Open and free to the community, the “Celebration of Sacred American Choral Music” will include a wide variety of selections from great American composers performed by BC’s Variations, Praise Singers, and Bluefield Singers.
In fact, the program will include music from the first truly American composer, William Billings, along with a variety of hymn arrangements, a setting of Psalm 23 in Hebrew, spirituals, and contemporary Christian and Gospel selections.
Among the composers featured in the program will be Moses Hogan, Mack Wilberg, Alice Parker, and Joel Raney. In addition, BC student composers will offer “world premier” presentations of their own music compositions.
Under the direction of Bryant Moxley, professor of music and head of the Department of Music, Variations is a 20-plus voice auditioned touring chorus that performs a wide variety of the most challenging choral literature. In addition to its on-campus performances, Variations tours annually throughout the region, performing for churches, denominational events, and public and private schools. The group has toured internationally in Austria, Italy, and the Czech Republic, and has performed twice at Carnegie Hall in New York City, once at the Lincoln Center in New York, and once at the historic Bruton Parish Church in Colonial Williamsburg. In fact, during the Variations portion of the “Sacred America Choral Music” concert on April 29, the group will perform selections from its spring 2012 concert at Bruton Parish.
Under the direction of Susan Allen, instructor of music, Praise Singers is an auditioned group of six to eight vocalists and a band, which specializes in contemporary Christian and praise and worship music. Like Variations, Praise Singers tours regularly throughout Virginia and the region, in addition to its annual on-campus performances. In fact, Praise Singers has also performed at Carnegie Hall and internationally in Austria, Italy, and the Czech Republic.
Under the direction of Lisa Moxley, instructor of music, Bluefield Singers is a non-auditioned choir composed of students from all academic disciplines that performs primarily for on-campus and local performances. The group specializes in contemporary Christian music, hymn arrangements, and spirituals, but also performs classical and folk in its repertoire.
While admission is free for the “Celebration of Sacred American Choral Music” on April 29, a love offering will be received to help support the music ministry of BC’s student voice ensembles. For more information, contact the BC Office of Public Relations by e-mail at [email protected] or by phone at 276-326-4212.