Masterworks Chorale to present festival 12/4/2008 11:56 PM
By ROB NOVIT Senior writer
USC Aiken music education major Kristen Hartley stays busy with classes, the concert choir and the new women's ensemble.
This semester she also joined the community-based Masterworks Chorale, which will present the annual Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols on Sunday, Dec. 14.
The chorale is based at USCA under the direction of vocal professor Dr. Joel Scraper, but it's different than Hartley's other endeavors.
"I'm so used to a college environment," she said. "It's nice being around (community residents) who are so dedicated and love the music."
The program is scheduled at St. John's United Methodist Church at 5 p.m. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and $5 for students.
The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols originally was performed in 1918 at King's College, one of 31 colleges within the University of Cambridge.
The lessons include selections from the Old and New testaments. The choral responses include a musical variety, such as "Ava Maria," "Away in a Manger, "Little Lamb" and "O Come, All Ye Faithful." Musician Jason Maynard will provide an organ prelude.
Hartley is among the lesson readers, joined by the Rev. George Howle, Masterworks President Lorraine Ray, St. John's music director Catherine Stapleton Nance and USCA staff and faculty including Dr. Tom Hallman, Dr. Suzanne Ozment, Dr. Dawn Morales, Dr. Michael Fowler, Judith Goodwin and Dr. Carla Coleman.
"We are trying to find new outlets and new venues," said Scraper. "We try to remain traditional as a symphonic choir. This is always a good group who work hard and take pride in what they do. The bar does move. We continue to strive to be better at what we do."
Another first-time chorale participant is Tim DeTroye, who sang in college at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville and later with men's choirs, chamber and concert choirs.
After moving to Aiken in 2000, however, DeTroye took a consulting job that kept him on the road and didn't allow him to get involved in anything musically. As soon as his work allowed him great flexibility, he readily agreed to join Masterworks.
"It's been great, and I've gotten to meet people with the same interests," DeTroye said. "Something had been missing from my life. I love singing rock and roll, but this is a another style of music with different challenges. I'm just trying to knock the rust off the old pipes."
Contact Rob Novit at rnovit@aikenstandard.com.
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