LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING! : Huntsville Master Chorale brings a first-ever choral festival to Huntsville

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Dr. Jason Max Ferdinand

Huntsville, Ala. — Just imagine singers coming together from many diverse communities around the state to perform a powerful musical repertoire designed to uplift and inspire an audience. Huntsville Master Chorale is hosting just such an event on June 3 and 4th with a concert at 5:30 PM on June 4th at Trinity United Methodist Church, Airport Road, in Huntsville. Lift Every Voice and Sing! promises to be the landmark choral event of the summer season.

The guest clinician for this event is none other than internationally known Jason Max Ferdinand, the founding artistic director of The Jason Max Ferdinand Singers and director of choral activities, chair of the music department, and a full professor at Oakwood University, where he conducts the Aeolians of Oakwood University.

As a singer, observer, or audience member, participants will have a rare opportunity to participate in an educational, esthetic, and inspiring choral festival concert led by a renowned choral conductor and clinician.

The creator of this landmark event in choral music is the artistic director of the Huntsville Master Chorale, Dr. Patricia Ramirez Hacker. “We want to collaborate and reach out to the whole community with a festival where singers can sing, learn and perform together,” said artistic director Hacker. “The event invites choral singers from all regional area colleges and church choirs and ensembles. We expect to mount on risers 100 accomplished voices to present listener-favorites as well as newly composed music. This is a unique opportunity for singers and audience to experience the power of music,” she concluded.

Dr. Jason Max Ferdinand is known well beyond North Alabama. He is a professor, conductor, composer, and speaker, the founding artistic director of The Jason Max Ferdinand Singers: an ensemble of exceptional talents, and he is director of choral activities, chair of the music department, and a full professor at Oakwood University where he conducts the Aeolians. He is a published author and composer with GIA publications, featuring the book, Teaching with Heart: Tools for Addressing Societal Challenges Through Music, and The Jason Max Ferdinand Choral Series with Walton Music. He maintains an active schedule as a guest conductor and lecturer at schools, universities, churches, and choral festivals and conferences, domestic and international. As conductor of the Aeolians of Oakwood University, as evidenced by noteworthy awards, he has distinguished himself on the national and international choral stages. In 2017, Dr. Ferdinand earned the Outstanding Director and Choir of the World awards at the Llangollen International Musical Festival, in Wales. In 2018, his choir won three gold medals at the 10th World Choir Games held in South Africa and won the competition’s overall championship in both the Spirituals and University Choir categories. In 2018, he was named “Teacher of the Year” by Oakwood University. The Aeolians made their first appearance at the national conference of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) in 2019 and the term “they broke ACDA” was used to describe their outstanding presentation.

Huntsville Master Chorale

Lift Every Voice and Sing! Choral Festival will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church, 607 Airport Road, Huntsville, Alabama on Friday, June 3 from 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm, Saturday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm with the culminating performance on Saturday, June 4, at 5:30 pm. If you are interested in being a part of this festival choir as a singer or as an observer, visit hsvmasterchorale.org and register online. Registration includes a music packet for both observers and singers. Attend the concert on Saturday, June 4, at 5:30 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, admission is free to the public; donations are welcome at the door.

Experienced choral singers will NOT want to miss this opportunity to perform, observe rehearsals, or to attend this groundbreaking choral event. The title itself is an invitation to all:

LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING!

Words/poem by James Weldon Johnson Music by J. Rosamond Johnson

Lift ev’ry voice and sing till earth and heaven ring, ring with the harmonies of liberty. Let our rejoicing rise high as the list’ning skies, let it resound loud as the rolling sea. Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us; sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us; facing the rising sun of our new day …Poem by James Weldon Johnson, Music by John Rosamond Johnson. Often referred to as “The Black National Anthem,” Lift Every Voice and Sing was a hymn written as a poem by NAACP leader James Weldon Johnson in 1900. His brother, John Rosamond Johnson (1873-1954), composed the music for the lyrics. A choir of 500 schoolchildren at the segregated Stanton School, where James Weldon Johnson was principal, first performed the song in public in Jacksonville, Florida to celebrate President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.

ABOUT HUNTSVILLE MASTER CHORALE

The Huntsville Master Chorale celebrates creativity by providing vibrant musical performances, developing singers, commissioning original compositions, and promoting community through choral singing and collaborating with other local arts groups.

While the Chorale provides musical growth for singers, it also provides educational opportunities for area musicians, composers, and music educators. Through workshops and Meet the Composer events, we bring tools, perspectives, and master class teaching opportunities that enrich our arts community.

The Chorale has a particular heart for commissioning new works. Composition is where music begins, and we feel honored to participate in the process. The Chorale consistently brings new musical works to life, both from composers of international renown and in the local area.

Above all, we seek to promote unity through music. We believe that corporate music provides the unique opportunity to offer peace, inclusion, and harmony to all involved, performers and listeners alike.

Organization History

The mission of the Huntsville Master Chorale is to foster creativity by keeping excellent choral singing alive in North Alabama, founded in 1998 by Dr. Eugene Brasher. Of particular interest is nurturing renowned and emerging composers by commissioning and performing new works.

The group is thriving under the artistic direction of Dr. Patricia Ramirez Hacker, appointed in May 2012. Her passion, vision, and direction are attracting regional attention as a force in vocal music excellence.

While The Chorale provides musical growth for singers, it also provides educational opportunities for area musicians, composers, and music educators. Through workshops and MEET THE COMPOSER events, the organization brings tools, perspectives, and master class teaching opportunities to enrich our arts community. Most concerts are provided free of charge for all to enjoy, with donations accepted to defray expenses. The Chorale relies on corporate and individual sponsorships, as well as its annual Valentine’s Day fundraiser, Mosaic of Love.

The Huntsville Master Chorale has a particular heart for commissioning new works. Composition is where music begins, and the ensemble is honored to participate in the process. The Chorale consistently brings new musical works to life, both from composers of international renown and in the local area. A list of commissioned works and world premieres can be found at hsvmasterchorale.org/history/

Above all, this choral organization seeks to promote unity through music, embracing the belief that corporate music provides the unique opportunity to offer peace, inclusion, and harmony to all involved, performers and listeners alike.