Singer Actor Studio Productions.

This event, titled FACE THE MUSIC (Conquer the Fear), is true for both performer and audience member. It takes great courage to create many of these demanding arias. Join the Andrews University Department of Music voice students as they explore the wonderful repertoire of opera. In addition, University Singers will make guest appearances! Presented by the Andrews University Singer Actor Studio.

Wind Symphony

Conductor: Byron Graves

The Andrews University Wind Symphony maintains a significant travel schedule throughout the Great Lakes area, and seeks to provide high quality music programs and concerts representative of Adventist education and Andrews University. The Wind Symphony has performed in England, France, Spain, Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Canada and throughout the United States.

University Singers

Conductor: Stephen Zork

The Andrews University Singers is the select choir of the Department of Music and represents Andrews University locally, nationally and abroad through concert tours, television broadcast and audio recordings. They have given highly acclaimed international concert tours throughout the countries of Great Britain, Iceland, Norway, Brazil, Zimbabwe, Chile, Bahamas, Bermuda and Puerto Rico.

The Andrews University Symphony Orchestra’s upcoming concert “Breath becomes the Wind” explores how throughout history, human expression has led to dances in various cultures throughout the world. The program will begin with Andrews University’s Director of Piano Studies, Professor Chi Yong Yun, featured as soloist in Sergei Rachmaninoff’s romantic Piano Concerto No.2. Following intermission, the orchestra will explore a selection of dances and songs originating from Mexico, Russia, and Hungary.

Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) was equally celebrated in his lifetime both as a pianist and composer. Like numerous pianist-composers in the century before him, his compositions were influenced by his tremendous gifts at the piano, which allowed him to push forward in exploring the most compelling possibilities with the instrument. He enjoyed more rarefied company in finding critical success also as an orchestrator, with compositions such as his Symphony No.2 and Symphonic Dances finding great success without relying on the inclusion of the piano. This evening’s Piano Concerto No.2 is widely recognized as one of the most popular and enduring concertos in all of Classical music.

Béla Bartók (1881-1945) lived in parallel alongside Rachmaninoff but approached musical composition from different perspectives, synthesizing some of the modernist techniques of the early 20th Century with local folk music. It is difficult to attribute a national identity to Bartók and his music since the small town he grew up in (now part of Romania) would see its national borders change multiple times during the 20th Century. His curiosity was piqued by his surroundings, enough so that he became recognized as one of the first practitioners of ethnomusicology, exploring “peasant music” in the lands surrounding Budapest and transcribing them both for personal and widespread use. The rhythms and melodies in Bartók’s Dance Suite are influenced by his discoveries with folk music, but are not direct quotations of specific songs. He explains that movement “No. 1 is partly, and No. 4 entirely of an Oriental (Arab) character; the ritornello and No. 2 are of a Hungarian character; in No. 3 Hungarian, Romanian and even Arab influences alternate; and the theme of No. 5 is so primitive that one can only speak of a primitive peasant character here, and any classification of nationality must be abandoned.” In some instances, the less flattering label “Gypsy” is used to describe the music he heard in the hills of Eastern Europe.

The Andrews orchestra’s faculty and students have been assisted all year long by two students hailing from Mexico who are in their final years of study at Andrews. We are pleased to invite them, Edgar & Ricardo, to share their tradition of Mariachi music making with us through the classic song written by Pepe Guízar in 1937, Guadalajara. Voice student Fabio Siniscarchio will join a selection of string and trumpet players in performing the song, which celebrates the characteristics and beauty of Guízar’s home city of Guadalajara.

Alexander Borodin’s opera Prince Igor was nearly finished when the composer passed away in 1887; his friend Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov helped him complete it shortly after, and the opera was premiered in 1890. The Polovtsian Dances on this evening’s program are found in Act 2 of the opera and have found great popularity presented on their own in concert programs ever since. The opera is based on historic events from 1185, when Russia’s Prince Igor sought to defend his land from the encroaching Polovtsian tribe. As with Bartók’s Dance Suite, Borodin’s music was written during a time when the world’s citizens were becoming increasingly aware of cultures other than their own, and explored their fascination by including oriental themes in the arts. Polovtsian Dances begins with gentle breath-like phrases that build upon one another, leading to rollicking dances reminiscent of galloping across the wide open spaces of ancient Russia.

Program

Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873-1943) – Piano Concerto No.2

Chi Yong Yun, piano soloist

- Intermission -

Béla Bartók (1881-1945) - Dance Suite

Pepe Guízar (1906-1980) - Guadalajara

Alexander Borodin (1833-1887) - Polovtsian Dances from the opera Prince Igor

Symphony Orchestra

Conductor: Chris Wild

The Andrews University Symphony Orchestra is the core ensemble of the orchestral program at Andrews University. In addition to their current series at the Howard Performing Arts Center, the Symphony Orchestra travels within the Great Lakes region as well as internationally. Since 2006, the orchestra has performed in Italy, Austria, Germany, France, the Philippines and Costa Rica.

One of the most versatile and charismatic violinist today, Brian Lewis is an exceptionally dedicated and gifted performer whose passionate artistry has been heard and embraced around the world.

Please join us for the Andrews Academy Vocal & Orchestra Spring Concert

Please join us for the Andrews Academy Band & Bells Spring Concert

Please join us for the Ruth Murdoch Elementary School Band and Bells Spring Concert.

Please join us for the Ruth Murdoch Elementary School Vocal and Orchestra Spring Concert

FREE Admission but TICKETS are required.

TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE at the Howard Center Box Office or online.

The United States Air Force Band of Mid-America Concert Band represents the professionalism and excellence found every day throughout the Air Force. This diverse, 45-piece ensemble's repertoire ranges from symphonic band masterworks to traditional marches, to modern compositions, to pops and jazz. During a concert, you are likely to hear stirring works from contemporary composers as well as the familiar sounds of John Philip Sousa or Major Glenn Miller. The band also features a talented vocal soloist, performing a wide variety of popular, classical and patriotic selections.

Featuring: Jonathan Beyer, the Southwest Michigan Symphony Chorus & the Lake Michigan Youth Orchestra

Margaret Beckley Upton Memorial Concert

Jonathan Beyer and the Southwest Michigan Symphony Chorus serve as musical storytellers for William Walton’s dramatic cantata “Belshazzar’s Feast” which conveys the account of Babylon’s fall as depicted in the Old Testament. Completing the storytelling will be a side-by-side performance of Bacchanale from Samson et Delilah  by Saint-Saenswith the Lake Michigan Youth Orchestra, and the premiere of Michigan Mosaic, Op. 13, an original composition by SMSO member, Alan Palider.

Preconcert Conversation at 3:00 pm

One of the most versatile and charismatic violinist today, Brian Lewis is an exceptionally dedicated and gifted performer whose passionate artistry has been heard and embraced around the world.

Ten years ago Sidewalk Prophets released their first album "These Simple Truths".  The songs from that album has dramatically impacted their ministry and their lives resulting in their ability to travel the world, meet amazing people, and hear powerful stories. They have been able to see Christ at work in so many ways.  Today, Sidewalk Prophets want to take those miles on the road and the stories they have heard and compiled and share them with you.  Sidewalk Prophets is bringing their "These Simple Truths Tour" to Berrien Springs, Michigan. Help us spread the word! It is going to be an incredible experience!

IMPORTANT INFO:

* Tickets are available online at the Sidewalk Prophets ticketing agent.  Click on our "buy ticket" button to connect to their ticketing agent.

* Student tickets are also available online, however, you will need to get a code from the Howard Center Box Office at (269) 471-3560 to get the student price of $12.00 per ticket

* This event does utilize fast moving lights, as well as strobing effects and haze.  Those with sensitivities should exercise caution.

Please join us for the Andrews Academy Vocal & Orchestra Spring Concert

Please join us for the Andrews Academy Band & Bells Spring Concert

The Lake Michigan Youth Orchestra Spring Concert presents pieces from its four musical ensembles: the Concert Strings, the Encore Strings, LMYO Winds and the Youth Orchestra. LMYO  is one of several educational programs of the Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra. The Youth Orchestra provides an orchestral experience for talented young musicians in southwest Michigan and northern Indiana.

Tickets: $5 adults, $3 students/seniors. Available at the door. General seating.

Please join us for the Ruth Murdoch Elementary School Band and Bells Spring Concert.

Please join us for the Ruth Murdoch Elementary School Vocal and Orchestra Spring Concert

Join us for the Berrien Springs High School & Middle School Spring Concert