Monday, July 5, 2010

Jessica Usherwood Sings 'Four Spirituals' of Hale Smith at The Moody Church July 4



[Hale Smith and Jessica Usherwood]

Composer Regina Harris Baiocchi tells AfriClassical of the Independence Day Concert and Ice Cream Social which were held by The Moody Church on Sunday, July 4 at 3:00 pm. Soprano Jessica Usherwood sang Four Spirituals for voice and orchestra, arranged by the late composer Hale Smith (1925-2009):
“THE MOODY CHURCH SANCTUARY CHOIR & FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA
with JESSICA USHERWOOD, SOPRANO
Tim Stafford, Conductor

“FEATURING
Stars & Stripes Forever • The Washington Post March • Salute to the Armed Forces • America, the Beautiful • Bugler’s Holiday • You’re a Grand Old Flag •
God Bless America • Four Spirituals (Hale Smith) • and many more

“GUEST ARTIST Jessica Usherwood, soprano
Jessica Usherwood holds a professional diploma and a master’s degree from Chicago College of Performing Arts (CCPA) at Roosevelt University. Jessica participated in the CCPA Opera Night at the Auditorium Theatre and performed a duet with Samuel Ramey. She appeared with the Chicago Opera Theater for several seasons and was also a participant of the Steans Institute for Young Artists at Ravinia Festival. Jessica is currently the soprano of the International Chamber Artists (ICA). With ICA she has performed works including Mozart’s Requiem and Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915. This past season Jessica performed Previn’s Vocalise and Four Songs on “Live from WFMT.” She has also sung sacred arrangements and hymns for services at The Moody Church where she and her husband Jim Laubach are members." [Hale Smith (1925-2009) is profiled at AfriClassical.com, which features a complete Works List compiled by Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma of Lawrence University Conservatory, Appleton, Wisconsin.]





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