Maryville College Concert Choir to perform in Fernandina Beach March 7

Maryville College
MEDIA RELEASE
February 21, 2019

Maryville College Choir

The Maryville College Concert Choir (Maryville, Tenn.) will perform at First Presbyterian Church (9 N. 6thSt.) of Fernandina Beach, Fla., on Thurs., March 7 at 7 p.m. The performance, which is free and open to the public, is part of the choir’s 2019 spring tour.

“Make Our Garden Grow” is the theme of the Maryville College Concert Choir’s 2019 Spring Choir Tour and features an itinerary that includes performances in Maryville, Tenn.; Spartanburg S.C.; Fernandina Beach Fla.; Sarasota, Fla.; Clearwater Beach, Fla.; and Valdosta, Ga.

Since Maryville College is celebrating its Bicentennial this year, the program will feature favorite selections suggested by alumni. “Two Wings” is an arrangement of a spiritual by Dr. Harry H. Harter, former choral director and division chair at the College.

The concerts also will feature other favorite choral gems such as “Locus iste” by Anton Bruckner, “Ubi Caritas” by Marice Durufle, “Confutatis” and “Lacrimosa” from Mozart’s Requiem.Contemporary selections include “A Boy and a Girl” by Eric Whitacre, “The Rose” by Ola Gjeilo and “Make Our Garden Grow” from Candideby Leonard Bernstein.

“In preparation for the Bicentennial, we solicited stories and repertoire suggestions from alumni,” said Stacey Wilner, senior lecturer in music and director of choral activities at Maryville College. “It has truly been a spiritual and humbling experience to read these stories submitted by so many generations of former Maryville College choral students. The essence of the MC educational and musical experience, while certainly carried out in different buildings and in different eras, seems to be essentially the same. The choir alumni speak of friendships, of love and loss, of personal growth and life lessons learned through music.”

“These are the individuals who planted the seeds of musical excellence for the College, who have then continued to water them by nurturing many generations of young musicians with support through scholarships, sharing talents through workshops and master classes, serving on boards, volunteering and other gifts of time,” Wilner continued. “The level of dedication and commitment that alumni feel to this college never ceases to amaze me.”

Ribbons made of Maryville College’s school colors, orange and garnet, will be available at the information table at all performances so that alumni can be easily identified and honored throughout this Bicentennial Tour.

“We want to express our appreciation for helping to make the MC ‘garden grow,’” Wilner said.