About Us
Who We Are
Hark Up seeks to share the message and love of our Lord, Jesus Christ to the community through musical programming and fellowship.
Hark Up is a non-profit 501©3 music and arts ministry that operates on a volunteer basis made possible by Sponsors and Donors just like you! Thanks to your generous donations we are able to continue to share the power of music throughout West Michigan. Please consider donating today. Remember that all gifts are Tax Deductible.
Level 1 – Hark Up Advocate – $120 year / $10 a month
Listing on our website and calenda
2 FREE tickets to the Hark Up Spring Concert
Level 2 – Hark Up Advocate – $300 year / $25 a month
Everything from Level 1 AND::
2 FREE tickets to the Hark Up Spring Concert
Level 3 – Hark Up Champion – $600 Year / $50 a month
Everything from Level 1, 2 AND:
2 FREE PREMIUM tickets to the Hark Up Christmas Show
Level 4 – Hark Up Hero – $1200 year / $100 a month
Everything from Level 1, 2, 3 AND
2 MORE FREE PREMIUM tickets to the Hark Up Christmas Show
Back Stage tour during the Hark Up Christmas Show
Level 5 – Hark Up Super Fan – $3000 year / $250 a month
Everything from Level 1, 2, 3, 4 AND:
A Private 45 minute Concert by a featured Hark Up Soloist
Hark Up is a non-profit 501©3 music and arts ministry
There are many ways to give.
Check: mail to Hark Up Ministries, 800 Monroe, Suite 322, Grand Rapids, Mi 49503
Venmo: @Hark-Up
PayPal: HarkUp@gmail.com
Mighty Cause: Hark Up
Chris Hansen
Executive Director / Founder
“Our passion has been about bringing God honoring artistic events to West Michigan and beyond. We strive to provide opportunities for people of all ages, background and ethnicity to participate using their God given talents to Glorify God. Through this avenue, we aim to mentor those involved, helping to develop their faith and talents toward a biblical centered life in Christ Jesus.”
Hark Up History
The first Hark Up Christmas Show was staged in 1999 at Fair Haven Ministries with about 150 participants. Always searching for a new and interesting way to share the story of Jesus, the show over the years has grown into a multifaceted artistic juggernaut that has included talented Singers, Drama, Visual Art, Light Shows, Children’s Choirs, Dance Troupes, Magicians, and High School Drum Lines along with a large Big Band and 100 Voice multi-generational Choir. Now with over 300 participants, Hark Up is a large community that comes together each December focused on sharing the Love of Christ through the artistic gifts we have to share. About 5000 people attended Hark Up 2018 through 5 performances at the DeVos Center for Arts and Worship at Grand Rapids Christian High School.
Because of the show’s success, Hark Up has grown into a year-round ministry providing uplifting performances all over West Michigan. Musical groups large and small provide positive message based entertainment at over 70 events a year.
The Hark Up Horns Big Band performs at Festivals, Swing Dances, Weddings, Community and Corporate Events, as well as outreach to schools and student groups throughout the area.
Hark Up Worship provides music for Church Services, Special Needs groups as well as Christian Conferences and concerts such as Worship on the Waterfront. We also provide musical support for top touring Christian performers and a Patriotic series of concerts celebrating Veterans in West Michigan.
Production Team
Deb O'Brien
Board of Directors
Chris Hansen
Chris R. Hansen is a native of Greenville, Michigan. Chris graduated from Western Michigan University with degrees in Music Education, Music Theory, and Theatrical Arts. Chris completed his master’s degree in Church Music/Worship Leadership at Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon. After completing his degree, he taught in the areas of drama, worship and music, and served churches in the Portland area. Chris returned to Michigan 19 years ago to continue serving in music ministry. Chris now works as a freelance music arranger for Hansencharts LLC, composer, and is the Music Director for the Day Break Service at Community Reformed Church in Zeeland. In 2007 Chris began Hark Up Ministries with a group of dedicated colleagues to help promote God honoring arts in West Michigan and beyond. Chris is very blessed to have an understanding wife Nancy, and two talented sons, Nathan and Geoffrey. Chris uses his middle initial “R” so he is not confused with that guy from “Dateline”.
Scott Pedersen
Scott Pedersen was born to drum, having played percussion since he was five years old. A native of Chicago, Scott played for six years in a band called Lonesome Soul. In addition to playing with many of the Hark Up Music/Productions ensembles, Scott has been fortunate enough to perform with multiple Grammy & Dove award winning artists such as Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, and Don Moen, to name a few. He can also be seen playing with various local bands and theatre productions. Scott is a financial advisor and partner with Edward Jones Investments. He and his wife Sara live in Holland and are raising four more avid Bears fans!
Jeffrey Cook
Jeffrey is proud member of the Hark Up Horns and a Board member of Hark Up. He is President of Southwestern Oil Company and a partner in Hathaway Properties in Greenville. Jeffrey’s wife Caroline owns and operates Grand Rapids Running Tours. They have two children Anne and Peter. After raising their two children in Greenville, Jeff and Caroline moved to downtown Grand Rapids and love every minute of living there. He thanks his entire family for their support.
Charlie Royce
Charlie Royce studied saxophone at the Interlochen Arts Academy GRCC and Aquinas College. After 30 years He still remains an active performer in the area playing jazz and popular music with several groups. He is also a regular participant with Hark Up Music/ Productions ensembles. Not only has he played since the first show in 1999, but the name “Hark Up” is a product of his creativity, wit and humor. He and his wife Angie are the parents of two children. He is the President of Royce Rolls Ringer Company and director/manager of the musical groups Shimmie Pearl, the Moodswings and The Downtown Horns.
Dave Tanis
David Tanis graduated from GRCC with a major in music. He plays as often as he can in various groups and churches. Dave owns and operates Tanis Trucking in Jenison. He has played with Hark Up since the first show in 1999. Hark Up would also like to thank Dave for his help in storing Hark Up gear, transporting it and for providing space for the creation of the Christmas Show Sets.
Ed Dublis
Ed Dublis studied music at Brooklyn College. He played several Broadway shows including Fiddler On the Roof, Cats, and The Fantastics. He also conducted Shenandoah at Lincoln Center (Damrosch Park). Ed presently plays with the Jazz Quartet “Mood Swings”, the Hark Up Horns and on occasion, if bribed and anonymity is guaranteed, will play the accordion. Ed is a financial advisor and owns Diversified Financial Concepts.
FEATURED MUSICIANS
Lead Trumpet / Band Manager
Jeff Ayres
Trumpet
Mike Truszkowski
Hammond Organ
Chris Moberley
Lead Saxophone
Gary McCourry
Solo Saxophone
James Hayward
Woodwinds
Dana Lasswell
Dana Laswell is a Muskegon High School and Western Michigan University graduate, earning a bachelors degree in Music Education. He’s played soprano, alto, tenor and baritone Saxes for Hark Up. In 1984 he auditioned and was accepted in the United States Navy Band where he traveled and lived worldwide performing in every continent except Iceland. After retirement in 2004, he auditioned and was accepted as a show band woodwinds musician for Carnival Cruise Lines where he traveled the Pacific and the Caribbean for the next six years. He played his last cruise in Apr 2010. An active performer in the area, Dana subs with numerous bands playing any musical style from big band jazz to classical.
Trombone
Joe Mason
Trombone
Aaron Hettinga
Bass Guitar
Andy Hathaway
Electric Guitar
Don Hooker
Saxophones
Nate Hansen
Nate Hansen can be found performing both freelance and with bands, The Soul Syndicate, and Melophobix. He and brother Geoff Hansen have performed as support for national touring acts such as Bad Fish, Lucky Chops, Here Come The Mummies, The Verve Pipe, Rusted Root, Sublime w/ Rome, Gabrial McNair, and The Wailers. Nate graduated from GVSU with a degree in Computer Science and also acts as the HarkUp.com webmaster.
Hanstech.io
ig: @natechansen
Featured VocalistS
Geoffrey Hansen
Geoffrey Hansen is a recent graduate of Western Michigan University with a major in Vocal Music Education. While studying at WMU, Geoff was a member of the Gold Company program where he had the opportunity to work with musicians like Steve Zegree, Duane Davis and Peter Eldridge. Geoff started participating in Hark Up in the late 90’s and has been involved as much as possible ever since. He would like to thank his family for all of their support and the many people who have helped him in his musical and spiritual journey. He is in his third year of teaching in the Covert School System.
Breighanna Minnema
Breighanna is very blessed to be taking on a leadership role with Hark Up this year. Born and raised in Grand Rapids, she graduated from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. Breighanna is signed with The Mine Agency NYC and has performed in various shows on the East Coast, her favorite being the Regional Tour of Nice Work If You Can Get It as Eileen Evergreen featured alongside Sally Struthers and Valerie Harper. Breighanna spent over two years singing, dancing, and traveling around the world as a Lead Vocalist for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. However, she is no stranger to the West Michigan stage. She was featured recently as Sophie in Mamma Mia and Elle Woods in Legally Blonde at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, Pickles in Great American Trailer Park Musical at Circle Theatre as well as multiple performances during high school at GRCHS.
Joy Nienhuis
Joy Nienhuis lives in Rockford with her husband Aaron and four children, Riley, Carlie Molly and Avery. She is employed as the office manager at Rising Starz Gymnastics. She participates in the music ministry at Bridgeway Community Church and also sings with BPOP (Big Band of Praise). Joy is thankful to God for the opportunities to return the gift of music He has given her. She is also thankful for the love and support of her family and friends.
Angie Royce
Angie Royce discovered singing in her early teens. She has been part of Hark Up since it’s early beginnings in 2000. Besides being a regular with the Big Band swinging on the occasional Tuesday night for GROSS, she also sings with Shimmie Pearl, a band that covers a great mix of music from the 70’s and 80’s and Mood Swings, a jazz combo. She is really excited to see how God continues to use music to touch our hearts and speak to us in ways that don’t always need words.
Shannon Dykstra is no stranger to Hark Up. She attended the very first Hark Up Christmas program in 1999 never knowing that 4 short years later she would be on the same stage with some of the most talented and amazing musicians in the area. Now, 15 years later, she considers herself fortunate to continue the Hark Up tradition and is very thankful for the support of her family year after year. Shannon has also been a part of “Cabaret” which takes place in Allegan every spring and benefits the Wings of Hope Hospice. Shannon resides in Dorr with her husband Jody and her three children Sydney, Jesse, and Ryley.
Find Us On Social Media
Follow us on Social Media to stay up to date with information about upcoming shows, pictures and videos from past events, sponsor information along with special Hark Up discounts, and insider facts and features about members of the Hark Up Community. If you would like to subscribe to our email list, click the button below