WSCC music ensembles perform this month.

VICTORY TOWNSHIP – The West Shore Community College Music Department will be highlighting its music ensembles throughout April.

The Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Ted Malt, professor of music studies and director of the Performing Arts Series will perform on Thursday, April 14, at 7:30 p.m. in the Center Stage Theater.

The concert will open with a performance by the Ludington High School Jazz Ensemble, under the direction of Keith Kuczynski, director of bands at Ludington Area Schools.  In February, the LHS Jazz Ensemble was named “Most Outstanding Band” for the 2016 Central Michigan University Jazz Weekend.

“It is always great when we can highlight our local high school ensembles during a WSCC concert,” Malt said. “This gives parents another opportunity to hear their music students play in another venue and collaborate with other musicians.”

The WSCC Jazz Ensemble will also travel to Holland on Thursday, April 21, where it will be playing an outreach concert with the Holland High School Jazz Ensemble with guest artist Michael Dease, associate professor of jazz trombone at Michigan State University.

On Wednesday, April 20, at 7:30 p.m., the Wind Symphony, also under the direction of Ted Malt, will be in concert at the Hart Middle School Auditorium. The concert will highlight a diverse selection of wind band music and will also feature the world premiere of “And Angels Wept,” a work commissioned by the WSCC Wind Symphony and written by composer Kent Boulton.

“What a thrill it has been to hear this ensemble bring the piece of music to fruition,” said Ken Boulton, director emeritus of Big Rapids High School.

“This is the first time the College has commissioned a piece of music. The process has been invaluable to all members of the ensemble and will be a process that none of us will forget,” said Malt.

The 60-voice Concert Choir will perform its spring choral concert on Sunday, April 24, at 2 p.m. in the WSCC Center Stage Theater. The choir is under the direction of Becky Sopha, director of choirs, and Lewis Wilson, with accompanist, Donna Clousing.

The choir will sing a wide variety of music genres including, “In paradisum” from Gabriel Faure’s “Requiem,” and Broadway selections from “Camelot” and “My Fair Lady.” The choir will also perform “Agnus Dei,” arranged by John Leavitt. This piece will be accompanied by a chamber ensemble of strings, woodwinds, and percussion featuring area musicians and string players from the Muskegon community.

“I chose this beautiful work because I wanted the younger singers who participate in the choir to have a Latin experience and the opportunity to sing with a wonderful instrumental ensemble. This is a beautiful piece which evokes calmness and serenity,” said Sopha.

The concert will also feature Micah Buck, from the Jenison area and a member of the Home School Association.  “Micah is one of the most outstanding young male singers in our state.  He will perform an Italian operatic solo which will leave the audience amazed,” states Sopha.

Tickets for the concerts are on sale now at the WSCC Box Office, 231-843-5507 or online at www.westshore.edu.