Lipscomb's A Cappella Singers present its annual winter tour, Jan. 3-10
Lacey Klotz |
The Lipscomb University A Cappella Singers will perform a variety of traditional hymns and sacred choral literature at eight churches in five states during the ensemble’s annual winter tour, Jan 3-10. All performances are free and open to the public.
A Cappella Singers is the premiere choir of the School of Music at Lipscomb. Comprised of nearly 40 members from various degree programs across campus, the group performs a wide selection of musical genres and styles each year.
The annual winter tour serves as a recruiting tour, which consists of concerts at churches and schools throughout the nation.
Conducted by Gary P. Wilson, director of choral activities, the ensemble will perform a broad range of music from various periods, including hymns and secular selections.
“Most of our literature is sacred a cappella, most of it on the serious side,” Wilson said. “But we also include some lighter selections. There’s a Maori folksong, a Sacred Harp arrangement, a spiritual, and an arrangement of a piece from Kenneth Branagh’s Henry V movie. The Vocal Jazz Ensemble also has an a cappella arrangement of a ‘70s pop tune, ‘What Do You Get When You Fall in Love?’ by Burt Bacharach.”
Other works include: “Non Nobis Domine,” by Patrick Doyle and arranged by Nancy Grundahl; “Exsultate Deo,” by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina; “The Lords Prayer,” by Robert Stone; “I Will Not Leave You Comfortless,” by William Byrd; “O Herr, ich bin dein Knecht,” by Johann Hermann Schein and “Idumea (from the Sacred Harp Tradition),” by Ananais Davisson and arranged by Richard Bjella. Justin Bowen, a senior piano performance major from Murfreesboro, Tennessee coordinated the final song.
The winter tour will also feature:
- A women’s ensemble conducted by Samantha Seifert, a senior choral music education major, will perform “Lauliku Lapsepoli (The Songster’s Childhood),” by Estonian Folk Song and arranged by Veljo Tormis.
- A men’s ensemble conducted by Ethan Bennett, a junior choral music education major, will perform “Exsultate Justi,” by Lodovico Grossi da Viadana.
- The Chamber Singers performing “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus (Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring),” by J.S. Bach and arranged by Tom Fettke.
- The Vocal Jazz Ensemble performing I’ll Never Fall in Love Again by Bacharach and David and arranged by Anders Edenroth; “Kua Rongo,” by Ngapo Wehi and arranged by Eddie Quaid; “O Filii et Filiae,” by Ivo Antognini; “My God is a Rock,” by Spiritual and arranged by Parker-Shaw; and “The Lord Bless You and Keep You,” by Peter Lutkin.
The A Cappella Singers have been a part of Lipscomb’s music program since its creation in 1960 and have performed in venues ranging from the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris and the City Hall in downtown Brisbane, Australia, to small churches in the South.
Convention and juried performances by the A Cappella Singers have included the 2011 State Conference of the Tennessee Music Educators Association; the Southern Division Convention of the American Choral Directors Association; The Ascending Voice, An International Symposium of Sacred A Cappella Music; and Florence International Music Festival in Florence, Italy.
Lipscomb’s School of Music holds institutional fully accredited membership in the National Association of Schools of Music. An important part of both the academic and extracurricular life in the University, the School of Music offers courses of study leading to the degrees of Bachelor of Arts, bachelor of music and Bachelor of Science. Areas of specialization include music education (choral or instrumental emphasis) and applied music (emphasis in voice, piano, guitar, band/orchestral instruments and contemporary music).
Full tour schedule:
Sunday, Jan. 3
Germantown Church of Christ
12 p.m.
8722 Poplar Pike,
Germantown, TN 38138
Sunday, Jan. 3
Southwest Church of Christ
5:30 p.m.
1601 James St.
Jonesboro, AR 72404
Monday, Jan. 4
Walnut St. Church of Christ
6:30 p.m.
2720 Moores Ln,
Texarkana, TX 75503
Tuesday, Jan. 5
Crestview Church of Christ
7 p.m.
7129 Delhi Rd.
Waco, TX 76712
Wednesday, Jan. 6
Brentwood Church of Christ
7 p.m. performance with Brentwood Christian School, with director John McMeen ('12)
11908 N Lamar Blvd,
Austin, TX 78753
Thursday, Jan. 7
Riverside Church of Christ
7 p.m. performance with Chorale Acadienne
200 South City Parkway
Lafayette, LA 70503
Friday, January 8
Regency Church of Christ
7 p.m.
501 S University Blvd
Mobile, AL 36609
Saturday, Jan. 9
Grace Pointe Church
5 p.m. performance with Alabama Christian Academy
1565 Ray Thorington Rd.
Montgomery, AL 36117
Sunday, Jan. 10
Grace Pointe Church
10:15 a.m. perform as part of its worship service
1565 Ray Thorington Rd.
Montgomery, AL 36117