Two Hundred Strong: a Choral-Orchestral Collaboration. November 4, 3:00 pm at Union Church

A concert in honor of Dr. Steve Bolster’s upcoming retirement, five musical ensembles from three regional colleges/universities will be joining the Berea College Concert Choir in a collaborative performance in Union Church.

The Asbury University Chorale, Vicki Bell, conductor; and the Centre College Choir, Johann Van Niekirk, conductor will form a 140-voice choir along with the Berea College Concert Choir, Stephen Bolster, conductor. The Asbury University Orchestra, Nathan Miller, conductor, and the Centre College Orchestra, Robert J. Seebacher, conductor will join forces to form a 60-member orchestral ensemble to perform sections of the Firebird Suite by Igor Stravinsky, conducted by Nathan Miller, and will also accompany the choirs on the centerpiece of the program, the Schicksalslied, Op. 54 (Song of Destiny) of Johannes Brahms, conducted by Stephen Bolster.

Professor Bolster, who is being honored in the concert for his 39 years of teaching vocal and choral music at Berea College, will also conduct the massed choirs on “I’m gonna sing ‘til the spirit moves in my heart,” a stirring African-American spiritual arranged by Moses Hogan. Collaborative pieces conducted by the other conductors include Laudate pueri from the Vesperae solemnes de confessore by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, David Pegel’s anthem “Keep watch, Dear Lord,” Ecce sacerdos magnus by Anton Bruckner, and Indondana, a South African song. The five ensembles will be performing an identical program at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday evening, November 3 on the main stage at Norton Center in Danville.