Damascus UMC Youth Choir to perform at Gobin June 21

Friday, June 14, 2019
The Damascus United Methodist Church Youth Choir from Maryland will perform at Gobin UMC on Friday, June 21.
Courtesy photo

Gobin Memorial United Methodist Church will host the Charles Wesley Singers Youth Choir of Damascus United Methodist Church on Friday, June 21.

The event, planned in part by Gobin choral director and DePauw music student Bryce Taylor, will serve as a fundraiser for the Mary Allison Children’s Trust. Admission to the 7:30 p.m. concert is free, but there will be a freewill offering collected during the event.

“The congregation at Gobin Church is delighted to host the former choir of our current choral director, DePauw sophomore, Bryce Taylor,” Gobin Pastor Bryan Langdoc said. “In addition to being an accomplished group of vocalists, as fellow Methodists, the Wesley Singers share a commitment to mission and service with the people of Gobin Church. We are overjoyed at this special opportunity to hear a wonderful choir and to support the work of Putnam County’s Mary Allison Children’s Trust.” 

The Charles Wesley Singers Youth Choir, from Damascus, Md., is touring West Virginia, Kentucky and Indiana from June 17-23, sharing “Goin’ Up Yonder” – a sacred concert featuring Walter Hawkins’ Gospel anthem “Goin’ Up Yonder” and other music about heaven and the Promised Land, including “The Kentucky Psalms” by Alice Parker and sacred anthems.

The group is directed by Polly Baldridge, Damascus UMC’s minister of music and worship arts, with organist Stephen Kalnoske.

Polly Baldridge has led the music program at Damascus UMC for more than 15 years. She also sings professionally and teaches voice privately. Stephen Kalnoske, Damascus UMC’s organist, is in demand for recital and concert work and has won several organ improvisation competitions.

The Charles Wesley Singers is comprised of more than 50 singers from grades six to 12 who sing and lead in worship every Sunday morning at 8:15 a.m. Rehearsing once a week, they share all styles of music in four-part harmony, including works by master composers, contemporary Christian selections, gospel and spirituals and traditional sacred favorites.

The Charles Wesley Singers welcome back alumni for touring and have traveled throughout the United States and abroad. Recent tours have included Florida, New England, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Canada, Texas, and Colorado. Music featured in recent years includes Bernstein’s “Chichester Psalms,” Mendelssohn’s “Hear My Prayer,” Britten’s “Rejoice in the Lamb,” Rutter’s “Magnificat” and Ray’s “Gospel Mass.”

While on tour, the Charles Wesley Singers bear witness to the love of God in music and outreach, sharing in churches, cathedrals, nursing homes and other venues.

The Wesley Singers concert is one of many musical events during the week of June 16. Additional events include concerts at the DePauw School of Music as part of the Vocal Arts Summer Camp and the Greencastle Summer Music Series hosted at Gobin Memorial UMC.

Visit depauw.edu/music and greencastlesummermusic.org for more information.

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