Photo courtesy of Michigan Technological University The combined choirs of Michigan Tech rehearse prior to a 2024 performance at St. Joseph's Church in Lake Linden. The choirs will perform Saturday at the church.

HOUGHTON, MI – As the perfect prelude to the Christmas season, the combined choirs of Michigan Technological University will present Segei Rachmaninoff’s iconic “Vespers” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lake Linden. Under the direction of Jared Anderson, chair of MTU’s Department of Visual and Performing Arts, the combined choirs consist of the Michigan Tech Concert Choir, comprised of students, faculty, staff and community members and conScience: Michigan Tech Chamber Singers, a select, student-only chamber choir.

According to a Michigan Tech Press release, the music is based on pre-existing and newly composed chants from the Russian Orthodox All-Night Vigil service. The vespers portion of the service comprises the first six movements of the fifteen movement work. Vespers services are focused on texts and chants related to evening prayer.

“Rachmaninoff grew up attending services in the Orthodox church,” Anderson said. “The chanting that he heard there, and the bells from the churches, had profound influences on his music.”

The Choirs of Michigan Tech have performed at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on an annual basis and, each year, audiences look forward to experiencing these concerts in such a beautiful and unique setting.

“For many years the choirs have presented ‘Music for a Sacred Space,’ an opportunity to prepare music that was written for worship settings, often in churches that have a resonant acoustic environment,” says Anderson, “St. Joseph’s is a wonderful space to hear Rachmaninoff ‘s All-Night Vigil (Vespers). We are grateful for the opportunity to sing in that space.”

Pay as you are able tickets are still available online and at the door for this event. Don’t miss this final performance of the year from the Michigan Tech Choirs.