| 2007 Festivals : Wesley Choral Festival |
Proceeds from the concert benefit
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Music Celebrations Presents
2007 Wesley Choral Festival
Avery Fisher Hall, New York City
February 15-19, 2007
Celebrating the Charles Wesley Tercentenary
Charles Wesley Tercentenary Festival Chorus
New Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra
Eph Ehly, conductor
James Ramsey, conductor
Tim Koch, conductor
Joe Damon Chappel, bass-baritone
Stephanie Gregory, soprano
Rev. David Money, narrator
G.F. Handel (1685-1759)
"Sing Unto God" from Judas Maccabeus
Felix Mendelssohn (1809-1847)
"He Watching Over Israel" from Elijah
Mr. Ramsey
W.A. Mozart (1756-1791)
"Laudate Dominum" from Solemn Vespers
Ms. Gregory
Johannes Brahms (1833-1897)
"How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place" from Requiem
Mr. Koch
Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924)
"Libera Me" from Requiem
Mr. Chappel
Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
"Antiphon" from Five Mystical Songs
Mr. Ramsey
Jane Marshall (b. 1924)
Awake, My Heart
Randall Thompson (1899-1984)
Alleluia
Carlton Young (b. 1926)
Prayer for Peace
Mr. Koch
Moses Hogan (1957-2003)
Battle of Jericho
Charles Wesley; arr. Mack Wilberg (b. 1955)
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
Mr. Ramsey
INTERMISSION
Andrew Fowler (b. 1954)
Directions for Singing
Preface
Learn These Tunes
Sing Exactly
Sing All
Sing Lustily
Sing Modestly
Sing in Time
Sing Spiritually
Dr. Ehly
Mr. Chappel
Ms. Gregory
Rev. Money
World Premiere
Commissioned by St. Luke's United Methodist Church, Highlands Ranch, Colorado in honor of the 300th anniversary of Charles Wesley's birth.
Bishop Warner Brown of the United Methodist Church Rocky Mountain Conference will provide opening remarks.
Notes on the program
The opportunity to write a celebratory work to culminate the 2007 Wesley Choral Festival led me the United Methodist Hymnal, where John Wesley's Directions for Singing is found before the first hymn, Charles Wesley's "O For a Thousand Tongues to Sing." These "Directions for Singing" are seven aphorisms, all timeless gems of the spirit of hymn singing, and in them I realized the inherent potential for a large musical structure. By introducing the dramatic personae of John Wesley, I found a vehicle by which to frame a narrative, and pay homage to the genius of Charles Wesley and the historic tradition that attends his hymns.
My Directions for Singing begins with a "Preface," a multi-meter, propulsive setting of a hymn tune from the Foundry Collection of 1742, set to the Wesley lyric "Praise the Lord Who Reigns Above". After this, the character of John Wesley begins his introduction to each "Direction for Singing," with each instruction followed by a musical treatment reflecting its meaning. The first, "Learn These Tunes," is a hymn medley of four Wesley hymns with audience participation. The second, "Sing Exactly," is actually contrary to Wesley's maxim, as the text for this second direction, "Come, Sinners, to the Gospel Feast" is given a slow jazz "bop" feel, and the baritone solo and chorus deliver Charles's message in an African-American gospel style. Next, "Sing All," is another hymn medley featuring three more familiar Wesley hymns.
The fourth direction, "Sing Lustily," is an exuberant treatment of "Blow Ye the Trumpet, Blow." This movement, cast in an ABA form, uses thematic material in the A section for the middle section's fugue. "Sing Modestly," the next movement, is an original "adagio" featuring soprano and chorus. A brief quotation from the hymn "And Can It Be" leads to the dramatic codetta. The sixth aphorism, "Sing In Time," uses the hymn "Come, Let Us Use the Grace Divine," employing various contrapuntal techniques in a rigorously steady tempo.
The last direction, "Sing Spiritually," opens with an expansive chorale-like melody to set the extraordinary lyrics of "Jesus, Lover of My Soul." In its opening section, both baritone and soprano soloists are featured with the chorus. The last section of "Sing Spiritually" brings the soloists together in a duet as the chorus supports, and then finally joins them in a final climactic statement. The final lines capture the beauty of Charles Wesley's synergetic lyrical and spiritual gift, as the soloists and chorus conclude the Festival to these words: "Thou of life the fountain art, freely let me take of thee; spring thou up within my heart; rise to all eternity." -- Andrew Fowler
A Message from the Concert Beneficiaries
Landmines put life on hold.
Then there's UMCOR.
De-mine Angola with UMCOR.
Dear Patron, thank you for being here tonight. Your ticket purchase is benefiting United Methodist Committee on Relief. UMCOR's landmine removal program continues in Angola with your support this evening.
As long as landmines litter the Angolan countryside, life is on hold. This war-torn country is thought to be the most heavily mined in the world. Estimates range from 1 to 8 million mines scattered across an area about the size of Texas.
Landmines steal limbs, lives, and livelihoods. They prevent people displaced by war from returning to their villages, keep children from going to school, and prevent farmers from safely planting their fields. They put life on hold.
UMCOR is using lessons learned from its de-mining work in Mozambique to help the Angolan government train its own de-mining teams. UMCOR is also teaching mine awareness to prevent further fatalities from these hidden explosives.
The children, women and men of Angola are eager to go home to their villages, schools and fields. Thank you for your partnership with UMCOR to assure they can take their lives off hold.
Learn More
- Back home, help eradicate landmines in Angola by giving to UMCOR Advance #982575, Landmine Removal.
- Visit online at UMCOR.org.
- Contact us: 475 Riverside Dr., Room 330, New York, NY 10115. Toll free: 800-554-8583.
Meet the Artists
Joe Damon Chappel
Bass-Baritone Joe Damon Chappel is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music where he was a William Warfield Scholar and had many solo credits with the Eastman Chorale and the Eastman Opera Theater. His career has demonstrated proficiency in a wide range of musical genres, from early music to opera and musical theater. Mr. Chappel is the principal bass soloist with Bach Vespers at Holy Trinity (NYC) and is a founding member of the Tiffany Consort. The New York Times hails Mr. Chappel as a "warm bass anchor…" In October 2004, he sang his first Verdi Requiem with the South Carolina Philharmonic, Nicholas Smith, conductor. The State of Columbia, SC wrote "Chappel's 'Mors Stupebit' kept the audience hanging on every breathy syllable, filling the hall with his strength even in the softest moments." Subsequently, Maestro Smith invited him to a repeat performance of the Requiem in Manchester, UK.
Equally at home on the opera stage, Mr. Chappel has performed the roles of Figaro (Le Nozze di Figaro), Mustafa (L'Italiana in Algieri), Frere Laurent (Romeo et Juliette), Mr. Gobineau (The Medium), Giove (La Calisto), Angelotti (Tosca), Sparafucile and Monterone (Rigoletto) in productions by Rockland Opera, One World Symphony, Dicapo Opera, the American Singers' Opera Project, New Hampshire Opera, Connecticut Grand Opera, and the Bollington Festival, Manchester, UK. In addition to being a specialist in the performance of Bach's sacred cantatas, he recently sang in Phoebus und Pan and the Coffee and Peasant cantatas at the lunchtime concert series of Trinity Church Wall Street. In musical theater, he has performed roles in A Band of Angels and The Orphan Singer, the two most recent children's musicals created by Making Books Sing. This spring, Mr. Chappel also returns to the South Carolina Philharmonic as soloist in a performance of Sir William Walton's Belshazzar's Feast.
Stephanie Gregory, Soprano
The Hartford Courant hailed Mississippi native Stephanie Gregory as "a young artist of rare distinction". Ms Gregory received a Master's of Music degree in Opera Performance, an Artist's Diploma from Yale University, and a Bachelor's of Music Education degree specializing in piano and choral conducting from the University of Southern Mississippi.
Ms. Gregory has just been featured in the roles of Micaela in Missouri and South Carolina as well as Musetta with the Opera Theater of Connecticut. In 2005, she performed the celebrated role of Violetta in La Traviata with the New Opera Festival di Roma, in Rome Italy. In 2004, she completed a concert tour of South America with the Yale Alumni Chorus, where she was the featured soprano soloist in Rossini's Stabat Mater. During the tour, Ms. Gregory made her debut in the celebrated Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires with the Orquesta Filarmônica de Buenos Aires.
The young soprano, with "a crystalline emotive voice" (Connecticut Post) was named the 2001 "American Jenny Lind" and was awarded an extensive recital tour of Sweden. Recent operatic roles have included Musetta in La Bohème, Lucia in The Rape of Lucretia, Nannetta in Falstaff, and Brigitta in Tchaikovsky's Iolanta.
Currently residing in New Haven, Connecticut, Ms. Gregory has been featured as a soprano soloist with the Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira, Orquesta Clásica, Orquestra Sinfônica da Bahia, the Hartford Symphony, the Bridgeport Symphony, and the Mississippi Symphony. After performing the Verdi Requiem with the South Carolina Symphony, she was described as having "a clean, beautiful voice that is contained in a remarkably sensitive human being" (The Free Times). Upcoming engagements include Mimi in La Boheme with the Missouri Symphony and Mississippi Opera.
Eph Ehly, Conductor
One of America's most revered choral conductors and current director of the University of Oklahoma University Chorale, Dr. Eph Ehly is Professor Emeritus at the Conservatory of Music, University of Missouri-Kansas City, where he taught for twenty-seven years. Dr. Ehly's awards for outstanding musicianship include the Luther Spade Choral Director of the Year Award and the Amoco Foundation Outstanding Teaching Award. Ehly is the author of a popular book, "Hogey's Journey" published by Heritage Press, which is receiving rave reviews for its "inspired passion for musical excellence, mature wisdom and transcendent appeal."
In 2006, Dr. Ehly conducted Jubilate Mozart!, a choral festival commemorating the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth with concerts in the Salzburg Dom and Vienna's Votivkirche. Later this year, Dr. Ehly will conduct the inaugural Lucerne International Choral Festival at the KKL Concert Hall. Dr. Ehly guest conducts at Carnegie Hall several times each year and in all has conducted over 80 all-state choirs and over 500 festival ensembles. As a lecturer, clinician and conductor, he has appeared in 48 states, Canada, Brazil, Japan, Mexico, several countries throughout Europe and presented on more than 100 college and university campuses.
Dr. Ehly received his Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the University of Colorado-Boulder, his Master of Music degree from George Peabody College, Nashville, Tennessee, and his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Nebraska-Kearney.
James Ramsey, Conductor
James Ramsey is Director of Worship and Arts at St. Luke's United Methodist Church where he leads a thriving 350-member Music and Drama Ministry program. In addition, he is Music Director and Conductor of the seventy-voice Littleton Chorale and a Music Education Outreach clinician for Opera Colorado. As Assistant Conductor of the Grammy award-winning San Francisco Symphony Chorus, James has worked with Director Vance George and enjoyed preparing the chorus for several maestros including Michael Tilson Thomas, Sir Roger Norrington and Libor Pesek. Ramsey has also worked with the General Board of Higher Education in the Methodist Church for over 10 years serving as Music Director for the United Methodist Student Movement and the Exploration '98 conference.
Mr. Ramsey is a candidate for the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Choral Literature and Performance at the University of Colorado, Boulder, studying with Joan Conlon, earned a Master's of Music degree in Conducting from the Eastman School of Music with Donald Neuen and a Bachelor's of Music degree in Education at Middle Tennessee State University. Honors include the Bakker Conducting Award at Eastman and the Freelyn Jeffers Conducting Award at CU. James resides in Littleton with his wife, Leigh, their five-year old son, Jack, and almost three-year old son, Luke. Family day is his favorite day of the week.
Tim Koch, Conductor
Tim Koch is currently serving his seventh season as Music Director and Conductor of the Carolina Master Chorale. Dr. Koch has led the chorale in performances of Bizet's Carmen, the Mozart and Brahms Requiems, Mendelssohn's Elijah, and Beethoven's Mass in C, and has prepared the Chorale for performances of Verdi's Requiem and Stabat Mater, Schoenberg's Survivor from Warsaw, and others. Under his direction, the Carolina Master Chorale has collaborated with the Long Bay Symphony and South Carolina Philharmonic Orchestras, conductors Charles Jones Evans, Nicholas Smith, Donald Neuen, and Robert Page, Viennese baritone, Benno Schollum, and internationally-renowned mezzo-soprano Kirstin Chavez.
Dr. Koch holds degrees from Illinois Wesleyan University and the University of Illinois and the Doctor of Musical Arts from the Eastman School of Music. He has taught on the faculties of the Eastman School of Music and the University of Southern Mississippi, where he was chosen as the sole USM recipient of the Mississippi legislature's HEADWAE award in 1998. Dr. Koch is married to Myrtle Beach native and CMC member, Jo Nell (Brown) Koch and serves the community as the Music Director of First United Methodist Church, Myrtle Beach.
Andrew Fowler, Composer
Andrew Fowler, pianist and composer-in-residence for the Carolina Master Chorale, is a native of Myrtle Beach. He received the M.M. and B.A. degrees from the University of South Carolina, and the Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin.
As composer-in-residence for the Carolina Master Chorale, Dr. Fowler has collaborated with CMC director Timothy Koch on six world premieres, including the cycle Songs of Travel, written for the Chorale's 2005 tour of Denmark, Germany and the Czech Republic. His choral compositions have been published by Abingdon Press and his articles on nineteenth-century piano music have appeared in various music journals.
Dr. Fowler has served as Director of Choral Activities at Auburn University at Montgomery and Cornell College, in Mount Vernon, Iowa, as well as on the faculties of the University of North Texas and the University of Texas at Austin, where he taught theory, history, and counterpoint. Currently, Dr. Fowler is the Director of Music for the Trinity United Methodist Church of Conway, S.C.
Reverend David R. Money, Narrator
Rev. David Money has served a part-time appointment as an Associate Pastor at St. Luke's UMC in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, for five years. He has a particular interest in the life and writings of John Wesley and enjoys portraying the founder of Methodism from the pulpit. To support his Wesleyan habits, Rev. Money works at First Data Corporation, a global processor of electronic payment transactions, where he currently serves as General Counsel. Dave's dramatic training comes exclusively from ten years as a trial lawyer. Directions for Singing will be his New York debut and he thanks wife Jana, and their daughters Andrea and Erica, for their unwavering love and support.
New Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra
Founded in New York City in 1976 by six musicians, the New Amsterdam Symphony Orchestra (NASO) has grown to include over 75 players who are a combination of professional, semi-professional, and accomplished avocational players. NASO's membership has been consistently diverse and includes men and women of all ages and ethnic, racial, and professional backgrounds. The primary goal of NASO is to seek out and showcase outstanding musical talent and provide them with the much-coveted opportunity to perform with a symphony orchestra in New York City. NASO has performed over 120 concerts in a range of venues including Carnegie Hall, Alice Tully Hall, Symphony Space, Riverside Church, and The Cathedral of St. John the Divine.
Since 1976, NASO concerts have featured emerging conductors and soloists and world premieres of works by young American composers. NASO has also presented many outstanding soloists in the beginning stages of their careers. Currently the Principal Conductor of NASO is Jonathan Schiffman, who is also Assistant Conductor of the Orchestre de France and the Budapest Festival Orchestra. Teresa Cheung and Viswa Subbaraman are guest conductors for the 2006-2007 season.
Applewood Valley United Methodist Church Choir
Golden, Colorado - Scott Finlay, director
Applewood Valley United Methodist Church in Golden, Colorado, has had a strong music program since its beginning. This well-rounded program includes children's choir, bell choir and chancel choir. For the last five years, under the direction of Scott Finlay, the church has graciously invited guests to perform with the choir, as well as on the AVUMC concert series held every May. The music program is well-supported by the church and the choir consistently fills the loft on Sunday mornings with an average of 25 voices.
A native of Louisiana, Scott Finlay earned his Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and his Master's Degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Louisiana at Monroe (formerly Northeast Louisiana University). Prior to becoming the Executive Director for Colorado Youth Symphony Orchestras, he was the Assistant to the Director of Development for the College of Music at the University of Colorado at Boulder as part of the University of Colorado Foundation. Mr. Finlay has been Director of Musical Activities at Applewood Valley United Methodist Church in Golden, Colorado since May of 2001.
Buncombe Street United Methodist Church Chancel Choir
Greenville, South Carolina - Billy Fallaw, director
Founded over 50 years ago, the Buncombe Street Chancel Choir is dedicated to enhancing the life of its church and community through music. This 40-voice choir provides choral music and leadership at two worship services weekly. Volunteers comprise the majority of the ensemble, augmented by four Furman University music students welcomed as choral scholars.
The Chancel Choir has performed major choral works with members of the Greenville Symphony, and in December 2004, performed Amahl and the Night Visitors for the community in Gunter Theater at the Peace Center for the Performing Arts. This was the choir's first performance outside of the church, and it was followed by participating in a choral festival as part of Artisphere, a celebration of the arts in downtown Greenville in May 2005. The Charles Wesley Tercentenary Choral Festival is Buncombe Street's first performance outside of South Carolina.
Billy Fallaw has held the position of Director of Music and Arts and Principal Organist at Buncombe Street since May 1, 2004. He holds degrees from Winthrop University and Converse College and is the Sub-Dean of the Greenville, S.C. chapter of the American Guild of Organists. Mr. Fallaw sung with the Carnegie Hall Festival Chorus and worked with Robert Shaw, Sir Neville Mariner, Andre Previn, and Helmut Rilling. Additionally, Mr. Fallaw has performed on historical keyboards throughout Germany, Italy, and Austria and was a chorister-in-residence at both St. David's Cathedral in Wales and the Washington National Cathedral.
Carolina Master Chorale
Myrtle Beach, South Carolina - Tim Koch, director
The Carolina Master Chorale, under the direction of Tim Koch, is proud to present its 23rd season. The Master Chorale has provided the Grand Strand with outstanding choral performances since 1983, advancing its mission to present professional quality performances of choral masterworks in concert, while nurturing and elevating the cultural climate of Myrtle Beach and the surrounding region. Chorale members bring diverse musical backgrounds from all parts of the Grand Strand and together support music education for future audiences and musicians through outreach concerts and sponsorship of the Carolina Youth Chorale. The Chorale has toured Europe four times, performing at major venues and festivals in Scotland, England, Wales, Denmark, Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, and, Italy.
The First United Methodist Church Wesley Chancel Choir leads a dynamic music program of fully-graded singing and bell choirs directed by a staff of six professional musicians. Located two blocks from the Atlantic Ocean in downtown Myrtle Beach, First Church features a dynamic congregation of 1800 members, four ordained ministers, two campuses, a weekly television ministry, and a deep commitment to local, national, and international missions.
Detroit Conference Invitational Choir
Waterford, Michigan - Sara L. Hazen and Matthew J. Packer, co-directors
The Detroit Annual Conference (Jonathan D. Keaton, Presiding Bishop) Invitational Choir is a recently formed ensemble that was specifically created in order to participate in the 2007 Wesley Festival. Comprised of singers from throughout the state of Michigan, they have gathered for rehearsal at sites all over the state in order to prepare for this concert. The Invitational Choir is co-directed by the 2006 Conference Organist, Ms. Sara L. Hazen, and Conference Choir Director, Dr. Matthew J. Packer. The Invitational Choir plans to take advantage of future touring and performing opportunities.
Sara L. Hazen, Co-Director of the Detroit Annual Conference Invitational Choir, also serves as the Director of Music at Waterford Central UMC, where she is the organist and director of six ensembles: the Chancel Choir, three bell choirs, the Youth Choir, and the Salt Shakers praise band. At DePauw University, Ms. Hazen studied piano while earning her Bachelor's degree. She earned a Master's of Music degree from the University of Michigan while studying organ and carillon. Ms. Hazen has twice served the Detroit Annual Conference as the annual session organist, and is on the executive board of the Detroit Annual Conference chapter of The Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts.
Matthew J. Packer, Co-Director of the Detroit Annual Conference Invitational Choir, currently directs the Centrum Choir, Chapel Bells and Cross Voices for Flushing United Methodist Church and teaches part-time in the Music Department at the University of Michigan-Flint. Dr. Packer holds a Bachelor's and Master's degree in Music Education from Central Michigan University, has completed coursework for the Diaconal Ministry at the Methodist Theological School in Ohio, and in 2004 graduated with a Doctor of Worship Studies degree from the Institute for Worship Studies in Orange Park, Florida. Active in The Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts, Dr. Packer currently serves on the Editorial Board for Worship Arts Magazine, to which he is a frequent contributor. Dr. Packer has published an article and several compositions in Church Music Workshop through Abingdon Press.
Lancaster United Methodist Church
Lancaster, California - Ralph Williams, director
Lancaster United Methodist Church was founded around 1884. The church's choir has been in existence for at least 80 years and is a mixed group of schoolteachers, homemakers, aerospace engineers and rocket scientists. Lancaster is located in the southwest corner of the Mojave Desert, near where space shuttles were built for NASA. There are currently about 40 choir members, many of whom are participating in the Charles Wesley Tercentenary Choral Festival. The church has an active music community including an adult choir and a handbell choir, and often performs with orchestras in the community.
Ralph Williams is in his seventh year as Director of Music at Lancaster United Methodist Church. Mr. Williams is a graduate of California State University - Northridge, where he studied conducting with John Alexander, and voice with Larry Jarvis. His vocal experience includes several years with the Roger Wagner Chorale and the Los Angeles Master Chorale.
Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church Chancel Choir
St. George, Utah - Amy Seifert, director
The Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church Chancel Choir has been a fixture in the Sunday worship services for over 10 years. The choir was formed in 1996 when the church was meeting in the Comfort Suites Hotel. Rehearsals were held in choir members' homes, a practice which continued until the church building was completed in September 2001.
Since February 2002, the choir has been under the direction of Amy Seifert. Besides providing special music for the weekly Sunday worship services, the choir also sings at special events such as the Inter-Faith Community Outreach Expo and the St. George Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Temple Visitor's Center Concert Series at the St. George LDS Tabernacle.
Amy Seifert received a Bachelor's of Music Education Degree with an emphasis in piano and voice at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas. Now entering her sixth year as Music Director of Shepherd of the Hills United Methodist Church, she previously served churches in Kansas, Minnesota and Missouri. Ms. Seifert is also the accompanist for the Master Singers Men Chorale in St. George, Utah.
St. Luke's United Methodist Church
Highlands Ranch, Colorado - James Ramsey, director
Celebrating their 25th anniversary in 2008, St. Luke's has become a vibrant Christian community located in the South Metro Denver area with over 350 members in the Music and Drama Ministries. The Music Ministry, led by James Ramsey since 1999, is a diverse program that allows for the expression of musical talents and gifts through nearly twenty different vocal and instrumental ensembles for all age groups. The Chancel Choir not only performs during Sunday morning services throughout the year but additionally has toured England and France in recent years. The Choirs are joined by many other richly unique ensembles in this music program including the Brass Ensemble, Flute Ensemble, Ministers of Swing big band, St. Luke's Youth Jazz Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, Old Time Gospel Band, Handbell Choirs and many more.
Sun Prairie United Methodist Church Chancel Choir
Sun Prairie, Wisconsin - Andrew Estervig, director
Founded over 40 years ago, the Sun Prairie United Methodist Church Chancel Choir has performed many cantatas and large works. Recently, the choir has performed John Rutter's Requiem and Gloria, the Faure Requiem, and will perform the Vivaldi Gloria this spring. In 2004, the choir participated in the Grand Opening Festival of the Overture Center in Madison, Wisconsin, performing John Rutter's Gloria as part of a large choir. Currently counting 39 members, the choir is proud to perform a repertory spanning styles from classical to 20th century.
Andrew Estervig has been the director of the Sun Prairie United Methodist Chancel Choir for the past five years. In addition to directing various church choirs since 1997, Mr. Estervig is also a former director of the Madison Youth Choirs. Currently, Mr. Estervig serves as the choir director at Patrick Marsh Middle School in Sun Prairie, where he has been teaching for 6 years.
Tanner Williams United Methodist Church Choir
Daphne, Alabama - Tripp Morris, director
The Tanner Williams United Methodist Church was organized in 1918 with 21 charter members. Commitment and sharing the faith through music ministry are attributes passed from generation to generation in the Tanner Williams Church Choir and are instilled within each member even today.
Through the years, the choir has enjoyed joining with community churches in Mobile, Alabama and other areas for special musical performances such as singing Christmas and Easter Cantatas. Many of our choir members have had the opportunity to express God's love through music while traveling with Mission Teams to the Philadelphia, Mississippi Indian Mission, Costa Rica and Russia, while the choir also traveled to Natchez, Mississippi to celebrate in a special Homecoming Worship Service.
Currently under the direction of music director Tripp Morris and accompanied by volunteer pianist Virginia Sanderson, the 24 members of the Tanner Williams United Methodist Church Choir continue to enjoy sharing their Christian heritage and commitment through music ministry.
A native of Mobile, Alabama, Tripp Morris received his Master's in Music Education from Texas A&M University and his Bachelor's in Music Education from the University of Southern Mississippi. He has served as Youth Minister at Christ United Methodist Church and during his eight-year tenure as Music Minister at St. Mark United Methodist Church in Mobile led the Children's Choir, Handbell Choir, and Adult Choir there.
Tennessee Wesleyan College Choral Program
Athens, Tennessee - W. Keith Wheeler, director
Tennessee Wesleyan College was established in 1857 and will mark its 150th anniversary in 2007. The present co-ed choral group dates back to about 1940. In 1946, while Tennessee Wesleyan was a two-year college, Jack Houts became the choral director and significantly developed the program, leading the choir in performing at major events like the 1956 General Conference of the Methodist Church in Cincinnati.
Since that time the group has remained the center of the music program on the campus, where majors are offered in voice, keyboard, guitar, orchestral instruments, and music education. A small vocal ensemble, the Chorale, is open to students through audition only, and a comprehensive instrumental program is in the developmental stage.
A church musician for most of his career, W. Keith Wheeler has served in Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida, Colorado, and Misawa, Japan. He also was a director for the Continental Singers and Orchestra, which has traveled to 36 countries including visits to the 1988 Seoul Olympics, the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, and the 1992 Seville World's Fair. Mr. Wheeler has been a member of the music faculty of Tennessee Wesleyan College in Athens, Tennessee since 2002.
With degrees from Carson-Newman College and the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Mr. Wheeler received the SBTS award for "Most Outstanding Graduate Recitalist" for 1987-88. Further education includes studies at New York University and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He is the husband of Anne and the father to Isaac, Ella, Tyler, Mattie, Shea, and Grace.
Whitney United Methodist Church Chancel Choir
Boise, Idaho - Constance Branton, director
The Whitney United Methodist Church Choir is comprised of members of the Whitney Women's Chorale and the Whitney United Methodist Church Chancel Choir. The Chancel Choir was founded in 1948 and is the traditional service choir for the church, singing three Sunday services a month to a congregation of more than 400 members. The Whitney Women's Chorale was founded in 1982 and since that time has traveled extensively in the Western United States and Canada as well as internationally to the British Isles and Australia. In addition to singing once a month at Whitney Methodist, the Whitney Women's Chorale also participates in many civic and denominational events and concerts.
Constance (Connie) Branton is the founding conductor of Whitney Women's Chorale and current conductor of the Whitney United Methodist Church Chancel Choir. A graduate of Westminster Choir College in Princeton, NJ and Boise State University, Ms. Branton has taught choral music in the Boise Public Schools since 1981. Her choirs have been selected to sing for several state and regional music conferences and she has held several leadership roles in choral director's associations. In the spring of 2006 Ms. Branton received the Lifetime Achievement and Service Award from the Northwest Choral Directors Association.
Music Celebrations International
Tempe, Arizona - John P. Wiscombe, President
"Concert Tours with Integrity." Music Celebrations International provides unique performance and educational opportunities to performing groups. MCI's goal is to match highly recommended American performing ensembles with prestigious national and international festivals, commemorative events, anniversaries and other happenings. These might include centennials, bicentennials, birth anniversaries of renowned individuals such as statesmen or composers, or other dates which commemorate historic events and religious celebrations worldwide.
MCI staff members are uniquely comprised of experienced musicians and travel agents who have an excellent, almost instinctual understanding of the special needs and considerations of music directors and their performing groups. MCI's commitment is that every director and participating musical group has a memorable and exceptional musical experience.
Concert produced by Music Celebrations International
John P. Wiscombe, Executive Producer
Daniel Schwartz, Producer
Edmundo Montoya, Production Assistant
Laura Faubus, Operations Agent
Donna Gomez, Operations Agent
Amy Hargreaves, Operations Agent
Taylor Wiscombe, Operations Agent
Special thanks to Ned Elliott, Mary Jo O'Neal, Luke Wiscombe, Bill Bergeman, and Steven Kavee.
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