The annual Earthtones concert is taking place this Saturday April 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Goshen College Music Center’s Sauder Concert Hall.
Earthtones is the annual spring choral concert, and concert of world choral music. Subtitled “Songs from Many Cultures,” the concert features a wide variety of choral works from countries and cultures all over the world that is sung in a variety of languages.
Scott Hochstetler, associate professor of music, and Debra Brubaker, professor of music, will direct the concert this year. Alongside teaching choral, vocal and opera theatre programs at GC, Hochstetler has led a variety of church, school and college choirs, adding Earthtones to his repertoire of concerts and age groups. Additionally, Brubaker has also had diverse experiences as the director of the Goshen College Chorale and Chamber Choir in addition to creating the Women’s World Music Choir.
The choirs will present works from countries including Ukraine, Thailand, Mexico, Nigeria, Bulgaria and Ireland, in languages such as Tamil, Gaelic, indigenous Hawaiian, Zulu and Spanish in celebration of music of the world.
According to Dustin George Miller, music coordinator, “The beginning of this concert goes back to the formation of the Women’s World Music Choir back in 2004, but this is the ninth year that the event has been billed as ‘Earthtones.’”
The choirs are tapping into a rich culture of world choral music and are performing works that are often uncommonly performed in the United States, which makes this a very unique concert experience.
In addition to world music, Maddy Garber, a sophomore member of the Women’s World Choir and the Chamber Choir said, “This particular concert will feature many different languages and dances, with movement ranging from Irish step dancing to fun, comic acting. There will also be times when the choir members will be able to bring up some family and friends to sing with them on stage.”
Paul Zehr, a senior, said, “Earthtones is a way for us to showcase the core value of global citizenship in our music making. We perform pieces from many different cultures, especially those not in the Western musical canon.”
This concert incorporates all of the Goshen College choirs; the Chamber Choir, the Women’s World Music Choir and the Men’s Chorus all take a part of this event. “Each group practices two and a half hours a week,” said Zehr. “For this concert, there is a lot of foreign language learning and even some choreography.”
The concert is a collaboration of the works of many students. They all come together to prepare a concert for viewers to enjoy. “This concert is often a way to get students more involved in the process of creating the music,” said Zehr. “For example, Miranda Earnhardt will be directing one of the Chamber Choir pieces. In addition, Martin Flowers and Prashansa Dickson are among some of students that have contributed to the choreography of some pieces.” said Zehr.
Tickets for this event are $10 dollars for adults and $7 dollars for seniors and students. Goshen College students, staff and faculty have free admission with valid ID. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling the welcome center at 574-535-7566.
