March 30, 2012 (Jackson) - The best of Bernstein is coming to the stage at Belhaven University. The choral and vocal arts concert, The Beauty of Bernstein, will premiere on April 14 at 7:30 P.M. in the Belhaven Center for the Arts Concert Hall.

Bernstein was an American composer, conductor, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States to receive worldwide acclaim.

Dr. Christopher Shelt, Professor of Voice, Church Music & Choral Activities, said, “I love the music of Bernstein! He is a legend and brings fresh originality, an engaging beauty and a distinct signature mark with his vocal works. It will be a very engaging evening of Bernstein’s vocal and musical genius.”

Belhaven’s Dance Department will accompany the Music Department Concert Choir in dance for Chichester Psalms, a work setting biblical psalms in the original Hebrew.

The Belhaven Chorale will perform several French choruses from Bernstein’s music to The Lark. Select soloists and ensembles will also perform a collection of his Broadway favorites like West Side Story and Wonderful Town. Combined soloists and ensembles will present the finale of Candide, “Make Our Garden Grow,” to close the night.

“This concert is shaping up to be a wonderful performance from a very diverse panorama of Bernstein’s choral and vocal music, I do not recall being this excited about a concert in all my 13 years at Belhaven University, “ added Dr. Shelt.

The concert is free and the doors open at 7:00 P.M.