Lines between classical music and jazz will blur Saturday when the Columbus Choral Society presents “Mass Unity,” a 7 p.m. concert at First Baptist Church in Columbus.
The program will feature two musical mass settings that could not be more opposite in nature, said Choral Society Director Alisa Toy. “Little Organ Mass” by Joseph Haydn and “Little Jazz Mass” by Bob Chilcott highlight the concert, along with hymns and spirituals.
“This concert has an interesting twist and an exciting goal,” Toy said. “We boldly proclaim the metaphor of fundamental differences between musical genres and people, and how they are able to work perfectly together!”
Choral Society singers had the opportunity to perform the program in historic St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans’ Jackson Square May 1 at the invitation of Manhattan Concert Productions of New York City. Toy described singing in the storied cathedral and working with conductor Dr. Alan Raines as “an incredible experience.”
“We enjoyed intense rehearsals under his baton and taking the notes we had learned to a new height in beauty and expression with three other choirs,” said the director. “There was definitely something very special about getting to sing in the very cathedral where Bob Chilcott debuted his ‘Little Jazz Mass’ in 2004; it felt like we were bringing it home.”
Saturday’s concert in Columbus will include guest organist Len Bobo, organist of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, and a chamber orchestra and jazz trio made up of area professional musicians from Mississippi University for Women, Mississippi State University and Suzuki Strings.
Just as the program unites diverse genres, it hopes to unite people as well. “We’re very excited to spread our message and look forward to taking what we’ve learned from this (New Orleans) experience and performing it for our own Golden Triangle audience,” Toy remarked.
Concert admission is free. Donations are encouraged to support future concerts. The First Baptist Church sanctuary is located at 202 Seventh St. N. in Columbus. Follow the Choral Society on Facebook or visit columbuschoralsociety.com.
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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