Thomasville Singers Perform Sunday

This Sunday, April 13, Arts for the Community at Thomas University presents another concert in their ongoing series, “Sundays at Four” at 4:00 pm in the Thomasville Cultural Center. The concert will feature the Thomasville Singers performing Haydn’s oratorio “Creation” with professional soloists Marcia Porter, soprano, Tyler Nelson, tenor and Chris Liljestrand, bass. William Collins will be conducting the vocalists and the accompanying chamber ensemble with trumpets and timpani. There will also be a multimedia presentation of local artist Bob Dixon’s new Creation series of paintings during the performance. In addition, the Thomasville Chamber Singers will be performing “Old American Songs” by Aaron Copland. Tickets will be available for purchase at the door at a cost of $10 per person, and a reception will follow the performance. For additional information, contact Dr. Karl Barton at 229-227-6964 or by email at kbarton@thomasu.edu.

Soprano soloist Marcia Porter is currently an Assistant Professor of Voice at the Florida State University. A Rotary International Cultural Ambassadorial Scholar, Porter’s current research interests focus on the classical vocal music of Brazil. In 2004 she was awarded the winner of the NATS Artist Award Competition, which is the highest honor the National Association of Teachers of Singing gives to a performer. She is an active concert artist and recitalist and made her New York Solo Recital Debut in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in 2005. Ms. Porter has also performed in Italy (Rome and Siena), São Paolo, Brazil, at the Ravinia Festival in Chicago and with opera companies including Chautauqua Opera, Dayton Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Chicago Opera Theatre, and Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Series founder Paul Liljestrand states, “From his ‘Farewell Symphony’ with the musicians putting out their candles and departing the stage one-by-one, to his ‘Surprise Symphony’ with the abrupt loud chord meant to awaken the king, Haydn was the comedian of Classical music. His ‘Creation’ is no exception with humorous depictions of the creation of animals including a delightful section on the creation of the worm sung by the bass soloist. ”

The final program of the “Sundays at Four” season will be “Music for Mother’s Day” on May 11 featuring the piano duo of Barbara Lang and Paul Liljestrand, flutist Lisa Hand as well as other local musicians.