Calvin Alumni Choir

Promoting Choral Excellence and Community

Through rehearsals and performances, the Calvin Alumni Choir fosters a vibrant community rooted in Christian faith, musical excellence, and enduring connection to �鶹��.

We perform and commission both sacred and secular choral music, offer a ministry of music in church worship services, and participate in special events in our community throughout the year.

Join the Song!

Support the Choir

We are a non-profit organization existing on the gifts of our generous supporters and patrons. Consider making a gift of any amount or become a patron through specific levels of support. Your gift helps us share the gift of music—thank you!

Join the Choir

We hold auditions annually in August. Contact us to schedule an audition or to learn more about what it's like to sing in the Alumni Choir, including rehearsals, performances, tours, and community.

Email alumnichoir@calvin.edu

Book the Choir

We carry out our mission by leading worship and performing throughout the West Michigan area. Interested in having the Calvin Alumni Choir sing at your church or event? Let us know!

Email alumnichoir@calvin.edu

2025–2026 Season

September 21, 6 PM: Hymn sing celebrating the Calvin's 150th anniversary | LaGrave Avenue CRC
September 27, 7 PM: Homecoming football game, National Anthem | �鶹��
October 17: | Alma College
October 21, 7 PM: Breton Woods performance |
December 12, 7:30 PM: Concert | �鶹�� Chapel
March 15: Morning service |
March 29: 150th anniversary celebration of �鶹�� and Calvin Seminary | Covenant Fine Arts Center
May 1, 7:30 PM: Spring concert |

Sean Ivory conducts the Calvin Alumni Choir on the Covenant Fine Arts Center stage, accompanied by a cello.

The Calvin Alumni Choir, wearing jeans and maroon shirts, sings the national anthem at the homecoming football game.

2025–2026 Members

Sean Ivory, director
Dr. Julia Brown, accompanist

Soprano

Sheila Aupperlee
Debra Paxton Buursma
Lauren DeWit Cooper
Cynthia Persenaire DeBoer
Lucie Gundlach DeMey
Lindsey Gram
Annelise Hyrns
Rory Marco
Ginny Medema
Amy Miller
Jennifer Riemersma Ophoff
Elle Reynolds
Jennifer Schroder
Kendra Walters
Madeline Witvliet

Alto

Leah Bell
Rhonda VanValkenburg Brink
Katie DeVries
Lori Dykstra
Lia Gelder
Suzanne Heetebrij
Jane Jansma Hofstra
Erin Hubka
Hannah Mcnulty
Sherry Veenema Merz
Fiona Miller
Katie Scholma
Christi Tuit
Cindy Vandenburg
Kimberly Veenstra

Tenor

JR DeGroot
Greg Hofman
Chan Gyu Jang
Stephen Mulder
Aaron Polet
Jonas Tilburt
Henry VanKuiken
Randy VanWingerden
John Witte

Bass

Dave Bardolph
David Clausing
Kim DeStigter
Karel De Waal Malefyt
Ryan Holwerda
Darin Klooster
Tim Lautenbach
Paul Mulder
Harry Plantinga
Steve Tuit
Doug VandeGriend
Ben Van Hof
Henry VanKuiken

The Calvin Alumni Choir is a space where artistry and faith intersect, and where we continue to grow together through music. It's a great joy to work with such a dedicated group of singers.

Sean Ivory

Calvin Alumni Choir Director

Read Sean Ivory's full bio

About the Choir

Founded in 1977, the Calvin Alumni Choir has grown into a nationally recognized ensemble of �鶹�� graduates, known for its artistic excellence, global tours, and contributions to sacred and secular choral music.

The Calvin Alumni Choir was founded in 1977 by Helen Hoekema Van Wyck, now the Director of Choral Activities at Trinity Christian College, and conducted by various choir members. In 1981, Anton Armstrong, current conductor of the St. Olaf Choir, became the choir’s fourth conductor. During Dr. Armstrong’s tenure, the choir performed for the ACDA National Convention in Salt Lake City (1985). Dr. Charles Smith, Director of Choral Activities at Michigan State University (emeritus), was the choir’s fifth conductor. In 1998, Dr. Pearl Shangkuan became the choir’s sixth conductor and led the choir for twenty years. Sean Ivory, the seventh conductor of the choir, picked up the baton in the spring of 2019. He led the choir through their first virtual performance in the spring of 2020, a collaboration with Dan Forrest of “How Great Thou Art.” He also led the ensemble through a year of rehearsals culminating in their first virtual concert in May 2021. The choir was accompanied by Dr. Kenneth Bos from 1980-2022.The current accompanist is Dr. Julia Brown. Guest directors have included eminent composers and conductors such as Sir David Willcocks, Semyon Bychkov, John Rutter, Moses Hogan, André Thomas, Joseph Flummerfelt, and Maria Guinand.

Members of the choir are admitted by audition. Spanning from the most recent graduating class to the 1970s, the singers are all alumni of �鶹�� and represent a variety of professions. In addition to its annual concerts, the Calvin Alumni Choir participates in worship services at area churches and other community functions.

The choir has released several commercial recordings and commissioned new works, many of which have become staples in choral repertory sung around the world. The choir has performed with the Grand Rapids Symphony as the featured guest chorus in performances of the B Minor Mass and the Magnificat by Bach at the Grand Rapids Bach Festival. In 2010 the choir received third place in the American Prize competition that recognizes the very best in the performing arts in the United States. The choir also performed at the prestigious Templeton Prize ceremony honoring Calvin graduate and former professor Dr. Alvin Plantinga.

Nationally recognized for its choral artistry, the Calvin Alumni Choir has been invited multiple times to performances at conferences of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) at national, division, and state levels. The choir has also performed for the National Association of Pastoral Musicians (NPM) and the American Guild of Organists (AGO). The choir has toured Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Taiwan, the Netherlands, and most recently as the anchor choir for an international festival in France and Switzerland.

The Calvin Alumni Choir performs onstage, holding black folders and in black concert attire.

Calvin Alumni Choir members sing Christmas carols on the Calvin Commons Lawn, dressed in coats and hats for winter.

Our Recordings

Calvin Alumni Choir on YouTube

You'll find videos of our full concerts and individual songs on our YouTube channel.

CD Recordings

Our CD recordings are listed below. Please call the Calvin Campus Store at 1-800-748-0122 for available recordings.