celebrating composers of color

The Worcester Chorus, led by director Chris Shepard, ends their 2021-2022 Concert Season with this program showcasing works from some of choral music’s finest composers past and present.

PROGRAM

I Choose Love by Mark Miller
Roll Down Justice by Mark Miller
Lift Every Voice and Sing by J. Rosamond Johnson
No Man Has Seen His Face by Margaret Bonds
Touch the Hem of His Garment by Margaret Bonds
Praise His Holy Name by Keith Hampton

Led by Worcester Chorus Assistant Director and Accompanist Mark Mummert, the Worcester Chorus Women’s Ensemble will also perform works by Margaret Bonds, Ysaye Barnwell and Rosephanye Powell.

The works of Margaret Bonds (1913 – 1972) on this program are newly published in 2022. In this presentation, Bonds’ piece “Sleep Song” (text by Joyce Kilmer) will be performed for the first time since the composer’s death 50 years ago. This work is being performed with special permission from Hildegard Publishing.

“Touch the Hem of His Garment” by Margaret Bonds was first performed in January 2022 by Concora, directed by Chris Shepard. The Worcester Chorus is among the first concert choruses to present “Touch the Hem of His Garment” on a program.