The Hope College Chapel Choir and Symphonette are both touring during spring break, continuing a long-running tradition for each group.
The Chapel Choir will perform in Ohio and Michigan on Friday-Monday, March 17-20. The Symphonette will perform in Michigan, Ohio, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida on Thursday-Wednesday, March 16-22.
The Chapel Choir will perform in Cincinnati, Ohio, on Friday, March 17; in Ann Arbor on Saturday, March 18; in Flint on Sunday, March 19; and in East Lansing on Monday, March 20. The choir will also present its annual post-tour "Home" concert on Monday, March 27, at 7:30 p.m. at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, located at 13th Street and Maple Avenue in Holland.
The Symphonette will perform in Midland on Thursday, March 16; in Powell, Ohio, on Friday, March 17; in Johnson City, Tenn., on Saturday, March 18; in Roswell, Ga., on Sunday, March 19; in Titusville, Fla., on Tuesday, March 21; and in Orlando, Fla., on Wednesday, March 22.
The Chapel Choir was organized in 1929 and began touring annually in 1953. In addition to touring extensively in the United States and Canada, the choir has made a European tour seven times, most recently in May 2005.
The 42 members are selected by audition. The choir is directed by Jeff Buettner, visiting assistant professor of music and interim director of choral activities at Hope.
The Symphonette was organized in 1953. The group has toured coast-to-coast in the United States, and has also performed in two provinces in Canada, the British Isles, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
The 32 Symphonette members are selected each year from the larger college symphony orchestra. The Symphonette is directed by Richard Piippo, associate professor of music at Hope.
The Chapel Choir and Symphonette each maintain active local performance schedules. Both groups have also made numerous radio and television appearances, including the nationally televised "Hour of Power" from Garden Grove Church in California. Both groups are also featured each December in Hope's Christmas Vespers program, which is broadcast on radio stations around the country.