YE SHALL HAVE A SONG, HONORING CHORALE ACCOMPANIST NANCY SMITH
May 4, 2025
McAlister Auditorium, Furman University, Greenville, SC
Founded in 1961, the Greenville Chorale concerts represent the finest in choral music performance. Traditionally, this spring concert is presented in the beautiful sanctuary of First Baptist Church. The repertoire for the concert is focused on selections that feature the Casavant organ or the Steinway piano in that great hall. The music will include poly-choral works, sacred and secular selections, profound music and music to entertain.
Nancy L. Smith has been an accomplished pianist and collaborative musician with the Chorale for sixteen years. Her talent and dedication have been essential to the Chorale’s success over the years. Ms.Smith will retire at the conclusion of this season. It is with great gratitude that we thank Nancy and wish for her all the best.
Dr. Turner has had the privilege to perform with Nancy Smith as a member of both the Herring Chamber Ensemble and Greenville Chorale, as well as at Westminster Presbyterian Church, Greenville, SC, as a Choral Scholar.
HERRING CHAMBER ENSEMBLE 27TH ANNUAL WINTER CONCERT
February 23, 2025
McAlister Auditorium, Furman University, Greenville, SC
The twenty-four voices of the Herring Chamber Ensemble have established themselves as a premier choral chamber ensemble through their beautiful and exciting performances of a broad repertoire. Each a professional soloist, the Ensemble singers are dedicated to professional-level performances of great and entertaining literature. Featured in this concert will be Benjamin Britten’s “Hymn to St.Cecilia” (patron saint of musicians), Arnold Schönberg’s benchmark “Friede auf Erden” (Peace on Earth), settings of Native American Indian prayers by Bob Chilcott, and a variety of “Maestro’s Favorites” from the Ensemble’s twenty-seven year history.
The Herring Ensemble is sponsored by Gordon and Sarah Herring, part of the heart of musical and educational philanthropy in the upstate.
GREENVILLE CHORALE PRESENTS HANDEL’S MESSIAH
December 14, 2024
McAlister Auditorium, Furman University, Greenville, SC
Handel’s MESSIAH was first performed in England in 1742. It has been a staple in the choral-orchestral repertoire for over 280 years. Handel was famous in his day as a composer of opera. He fashioned MESSIAH like his operas: three acts (parts), each broken down into “scenes,” with featured soloists and (unusually) a prominent part for the chorus. The Greenville Chorale first performed MESSIAH in 1988. Our 2024 performance marks the eleventh performance over the past 36 years. Singers and orchestra players love to perform this magnificent work, and audiences love hearing it again and again.
Dr. T. J. Turner will be the tenor soloist for Handel’s MESSIAH featuring the Greenville Chorale and Greenville Symphony Orchestra.
AN EARLY CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION
November 2, 2024
McAlister Auditorium, Furman University, Greenville, SC
HODIE by British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams tells the Christmas story with enlightening poetry interspersed throughout. Brahms’ beautiful “Nänie” (Song of Lamentation) sets a poem by Friedrich von Shiller lamenting “even the beautiful must die,” but affirming the result of a life well-lived that the “beauty” of the departed will live on. J.S.Bach ended his ultimate masterwork, MASS IN B-MINOR, with a profound setting of “Dona nobis pacem” (Give us peace). In our world today, this affirming prayer is needed more than ever. Closing the program is “St.Patrick’s Hymn,” a work commissioned by the Chorale from composer Dan Forrest. The text is both a prayer and an affirmation that God will “pilot us” through difficult times; He will give us wisdom and protect and direct us and “always be ours this day and forevermore.”
Dr. T. J. Turner will be the tenor soloist for Ralph Vaughan William’s “Hodie.”
CHURCH OF THE INCARNATION SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
July 14, 2024
Church of the Incarnation, Highlands, NC
Join us for a wonderful variety of musical theater classics, featuring our choirmaster Charles Banks on piano with our professional singers of the Church of the Incarnation Choir!
Matthew Allemani, tenor; Tierney Breedlove, soprano; Ruth Brookes, soprano; Maria McDaniel, mezzo-soprano; TJ Turner, tenor
18TH ANNUAL PATRIOTIC LAKESIDE BAND CONCERT
June 27, 2024
Furman University Ampitheatre, Greenville, SC
Greenville Chorale and Furman Lakeside Band collaborate on a program of patriotic and popular music. Admission is free. Come early and bring a picnic and enjoy old-timey outdoor band and choral music. The program lasts an hour. Band marches and patriotic arrangements, salute to veterans of our armed forces, choral settings of show tunes and popular music, and the “1812 Overture” all make for a delightful musical experience for the entire family.
A CONCERT OF MEMORY AND AFFIRMATION
DEDICATED TO ALL THOSE WHOM WE HAVE LOVED AND LOST
April 28, 2024
First Baptist Church, Greenville, SC
This final concert of the 2023-2024 season includes two giant influences in choral music history: Maurice Duruflé’s setting of “Requiem,” and music from the repertoire of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Duruflé was a renowned virtuoso organist and composer when he was commissioned by his publisher to write a Requiem Mass in 1947. He dedicated this work “to the memory of my father.” The text of the “Mass for the Dead” is a comprehensive statement of prayerful hope, of anxiety in anticipation of the final judgment, of great comfort in time of grief, and of assurance of Paradise to come. Duruflé creates a unique and expressive musical statement by building modern sounds around ancient Gregorian Chant melodies. We welcome Charles Tompkins, retired organ professor at Furman University and distinguished organ virtuoso, to our concert.
Mack Wilberg, conductor and musical arranger for the Tabernacle Choir, is admired and respected world-wide for his great musical settings of hymns, spirituals, and folk music. We all enjoy the annual “Christmas with the Tabernacle Choir.” In our concert, the Greenville Chorale might just sound like the “Tabernacle Choir East,” with the great settings of “Come thou fount of every blessing,” “My shepherd will supply my need,” “Bound for the promised land,” and other beautiful and moving arrangements..
HERRING CHAMBER ENSEMBLE 26TH ANNUAL WINTER CONCERT
February 25, 2024
Charles E. Daniel Memorial Chapel, Furman University, Greenville, SC
The twenty-four professional singers from the Greenville Chorale continue to enhance the artistic musical life of the upstate with this annual program of significant, enjoyable, and entertaining chamber music. This concert features one of Bach’s six great motets, “Jesu, meine Freude” (Jesus, my joy), “I thank You God for most this amazing day” by Greenville’s own, Dan Forrest, “Everyone’s voice” by Mark Kilstofte commissioned by the Chorale in celebration of Bingham Vick’s 40 years as conductor in 2021. Other selections on the program include works by Jake Runestad, Kim Arnesen, James Muhlhausen, and Aaron Copland.
The Herring Ensemble is sponsored by Gordon and Sarah Herring, part of the heart of musical and educational philanthropy in the upstate.
Dr. T. J. Turner will be the tenor soloist for Bach’s “Jesu, meine Freude.”
ANDREA BOCELLI’S VALENTINE’S TOUR
February 15, 2024
Bon Secours Wellness Arena, Greenville, SC
Andrea Bocelli’s Valentine’s Tour starts February 2024 with seven special performances in the USA.
Andrea is thrilled to welcome an incredible cast to help celebrate the most romantic time of year.
Featuring:
Special Guest: Zucchero Fornaciari
Conductor: Maestro Steven Mercurio
Soprano: Larisa Martinez
Baritone: Edward Parks
Pop Vocalist: Pia Toscano
Violinist: Caroline Campbell
Dancers: Brittany O’Connor, Angelica Gismondo & Francesco Costa
Singers: The Herring Chamber Ensemble and The Greenville Chorale
MESSE DE MINUIT DE NOËL (CHARPENTIER)
December 17, 2023
Central United Methodist Church, Spartanburg, SC
Dr. Turner will be the tenor soloist for Charpentier’s Messe de minuit de Noël (Midnight Mass for Christmas).
41ST ANNUAL FAMILY CHRISTMAS WITH THE CHORALE AND HERRING CHAMBER ENSEMBLE
December 9, 2023
McAlister Auditorium, Furman University, Greenville, SC
The Chorale’s annual “Christmas with the Chorale” has become one of the upstate’s most enjoyable and popular upstate holiday traditions.
Featured music includes the Randall Bass setting of “Gloria” for brass and Chorale, well-known carols arranged by John Rutter, beautiful Christmas settings by Dan Forrest, audience sing-along holiday music, “Merry Christmas” from the movie Home Alone, and even a song about “mean ol’ Mr. Grinch.” The Chorale will sing “’Twas the night before Christmas,” and “I’m dreaming of a White Christmas” (complete with snow). Of course, the Chorale’s unique presentation of “the Twelve Days of Christmas” always brings the audience to its feet.
REQUIEM (DURUFLÉ)
November 5, 2023
Central United Methodist Church, Spartanburg, SC
GREENVILLE CHORALE, HERRING CHAMBER ENSEMBLE, AND BIG BAND
October 21, 2023
First Presbyterian Church Worship and Arts Center, Greenville, SC
The Chorale opens its 63rd Season with something old and new, something borrowed and something blue. Returning to the concert stage with the Chorale is the widely acclaimed Greenville Jazz Collective – outstanding jazz musicians from across the upstate. The “something old” is a program of great popular big band and jazz music from the past. The “something new” is a new concert venue – the concert hall provided by First Presbyterian Church – and new and modern arrangements of many of the “old standards” of the American Song Book for Chorale and Big Band. Music by Gershwin, Kern, Ellington, and others.
THE HANDMAID’S TALE
July 28 – August 6, 2023
GLOW Lyric Theatre, Greenville, SC
Behold the story of Offred: one woman of millions stripped of her identity, agency and freedom by an oppressive and theocratic government. In the ultimate act of bravery, defiance and resistance, Offred risks her life to preserve her story and save others from her fate. Based on Margaret Atwood’s twist-filled dystopian novel, A Handmaid’s Tale becomes one of GLOW’s most extraordinary productions with an evocative score of traditional opera influenced by minimalism, medieval chant, and gospel.
SPECIAL MUSIC
July 9, 2023
Central United Methodist Church, Spartanburg, SC
INDEPENDENCE DAY LUNCHEON
July 2, 2023
Shandon United Methodist Church, Columbia, SC
INAUGURAL CENTRAL TO THE ARTS FESTIVAL
April 1, 2023
University of Memphis, TN College of Communication and Fine Arts
This free event celebrates the music, theatre, film, dance, fashion, and fine arts of both the UofM and the Memphis area.
BEETHOVEN CLUB YOUNG ARTIST COMPETITION
March 25, 2023
Beethoven Club, Memphis, TN
The Young Artists Competition, established in 1977, is held annually. This event is open to musicians, 28 years or younger, who live in Tennessee or within 250 miles of Memphis. Areas of competition are: piano, voice, strings, woodwinds, and brass.
THE NEW MESSIAH DMA LECTURE RECITAL
February 27, 2023
University of Memphis, TN
INAUGURAL HONEY MUSIC FESTIVAL
February 5, 2023
Scheidt Family Performing Arts Center, Memphis, TN
Celebrate the grand opening of the Scheidt Family Performing Arts Center at the inaugural Honey Community Music Festival.
The free Honey Music Festival fills the new Scheidt Center with music from the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music’s outstanding student musicians with an incredibly diverse lineup of performances, interactive concerts, special guest appearances and educational musical activities!
Guests can meet everyone’s favorite tiger, Pouncer, while enjoying complimentary hot chocolate and cookies, learn about different instruments in our Music Petting Zoo and more!
SFPAC GRAND OPENING GALA FEATURING DIONNE WARWICK
February 4, 2023
Scheidt Family Performing Arts Center, Memphis, TN
Join the University of Memphis for the Grand Opening Gala celebrating the new Scheidt Family Performing Arts Center – Memphis’ newest mecca for the arts.
Six-time Grammy-winning singer Dionne Warwick brings her signature sounds to christen the new Scheidt Family Performing Arts Center at the University of Memphis Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music on Saturday, Feb. 4.
The Grand Opening Gala featuring Dionne Warwick benefits the Rudi E. Scheidt School of Music and promises an amazing performance and powerful philanthropy. Proceeds from this event will help purchase outstanding musical equipment and technology for the Scheidt Center and launch an instrument-lending program for students – upgrading the educational experience for the next generation of musicians, composers and music educators.
The event will feature a champagne toast and tour, dinner, and musical performances by world-renowned recording artist Dionne Warwick alongside the School of Music’s phenomenal student musicians. The evening will conclude with an after-party featuring The Bar-Kays.
OPERA MEMPHIS PRESENTS PUCCINI’S TOSCA
January 27 – 28, 2023
Germantown Performing Arts Center, Memphis, TN
Opera Memphis presents Puccini’s gripping masterpiece, Tosca, at GPAC. Tosca has dedicated her life to music for the glory of God, at the urging of the Pope himself. But a voice like hers can drive a listener from appreciation to obsession. When the amoral Scarpia holds the life of the man she loves in his hands, Tosca must make an impossible choice between love and dishonor.
