Local singers grace stage at Carnegie Hall

A group of local singers from VOCE and Elkin First Baptist took the stage Tuesday at the famed Carnegie Hall in New York City to take part in a performance with other choral groups from around the country. They were all joining together in a performance of “Our Father” by composer Pepper Choplin, a musical suite based on The Lord’s Prayer.

Distinguished Concerts International New York said Choplin’s composition is, “Powerful music about faith and worship that combined artistry and ministry using traditional phrases from the King James Bible and modern English for clarity and poetic flow.” They said the piece was to be performed by Distinguished Concerts Orchestra and Distinguished Concerts Singers International with Kelsey Mathis as a featured soloist.

Mathis is part of the group from Surry County which made the trek over the weekend to New York City in anticipation of Tuesday’s concert. VOCE co-director Adam Rudisill explained, “One of our own singers from VOCE, Kelsey Mathis, auditioned for a solo in the work we are performing in New York, and was selected for the solo, which is exciting for her and us. Kelsey is the music director at Highland Park Baptist Church here in Mount Airy.”

The group departed over the weekend, hitting the road Saturday, Rudisill said. Their plan was to take around 30 individuals via tour bus for the trip and then have a series of rehearsals before the concert. That seems a good idea as the two local groups will be adding their voices to others with whom that are not familiar.

“We are excited to meet fellow musicians from around the country,” Rudisill said. He explained that rehearsing for Tuesday’s show was not particularly different from any other even though there would be more voices in the larger group. “As far as rehearsing for a concert with a blend of people we are not familiar with, we are rehearsing as usual, following notes given to us by the composer/conductor for the concert in New York.”

According to Rudisill, the group arrived safely spent plenty of time before Tuesday holding rehearsals, but there will be some fun as well. “During our time there, we will have some free time to enjoy the sights as well,” he added.

Choplin is an accomplished composer and conductor with hundreds of published songs for choir who has also been commissioned by more than 150 groups to compose original works for them. He has some North Carolina roots planted having received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro; following was a Master of Music degree in composition from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

“I felt a strong calling to write this work. These are such powerful words, encompassing so much of the faith experience. Each anthem focuses on a phrase of the prayer in a dramatic setting meant to personally connect the listener,” Choplin said of ‘Our Father.’

Rudisill explained that Lance Newman, co-director of VOCE, was travelling in Scotland last summer on a choral tour with Choplin, “During the tour, Lance was talking to Pepper and about VOCE and his Chancel Choir at Elkin First Baptist,” Rudisill recounted.

“Choplin then extended an invitation to both groups to join in with several other choirs from around the United States to perform his work, ‘Our Father’ in New York City.”

Rudisill, who has been with the group for a decade as the accompanist and added co-director responsibilities two years ago, said, “Being selected to perform at Carnegie Hall is a huge honor. It is definitely an opportunity that I personally couldn’t turn down, as I’m sure was the case for many others, We are honored to be one of the groups selected for this performance.”

“It’s certainly an honor to go and perform in such a prestigious concert venue that’s world renowned,” said Newman.

Making such a trip is not an inexpensive endeavor even in-state, to say nothing of traveling to the Big Apple. Rudisill said. “For fundraising we have mainly relied on donor support. However, we did host a Broadway Music Dinner Theater in Elkin back in April utilizing local talent and the VOCE choral group for entertainment.”

VOCE said its mission is to provide outstanding concerts for the education and enjoyment of our audiences, and to provide life-long singing opportunities for our members. The choral ensemble was established in 2002 by the Sandy Beam. The group wrote, “His dream was to develop a premier choral ensemble featuring some of Surry County’s most talented musicians.”

Rudisill sees the benefit of art and appreciates carrying on Beam’s vision. “I believe the arts to be an integral part of our community. The arts provide not only entertainment, but a way for the artist to express themselves… The arts provide a way to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and they also inspire people to create, think outside the box, and see things from a different perspective. I consider it a privilege to carry on the work of those who shared their artistic gifts before me, such as Sandy Beam.”

For some folks singing in the shower or on Sunday at church is enough. However, for those who are seeking a bigger stage, Rudisill said the group is open to welcoming new voices into their ensemble, “VOCE is an auditioned premier community choral group who perform several times per year. We rehearse once per week and are always looking for new members. If you love choral music or just love to sing and would like to join us, we encourage you to audition.”