Bergeron's Music Moves

From MAJIC 2008-2009 Concerts

On Good Friday this year MAJIC presented a unique concert that featured a world premier liturgical work by composer and guitarist Andrew Bergeron based on St. John's Passion.
The ensemble combined Soprano Kathryn Stieler and pianist Sheri Iott joined by Andrew Bergeron on guitar with his wife Carmen Maret on flute.

An incredible mix of people showed up for the concert, everywhere from long time Bethlehem Church members to people interested in modern chamber music to friends of the series who did not consider themselves church goes.

The concert mixed Bergeron's composition with readings and two hymns sung by the audience.

Julie Quinn's sublime liturgical art made for a special pairing of art and music this month.
Thanks for a great season! See you next year!

Composers Build Community

The March MAJIC concert featured six different local composers, each who premiered their work for the concert. The quality of the compositions and performances was unexpected as well as the response from the community. Works were submitted in early January and each composer selected to have their work performed received a stipend for the perfomance. The concert offered a wide variety of geners and performance mediums to stretch the listerner's ears: solo jazz piano, sacred choral, solo classical guitar, concert chamber music, latin popular, and a free jazz jam out.

Susan Guerra, mom of one of the boys in the the choir commented to me after to the concert, "I think this was the best concert so far. Having local composers play their work gives such a nice feeling of community. I think local music making takes the emphasis away from "show" and from money making, and turns the event into people coming together to hear new music and support musicians who are really going for it in Grand Rapids."

Check out the photos and descriptions below!
Thanks to Kirby Hanson for the photos, Division Avenue for the Arts for the juried art works
and to the BLC worship committee for the reception!

From MAJIC 2008-2009 Concerts

Steve Talaga performs Winter Suite

From MAJIC 2008-2009 Concerts

Chad directs Preces and Responses

From MAJIC 2008-2009 Concerts

Grand Rapids Choir of Men and Boys

From MAJIC 2008-2009 Concerts

Gideon premiers his Sonata for Guitar

From MAJIC 2008-2009 Concerts

Carol VanRandwyk's Las Alas del Viento

From MAJIC 2008-2009 Concerts

Daniel Castro sings his tunes with soul

From MAJIC 2008-2009 Concerts

The End Times Orchestra Jams it Out

From MAJIC 2008-2009 Concerts

The Boys examine the Avenue for the Arts submissions

High Energy with Steppin' In It and Rick Beerhosrt

From MAJIC 2008-2009 Concerts

The February MAJIC concert made for an incredible pairing of music and art with a fantastic American Roots band called Steppin' In It and inspiring works by local artist Rick Beerhorst.

Our attendance was up for this concert, at around 120, and I found from the people who attended the concert that a lot of connections were made between many different types of music and art goers. The guys in Steppin' In It were especially appreciative for the opportunity to play for the MAJIC series because they typically play in bars where music tends not to be the first preoccupation for people. The sanctuary setting at Bethlehem Church also allowed the band to play acoustic, something they love to do, but don't normally have the opportunity to do.

Thanks to Rick Beerhorst for the art showing and important introduction before the concert that helped people to understand the importance of engaging with visual art and music in a public setting.

Thanks also to the Bethlehem Church Worship Committee for the great reception after the concert.

From MAJIC 2008-2009 Concerts

Gruca Gives Beautiful Guitar Concert

From MAJIC 2008-2009 Concerts

Michigan native Robert Gruca performed a lovely concert in January featuring classical guitar works from around the world. Many audience members commented how surprised they were at the way his instrument filled the sanctuary, not realizing how grand the sound of one guitar could be! For many, it was their first experience listening to a solo classical guitar concert.

During his visit, Robert Gruca also taught a Masterclass for students from the college guitar program and arts outreach program at Grand Rapids Community College.

Wietze Adema's paintings filled our art space this month bringing vivid colors to an otherwise drab January setting. Check out the photos in the album on the top right of this page to preview.

Thanks to Kirby Hanson for the stunning photos and to the Bethlehem service committee for a fun reception!

From MAJIC 2008-2009 Concerts

WaZoBia and Gary Eldridge Heat Up the Holidays

From MAJIC 2008-2009

From MAJIC 2008-2009

From MAJIC 2008-2009

MAJIC hosted a fabulous concert event this month with WaZoBia! The 110 + adults and children who attended were entertained and engaged by this six piece band that showcased not only different style of African and Caribbean drumming but that made music participation and education an integral part of their show.

Everyone was surprised by the fabulous turn out and the amount of money we raised just broke $700 for one concert!

Gary Eldrige's multi-media works inspired by a healing mission that him and his wife made for people suffering from HIV and AIDS in Africa set a nice backdrop for the cultural education that was part of the evening's events.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this December's concert a huge success!

From MAJIC 2008-2009

Fascinating Concert with Early Music Michigan

From MAJIC 2008-2009 Concerts

Early Music Michigan is a group of musicians who perform a wide variety of concerts featuring music from the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque eras.

MAJIC was fortunate enough to have members of the group, directed by Eric Strand, guest Baroque violinist Edith Hines.

The all J.S. Bach program began with a solo partita and sonata in the first half followed by his partita in d minor that was played once as a solo and then a second time accompanied by the vocal lines that underly the chorales hidden in the work. The result was an educational experince that offered a new way of listening to the music of J.S. Bach.

Artworks by Mary Andersen filled our narthex space. They vineyard and lakeshore landscapes accompanied the mood set by the music!

Thanks to everyone on the witness committee for a great reception!

From MAJIC 2008-2009 Concerts

Organissimo Opens the Second Season

From MAJIC 2008-2009 Concerts

For its opening concert of the season, MAJIC had the honor of hosting one of the best bands in town--Organissimo. The band started off with some of their lively tunes, and I noticed half of the heads in the audience bobbing up and down. Organissimo featured tunes from their newly released CD Groovadelphia. It is always a treat for someone like me, who has been following the band for five years to hear them keep writing and playing new stuff. What a blessing for Grand Rapids!

Thanks to the band for donating a portion of the CD sales to the Coalition to End Homelessness, and to everyone who attended the concert. We had over 80 people at the event and raised $680.00!

Local artist Mic Carlson graced our narthex art gallery with a beautiful selection of his original paintings and a set of bronze sculptures and prints inspired by St. Francis of Assisi.

Thanks to Kirby Hanson for shooting some great photos of the concert and reception. Be sure to check them out on the right hand side of the screen. Click on the photo album to see them in a larger format.

From MAJIC 2008-2009 Concerts