Fourth Michigan Festival of Sacred Music Schedule

Click Here for Festival Highlights
Events marked with asterisk are ticketed events. Schedule is subject to change.

FRINGE EVENTS

Author Readings:

November 6, 6:30 p.m., Delia Sherman at the Kalamazoo Public Library, 315 S. Rose, for reading, discussion and book signing. Free
November 7, 7 p.m. Ellen Kushner at Kazoo Books, 2413 Parkview Ave, for reading, discussion and book signing. Free
*7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 6 Miller Auditorium, Western Michigan University, presents American Indian Dance Theatre. Ticket prices range from $10-$35 and are available through Miller box office or web site. Patrons who also purchase an MFSM ticket package receive a $5 discount on this event.
Wednesday, Nov 7, 7 p.m. Awake My Soul, documentary film and Shape Note (Sacred Harp) Singing Workshop. First Presbyterian Church social hall, 321 W. South St. Free
November 11, 7:30 p.m. Reception for Ellen Kushner and Delia Sherman at Phoenix Church (housed at Skyridge Church of the Brethren, 394 S. Drake Rd, Kalamazoo) Free
Kalamazoo Valley Museum
September 22, 2007 to January 6, 2008 A Celebration of Souls: Day of the Dead in Southern Mexico—photography exhibit. Also on display from KVM’s permanent collection a rare Chinese woodblock sutra from c. 1690. Free
Artwork by area school students will be on display at the First Baptist Church and the First Presbyterian Church during the festival.
COMING SOON:
4 p.m., Sunday, November 25
Sing-Along Messiah in collaboration with First Congregational Church, 129 S. Park St. Free-will offering

MFSM Festival Events

Thursday, November 8

Noon: Opening ceremony for Tibetan monks from the Drepung Loseling monastery.
Mandala Sand Painting continues through Sunday at the Kalamazoo Valley Museum, 230 N. Rose St. Free
1:00 p.m.: Award-winning documentary film, Mystery of Love sponsored by the Fetzer Institute for the Campaign for Love and Forgiveness. Kalamazoo Valley Museum, 230 N. Rose St. Free
*3:30 p.m.: Capriccio, Chicago’s flute and harp duo, with guests, cellist, Elizabeth Start, and vocalist Emily Lodine (featured in the Fetzer Mystery of Love film) in a program drawn from Hebraic themes. First Congregational Church, 129 S. Park St. $10/$5/$3
*5:45 p.m. Dinner at Park Club—Open to the public. For reservations call, 269.381.0876 by November 1. Limited Seating.
*7:30 p.m.: Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time: Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra
Artists-in-Residence: Julia Neckermann, violin; David Peshlakai, cello; and Ben Seltzer, clarinet; with Maestro Raymond Harvey, piano. Program includes multi-faith musical reflections by MFSM artists, a panel discussion moderated by public radio’s Ellen Kushner, and “A Robe of Orange Flame” by Christopher Deane, performed by percussionist Greg Secor. First Baptist Church, 315 W. Michigan. $15/$12/$5

Friday, November 9

10 a.m.: Tibetan monks speak about Mandala symbolism. St. Thomas More, 414 W. South St. Free
Noon: Sacred Flute: Shakuhachi, Michael Chikuzen Gould. Kalamazoo Valley Museum, 230 N. Rose St. Free
1:30 p.m.: “Carpati: 50 Miles, 50 Years,” a documentary film by Yale Strom. Story of Sev Godinger, caretaker of the Jewish community of Beregovo, Ukraine. After meeting Strom and his partner David Notowitz, Zev decides to return to his hometown, Vingradov for the first time in 50 years. During the train trip home to take a Torah to his boyhood synagogue, we meet many of Zev’s friends, particularly the Gypsies who are the ones who maintain what little Jewish music remains in the Carpathian Mountains. Film introduced by Yale Strom. Kalamazoo Valley Museum, 230 N. Rose St. Free
*3:30 p.m.: David Schrader, organ concert. St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 247 W. Lovell St. $10/$5/$3
6:00 p.m. Congregation of Moses: worship service with expanded music by Yale Strom and Elizabeth Schwartz. Congregation of Moses, 2501 Stadium Dr. Free
*8:00 p.m.: Take 6, an award-winning a capella gospel sextet. Also on the program Kalamazoo’s NAEA GospelFest Choir directed by Roland Sunkins. Miller Auditorium, WMU (Patrons who also purchase an MFSM ticket package receive a $5 discount on this event.)

Saturday, November 10

9:00 a.m.–11a.m.: Organ Masterclass with David Schrader/AGO/WMU. First United Methodist Church, 212 S. Park St.
10:00 a.m.,: Workshop with Rohan Krishnamurthy: video of South Indian music and dance concerts and project, music demonstration, discussion of styles of Indian music. Kalamazoo College (1200 Academy St) Fine Arts Building Recital Hall. Free
10:30 a.m.: “A Few Good Songs”: This documentary film features Yusef Islam, the artist formerly known as Cat Stevens. Film introduced by Dawud Wharnsby. Kalamazoo Valley Museum, 230 N. Rose St. Free
1:00 p.m.: David Schrader will deliver the 2007 Briner Lecture and a brief organ performance. First Presbyterian Church, 321 W. South St. Free
*2:30 p.m. Dawud Wharnsby and Mohamad Aburatib perform original works, and Islamic Nasheed in English and Arabic. Also performing: Community Children’s Choir and Drum Circle, directed by Janet Hill; Sikh Temple Youth Musicians; and Muslim Youth Choir. First Congregational Church, 129 S. Park St. $15/$12/$5
*5:30 p.m. Public radio’s Ellen Kushner teams up with celebrated Klezmer composer/performers Yale Strom and Elizabeth Schwartz and actors from All Ears Theatre for the premiere of their new musical radio drama, “The Witches of Lublin”, based on Jewish women’s lives, music and culture through the ages—with a little “magical realism” thrown in! First stop: A Polish town in 1798, where a family of four women musicians discover that music, and love, have a power greater than anyone imagined. Joined by Tom Knific, double bass and Alex Udvary, cimbalom. First Baptist Church, 315 W. Michigan. $15/$12/$5
*8:00 p.m.: Tibetan monks from Drepung Loseling Monastery present a program of music and dance. Chenery Auditorium, 714 S. Westnedge Ave. $15/$12/$5
*Late Night (doors open at 10 pm): Dunuya Drum & Dance with Calvin “Shangojinmi” Ruff. Dunuya brings to light the stories and lifeways of many cultures-celebrating the things we share. FIRE, 1249 Portage at Dewey St. Cover: $5 Adults/ $3 Students at door

Sunday, November 11

Special music in churches. Strom and Schwartz at Congregation of Moses at 10:30 a.m.
Ellen Kushner will read excerpts from A Wandering Feast, Strom’s travel memoir about his first visit to eastern Europe. The trio will mix stories with song and violin music.
*1:00 p.m.: Concert of South Indian Music and Dance. The group is led by Kalamazoo’s Rohan Krishnamurthy with guests Shruti Iyer, violinist; Shoba Narayanan, dancer; and Kirnavali Narasimhan, vocalist. St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 247 W. Lovell St. Tickets: $15/$12/$5
*3:00 p.m.: Kalamazoo Singers and Kalamazoo Children’s Chorus. Co-sponsored by The Fetzer Institute as part of its Campaign for Love and Forgiveness. First Presbyterian Church. Child care provided during this event. Reception follows. $15/$12/$5
5:30 p.m.: Tibetan monks Sand Painting Mandala closing ceremony and sand dispersal. Kalamazoo Valley Museum, 230 N. Rose St. and Arcadia Creek. Free

MFSM ticket packages are available:

Six Tix: Adults–$75/Seniors–$60/Students–$20: a package of six tickets which may be used for purchaser’s choice of events. This pass DOES NOT include Miller Auditorium events “Take 6” and “American Indian Dance Theatre”, however, purchasers of MFSM packages receive $5 discount on tickets to these events.

Weekend Pass: Adults– $90/ Seniors–$70/ Students–$25: one admission to each ticketed event in the festival. This pass DOES NOT include Miller Auditorium events “Take 6” and “American Indian Dance Theatre”, however, purchasers of MFSM packages receive $5 discount on tickets to these events.