History

Marquette Choral Society was founded in 1971 by Dr. William Dehning and is currently led by musical director Dr. Erin Colwitz. Our performance history reaches back five decades.

Over the years, MCS has focused much of its attention on the large works of the Western choral tradition, including oratorios by Handel, Bach, and Haydn, and masses by Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert, among many others. The group also performs more contemporary pieces by composers such as Bernstein, Honegger, and Hovhaness. MCS also takes pride in commissioning and giving world premieres to many new and important contributions to the choral literature. In 1992, the group commissioned Dave Brubeck to compose Earth is Our Mother to celebrate the choir’s twentieth anniversary. Other commissioned works include pieces by Jackson Berkey, Griffin Candey, and Thomas LaVoy.

Some of our past concerts and repertoire include:

“Angelic Voices: Music of Charpentier and Respighi,” with the Marquette Choral Society Orchestra. Erin Colwitz, conductor; Jeff Bruning, accompanist; featuring solos by Hayley Kukulis, Kathy Bushon, Anthony Beacco, and Wayne Hanmer. December 7th and 8th, 2019.

“Russian Nights: Rachmaninoff & Chesnokov,” including Rachmaninoff’s All Night Vespers. Erin Colwitz, conductor. April 27th and 28th, 2019.

Bach at the Cathedral: Magnificat & Wachet Auf. Erin Colwitz, conductor. December 15th and 16th, 2018.

“Night Psalms,” including Dona Nobis Pacem by Ralph Vaughan Williams and The Night Psalms, a new commission by Griffin Candey with text by Kathleen M. Heideman. Erin Colwitz, conductor. April 28th and 29th, 2018.

“Laudate Dominum: Catnatas at the Cathedral,” including Benjamin Britten’s St. Nicholas Cantata and Arthur Honegger’s Une Cantate de Noël, with the Diocesan Children’s Choir and the Marquette Choral Society Orchestra. Erin Colwitz, conductor; featuring solos by Brian White and Wayne Hanmer. December 2nd and 3rd, 2017.

“Sure on this Shining Night: Celebrating Finland’s Centennial with 100 years of Finnish and American music.” Including works by Jean Sibelius, Aaron Copland, Samuel Barber and Morten Lauridsen. Erin Colwitz, conductor; featuring Jennifer Taylor Bleckiner, oboe. Concerts in Marquette on April 23rd and 24th, 2017; tour to Finland in July 2017. Turku Cathedral on July 20th, Tampere Cathedral on July 22nd, Oulu Cathedra on July 24th, and Temppeliaukio Church on July 28th.

Handel’s Messiah, with the Marquette Choral Society Orchestra. Erin Colwitz, conductor; featuring solos by Kathy Bushong, Carin Gilfry, Anthony Beacco, and Wayne Hanmer. December 3rd and 4th, 2016.

“Carols in the Cathedral,” including works by Daniel Pinkham, Stephen Paulus, Kenneth Leighton and David Willcocks. Erin Colwitz, conductor; N. Lynne Koski Lanczy, accompanist. December 5th and 6th, 2015.

The Music of Paul Ayres, featuring the world premiere of Marquette Choral Society commission The Harmony of Heaven and Earth. Floyd Slotterback, conductor; N. Lynne Koski Lanczy, accompanist. April 25th, 2015.

W. A. Mozart – Coronation Mass & Gabriel Fauré – Requiem. Floyd Slotterback, conductor; N. Lynne Koski Lanczy, accompanist. April 26th and 27th, 2014.

W. A. Mozart - C Minor Mass, with the Marquette Choral Society Orchestra. Wayne Hanmer, conductor. April 29th and 30th, 2006.

J. S. Bach – The Christmas Oratorio, with the Marquette Symphony Orchestra. Floyd Slotterback, conductor. December 6th and 7th, 2003.

An Evening with Dave Brubeck, featuring the world premiere of Marquette Choral Society commission Earth is Our Mother, with the Northern Michigan University Choir. Floyd Slotterback and Russell Gloyd, conductors. April 11th, 1992.

Handel – Messiah, Vivaldi – Magnificat & Pinkham – Christmas Cantata, with the Northern Michigan University Orchestra. Floyd Slotterback, conductor. December 3rd and 4th, 1988.

L. V. Beethoven – Mass in C Major, Fantasy for Piano, Choir & Orchestra, with the Northern Michigan University Orchestra. Floyd Slotterback, conductor; Nancy Dryer, piano. December 5th and 6th, 1987.

Christmas Concert including music by Heinrich Schütz, Franz Schubert and Benjamin Britten, with the Northern Michigan University Orchestra. Featuring harp music by Carlos Salzedo and Kim Robertson. Floyd Slotterback, conductor; Elinor Niemisto, harp.

The Music of Randall Thomson, with the Northern Michigan University Choir. Floyd Slotterback, conductor; Sandra Balmer, accompanist. April 6th and 8th, 1990.

G. F. Handel – Saul, with the NMU University Orchestra. Floyd Slotterback, conductor. December 2nd and 3rd, 1989.

W. A. Mozart – Requiem, John Rutter – Requiem, with the NMU University Orchestra. Floyd Slotterback, conductor. April 23rd and 24th, 1989.

Gustav Holst – The Hymn of Jesus & Franz Schubert – Mass in Ab Miajor, with the Northern Michigan University Orchestra. Steven Edwards, conductor, December 7th and 8th, 1985.

Carl Orff – Carmina Burana & Johannes Brahms – Schicksalsied, with the Northern Michigan University Orchestra, University Chorale and Arts Chorale. Steven Edwards, conductor. April 12th and 13th, 1984.

W. A. Mozart – Vesperae Solennes de Confessore & O. Respighi – Lauda per la Natività del Signore, with the Northern Michigan University Orchestra. Steven Edwards, conductor; Ruth Matthews, accompanist. December 3rd and 4th, 1983.

G. F. Handel – Israel in Egypt with the Marquette Symphony Orchestra. Steven Edwards, conductor. April 16th and 17th, 1983.

“A Concert of Sacred Music for the Christmas Season,” including Bruckner – Mass in E Minor, Gabrieli – O Magnum Mysterium, and Hassler – Verbum Caro Factum Est. Steven Edwards, conductor; Ruth Matthews, accompanist. December 4th and 5th, 1982.

Joseph Haydn – The Seasons, with the Marquette Symphony Orchestra. Douglas Amman, conductor; Dean Bisgrove and Timothy Brimmer, assistant conductors. April 17th and 18th, 1980.

Gustav Holst – The Hymn of Jesus & William Walton – Belshazzar’s Feast. Douglas Amman, conductor; John Slawson, assistant conductor; Janet Brodersen, accompanist. April 7th and 8th, 1979.