Joseph Pratt
Dr. Stanley Workman, musician and professor, will be conducting the Shawnee State University Choir and Chorale on Sunday, as they welcome the season with joyful anthems of the holiday season.
The performance is the end-of-semester performance, which is had every fall and spring. For years, it has been in the historic sanctuary of All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 4th and Court Streets, Portsmouth, Ohio.
“It is a nice space to perform in and is very historic,” Workman explained. “It is not really small, but it has an intimate feeling to it and I feel it lends itself well to this type of concert.”
Workman said that the music is unique, but he believes it will grab the attention of the patrons.
“We will be performing a large number of what you may call traditional carols in rather unusual and innovative settings. They aren’t the standard carol and will have a lot of excitement in them.”
Workman also said the songs are original compositions that sound a lot like an anthem to the season.
Repertoire for the concert features carols and anthems ranging from the 18th to 20th centuries by composers and arrangers Stephen Paulus, John Rutter, and Jeffrey Van, and others.
The choirs are under the direction of Dr. Stanley Workman, Jr., with accompaniment and solo numbers provided by Dr. Julio Alves, guitar, Callie Barnhouse, flute, and Justin M. Wiget, pianist/organist.
The concert is free and open to the public.
“The attendance and enthusiasm for these concerts have always been encouraging. Last year, we only had standing room in the house,” Workman said. “I think people really love it, but I’m not trying to pat myself on the back. I think one of the reasons people like it is because it more than the old, standard tunes being piped out to us at Christmas.”
Reach Joseph Pratt at 740-353-3101, ext. 1932, or by Twitter @JosephPratt03.
