CSO Gospel Choir and CSO Spiritual Ensemble Ring in the Holiday Season Gospel Christmas: Behold the Star Saturday, December 7

Celebrating 13th Performance of Gospel Christmas, A Charleston Holiday Tradition

CHARLESTON, SC November 11, 2013 ─The acclaimed CSO Gospel Choir joins forces with the CSO Spiritual Ensemble for the holidays to present Gospel Christmas: Behold the Star, Saturday, December 7, 2013, 7:00pm at Ashley River Baptist Church, 1101 Savannah Highway, Charleston. Providing the setting for story of Christ’s birth through music, the CSO Spiritual Ensemble opens the program with moving interpretations of sacred holiday music in the manner of the African-American Spiritual including Rise Up Shepherd & Follow, Glory, Glory, Glory to the New Born King, and many others to usher in the holiday season. A lowcountry household name, the CSO Gospel Choir brings real meaning to Charleston’s musical landscape and returns to the stage for the second half of the program performing down-home traditional spirituals and sacred selections culminating with soulful renditions of beloved gospel arrangements including Go Tell it On the Mountain, Lead Me Lord and Come Thou Mighty King. The performance will be conducted by internationally acclaimed conductor, Dr. Rollo Dilworth, Associate Professor of Choral Music Education at Temple University, and features an orchestra of regional musicians for a rousing celebration of gospel favorites, moving spirituals and festive orchestral holiday arrangements. "Music and the holidays bring the joy of giving and love into our lives,” says Dr. Dilworth. “I am honored to join this Charleston holiday tradition.  It’s a wonderful way for families to be together and share in the uplifting and spiritual beauty of the holidays.  Nothing does it better than music!" “We are very honored to be hosted by Reverend Dave Patterson and the entire Ashley River Baptist Church congregation. This world-class sanctuary provides the perfect setting for telling the story of the birth of Christ through moving orchestral, spiritual, and gospel music,” said Lee Pringle, President and Founder of the two musical groups. The performance will also highlight several of the local groups’ talented vocalists. Ticket and Information: Gospel Christmas: Behold the Star Featuring the CSO Gospel Choir and CSO Spiritual Ensemble Rollo Dilworth, guest conductor Saturday December 7, 2013, 7:00pm Ashley River Baptist Church, 1101 Savannah Highway, Charleston  Tickets: $30; $20 seniors; $10 students with ID; discounted group rates for 10 or more Tickets available at www.csogospel.com or (866) 811-4111 FEATURED ARTISTS Dr. Rollo A. Dilworth, Guest Conductor Rollo A. Dilworth is Associate Professor of Choral Music Education at Temple University’s Boyer School of Music in Philadelphia and serves as conductor for the University Chorale. Dr. Dilworth served as Director of Choral Activities and Music Education at North Park University in Chicago and holds degrees from Case Western Reserve University, University of Missouri-St. Louis, and Northwestern University.  Dr. Dilworth has written and/or arranged over 150 choral works currently in print. His choral compositions are a part of the Henry Leck Creating Artistry Choral Series with Hal Leonard Corporation and Colla Voce Music Company.  He has also published pieces with the Santa Barbara Music Publishing Company as part of the Mary Alice Stollak Choral Series. Dr. Dilworth is a contributing author for the Essential Elements for Choir and the Experiencing Choral Music textbook series and for Music Express! Teachers Magazine. He authored two books of choral warm-ups for elementary and secondary choral ensembles entitled Choir Builders: Fundamental Vocal Techniques for General and Classroom Use and Choir Builders for Growing Voices. Dr. Dilworth has released a recording entitled Good News which features 12 of his choral compositions. Recent choral-orchestral works include Freedom’s Plow, commissioned by the St. Louis Symphony orchestra and IN UNISON® Chorus and Rain Sequence, commissioned by the Mendelssohn Club of Philadelphia. Additional high resolution images and complete concert program available on request. About the CSO Gospel Choir Candace B. Mcleod, Director Under the direction of Candace B. Mcleod, since 1999 the CSO Gospel Choir thrives as one of Charleston’s most sought-after culturally diverse musical groups, performing gospel, spirituals and sacred music for local concert events as well as international and regional performances throughout the year. csogospel.com About the CSO Spiritual Ensemble David A. Richardson, Director Now in its fifth year, David A. Richardson has taken the 35-member CSO Spiritual Ensemble to new heights honoring the ‘spiritual,’ the historical musical form born of the suffering and endurance of African slaves after arriving to the southern shores of this country in powerful performances celebrating the unique, indigenous harmonies that helped form African-American cultural traditions. csospiritual.com ###