Lange Choral Ensemble: ‘The Story & Promise of Christmas’

In 2023, Stephen R. Lange, the longtime organist, choir director and minister of music at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and leader of the Lange Choral Ensemble, died at age 76. After a tribute concert in May of that year, members of Lange’s Choral Ensemble continued to sing together as Riverbend Voices under the direction of tenor L. Harrison Brown.

However, come Sunday, the group will be back in full gear under its original moniker, with Lange’s wife, Nancy Lange, at the helm.

Nancy and Stephen met in the 1960s at Michigan State University. Together, they earned six degrees from the school, five in music. After her husband’s death, Nancy established a music scholarship for organ and voice students in his honor.

“She is a very accomplished musician and teacher,” ensemble member Martie Repaskey said. “She was the choral director for Grand Ledge High School for 37 years, and she was, at one time, even named the Music Teacher of the Year in Michigan. She’s had a lot of experience, put on I don’t know how many shows, plays, musicals over all those years.”

Nancy, who sang with the group and helped direct during her husband’s nearly 50-year tenure as leader, said she wasn’t ready to take over after his death. By the time Brown resigned earlier this year, however, her feelings had changed.

“It seemed right for me to do it, and I have had a ball,” she said. “They are so responsive and talented, and we just have a great time in rehearsal.”

Sunday’s concert will be Christmas themed, featuring works by Bach, John Rutter, Benjamin Britten, Ola Gjeilo, Dan Forrest, Moses Hogan and beyond.

“The first half tells the story from the idea of the angels and the shepherds and the kings. My favorite piece is called “The Shepherd’s Carol,” because we don’t have any record of the shepherds talking to Mary, and this poetry is that. And the music is just amazing,” Nancy said. “The second part is that we rejoice in the story through music, through dance, through sharing brotherhood.”

The 33-member ensemble will be joined by organist Deidreanna Potter, clarinetist Elizabeth Rodeck, violinists Fangye Sun (of the Lansing Symphony) and Ching-Wen Tseng, violist Takeshi Abo, cellist Daniel Tressel and organist/pianist Stephanie Gewirtz.

“I’m using strings on a piece by Bach, ‘Gloria.’ We’re doing harp for six of the numbers and two pieces of clarinet with the harp,” Nancy said.

Repaskey, who noted that Nancy already has the program picked out for the ensemble’s spring concert, said working with the “new” director has been “a joy.”

“It’s wonderful singing under her leadership. She’s a very joyful person, and very accomplished, so she’s really getting good results out of the work she’s doing with us,” Repaskey said. “We’re very, very happy to be singing with her and with each other. And we’re really excited about this concert. It’s a rich program full of really good Christmas music.”