Two from Grand Valley will perform at Carnegie Hall

Two on staff at Grand Valley State University are headed to Carnegie Hall to perform on March 28, as members of the Holland Chorale.

Jeff Chamberlain, from Hudsonville, is a professor of history and director of the Frederik Meijer Honors College at Grand Valley. Greta Huyser, from Jenison, is assistant to Vice President Matt McLogan, in Grand Valley’s University Relations office. Though they work on the same campus, their paths rarely crossed until they each discovered the chorale.

When Chamberlain gets time to research and write, his focus has been on “conspiracy and intrigue” in the 18th century. But these days, it’s music that grabs his attention as the baritone prepares for his Carnegie Hall debut.

“I sang in college, then later in church and other choral groups, but then got away from it as life got busier,” said Chamberlain. “A couple of years ago, I saw the Holland Chorale was holding auditions, so I decided to try out.”

He admits being nervous about sight-reading at the audition and the range on the musical scale he needed to reach. He made a good impression though and is now in his second year of performing with the group. He also sang in Grand Valley’s Fall Arts Celebration performance of “Messiah,” at Fountain Street Church in December.

For Huyser, who joined the chorale in September, the biggest challenge has been the foreign languages. “Our Christmas concert included songs in Russian and our February concert had French, German and Italian songs,” she said. “I’ve learned so much from this elite group and feel honored to perform with them.”

Like Chamberlain, Huyser saw the audition notice, but hesitated to try out. She had previously only sung in school and a church choir. After some private lessons with the chorale vocal consultant, Nicholas Loren, it was the encouragement of a friend that gave her the push she needed.

Ryan Kelly is artistic director of the Holland Chorale, which was invited to join other choirs and an orchestra for the Carnegie Hall performance of Haydn’s “Missa in tempore belli,” or “Mass in Time of War,” which will be conducted by Jason Paulk of Eastern New Mexico University. The Holland Chorale will give an encore performance April 30, 7:30 p.m., at the Zeeland Performing Arts Center.

For more information, visit www.hollandchorale.org.