Fine Arts @ FPC 2017-18 Season

2017- 2018 Season

First Presbyterian Church of Tyler • Concert Series September 2017 through July 2018

“Music...can name the unnameable and communicate the unknowable.�

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Leonard Bernstein

Welcome

The University Connection In the words of Johann Sebastian Bach, “the aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.” As I look out upon the many musical offerings that this season affords us at First Presbyterian Church, I see a variety of talents and ensembles that each in their own way helps us all to experience the glory of God and to find refreshment, peace, and comfort in a chaotic and busy world.

As you flip through these pages, I hope that you will find interest in a number of forthcoming events. From the talents of local artists to visiting professional musicians, we welcome new artists while celebrating a number of annual traditions such as Lessons and Carols and the Jazz Brunch.

Now in their 50th season, we are also proud to honor the Tyler Civic Chorale in this celebratory year, culminating in a 50th Anniversary Gala on May 19th. I am greatly indebted to FPC’s Interim Director of Music, Lee Kohlenberg, for his assistance in organizing this Fine Arts season and I look forward to seeing you at these events.

Weston J. Jennings Director of Music and Organist First Presbyterian Church

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“A painter paints pictures on canvas.

But musicians paint their pictures on silence.�

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Leopold Stokowski

From My Travels Sunday, September 10, 2017 | 4 pm Sanctuary

Free Admission Following a summer concert tour of England, Scotland, Germany and Lithuania, FPC’s new Director of Music and Organist, Weston Jennings, will perform works that draw upon the full resources of FPC’s superb pipe organ. With music composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Antonio Vivaldi, American composer Craig Phillips, and others, alongside unique and charming commentary, this afternoon promises to entertain.

Featured Musician WESTON JENNINGS organ

A recent graduate of the Yale School of Music and Institute of Sacred Music, Weston Jennings has performed across the United States and Europe, including venues such as St. Paul’s Cathedral in London and St. Thomas Church on Fifth Avenue in New York.

He joins First Presbyterian Church as Director of Music and Organist, as well as Artistic and Executive Director of the Tyler Civic Chorale.

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“Music is the shorthand of emotion.”

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Sound the Trumpet!

BAROQUE TRUMPETS & VOICE Sunday, October 1, 2017 | 4 pm Sanctuary

Free Admission Hailed by The Sunday Times as a ‘singer who delivers without effort, displaying inner feelings and sensitivity,’ mezzo-soprano Sophia Grech joins world-renowned baroque trumpeter Crispian Steele Perkins, and UNT’s Professor of Trumpet, John Holt, for an afternoon of music ranging from Handel and Vivaldi to delightful tunes from the iconic Sound of Music by Rodgers and Hammerstein. Experiencing this rarely heard combination of voice and trumpet in concert is something you won’t regret adding to your calendar.

Featured Musicians CRISPIAN STEELE-PERKINS trumpet

JOHN HOLT trumpet

SOPHIA GRECH mezzo-soprano

LESLIE PEARSON piano

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“Music is powerful. As people listen to it, they can be affected. They respond.”

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Ray Charles

Jazz Brunch

Sunday, October 22, 2017 | 12 pm Fellowship Hall

Free Admission The unique rhythmic language of jazz encapsulates something essentially human, at once championing both the individual and the collective. Celebrate this rich musical history with us at a special jazz brunch featuring the Lynn Seaton Trio from the University of North Texas. The event will be a feast for the senses.

Featured Musicians LYNN SEATON double bass

PETER RIOUX piano

QUINCY DAVIS drums

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“Life is one grand, sweet song, so start the music.�

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Ronald Reagan

Baylor Brass Sunday, November 12, 2017 | 4 pm Sanctuary

Free Admission Comprised of the Baylor University brass faculty, Baylor Brass concertizes regularly on the Baylor campus, in the public schools throughout Texas, and on tours of major music schools outside Texas and in foreign countries.

PREVIEW! The Baylor Brass will make a guest appearance at the 11 am worship service on Sunday, November 12 in FPC’s sanctuary.

Featured Musicians WIFF RUDD trumpet

MARK SCHUBERT trumpet

JEFFREY POWERS horn

BRENT PHILLIPS trombone

DR. KENT ESHELMAN tuba/euphonium

WESTON JENNINGS organ

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“Music is the art of the prophets and the gift of God.�

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Martin Luther

Lessons & Carols for Advent Sunday, December 3, 2017 | 4 pm Sanctuary

Free Admission Similar to the better known Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols for Christmas Eve, the Procession with Carols on Advent originated at King’s College in Cambridge, England by Dean Eric Milner-White in 1934. Dean Milner-White wrote: ‘In the old English liturgies, the Advent Offices made a preparation for the coming of our Lord to this earth far more vivid and eager than those of our present [1662] Prayer Book. So an Advent Carol Service, if without precedent, is not without suitability, if it helps to express “the desire of all nations and ages.”’

The purpose of the service is ‘not to celebrate Christmas, but to expect it.’

Featured Musicians TYLER CIVIC CHORALE WESTON JENNINGS conducter/organ

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“In its beginnings, music was merely chamber music, meant to be listened to in a small space by a small audience.�

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Gustav Mahler

An Afternoon of Woodwind Classics Sunday, February 4, 2018 | 4 pm Sanctuary

Free Admission Formed of the woodwind faculty of Stephen F. Austin State University, the Stone Fort Wind Quintet will present a vibrant concert of works for woodwinds, both old favorites and new discoveries, that convey a wealth of emotions. Often the dedicatees of new compositions, the Stone Fort Wind Quintet also plans to share a few of their favorite compositions by living composers. Perhaps they will reveal a new favorite for you!

Featured Musicians CHRISTINA GUENTHER flute

KERRY HUGHES oboe

CHRISTOPHER AYER clarinet

CHARLES GAVIN horn

LEE GOODHEW bassoon

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Season at a Glance Featured Artist

Artist in Residence

Location (if not Sanctuary)

Ticketed Event

In addition to the concerts highlighted throughout this brochure, guests are always welcome to join the FPC congregation in worship on Sunday mornings at 8:30 and 11 am. Special worship services included in this season overview highlight the musical talent of FPC’s own ensembles, as well as special guest musicians.

See pages 28–31 for more info.

2017

SEPTEMBER From My Travels

Weston Jennings, Organ

Sunday, September 10 | 4 pm

OCTOBER

Trumpets and Mezzo-Soprano John Holt, Sophia Grech & Crispian Steele-Perkins

Sunday, October 1 | 4 pm UT Tyler Fall Concert Saturday, October 14 | 6 pm Music Dedication Sunday Sunday, October 22 | 11 am Jazz Brunch The Lynn Seaton Trio

Sunday, October 22 | 12 pm Fellowship Hall Ein Feste Burg: 500 Years of Reformation Tyler Civic Chorale

Sunday, October 29 | 4 pm $15 adults | $5 students

NOVEMBER Baylor Brass

Baylor University Resident Faculty Brass Quintet

Sunday, November 12 | 4 pm Voices of Faith Fall Concert Friday, November 17 | 7 pm

DECEMBER

Lessons & Carols for Advent Tyler Civic Chorale

Sunday, December 3 | 4 pm UT Tyler Christmas Concert Saturday, December 9 | 6 pm Family Creche Service Sunday, December 24 | 3 pm FPC Chapel 47th Annual Moravian Lovefeast Sunday, December 24 | 5:30 pm 16 | Call 903.597.6317

2018

FEBRUARY

An Afternoon of Woodwind Classics Stone Fort Wind Quintet

Sunday, February 4 | 4 pm From Hollywood with Love Tyler Civic Chorale

Saturday, February 24 | 7 pm $15 adults | $5 students

MARCH

UT Tyler Spring Finale Concert Saturday, March 3 | 6 pm Voices of Faith Spring Concert Friday, March 23 | 7 pm

APRIL

Easter Day Celebrations Sunday, April 1 | 8:30 & 11 am Easter Eggstravaganza | 9:30 am Front Lawn Trio Colorida

Judy Biondini, Michael Thrasher and Greg Sauer

Sunday, April 15 | 4 pm Kirkin’ of the Tartans

Lyon College Pipe Band

Sunday, April 22 | 11 am Luncheon on the Lawn | 12 pm Front Lawn

MAY

UNT HarpBeats HarpBeats

Sunday, May 6 | 4 pm Tyler Civic Chorale 50th Anniversary Gala Tyler Civic Chorale

Saturday May 19 | 6 pm $30 adults | $15 students

JUNE

Friendship Tour 2018 Turtle Creek Chorale

Sunday, June 24 | 7 pm

JULY

The Annual Independence Day Concert Tyler Civic Chorale

Wednesday, July 4 | 4 pm

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“These seem to me so ambiguous, so vague, so easily misunderstood in comparison to genuine music, which fills the soul with a thousand things better than words.�

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Felix Mendelssohn

Trio Colorida Sunday, April 15, 2018 | 4 pm Sanctuary

Free Admission At the heart of this concert, Trio Colorida will feature the Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano written in 1973 by Academy Award-winning film score composer Giovanni “Nino” Rota. In more than 150 film scores, Rota brought the drama on screen to life through music and you will find that this Trio is no less vivid! In addition, individual members of the trio will present instrumental solos by Claude Debussy, Nikolai Kapustin and George Whitefield Chadwick.

Featured Musicians JUDY BRIDEWELL BIONDINI piano

GREGORY SAUER cello

MICHAEL THRASHER clarinet

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“Music is not man’s invention, but his heritage from the blessed spirits.”

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Tomas Luis de Victoria

Kirkin’ of the Tartans Sunday, April 22, 2018 | 11 am Sanctuary Luncheon on the Lawn | 12 pm

Free Admission A procession of tartan plaid and bagpipes celebrates First Presbyterian Church’s Scottish heritage and has become an annual tradition for the congregation. Join us as special guest musicians, the Lyon College Pipe Band, return to lead the celebration.

Featured Musicians LYON COLLEGE PIPE BAND

With a second-place prize from the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland under its belt, Lyon College’s Scottish Heritage Program truly is the most significant in the nation for bag piping, drumming, and Highland dancing. The arts program is designed to teach, preserve, and celebrate the Scottish arts and traditions in America.

Founded in 1872 by the Presbyterian Church, whose roots are in Scotland, Lyon College is the oldest private college in Arkansas.

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“Music is the divine way to tell beautiful, poetic things to the heart.�

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Pablo Casals

UNT HarpBeats Sunday, May 6, 2018 | 4 pm Sanctuary

Free Admission Led by Dr. Jaymee Haefner, the UNT HarpBeats ensemble is gaining recognition as one of the most innovative harp ensembles in the country. Their repertoire ranges from J.S. Bach to Radiohead and everything in between, including several original compositions written for the ensemble. They have recently performed for the American Harp Society Summer Institute, have been featured on CBS 11, and are certainly not to be missed!

Featured Musicians HARPBEATS

DR. JAYMEE HAEFNER conductor

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“Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.�

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Victor Hugo

Tyler Civic Chorale th Anniversary Gala

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Saturday, May 19, 2018 | 6 pm Sanctuary

$30 Adults | $15 Students

Celebrating 50 years of excellent musicmaking and fond memories of seasons past, the Tyler Civic Chorale will be led by all of its conductors, past and present, in this festive evening. Each conductor will lead the group in some of their favorites to culminate in a concert that observes the breadth of repertoire and style performed by this group across five decades.

Featured Musicians TYLER CIVIC CHORALE DONALD DUNCAN conductor

FRODE GUNDERSEN conductor

RICHARD HERR conductor

DAVID McCORMICK conductor

WESTON JENNINGS conductor/organ

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“Neither a lofty degree of intelligence nor imagination nor both together go to the making of genius. Love, love, love, that is the soul of genius.�

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Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

F riendship Tour 2018 TURTLE CREEK CHORALE Sunday, June 24, 2018 | 7 pm Sanctuary

Free Admission The most recorded men’s chorus in the world and longtime Dallas musical establishment, the Turtle Creek Chorale, will return to First Presbyterian Church this summer on their 2018 Friendship Tour. With an exciting program mixing both sacred and secular choral literature, the Chorale’s evening concert promises to be uplifting and inspirational.

Featured Musicians

TURTLE CREEK CHORALE SEAN BAUGH artistic director

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a | Artists in Residence

First Presbyterian Church hosts the rehearsals and performances of several local musical ensembles, providing a beautiful space for the community to practice and experience the musical arts. All concerts are free of charge unless otherwise noted.

TYLER CIVIC CHORALE tylercivicchorale.org

Now in its 50th season as Tyler’s premiere choral ensemble, the Tyler Civic Chorale continues to bring to life an impressive range of music, from great, sacred masterworks to beloved American folk songs and carols. Over the course of its history with most of the last half-century in residence at First Presbyterian Church–the Chorale has sung requiems

by Brahms, Mozart, Duruflé and Fauré, as well as Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Creation, and dozens of other masses, motets, cantatas, and oratorios.

While the major corpus of choral music is drawn from the Western Christian church, the Chorale also seeks to honor a great breadth of musical traditions extending beyond the sacred, engaging with the 20th-century American songbook, modern composers, folk songs and carols, madrigal compositions, and more.

Tickets are available at the door and online.

Ein Feste Burg: 500 Years of Reformation Sunday, October 29, 2017 | 4 pm Sanctuary | $15 adults | $5 students

Lessons and Carols for Advent Sunday, December 3, 2017 | 4 pm Sanctuary | Free Admission

From Hollywood with Love Saturday, February 24, 2018 | 7 pm Sanctuary | $15 adults | $5 students

50th Anniversary Gala Saturday, May 19, 2018 | 6 pm Sanctuary | $30 adults | $15 students

Annual Independence Day Concert Wednesday, July 4, 2018 | 4 pm Sanctuary | Free Admission

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UT TYLER

uttyler.edu/music/ensembles/choral First Presbyterian Church is home to the joint concerts of the UT Tyler Patriot Singers and Concert Chorale, under the direction of Dr. Cameron Rose. The Patriot Singers, UT Tyler’s premiere choral ensemble, perform a wide repertoire, from sacred Renaissance music to contemporary vocal jazz. The Concert Chorale, which joins the Patriot Singers in concert, is UT Tyler’s community choir.

Fall Concert Saturday, October 14, 2017 | 6 pm Sanctuary | Free Admission

Christmas Concert Saturday, December 9, 2017 | 6 pm Sanctuary | Free Admission

Spring Finale Concert Saturday, March 3, 2018 | 6 pm Sanctuary | Free Admission

VOICES OF FAITH vofchoir-30747.firebaseapp.com

Since 2008, Voices of Faith has sought to give young musicians a space to explore their artistic discipline through a God-honoring repertoire. The choir gathers together over seventy-five talented vocalists from the East Texas area–including middle school, high school, and college students–in a Christ-centered, community choral program under the direction of Pam Eikner, with accompanist Dana Bertino.

Students believe their talents are a gift from God, and they actively seek ministry opportunities.

Fall Concert Friday, November 17, 2017 | 7 pm Sanctuary | Free Admission

Spring Concert Friday, March 23, 2018 | 7 pm Sanctuary | Free Admission

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Keep the Music Alive

Over the years, your generosity and commitment have sustained Fine Arts at First Presbyterian Church as a vibrant space for fine arts in East Texas. While most concerts are offered free of charge, none of them are without expense. Hosting guest artists, maintaining this beautiful space, coordinating Artists in Residence, getting the word out—all of these efforts require resources.

Consider what these offerings have meant to you—from a musical, cultural, or spiritual standpoint—and consider making a gift. Your contributions help this series continue to flourish as a venerable, living tradition of fine music-making.

Help us keep the music alive. Use the envelope in the centerfold to donate today.

SEATING & TICKETS

Seats are offered on a first come, first served basis; all Sanctuary seating is in pews. The majority of concerts are free and open to the public. For ticketed concerts, purchase tickets at the door or in advance. Ticket purchase information is listed with concerts in this brochure, where applicable.

PARKING

Free parking is available in two parking lots at FPC: one on the south side of the Fellowship Hall, and another east of the main building. Designated handicap parking is available in the upper portion of the south lot near Fellowship Hall. Please do not park at the local businesses surrounding the church.

CHILDREN

Older children are welcome at our concerts; however, if they become noisy or unsettled, please quietly exit the Sanctuary in order not to disturb other concert goers. A nursery is not provided during concerts, with the exception of events taking place on Sunday mornings.

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MORE FPC MUSIC The Music Ministries at First Presbyterian Church welcome musicians of all skill levels and backgrounds to join us in glorifying God. Learn about joining the ministry at fpctyler.com/music.

CHILDREN’S CHOIRS The Carol Choir teaches basic music reading skills and singing technique, as well as tenets of Reformed worship and music. Ring-and-Sing combines elements of singing and handbells.

Both groups contribute to worship throughout the school year.

ADULT ENSEMBLES The Chancel Choir leads worship with a musical variety ranging from the great anthems of the Reformation and choral masterworks to modern, hymn-based anthems and Gospel music. The Carillon Handbell Choir chimes often during worship, utilizing a fiveoctave set of Malmark bells.

ORGAN FPC Tyler’s sanctuary organ—the largest in all of East Texas—was built in 2000 by Casavant Frères. It features beautiful clear flutes, warm diapasons, and a variety of reed color and tone, as well as a generous number of lush strings and celestes.

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