St. John’s Men’s Chorus Spring Concert

Honoring Rosemary Kinard upon her Retirement  as Founding Director of the Men’s Chorus

The St. John’s Lutheran Church Men’s Chorus will present its 22nd  Annual Spring Benefit Concert, GRACE!!  on Sunday, May 21, 2017,  at 4 pm in the sanctuary of St. John’s Lutheran Church in downtown Salisbury.  The Inner Voices (an auditioned ensemble of Men’s Chorus members) will also perform.

The Men’s Chorus was founded in 1994 by Rosemary C. Kinard, who has announced her retirement as Director of the group following this concert.  She will continue in her position as Associate Parish Musician at St. John’s Lutheran Church, working with Rob Durocher, Minister of Music, who will be featured as organist, synthesizer, and guest pianist in the concert.  Janie R. Rollins, who has served as the Men’s Chorus accompanist for many years, will again lend her inimitable pianistic skills to this concert. Instrumentalists will include Michelle Trivette, saxophone; Kevin Agner, cello; Daniel Trivette, percussion; a brass trio including Bill Lawing and Chris Fensom, trumpets, and Aleksandr Witt, trombone; and the Classic Ringers Handbell Choir, directed by Kimberly Lentz.

GRACE!!  will feature many selections for male voices, celebrating the many ways in which grace is present in our lives.  It will include many familiar spirituals and gospel songs, and will spotlight several innovative arrangements of “Amazing Grace,” which happens to be the director’s favorite gospel song!  The audience will also join the Men’s Chorus and instrumentalists in singing two favorite hymns:  “Guide Me Ever, Great Redeemer,” and in recognition of the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation, a new and powerful setting of Martin Luther’s “A Mighty Fortress.”

During the concert, the audience will be invited to contribute to a special offering for The Community Care Clinic.  This benefit performance is free and open to the public, and a nursery for children will be provided.