Montcalm Community College’s Alumni & Friends choir concert, Great Stories Told in Song, is April 28 at 4 p.m. in the gymnasium in the Activities Building on the college’s Sidney campus. Admission is free. 

Choir Director Val Vander Mark said she is excited to showcase a variety of numbers related to popular literary pieces and to collaborate with area musicians and children.  

“I realized how many of our favorite songs are based on great literature: Charles Dickens’ ‘Oliver Twist’ became the musical ‘Oliver!,’ George Bernard Shaw’s ‘Pygmalion’ turned into ‘My Fair Lady,’ Victor Hugo’s novel ‘Les Miserables’ is now one of our most beloved musicals. There is a nod to Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’ in the story of ‘The Lion King,’ not to mention the great movies and musicals inspired by L. Frank Baum’s ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ These are just samples of all the stories MCC’s Alumni & Friends Choir will be honoring in song,” Vander Mark said. 

The choir is made up of 38 singers and six instrumentalists. Six of the choir members are MCC alumni, 17 have taken classes at MCC, and 12 have been or are currently employed by MCC. 

The concert will include some featured pieces. An instrumental ensemble directed by Central Montcalm band director Matthew Reed will join the choir on “Over the Rainbow,” songs from the musical “Shrek,” and a medley of “Mary Poppins” songs. The concert will also feature children singing with the choir in a few numbers, including one child’s solo. There will be a projected program that will feature pictures of the various books, with some interesting information about them. 

“The concert is free and family-friendly,” Vander Mark said. “The whole family will be tapping their toes and singing along on these timeless favorites!” 

Visit montcalm.edu/events for more information. 

Media contact:
Shelly Springborn
Director of Communications and Public Relations
shellys@montcalm.edu
989-560-0833