Thursday, November 19, 2015

Charleston Gospel Choir and Spiritual Ensemble Ring in the Holiday Season 15th Annual Gospel Christmas: Saturday, Dec. 5, A Charleston Holiday Tradition



CHARLESTON, SC November 19, 2015 ─The acclaimed Charleston Gospel Choir joins forces with the Charleston Spiritual Ensemble for the holidays to present the 15th Annual Gospel Christmas Saturday, December 5, 2015, 7:30pm at Ashley River Baptist Church, 1101 Savannah Highway, Charleston.

Providing the setting for story of Christ’s birth through music, the Charleston Spiritual Ensemble opens the program with moving interpretations of sacred holiday music in the manner of the African-American Spiritual including Mary Had a Baby by Roland Carter, Hail Mary by William Dawson, Glory Hallelujah to The New Born King, by Mark Butler and Away In A Manger by Moses Hogan are among a list of classics.

A Lowcountry household name, the Charleston Gospel Choir brings real meaning to Charleston’s musical landscape performing down-home traditional soulful gospel renditions including Give God the Glory, a selection that ushered in the first Gospel Christmas 15 years ago, Christmas is Jesus Christ, Go Tell It On the Mountain and an arrangement of the classic Carol of the Bells by Isaac S. Cates.

The performance will again be conducted by 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 holiday arrangements.

“I am honored to return to Charleston and be part of this holiday tradition. Music and the holidays bring the joy of giving and love into our lives and is a wonderful way for families to be together,” said Dr. Dilworth.

“We are again honored to be hosted by Reverend Dave Patterson and the Ashley River Baptist Church congregation. Their world-class sanctuary provides the perfect setting for telling the Christmas story,” said Lee Pringle, producer and president of the two musical groups.

The performance will also highlight several of the groups’ talented vocalists including Jean-Claude Davidson, Kim Lee, Jennifer Ancrum, Monique Middleton and the world-class gospel vocals of Grace Ramsey.  

Ticket and Information
15th Annual Gospel Christmas
Featuring the Charleston Gospel Choir and Charleston Spiritual Ensemble
Rollo Dilworth, conductor
Saturday December 5, 2015, 7:30pm

Ashley River Baptist Church, 1101 Savannah Highway, Charleston 
Tickets: $35 adults; $30 seniors; $15 students with ID; discounted group rates for 10 or more
Tickets available at door, www.charlestongospelchoir.org or by phone (866) 811-4111

Featured Artists
Dr. Rollo A. Dilworth, 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 photographs and complete concert program available on request.
 
About the Charleston Gospel Choir

Since 1999, the Charleston Gospel Choir is 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 www.charlestongospelchoir.org

About the Charleston Spiritual Ensemble

Now in its eighth year, the 35-member Charleston Spiritual Ensemble honors 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. www.charlestonspiritual.com


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