NY Premiere of "Chronicles of Blue and Gray" by John Purifoy
Jefferson Johnson, DCINY Debut Conductor
Carol Barnett's The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass
Also Featuring:
Dailey & Vincent, Special Guest
Participating Groups
Lexington Singers
Berea College Concert Choir
The Lyric Chorale
Saint Augustine Singers
Vancouver USA Singers
Columbus Choral Society
Knoxville Choral Society
The Maryville College Community Choir
Richmond Choral Society and The Arcadian Chorale
Treasure Coast Community Singers
Special Guests
Artist's Name
Dailey & Vincent
Artist's Name
Jefferson Johnson
Artist's Name
Carol Barnett
Artist's Name
Michael Adelson
Artist's Name
John Purifoy
Participating Group Directors
Lexington Singers
Jefferson Johnson
Jefferson Johnson is Director of Choral Activities at the University of Kentucky where he conducts the University Chorale and Men's Chorus. Johnson received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Georgia, his Master of Music from the University of Tennessee, and his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Colorado.
Dr. Johnson is currently in his seventeenth year as Music Director of The Lexington Singers. In 1999, The Lexington Singers celebrated its fortieth anniversary with a performance in New York City as Johnson made his Carnegie Hall debut conducting the Singers and orchestra in Faure's Requiem.
Berea College Concert Choir
Stephen Bolster
Dr. Stephen Bolster, Program Chair of Music, is the Mary W. McGaw Endowed Chair in Music at Berea College, where he has taught for 34 years. He holds music degrees from Dartmouth College, the University of North Carolina, and the University of Colorado, and conducted major choral organizations at each school before joining the Berea faculty. From 1996-1999 he was a member of the prestigious Robert Shaw Festival Singers. Dr. Bolster is in frequent demand as a lecturer, clinician, and adjudicator in Kentucky and Tennessee. He is an expert on acoustical phonetics, especially vowel modification and choral blend.
The Lyric Chorale
Chrisanne Yule
Chrisanne Yule holds a Certificate of Harpsichord and Early Music at the doctoral level from Florida State University, a Master of Music in Organ Performance from the University of Michigan, and Bachelor of Music degrees in both Choral Music Education and Organ Performance from the University of Wisconsin-Superior. She founded and directs The Lyric Chorale - a community chorus of amateur and professional singers-and also directs a select a cappella group, VOCE. Chrisanne serves as the Director of Music and Organist at St. Rita Catholic Church in Webster, NY.
Saint Augustine Singers
Kathleen Vande Berg
Kathleen Vande Berg has been the Choral Director of the Saint Augustine Singers and the Saint Augustine Community Chorus since 2006. Ms. Vande Berg earned her BA in organ performance from Iowa’s Central College and a Masters in Music from Georgia State University. She has been a music educator in settings from kindergarten through college for over thirty years and is now the music director at St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church. Ms. Vande Berg was recently knighted by Queen Mariana for community service and also received the 2014 ROWITA (Recognizing Outstanding Women in the Arts) Award for her contributions as a musician.
Columbus Choral Society
Alisa Toy
Alisa holds a Bachelors degree in Music Education from Mississippi University for Women. An active member of the American Choral Directors Association, Alisa enjoys conducting the Columbus Choral Society as well as the northern Mississippi regional choir for her church. She placed first in the southern region NATS competition in 2011 and was a soloist with the Greeley Chorale on tour in Italy in 2005. She has taught private voice and piano for 20 years and is currently teaching through her private studio, SingingToy Studio. Alisa lives in Columbus, MS with her husband and five children.
Knoxville Choral Society
Eric Thorson
Dr. Eric Thorson has been conductor of the Knoxville Choral Society since 1995 and artistic director since 1996. He is professor of music and director of choral activities at Carson-Newman University.
Thorson received his BA from Buena Vista University and both his master of music and doctor of education degrees from Arizona State University.
Thorson has prepared choirs for such notable conductors as Eduardo Mata, Douglas McEwen, Robert Page, John Rutter, Gregg Smith, Noel Tredinnick, Kirk Trevor and Lucas Richman.
His choirs have toured both nationally and internationally, performing in Atlanta, Phoenix, New Orleans, New York, Knoxville, Brazil, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Germany, Israel, Jordan, Italy, and Ireland.
The Maryville College Community Choir
Alan Eleazer
Alan Eleazer has conducted the Maryville College Community Chorus since 2008, having been a professional musician, conductor, and college educator in East Tennessee for over 30 years. In addition to Maryville College, Eleazer serves as Chair of the music faculty at Hiwassee College and has directed the music programs of several large United Methodist churches. A graduate of the University of Tennessee, Eleazer holds degrees in Music Education, Choral Conducting, and Sacred Music. He was twice named Distinguished Faculty of the Year, and is a member of the Tennessee Music Education Association, the East Tennessee Vocal Association, the American Choral Directors Association, and The Order of St. Luke. Choirs under his direction have toured throughout the United States, Eastern and Western Canada, and Scotland. He is an active guest conductor and festival clinician.
Treasure Coast Community Singers
Douglas Jewett
Dr. Douglas P. Jewett is currently Minister of Music at North Stuart Baptist Church, Stuart, FL, where he has served since 2001. He has a BA in Music Theory, MM in Choral Conducting, and EdD in Organizational Leadership. Jewett is founder/artistic director of Treasure Coast Community Singers, begun in 2003. He was awarded Outstanding Performing Artist in 2010 by the Martin Arts Council. He is a member of The CenturyMen, a national men’s choir, and will serve as their president in 2015.
Bluegrass And Gray: Sounds Of Americana
Acts
Also Featuring:
Participating Groups
Special Guests
Artist's Name
Dailey & VincentArtist's Name
Jefferson JohnsonArtist's Name
Carol BarnettArtist's Name
Michael AdelsonArtist's Name
John PurifoyParticipating Group Directors
Kathleen Vande Berg has been the Choral Director of the Saint Augustine Singers and the Saint Augustine Community Chorus since 2006. Ms. Vande Berg earned her BA in organ performance from Iowa’s Central College and a Masters in Music from Georgia State University. She has been a music educator in settings from kindergarten through college for over thirty years and is now the music director at St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church. Ms. Vande Berg was recently knighted by Queen Mariana for community service and also received the 2014 ROWITA (Recognizing Outstanding Women in the Arts) Award for her contributions as a musician.
Thorson received his BA from Buena Vista University and both his master of music and doctor of education degrees from Arizona State University.
Thorson has prepared choirs for such notable conductors as Eduardo Mata, Douglas McEwen, Robert Page, John Rutter, Gregg Smith, Noel Tredinnick, Kirk Trevor and Lucas Richman.
His choirs have toured both nationally and internationally, performing in Atlanta, Phoenix, New Orleans, New York, Knoxville, Brazil, the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic, Germany, Israel, Jordan, Italy, and Ireland.