HENDERSON – The Northeast Piedmont Chorale will pay tribute to America on May 1 at 3 p.m. in a concert at the McGregor Hall Performing Arts Center.
“America, the Beautiful” and “God Bless America” offer programs tracing the historical and cultural development of the land and bookends for people who came to America to build a new nation.
Directed by Cindy Edwards of Henderson, the chorale features several singers from the Vance County and Tri-County area. The chorus will be accompanied by Kristen Allred on piano and a 17-piece orchestra. Smaller ensembles will provide accompaniment for some individual numbers.
This performance was long in coming. It was originally scheduled for May 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of that performance. After taking a two-year sabbatical, Chorley resumed rehearsals in February this year.
The McGregor Hall concert is one of two scheduled for the chorale this spring. The group will sing at New Hope Baptist Church, Raleigh at 4301 Louisburg Road on April 30 at 7:30 p.m.
Titled “Home Is Where the Heart Is”, the concert will explore the paths that brought immigrants to America with an interpretation of “Song of the Tall Ship” and Neil Diamond’s “Coming to America”.
As new Americans discovered the land, the music they brought in from England, Scotland, and other points around the world was shaped by the new lands. Reflecting different styles of folk music, Chorley will feature three familiar songs from the people – “Shenandoah,” “Shady Grove” and “Cindy.”
But as the nation expanded west, it split into north and south. Choral will tell how the nation was woven together with a choral interpretation of “The Gettysburg Address”, followed by “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” and “Freedom Song”.
The chorale will sing “Homeland”, the heartfelt love of country that leads to “God Bless America”, ending with a message of hope and healing.
The Northeast Piedmont Chorale is a non-profit organization that has provided choral music to residents of the Northeast Piedmont region of North Carolina for more than three decades.
Admission to concerts is free. Donations will be accepted.
