Hope presents “Liederabend”

German Diction for Singer students hold traditional concert

Hope College music students will present a “Liederabend” (evening of song) on Tuesday, Nov. 15, at 7:30 p.m. in the John and Dede Howard Recital Hall of the Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts.

The public is invited. Admission is free.

The concert will feature voice students enrolled in the college’s German Diction for Singers class. Students in the class learn to transliterate German texts into the International Phonetic Alphabet, learn to pronounce German texts, and study the development of the German Lied.

Linda Dykstra, who is an associate professor of music and the course’s instructor, began the Liederabend tradition in 1998 with the institution of the Diction for Singers sequence of classes. The classes were established to provide a historical performance context for the intimate Lied, as well as an opportunity for the students to perform the repertoire they learn in the class.

Traditionally, a guest master teacher is invited to spend time coaching in class, lessons and studio classes with the students. This year’s guest is Herr Goetz Schuricke, a tenor from Munich, Germany, who performed with Dykstra when she lived in Germany.

In keeping with the authenticity of the event, coffee and German tortes will be served at a reception following the performance.

The Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts is located at 221 Columbia Ave., between Ninth and 10th streets. The recital hall will be marked with signs.