A Spartan Wish of Joy to the World

At the end of each calendar year, the Michigan State University College of Music enjoys the opportunity to share the talents of its faculty and students through a video in celebration of the holiday season.

In 2022, the MSU Alumni Memorial Chapel is the scene for this exclusive performance by College of Music faculty Justin Emerich, trumpet, and Hae Won Jang, organ. In a whimsical story about joyful—and impromptu—collaborations, a beautiful and snowy scene on campus is the backdrop for a rousing performance of the traditional carol, Joy to the World, with a touch of The First Noel and quotes of two more holiday favorites.

As Emerich plays the piccolo trumpet in expert fashion, Jang commands the great Red Cedar Organ, a magnificent instrument that was unveiled to the public in April 2022. The organ’s creation resulted from a collaboration between the MSU College of Music and Residential Housing and Hospitality Services to replace the Chapel’s original organ.

The custom-build and installation of the organ, officially the “Opus134,” was provided by Létourneau Organs and took nearly 20,000 hours total to design, build, install, and acoustically tune within the Chapel. The two-manual instrument has a large reed chorus and digital 32-foot pedal stops to ensure versatile use and tonality. The pipes range in size from just over 16 feet to the smallest that is shorter than a pencil, and the palette of sounds they make is designed to offer as much flexibility as possible.

The creation of the Red Cedar Organ was made possible by a generous leadership gift from Ed and Wanda Eichler, members of the College of Music National Leadership Council. Additional support from other donors was also important during the multi-year effort.

Recording and production of this video is by MSU College of Music Audio Engineer Jen Shangraw and Director/Producer Michael Sundermann, with Addis Enterprises’ Sommer Young, videography and editing and John Addis, creative director.

Happy Holidays!