Romantic ballads and familiar standards will fill the Lake Michigan College Mendel Center Jenkins Theatre at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, when the LMC music program presents the Wine & Roses Vocal Concert. This free event will feature two student choral ensembles, Vox LMC and LMC Vocal Chamber, under the direction of LMC choral music faculty member Rebecca Derbas-Selvidge.
This immersive concert experience seats the audience on the Jenkins Theatre stage with the performers. A cash bar featuring Lake Michigan Vintners wine will be available.
Among the planned selections are “The Days of Wine and Roses,” by Henry Mancini, arranged by Steve Zegree; “I’ve Got a Gal in Kalamazoo,” by Mack Gordon and Harry Warren, arranged by Mike Carubia; “Morning,” by Al Jarreau, arranged by Kirby Shaw; “Sailing Home,” by Rosana Eckert and Peter Eldridge, arranged by Liz Townsend; "Et In Terra Pax" by Mary Lynn Lightfoot; "Our Love Is Here to Stay" by George and Ira Gershwin, arranged by Chuck Casey; and "Bread and Roses" by James Oppenheim, arranged by Kimberly Donley.
Vox LMC is a vocal jazz ensemble that incorporates the study of contemporary American music with music technology. Music technology students learn how to use microphones, monitors, and speakers with guidance from Force Tech, the LMC Mendel Center’s production partner. The student vocalists and instrumentalists work through the complex harmonies and rhythms of vocal jazz. The ensemble has performed with Western Michigan University’s Fourtunate Cats as well as New York Voices soprano Kim Nazarian, and received Outstanding Performance from the 44th annual Gold Company Vocal Jazz Festival.
Vox LMC performers are Deonna McGrew (New Buffalo), Jaiden Anderson (Battle Creek), Reanna Pompey (Dowagiac), Molly Welche (Coloma), Deyton Lee (Benton Harbor), Ricky Cruz (Coloma), and Antowan Dyer (Benton Harbor). Vox sound technicians are Troy Carter (Benton Harbor) and Leo Rediess (South Haven).
LMC Vocal Chamber is a dynamic student ensemble that performs frequently in concert each semester. Selections performed are drawn from the standard choral repertoire and include madrigals, motets, folk songs, spirituals, and jazz. Ensemble membership consists of LMC students selected by audition.
LMC Vocal Chamber members include Joanna Benitez (Fennville), Sidney Steinberger (Stevensville), Delilah Grubbs (Berrien Springs), Abby Heinrich (Three Oaks), Bella Dixon (Bridgman), Jaiden Anderson (Battle Creek), Tori Guerrin (Holland), Wyatt Fulton (VA), William Fagal (Niles), and Tyler Schultz (Fennville).
Tickets are not required for this free general admission event.
About the director
Rebecca Derbas-Selvidge holds a Bachelor of Music in Choral Education degree from Western Michigan University, a Master of Arts degree from the University of South Florida, and a Certificate of Musical Theatre Performance from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City.
She has performed with various ensembles including Lake Effect Jazz Big Band under the direction of Steven Reed, Gold Company under the direction of Dr. Steve Zegree, WMU Chorale under the direction of Dr. James Bass, and VOICES LMC. She has also performed at the International Association of Jazz Educators conference in Toronto. She has appeared on several albums including WMU Gold Company’s “Who Could Ask for Anything More” and “30”; Tim Hauser’s “Love Stories”; and “Ditties for Kiddies,” a benefit CD for Little Kids Rock.
She was a founding member of the Three Divas of Southwest Michigan with Carrie VanDenburgh and Katherine Rohwer. Derbas-Selvidge is a proud alum of the Lake Michigan College music department, where she received the Steve Sizer Vocal Scholarship, the Outstanding Musician of the Year award, and met her husband, Alan. She is mom to their son, Jack, their crazy dog, Ginger, and spicy cat, Wasabi.
For more information about the LMC Visual & Performing Arts department and performances, visit lakemichigancollege.edu/arts, email [email protected], or call 269-927-8876.
About the Lake Michigan College Music and Theater Programs
Lake Michigan College’s Music and Theater programs allow students to reach new levels of excellence through classroom instruction and public performance. The programs are based in the Lake Michigan College Mendel Center, the only performing arts center of its kind in Southwest Michigan. Here, LMC students can study the performing arts in a venue that attracts thousands of patrons annually. Auditions are held for select ensembles that perform on the same stages as world-renowned touring acts. Students in any major can audition for musicals and plays and join three vocal ensembles, a pop/rock ensemble, and LMC Jazz Band. One of only two colleges in Michigan to carry the prestigious All-Steinway designation, LMC has a team of highly qualified faculty who bring real-world expertise to the classroom and the stage.
Posted September 21, 2026