2020 Performances

Feel your spirit soar to new heights at this vibrant and soulful program. Born of a dark past, spirituals have an unmistakable power to connect us through our joys and sorrows. Dr. André Thomas expertly honors this past and moves into the gospel realm by conducting the Midwest premiere of his Mass: A Celebration of Love and Joy with orchestra, soloists, and choir. Continue the journey with powerful spirituals for choir and orchestra including “In That Great Gettin’ Up Morning” and “What a Mighty God,” and get ready to shout for joy!

• VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers
• Dr. André Thomas, conductor
• NaGuanda Nobles, soloist
• Christian Mark Gibbs, soloist
• Orchestra

Our final concert of the season will be the final appearance by our beloved Conductor, Dr. André Thomas, on our podium. What better way to honor our conductor of 31 years than to perform the Southeastern premiere of the André J. Thomas Mass, under the baton of André Thomas! We are very privileged to present this work to our community! The choirs of the FSU College of Music and the University Symphony Orchestra will join us to open the concert with Handel’s great coronation anthem, Zadok the Priest. This triumphant outpouring of joy will set the stage as the choirs and orchestra celebrate Dr. Thomas with performances of his works. A fitting tribute and joyful celebration you won’t want to miss!  

 You will definitely want to mark the dates of Feb. 27th – March 2 on your calendar for the 2019 ACDA 60th Anniversary Jubilee National Conference to be held in Kansas City, Missouri.   The conference themes for this 60th Anniversary Conference are Legacy and Community. We will have performances by choirs from across our country, international choirs, a Legacy Director’s Chorus featuring 11 iconic conductors. Acclaimed soprano, NaGaunda Nobles, will be performing with the Tallahassee Community Chorus, under the baton of Dr. Andre Thomas.  

Groundbreaking, daring, adventurous, genre defying! Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess is a work without peer in the history of American music. Described by the composer himself as a “folk opera,” Porgy and Bess features an array of spirituals, folk songs and such classics as Summertime. Since its premiere, with an all African-American cast of classically trained singers, the opera has become a potent symbol of race relations in American, and a work that forever changed the boundaries of opera. 

The Voices of Praise choir sing a mixture of songs from contemporary, traditional and popular music to minister to God's people. The group comprise of men and women who desire to share the power of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ through song, the Voices of Praise genuinely show how the wounded, hurt and rejected can be made whole again. Whether they are belting out a popular song by one of today's most celebrated Christian singers, or they are sharing a special story that reaches as far back to the days when our grandparents were younger, the sentiment and purpose is the same: to bring the lost and/or re-unite or re-connect people to Christ.    

Taking its name from the Latin word meaning ‘I believe,’ Credo is a 100-singer mixed chorus located in Dallas, Texas. Founded and conducted by Dr. Jonathan Palant, Credo’s mission is rooted not only in the power of music, but also in community, learning, equality, and in sharing one’s fortunes with those less fortunate. Credo, now in its fifth season, has performed throughout Dallas and has undertaken concert tours to Australia, Cuba, Iceland, Latvia, Estonia, and Finland.