Students in the Music Performance program of Holland College’s School of Performing Arts are preparing for a series of three showcases taking place in December.

Throughout their two years in the program, students participate in several ensembles, each of which focuses on a different genre of music. The showcases are an opportunity to perform pieces they have been rehearsing since the beginning of the semester. In past years, all the ensemble students would perform in one concert, this year, there will be three separate concerts.

The first concert, which takes place Friday, December 9, is a Celtic and Acadian concert in the Florence Simmons Performance Hall. The showcase, which starts at 7 p.m., features students from the Celtic and Acadian Music ensembles. The second showcase, a Rock and Country concert, takes place at the Trailside Music Hall Tuesday, December 13 at 8 p.m. and features students from the Rock and Country ensembles. The third concert will be held in Baba’s Lounge Friday, December 15 at 8 p.m. and features the Improv ensembles.

Program Manager Liam Corcoran said the change in format from one showcase to three smaller concerts was recommended by the program’s advisory committee. The new format is intended to give the students experience performing in a variety of different venues.

“For the past couple of years, the showcases were postponed or cancelled due to the pandemic. We thought this would be a good opportunity to try showcasing our students in a variety of different ways, and to increase our engagement with local venues and audiences,” he said.