MEMPHIS SYMPHONY CHORUS
60th ANNIVERSARY CONCERT
Tuesday, March 4, 2025 · 7:30pm
First Baptist Church
Lawrence Edwards, Conductor
Liz Parsons, Pianist
Karen Strawhecker, Organist
Dylan Hatton, Trumpet
The Memphis Symphony Chorus would like to thank First Baptist Church for hosting tonight’s performance
and providing rehearsal space throughout the year.
Memphis Symphony Chamber Chorus
Ubi Caritas
Ola Gjeilo
(1978)
Four Quartets Opus 92.
O schöne Nacht
Spätherbst
Abendlied
Warum
Johannes Brahms
(1833-1897)
Let My Love be Heard
Jake Runestad
(1986)
Sing Gently as One
Eric Whitacre
(1970)
Reflections
Jake Runestad
(1986)
INTERMISSION
Memphis Symphony Chorus
I Thank You God for Most this Amazing Day
Dan Forrest
(1978)
Agnus Dei
Samuel Barber
(1910-1981)
Deep River
arr. by Norman Luboff
(1917-1987)
Charles Dove, soloist
I was Glad When They Said Unto Me
Hubert Perry
(1848-1918)
Lord, Thou Hast been our Refuge
Semi-chorus:
Aurora Russell
Olivia Ball
Faith Armstrong
Jayla Isom
Joseph Powell
Samuel Johnson
Calvin Ellis
Charles Dove
R. Vaugh Williams
(1872-1958)
All of Us
from Considering Mathew Shepherd
B.J. Webster, Katrice Feild,
Christine Hughes, Soloists
Craig Hella Johnson
(1962)
We Shall Walk Through the Valley in Peace
arr. by Moses Hogan
(1957-2003)
On Stage
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Dr. Lawrence Edwards has been the Artistic Director of the Memphis Symphony Chorus since 1988 and he often conducts both the orchestra and the chorus. Dr. Edwards served as Coordinator of Choirs for the University of Memphis School of Music from 1987 to 2021. During that time, he directed the University Singers and the group Sound Fuzion, and taught undergraduate choral conducting. He also served as advisor/teacher for graduate choral conducting students. During the summers he taught graduate conducting at Villanova University in Philadelphia, and is active as a choral clinician throughout the country, working with junior and senior high honor choirs.
Dr. Edwards received his undergraduate degree in music from Seattle Pacific University where he directed the Seattle Pacific Singers. He holds both Masters and Doctoral degrees in Music from the University of Illinois at Champaign where he studied orchestral conducting with the Romanian conductor, Mircia Cristescu. Prior to assuming his position at the University of Memphis, Dr. Edwards was Director of Choral Activities at West Virginia University in Morgantown.
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Elizabeth Parsons is the Collaborative Pianist for the Memphis Symphony Chorus. Liz received her bachelor’s degree in piano performance from The University of Memphis. She has a strong background in collaborative piano and has accompanied many vocalists and instrumentalists in various performances on the collegiate and professional level, as well as accompanying numerous choirs throughout the city.
While attending the University of Memphis as an undergraduate, Liz began playing for the university choirs under the direction of Dr. Lawrence Edwards. After graduating in 2002, Liz continued as the staff collaborative pianist for the choral department until 2012.
In 2001, Liz became the collaborative pianist for the Memphis Symphony Chorus and continues to enjoy that position, playing for all rehearsals and assisting in leading rehearsals.
In 2012, Liz began working at Briarcrest Christian School, as Assistant to the Fine Arts Director and Assistant Choral Director. Working with choirs from elementary through high school, she has enjoyed being a part of students’ lives for many years, watching them grow and develop as musicians and young people. Many of these students have gone on to musical careers and even music educators.
Memphis Symphony Chorus
SOPRANO
Olivia Ball*
Alicia Butler*^
Janice T. Cate
Carly Cempre
Edith Christmas
Tamara Clark
Vonda Collins
Katrice D. P. Field*
Mary Gaudet
Roberta J. Hoppe
Jane Ludlow
Madilyn Morris*
Tara Nabors
Reagan Ramsey
Aimee Randolph
Aurora Russell*
Pamela Schnell*
B.J. Webster
Ia Traci White
Cathy Wilhelm^
Laura Williamson
Rosemary Winters
Karen Zeferino
ALTO
Faith Armstrong*
Lily S. Axelrod*
Cindy Burnette
Gretchen Deupree
Caroline Glusenkamp*
Pamela Gold^
Andrea Goughnour
Gerre Harrell^
Dylan Hooper*^
Christine Hughes*^
Rosalyn Hurt
M. Ann Indingaro
Jayla Isom*
Suzanne Lease*
Anita I. Lotz
Jill Jemison Margolin
Lisa Lucks Mendel^
Kelley Muller-Smith
Kenya Nichols
Sila Oskara
Fedoria Rugless
Mary Seratt
Anna Shelton-Brownell
Rita West
Alison Wetherald^
TENOR
Nylan Barr
Tyler Bruno*
Julius Dabbs*
Clint M. Early, Jr
Craig Gough
Antonio Hinton
Donavon Hughes*
Samuel Johnson*
Sean Klaus
George Martin
Dr. David McNair
Jake Milligan
Keith Parsons
H. Joseph Powell, Jr.*^
John Sanborn*^
David Spear
Michael Welch
BASS
Matthew Babb
Leo A. Connolly
Charles Dove II*^
Calvin Ellis*
Bill Gaudet
Scott Hall
Edward M. Holt, Jr.*
Samuel Hughes*
Jim Jaggers
Dayrin Jones
James McClanahan*^
Eugene M. Reyneke
Alvin Whitney^
Lewis R. Wright
*Denotes Chamber Chorus Member
^Denotes Chorus Board Member
The Memphis Symphony Chorus is an integral part of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra family. In 1965, Maestro Vincent De Frank decided to present the orchestra’s first Pops Concert and needed a Chorus. He enlisted local musician Sara Beth Causey to send out notice and thirty singers responded. Today the Chorus is entering its 58th season and is 100 members strong, performing under the direction of Maestro Robert Moody and Dr. Lawrence Edwards.
In a perfect collaboration of orchestral and vocal musicians, the Chorus has performed major works across the entire spectrum of classical choral music, opera choruses, and concert pops repertoire. The Memphis Symphony Orchestra’s Masterworks concerts have included the Chorus in performances of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Dan Forrest’s A Requiem for the Living, Missa Solemnis, Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, Handel’s Messiah, Mahler’s Second and Eighth Symphonies, Orff’s Carmina Burana, and the Requiems of Mozart, Verdi, Berlioz, and Brahms. The Chorus also performs each year with the orchestra in the Magic of Memphis Holiday Spectacular and other Pops Concerts, including the music of John Williams, Disney tunes, and other popular composers. Outreach through occasional regional performances in conjunction with the orchestra rounds out the annual schedule.
Since its formation in 1965, the Memphis Symphony Chorus has attracted excellent, volunteer vocalists from around the Mid-South. It is recognized as one of the top volunteer choruses in the country, made up of educators, attorneys, judges, and physicians. Membership grows through a twice-yearly audition process, and being a professional vocalist is not a prerequisite for acceptance. However, one must have in equal proportion vocal skill, a love for great choral music, and the time and energy to devote to a weekly rehearsal schedule.
The Memphis Symphony Chorus also has a 15-member Board of Directors whose primary function is to handle the general operations of the Chorus. While Larry Edwards’ focus is on preparing the chorus musically for their performances, the board of directors oversees the general operation of the Chorus and assists with social activities and special events, venue setup, and membership assistance including music and attire.
Without a doubt, the success of the Memphis Symphony Chorus is due to the dedication, talent, and unwavering commitment from its members, its artistic director, Larry Edwards, and piano accompanist, Liz Parsons. Larry and Liz have devoted their heart and soul to the art of music and have brought out the best in each Chorus member – pushing them to new heights of excellence and instilling in them a deep love for the beauty of choral music. We celebrate their remarkable legacy and the extraordinary impact they have had on the Memphis community.
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The Memphis Symphony Chorus is a volunteer, non-profit organization, and every dollar helps us bring the joy of music to Memphis.
Donations: www.memphissymphonychorus.org
About the Memphis Symphony Chorus
Front row: Alicia Butler, Lisa Lucks Mendel, Pam Gold, Joseph Powell, Alvin Whitney, Gerre Harrell Back row: Ali Wetherald, Charles Dove, John Sanborn, Jim McClanahan, Christine Hughes, Dylan Hooper, Cathey Wilhelm Not Pictured: Cindy White, Barry White