PINEHURST, NC – A full house gathered on Saturday evening at Owens Auditorium on the campus of Sandhills Community College for what was an impressive mix of classical music presented by the Carolina Philharmonic, conducted by...
Read MoreBefore attending this concert, I had never been to Duke University Chapel. I had heard of its splendor, of the peace found within its walls, and of the reverence that its architectural design inspires. As I entered on Thursday...
Read MoreTruth be told, I have struggled to find my Christmas spirit this season. That changed the minute I walked through the large wooden doors of Edenton Street United Methodist Church for the Raleigh Youth Choir‘s “Carols of Christmas” concert on Friday night. As nervous parents ushered their singers to the appropriate group, and smiling children eagerly lined up outside the sanctuary, I found myself instantly caught up in the excitement.
The Raleigh Youth Choir has been revitalized in recent years, transitioning from the Raleigh Boychoir to include children of all ages and genders. Their DEIA (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Advocacy) statement acknowledges the desire to “honor each chorister, their background, and the fullness of their potential.” This was evident in spades on Friday night. The young musicians were the highlight from start to finish, beginning with the Beach String Quartet, a student string ensemble comprised of youth from the NC Chamber Music Institute (Owen Beal and Adrian McCall, violins; Max Owen, viola; Cashier Books, cello; and Luke Tychansky, bass). As artistic director Jeremy Tucker welcomed the audience, he specifically called attention to Dr. Fran Page, for whom the Page Singers are named, and she received perhaps the largest applause of the evening. Read about all of the Raleigh Youth Choir’s conductors here, and ensembles here.
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