October 31, 2003Toronto Children’s Chorus
The Toronto Children’s Chorus is recognized internationally as one of the world’s premier choral ensembles for children; the group’s exceptional artistry has inspired audiences and critics everywhere. Founded in 1978 by Jean Ashworth Bartle, the chorus has recorded and toured extensively over five continents, winning many first-place awards, including the Healey Willan Prize for Amateur Choirs, the Let the Peoples Sing international choral competition (sponsored by the European Broadcasting Union), and six-time honors at the CBC Radio Competition for Amateur Choirs. Repertoire for the Toronto Children’s Chorus features a wide range of musical genres, including sacred Renaissance works and challenging contemporary pieces from diverse cultures and traditions.

November 22, 2003Xavier Davis Trio
The Xavier Davis Trio features the talents of Xavier Davis on the piano, his brother Quincy Davis on drums, and Ugonna Okegwo on bass. A Grand Rapids native, Davis is an accomplished musician, composer, and arranger. He has performed with and collaborated on recordings with many of today’s great jazz musicians, including vocalist Betty Carter, drummer Carl Allen, and trumpeter Tom Harrell. His debut recording, Dance of Life, was released on Metropolitan Records in 1999, and his CD Innocence of Youth was released in April of 2002 by Fresh Sounds New Talent.

Workshop with the Xavier Davis Trio
In conjunction with the Xavier Davis Trio, a free jazz workshop will be held from 2:00-3:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 22nd. This workshop entitled "The Language of Jazz" is open to anyone interested in jazz. Participants in the workshop are invited to bring their instruments. Application forms for the workshop are available by contacting the Calvin Music Department at (616) 526-6253 or emailing music@calvin.edu. The workshop is free and all participants will receive one ticket for the evening performance at the reduced price of $5!

January 16, 2004Michelle DeYoung
Michelle DeYoung, mezzo-soprano, is one of the most exciting artists of her generation. Since graduating from the Metropolitan Opera’s Young Artists Program, she has appeared on the concert platform with the world’s most illustrious orchestras. On the operatic stage, Ms. DeYoung has performed at the Glimmerglass Opera, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Seattle Opera, and Covent Garden. As a recitalist, she has debuted at the Theatre du Chatelet and Alice Tulley Hall and has performed at prestigious festivals worldwide. Her performance in the recording, Les Troyens, with Sir Colin Davis and the London Symphony Orchestra, won a 2001 Grammy for Best Classical Album and Best Opera Recording. Ms. DeYoung made her debut with the Metropolitan Opera in March 2003.

February 4, 2004Venice Baroque Orchestra
Founded in 1997 by some of the finest musicians in Italy, the Venice Baroque Orchestra is already recognized as one of Europe’s leading ensembles devoted to period instrument performance. Led by the Baroque scholar and performer Andrea Marcon, the orchestra is devoted to the performance of Venetian Baroque works and has collaborated with the Teatro La Fenice in the recovery of forgotten operas by Handel and Cavalli. The orchestra will feature acclaimed recitalist and chamber musician Guiliano Carmignola, violin, who is highly regarded for his broad range of repertoire, which encompasses works from the Classical, Romantic, and Baroque periods. The Venice Baroque Orchestra recently made its United States debut at Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart Festival.

March 12, 2004Ahn Trio
The Ahn Trio tours the world, performing almost one hundred concerts annually in such places as Lincoln Center’s Alice Tulley Hall, Carnegie’s Weill Hall, Chicago’s Ravinia, Singapore’s Victoria Concert Hall, Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Hall, and Seoul Arts Center. Violinist Angella and the twins, pianist Lucia and cellist Maria, capture the intellect, hearts, and souls of all who hear them. The Juilliard-trained trio, originally from South Korea, first gained public attention in 1987 when they were featured in a Time Magazine cover story titled “Asian-American Whiz Kids.” The Ahn Trio has been hailed as a brilliantly distinguished ensemble, gifted with extraordinary powers of communication and an exquisite blend of sound. Each of the artists performs with superb technique and contagious excitement. The Trio’s recordings are available on the EMI Classics label.

April 3, 2004Westminster Choir
Setting the standard for choral excellence for seventy-nine years, the Westminster Choir, under the direction of Joseph Flummerfelt, is composed of students at Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton, New Jersey. It has been the chorus-in-residence for the Spoleto Festival U.S.A. since 1977, performing both in concert and as the opera chorus. The choir was also the chorus-in-residence for the Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto, Italy, for twenty-two years. Praised by critics for its “full-bodied, incisive singing” (New York Times), the Westminster Choir, as a part of the Westminster Symphonic Choir, regularly performs and records with the leading conductors and orchestras of our time. Last season included collaborations with the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and the Berlin Philharmonic. We are honored to present this concert as part of Dr. Flummerfelt’s final tour before he retires later this year.