Living
Schola Cantorum to present concert
Sunday, 29 April 2012 by Keith Bahlmann
The Schola Cantorum (School of Singing) will present its Spring Concert at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 22nd in the Sanctuary of the First Presbyterian Church of Belton. There is no admission charge for the concert. The First Presbyterian Church of Belton is located at 2500 Church Street at the end of Greenbriar. Greenbriar is one block south of Walmart just off North Main. The public is cordially invited to spend a musical Sunday afternoon with the Schola Cantorum. There will be a reception after the concert.
The program is made up of an eclectic mix of madrigals, selections from MY FAIR LADY, patriotic music, and a chorus from Handel's oratorio JUDAS MACCABAEUS. A health warning to those with a penchant for eating fat will be presented in an updated rendition of the nursery rhyme "Jack Spratt" by Fred Silver. JoAnna Odom will be featured as the mezzo-soprano soloist in a setting of "I Think I Heard Him Say" by Gilbert Martin. As it does with each concert, Schola will end the program by inviting visiting singers to join them in Lutkin's "The Lord Bless You and Keep You."
The members of the chorus are drawn from a wide area — Belton, Temple, Killeen, and from Missouri City to Waco. Current singers are: Marilyn Allison, Belinda Baker, Marilyn Covington, Melinda Guthrie, Margaret Henderson, Rebecca Hesson-Smith, D. Kirkland, Marlene Lastovica-Schiller, Birget Marbach, Julie McPhail, Sherryn Peck, Laura Prudom, Valorie Surface Cheryl Stone and Ariannah Wilder, sopranos; Jay Brooks, Tiziana Bigbee, Dee Coffeen, Chryrl Davis, JoAnna Odom, Sylvia Pace-Owens, Patricia Rye, Lisa Weaver, Jessica Wilds, Sally Wagner, Penny Worley, altos; Paul Bolton, Pruitt Davis, John Henderson, Carla Richardson, M. Lee Talley, and Dennis L. Williams, tenors; Billy Burchfield, Bill Cowart, Arthur McPhail, John Moseley, Dennis Turk, and George Weaver, basses. Jane Clancy Debenport is the conductor of the group. Jessye Whitis serves as accompanist.
The Schola Cantorum is made up of people who enjoy singing with a like-minded group in a relaxed atmosphere. Membership is open – without audition. The aim is to have a good time – and make beautiful music. The model for this group is what was called in past years a "choral club." Membership will be opened for new members in August. Anyone who has enjoyed singing with a high school chorus or a church choir is welcome. We support ourselves by a tuition payment each semester. Scholarships are available. All are welcome.
