The Lakewood Area Choral Society is pleased to announce its annual Sacred Concert Series entitled “How Great Thou Art.” The choral society’s first concert of the 2026 season, under the direction of founding artistic director and conductor, Robert C. Oster, and accompanied by pianist, Ethan Holmes, will be presented on Sunday, June 7th at 3:00 p.m. at Peace Church, 6950 Cherry Valley Rd, in Middleville, MI.

The choir will perform a variety of liturgical songs including Elaine Hagenberg’s “O Love,” “Witness,” by Jack Halloran,” “Lord, Here Am I,” by John Ness Beck, and “He Never Failed Me Yet,” featuring soloists Anna Scheck, Lisa Sterkenberg, Susan Renee, Trish Klein, Sheryl Haveman, and Tiffany Ferguson. A selection from the classical era, “Kyrie Eleison” a movement from one Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s masses, with soloists Cindy Olson, Lisa Sterkenberg, Jon Cleveland, and Larry Ott, will also be featured. Also included in the concert repertoire will be John Ness Beck’s “Song of Exaltation” for double choir, an acapella performance of “Sing Your
Way Home” by Joseph Martin, and an entirely new arrangement of “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” by Marianne Forman. Featured in special music solos and ensembles will be Joyce Carmichael performing a setting of “Be Still My Soul,” accompanied by her husband, Paul Carmichael. Mary MacDonald’s composition “How Can I Keep From Singing” will feature ensemble members Jen Bowers, Jackie Koll, Sheryl Haveman, Vicki Pontz, Warren Bishop, and Jon Cleveland. The choir’s promotional video, “Come Sing With Us,” will also be presented. In lieu of tickets, a freewill offering will be accepted.

Now in its 41st season, the Lakewood Area Choral Society continues to be a fixture in local communities, performing four concerts annually, including two sacred performances, one pops concert, and one Christmas concert. The choir currently boasts a roster of 96 active members and are currently recruiting new singers who have had choral part-singing experience, specially basses and tenors . If you are interested in performing with them or just learning more, please contact Dr. Robert Oster, artistic director and conductor at lacsmusic@gmail.com, Larry Ott, LACS president at lott2512@gmail.com, or submit the “Contact Us” form on the choir’s
website: www.lacsmusic.org.