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Of Faith And Freedom (Memorial Day)

Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center

Acts

James Melton, Guest Conductor
The Music of Dan Forrest
Featuring Distinguished Concerts Orchestra and Distinguished Concerts Singers International

Joseph Martin, Composer/Conductor
The Music of Joseph Martin
Featuring Distinguished Concerts Orchestra and Distinguished Concerts Singers International

Dan Forrest, DCINY Composer-in-Residence
The Music of Dan Forrest
Featuring Distinguished Concerts Orchestra and Distinguished Concerts Singers International

Also Featuring:

Sue Martin, Soprano

Tiffany Coburn, Soprano

Participating Groups

Arkansas Master'Singers

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church Sanctuary Choir

Cavanal Chorale

Bob Jones University Choir

Cole Valley Christian School Concert Choir

First Baptist Church Celebration Choir

Central Baptist Church Of Bearden Sanctuary Choir

Valley Christian High School Chorale

The Vanguard University Concert Choir

First Baptist Church Of San Marcos

First Baptist Church of Jefferson City Choir

Morristown High School West

Jefferson City High School Jay Choir

Fredericksburg United Methodist Church Chancel Choir

The Sanctuary Singers, First Baptist Tyler

Sounds of the Southwest Singers

Joyful Sound! Homeschool Choir

St. Paul's Lutheran Church Adult Choir

Special Guests

Artist's Name

James Melton

Artist's Name

Joseph Martin

Artist's Name

Dan Forrest

Artist's Name

Sue Martin

Artist's Name

Tiffany Coburn

Artist's Name

Heather Sorenson

Participating Group Directors

James Melton

Dan Forrest

Joseph Martin

Sue Martin

Tiffany Coburn

Heather Sorenson
Composer, arranger, and orchestrator Heather Sorenson entered the church music industry several years ago, and her name has quickly become a welcomed fixture in the publishing world. Heather is hired by the largest and most respected publishers in the world, and her compositions remain at the top of bestseller lists and Editor's Choice selections.

At the age of three, Heather began playing the piano. At fifteen, she won a master class audition with world-renowned pianist Misha Dichter at the University of Wisconsin. Originally recognized for her skill as a pianist, Heather easily transitioned into the world of composition. Her stylistic diversity is apparent, as she maneuvers both the traditional and contemporary genres of music, often combining the two for a unique blend that has become her artistic fingerprint.

Heather's publications to date include 85 choral compositions, 15 piano books, one vocal solo book, and two albums. Her compositions are performed weekly in thousands of churches worldwide, as well as in historic concert venues including the National Cathedral, the DAR Constitution Hall, and Carnegie Hall.

Teaching has become a large part of Heather's career. She taught all elementary levels of music at Grace Academy of Dallas for four years, served as an adjunct music professor at Baylor University's School of Music, and has served on many master class panels in piano and songwriting. Heather regularly is a guest speaker and choral conductor at churches across America, and leads scores of sessions each year at various worship conferences, schools, and universities.

Currently, Heather spends her time juggling an extremely full writing load, traveling as a guest artist, conductor, and lecturer, while holding the Music Associate position at Lavon Drive Baptist Church in the Dallas area.

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church Sanctuary Choir
James Melton

Arkansas Master'Singers
Larry Grayson

The Arkansas Master'Singers are ministers of music/worship leaders, directors, accompanists, choir leaders, pastors, staff members and staff spouses from Baptist churches in every corner of the state and all places in between. The Master'Singers is affiliated with the Arkansas Baptist State Convention. These men and women participate voluntarily and at their own expense. Musicians from local churches are invited to sing with the Master'Singers with the endorsement of their minister of music/worship leader. Annual venues include State Convention meetings and Festivals of Song in local churches as well as other venues, including prison ministries.

 

Cavanal Chorale
Noma Curtis

Cavanal Chorale was established in 2008, the result of the desire of Brian Holloway (our young  manager) to participate in an ensemble that would sing serious, rather difficult choral music. The membership usually numbers 25-35 auditioned singers. To date, Cavanal Chorale has presented eight concert series, each with a particular theme, e.g., "Chestnuts roasting...", "As American As Apple Pie", "Songs of Faith", and "A Song for All Seasons." There are plans to present "Amahl and the Night Visitors" in 2012. Cavanal Chorale is accompanied by piano and guest instrumentalists. Concert venues are the local college and local churches.

 

Bob Jones University Choir
Leah Sargent

The Bob Jones University Choir is a diverse group of graduate and undergraduate college vocalists. Under the direction of Dr. Warren Cook, the choir performs a wide variety of classical and sacred music from all compositional periods and in various settings, including the concert hall, the opera stage, and the church. The Bob Jones University Choir exists to share beauty through music and to bring glory to the name of Jesus Christ.

 

First Baptist Church Celebration Choir
Bill Bullock
The First Baptist Church Celebration Choir of Bastrop, Texas appeals to a broad audience because of the eclectic mix of gospel music styles it is known to perform. The choir is best known for singing southern gospel, traditional, and contemporary gospel works. Since 1990, under the direction of Dr. Bill Bullock, the 30 voice choir has come into prominence through the many and varied Christmas and Patriotic productions performed for the community. The choir has also sung the works of Joe Martin and performed multiple concerts under his direction.

 

Cole Valley Christian School Concert Choir
Claudia Sutherland

Valley Christian High School Chorale
Marianne Heim

Central Baptist Church Of Bearden Sanctuary Choir
David Smith

The Central Baptist Church of Bearden Sanctuary Choir, from Knoxville, Tennessee is comprised of approximately 100 singers, and is the flagship of the Music and Worship Ministry of the church. In addition to two morning worship services each week, the Sanctuary Choir prepares and presents major programs at Christmas, Easter, and other special times throughout the year, including hosting an Annual Composers Weekend. The Sanctuary Choir's repertoire ranges from classical to contemporary, including presentations of Handel's Messiah and Mendelssohn's Elijah to Worley and Rhodes' Somebody's Praying Me Through. This is the Sanctuary Choir's second appearance at Lincoln Center.

The Vanguard University Concert Choir
James Melton

The University Concert Choir, the largest ensemble at Vanguard University with over 80 student members has presented classical, sacred, secular, and contemporary concerts in major concert halls, schools, churches, conferences and conventions throughout the United States. Past concert tours outside of the U.S. have included China, Mexico, Europe, the South Pacific, South Korea, Japan, and Canada. In 2002, 2005, 2008 & 2010 the students were invited to tour the People's Republic of China, where they performed in major concert halls, arenas, universities, and schools. Vanguard University music ensembles have long been noted for their inspiring and excellent presentation of sacred vocal and instrumental music, including classical, sacred, and secular hits from theatre and film.

The Vanguard University Concert Choir is directed by James L. Melton.

First Baptist Church Of San Marcos
Tim Lyles

First Baptist Church of Jefferson City Choir
Kim Bowen

Morristown High School West
Kathy Bowen

Jefferson City High School Jay Choir
Beth Dampf

The Jefferson City High School Jay Choir is a select ensemble, consisting of grades 9-12. The ensemble performs divisi music, both a cappella and accompanied with a diverse collection of Western and non-Western languages and genres. Members of this ensemble maintain a rigorous performance schedule while consistently receiving "I" ratings at the MSHSAA Music Festivals and Gold Ratings at the Heritage Music Festivals. Members of the Jay Choir also participate in Chorale,Concert Choir, Freshman Choir, Men's Chorus, Women's Chorus, Chamber Choir, J-City Riot, and the Operetta. The ensemble's members are not only active and successful in the choral department, but participate in a wide variety of academic, scholastic and extracurricular endeavors. With their diversity, the Jay Choir truly represents what it means to be a Jefferson City Jay.

Fredericksburg United Methodist Church Chancel Choir
Don Doss

The Chancel Choir of the Fredericksburg United Methodist Church functions much like most normal church choirs in week to week and special holiday duties. What possibly sets the Chancel Choir apart from many other choirs is the 50 member choir has been growing in the past 5 years from an average attendance of around 20 in one service to around 30 in two morning worship services.

In 2009 the choir was invited to present a patriotic concert for the City of Fredericksburg in the city park before the annual fireworks show when the San Antonio based USAF Band of the West couldn't perform. The choir now continues to present the annual July 4th show. The choir also hosted a South Texas Choir Workshop last year with Joseph Martin as the host clinician.

The Sanctuary Singers, First Baptist Tyler
Billy Bob Dempsey

The Sanctuary Singers of First Baptist Church of Tyler serve as the main service choir for the church, singing every Sunday during the year. The choir, under the direction of Billy Bob Dempsey, also does special events during the year, and their repertoire ranges from contemporary to classical, including works such as Rutter's "Gloria". The group is presently preparing Dan Goeller's "Sing Praise to the Lord" and is pleased to be a part of this concert with our choral friend, Joseph Martin.

 

Sounds of the Southwest Singers
Matt Deller

The Sounds of the Southwest Singers, a 65 voice adult volunteer choir from Glendale, Arizona, sing a wide variety of music -- sacred, secular, patriotic, Broadway, popular and seasonal tunes throughout the Phoenix metro area all year round. Members of this choir sang at Carnegie Hall in 2009, toured Europe in 2010, and in 2011, they sang on the main stage in Anaheim, CA at Disneyland. They are scheduled to tour Hawaii in April 2013.

Joyful Sound! Homeschool Choir
Paula Spencer

St. Paul's Lutheran Church Adult Choir
Nancy Krause

St. Paul's Lutheran Church Adult Choir is the anchor of a varied music ministry that involves singing and handbell choirs, a contemporary band and a large cadre of soloists: both singers and instrumentalists. The choir sings for worship services during the months of September through June.

They have also presented many special programs and services such as Easter Cantatas or participated in the Music Ministry's concerts both at home and in cooperation with other local churches, including the annual LCMO Music Festival. The choir toured Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic and sang for worship at the Castle Church in Wittenberg Germany.