Hope College Department of Music

05/05/2026

Hope will be well represented this Friday at West Michigan Symphony's concert! Our very own Prof. Igor Cetkovic, cello, and alum Peter Kurdziel, organ, will be a featured soloists this coming Friday!

Inventive. Joyful. Radiant.
WMS Principal Cellist Igor Cetkovic takes center stage in Gulda’s wildly inventive Cello Concerto—playful, unexpected, and full of personality. Then experience the thrilling power of the Barton Organ, at the hands of organist Peter Kurdziel, in Saint-Saëns’ monumental “Organ Symphony,”—a work of breathtaking scale and sound.
Big music. Bold moments. An unforgettable finale.
📍 Friday, May 8 | The Frauenthal Center
🎟 Tickets start at just $19

04/17/2026

Congratulations, Dr. Ben Krause!

Dr. Benjamin Krause, associate professor of music, has been named the Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) Thomas Ediger Distinguished Composer of the Year.

Recognized at the 2026 MTNA National Conference for his composition, "Spaces Real or Imagined," Dr. Krause utilizes musical ekphrasis to translate the visual language of painter Maria Helena Vieira da Silva into a collection of five pieces.

This prestigious honor marks his second time receiving the award, following his first win in 2019.

🔗 Read more about the achievement and the inspiration behind his award-winning work at the link in our comments.

04/13/2026

The Hope College Department of Music warmly invites you to Morten Lauridsen’s Lux Aeterna & Concert Spirituals.

This special performance will feature the Combined Choirs of Hope College, joined by Dr. Huw Lewis at the organ for Lauridsen’s luminous and deeply moving Lux Aeterna. The program also highlights a selection of Concert Spirituals, performed alongside Dr. Charsie Randolph Sawyer and Jennie Judd Reyes.

04/12/2026

“Dancing from East to West”: Come join the Hope College Concert Band on a dance-inspired journey from rustic Balkan peaks to vibrant city streets!

04/08/2026

On April 8, 2025,
The Hope College Orchestra made their debut at Carnegie Hall and received a standing ovation.

04/08/2026

🎭 Opera workshop presents scenes from
🎼 Marriage of Figaro
🎼 Magic Flute
🎼 Così fan tutte

04/06/2026

The Jazz Arts Collective and two different jazz chamber ensembles will perform w/ special guest trumpeter extraordinaire Kris Johnson on Saturday, April 18. The concert will take place at 7:00 p.m. in the Concert Hall of the Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts.

The public is invited, admission is free.

The Jazz Arts Collective, directed by Prof. Robert Shipley, The Jazz Guitar Combo, directed by Prof. Lee Heerspink, and the Steps Ahead Jazz Combo, directed by Prof. Tom Lockwood, will perform timeless, popular jazz selections. The Jazz Arts Collective is the premier large jazz ensemble at Hope College. The collective places a creative focus on ensemble communication and improvisation. Consisting of a rhythm section and flexible wind instrumentation. These select groups perform compositions and arrangements from across the full spectrum of jazz music.

The college’s jazz chamber ensembles afford students the opportunity to perform in the classic small group combo setting. The ensembles vary in size and instrumentation, and place a creative focus on improvisation and group communication. All of the ensembles perform works from the classic jazz repertoire. The more advanced jazz chamber ensembles also perform repertoire from the contemporary jazz world. The ensembles also place an emphasis on original student and faculty compositions. All of the ensembles are coached by members of the Hope College jazz faculty.

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04/04/2026

Join us for SPERITAS -- one week from today!✨

The Hope College Department of Music invites you to a special choral concert featuring SPERA (SSAA) and VERITAS (TTBB) on Saturday, April 11 at 3:00 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

“SPERITAS” brings together two ensembles in a program exploring kindness, reflection, and human connectionthrough a wide range of choral traditions. From Venezuelan and Mexican folk songs to Brahms, Billy Joel, and contemporary works—including music by Grand Rapids composer Sean Ivory —this concert celebrates the richness and diversity of the choral art.
Come experience an afternoon of meaningful music and the artistry of Hope College singers.