Hillsdale College Choral Scholars Perform Fall Concert ‘Credo 1700’
The concert celebrated the 1,700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed.
HILLSDALE, Mich. — The Hillsdale College Choral Scholars performed their fall concert on Nov. 1 and 2 in Christ Chapel. The concert, titled “Credo 1700,” marked the 1,700th anniversary of the Christian creed adopted by the Council of Nicaea in 325.
“Besides the many forms of sacred music that have been derived from this celebrated text, the Nicene Creed has been a touchstone for belief across the ages throughout the Christian world,” said Timothy McDonnell, director of sacred music at Hillsdale College. “This concert was a special way to celebrate our heritage and our faith.”
“This concert was a special way to celebrate our heritage and our faith.”
The Nicene Creed, adopted by the first ecumenical Christian council in 325, affirmed that Jesus is “true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father.”
The performance included choral settings of portions of the creed by Antonio Vivaldi, Arvo Pärt, Sergei Rachmaninov, Johann Sebastian Bach, Timothy McDonnell, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. The choral works were interspersed with reflections on the creed by members of the Hillsdale College faculty.
The Hillsdale College Choral Scholars Program is the resident ensemble of the College’s Christ Chapel. The program is open by audition to musically talented and academically competitive students, offering individualized instruction, scholarships, and opportunities for high-level performance. The program focuses on sacred music, and students help lead choral worship services in the chapel as well as performing regular concerts.