Music By Me - Piano Camp

Grand Rapids, MI

Hosted by the Birchard Piano Studio this four day piano camp teaches the basic elements of music composition, including melody, harmony, form, and color. Each student leaves the camp with a unique piece of music, written by them!

piano camp 2021

"Visceral" - NOAH Conference 2020

Your device - Anywhere
Visceral Poster

Visceral - Transforming Trauma Through Theatre

"The invisible scars of PTS are embedded viscerally – deep in the tissues of their bodies’ system and begin to affect every aspect of their existence, leading to damaged relationships and shattering hopes for a meaningful life." 

REGISTER FOR THE NOAH CONFERENCE

This feature-length documentary follows Carissa, Jon, Etiene and Charlie, who are living with the impact of complex post-traumatic stress (PTS). They discover that rage, isolation, physical pain, substance abuse, and poor mental health caused by PTS rob them of their health and their will to live. But when they perform in musicals, dramatic theatre and Shakespeare productions, they recapture their vital life force.

Original Score by Rena Poling

Christmas "Concert of Love"

Trinity Baptist Church, Grand Rapids MI

Premiere of original arrangement of "Oh Thou Joyful, Oh Thou Wonderful"

Oh Thou Joyful

Piano accompaniment for "Mary Did You Know"

handbells christmas 2019

"We Three Kings" for Handbell Choir

Public Lecture - “Insight into Modern Composers”

Calvin University, Grand Rapids MI

Part of Knollcrest Music Camp's Afternoon Assembly Series

An exploration and discussion on the composers George Crumb, Meredith Monk, Steve Reich and Kristin Kuster.

Giver of Rest - Premiere

Trinity Baptist Church, Grand Rapids MI

Premiere vocal/piano solo performance of original song, "Giver of Rest." Words by J. Epo, Music by Rena Poling.

Richard & Rena - Festival of the Arts

Grand Rapids Art Museum - Grand Rapids, MI

fota2019

Program

"Book of Hours" by Rena Poling

    I.  Matins

   II.  Lauds

Deanna Birchard (piano)

Deanna and Rena

Midnight Idyll by Richard Cerchia

Christy Thompson-Kliewer (flute)

Thomas Moss (piano)

 

"Go and Do Good Things" by Rena Poling

I. Passive

II. Active

Grace Kim, Christopher Martin (violins)

Leslie Van Becker (viola)

Will Preece (cello)

Edward Clifford (flute)

fota2019 gadgt

"Waltz/Nocturne" by Richard Cerchia

Thomas Moss (piano)

 

"Henry’s Song" by Rena Poling

Jon Karnes, Phil Bajema (trumpets) 

Lisa Honeycutt (french horn) 

Paul Keen (trombone) 

Matt Palmieri (tuba) 

fota2019 henrys song

"Three Hymns from the Sea" by Richard Cerchia

Jon Karnes (trumpet)

Lisa Honeycutt (french horn)

Paul Keen (trombone)

Living Room Concert

Grand Rapids, MI

Living Room Concert at the Martins' home

Balance

"Serpent's Serpent" by Michael Malis

Michael Malis (Piano)

Marcus Elliot (Saxophone)

 

"Five Stations" by Michael Malis

Michael Malis (Piano)

Marcus Elliot (Saxophone)

Grace Kim, Christopher Martin (violins)

Leslie Van Becker (viola)

Will Preece (cello)

 

"Go and Do Good Things" by Rena Poling

Grace Kim, Christopher Martin (violins)

Leslie Van Becker (viola)

Will Preece (cello)

Edward Clifford (flute)

Go and Do Good Things June 2019

Birchard Piano Studio Recital

West Michigan Piano - Grand Rapids, MI

Three back to back recitals, each featuring the newly commissioned piano work for Deanna Birchard, "Lauds." This event will also include performances of "Dance for a Clock Tower" written by Rena Poling.

Christmas Eve Service

Trinity Baptist Church - Grand Rapids, MI

Christmas Eve 2018

Candle light service featuring carols, hymns and a few specials, including "Of the Fathers Love Begotten" and "Arise, Shine," arranged and by Rena Poling.

 

"Of the Father Love Begotten" for voice and piano

Performed by Rena Poling

 

"Arise Shine" for six female voices

Performed by Deanna Birchard, Ami Boomsma, Christy DeMann, Christy Hurd, Andrea Pfaff, Rena Poling

"Arise Shine" premiere

Trinity Baptist Church - Grand Rapids, MI

Harc

"Arise Shine" for six female voices, arranged by Rena Poling. Original song by Harc.

"Ride! Ride!" Dinner Theater

Blythefield Hills Baptist Church - Rockford, MI

Ride Ride

November 8-11. Original music by Penelope Thwaites. Orchestrations for strings and woodwinds by Rena Poling.

CCC - New Music Concert

CCC - New Music Concert
Trinity Baptist Church, Grand Rapids MI

CCC New Music Concert 2018

Modern classical music by Grand Rapids based composers. Featuring:

Richard Cerchia - "Midnight Idyll" for flute and piano, "Waltz/Nocturn" for solo piano

Rena Poling - "Henry's Song" for brass quintet, "Dance for a Clock Tower" for solo piano, "3 Themes for Short Films" for violin and piano

Dr. Gaylord Taylor - "Jesus, Why is it So?" "This Brief Day," "Outside of Christ," and "Destined," for voice and piano

Henrys Song CCC concert

"Henry's Song" For brass quintet

Micah Stoddard (trpt. 1)
George Mackellar (trpt. 2)
Anna Joy Morris (f. hrn)
Matt George (trbn.)
Mark Taylor (tuba)

"Dance for a Clock Tower" For solo piano

Deanna Birchard (pno.)

3 themes for short film CCC concert

"3 Themes from Short Films" For violin and piano

Deanna Birchard (pno.)

Whitney Newberry (vln.)

Brought to you by the Christian Creative Circle

Story Cafe - Saturday Market

Story Cafe - Saturday Market
10am-2pm
Grand Rapids, MI
Story Cafe March 2018

Open house style open-mic. Solo Piano performance of "Simple Bird" by Rena Poling.

Quinn and Tuites - Open Mic

Quinn and Tuites - Open Mic
Grand Rapids, MI

Performing original songs. Nicholas Leimgruber on vocals, Rena Poling accompanying on keyboard.

Summer Vocal Recital

Blythefield Christian Reformed Church, Rockford MI

"Strange" for voice and piano
Emily Page (alto)

Joyce Kash (pno.) 

Kava Kasa - Song Debut

Kava Kasa - Song Debut
Grand Rapids, MI

Nicholas Leimgruber on vocals, Rena Poling accompanying on keyboard

Converge - New Music Collective

Converge - New Music Collective
Ann Arbor, MI

flute quintet
Performance in the Kevreson Recital Hall, at the Earl V. Moore Building of the University of Michigan. Featuring "Go and Do Good Things" for Flute Quintet.

Christian Creative Circle

Christian Creative Circle
Trinity Baptist Church, Grand Rapids, MI

ccc art show 2015

Classical and original music, brought to you by the Christian Creative Circle; Snacks and small gallery browsing to start and follow the concert.

Program:

Rena Poling - Sintel Theme (Anna Veldkamp, vln. Rena Poling, pno.)

Maurice Ravel - Sonatine, Movement 1 (Rena Poling, pno.)

Lindsey Stirling - Master of the Tide (Anna Veldkamp vln.)

Marilynn Ham - Children's Medley (Erika Spykman, pno.)

Dr. Gaylord Taylor - Four Songs (Mark Taylor, Tenor)

All He's Done, Sands O' Dee, Prayer of Martin Luther, The Shadow of the Cross

 

Wedding Music - Molly and Shane Hall

Wedding Music - Molly and Shane Hall
Grand Rapids, MI

hall wedding 2015

A few original arrangements for piano and cello, celebrating the union of some great friends.