|
The Group...
The Chattanooga
Choral Society for the Preservation of African American Song (CCSPAAS)
traces its beginning to informal gatherings of former students, church
choir members, and friends of the late Edmonia Johnson
Simmons. Mrs. Simmons taught music at the Howard High School in Chattanooga
for nearly four decades, and served as music director for several area
churches. During holiday seasons, especially Christmas, Howard alumni
would join current students and church choir members for concerts, caroling,
and often informal sessions in her home. Records indicate that as early
as 1974, the name Choral Society was used in presentations by the ensemble.
In 1984, Dr.
Lee Norris Mackey, a Simmons protégé, undertook a research
project to investigate the programming performance practices, and recordings
of African American spirituals by choirs of Historically Black Colleges,
and Universities (HBCU’s). Mackey found that there has been a significant
decline in the performance of spirituals; thus the need, mission, and
name were affirmed. Dr. Mackey sought and received funding from the Lyndhurst
Foundation in Chattanooga for this project.
Following in the
footsteps of his former teacher and friend, Dr. Mackey taught music in
the Chattanooga Public Schools System, where he directed highly acclaimed
choral programs at both the Brainerd and Chattanooga High Schools. With
its students, alumni, and friends, the membership base of the Society
was expanded.
Concert programs
indicate that as early as 1974, the name Chattanooga Choral Society was
used in presentations by the group. In 1984, the formal organization of
the chorus was announced as a unit of the Chattanooga African American
Heritage Museum. The first concert was presented in November 17, 1984,
at the First Baptist Church (East Eight Street). The program was an overwhelming
success. Since that time, the ensemble has performed bi-annual concerts
– fall and spring – and for schools, community service, religious
and professional organizations and conferences throughout the state.
CCSPAAS is presently
under the direction of distinguished conductor, composer, arranger, Dr.
Roland Carter; also, a Howard alumnus and Simmons protégé.
Carter assumed directorship of the group in 1990, shortly after he returned
to Chattanooga to accept the appointment as Head of the Cadek Department
of Music and Conservatory at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
The
Director...
Distinguished
as a composer, conductor, and pianist, Roland
M. Carter is the Ruth S. Holmberg Professor of American Music in the
Cadek Department of Music at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
He formerly chaired Hampton (Institute) University's department of music
and conducted its internationally acclaimed choirs for nearly a quarter
of a century. His accomplishments as a leading figure in the choral arts
include concerts with major choruses and orchestras in prestigious venues
nationwide, as well as lectures, workshops, and master classes. From presidential
inaugurations to the smallest church, from scholarly presentations for
national gatherings of musicians, educators, and preservationists to private
coaching with individual singers, Dr. Carter lends his keen ear, bright
mind, and talented hands to projects of every sort. In recognition of
his stature, he has served on National Endowments for the Arts' Heritage,
Access and Choral Panels and was honored this year by Shaw University
(Raleigh, NC) with an honorary doctor of music degree.
Carter is most especially
noted as an authority on the performance and preservation of African American
music, having produced and appeared on programs for national and international
radio and television networks in support of these aims. He has directed
the Chattanooga Choral Society for the Preservation of African American
Song for 14 years, and founded MAR-VEL,
a music publisher specializing in the music of African American Composers
and Traditions.
Carter is an unquestionably
gifted composer-arranger. During the 2000-2001 season, The Chattanooga
Symphony Orchestra premiered his first full orchestral composition - "COMMON
GROUND"; an overture, infused with subtle themes drawn from the Negro
Spiritual, which the composer describes as an "autobiographical essay."
His composition "HOLD FAST TO DREAM" was performed during 2001-2002
season by both the Atlanta Sym- phony and on the Plymouth Music Series.
It is Roland Carter's arrangement of "LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SING"
that is most often used to present the anthem in formal settings. A colleague
of his once shared her belief that the angels 'sat upon his shoulders
and whispered the score for his arrangements of the spiritual, "IN
BRIGHT MANSIONS ABOVE;" not a far-fetched notion for those who have
heard the work performed.
In addition to performance
and academic pursuits, Carter serves on several boards including, the
National Association for the Study and Performance of African American
Music, the Tennessee Arts Commission, the Southern Arts Federation, and
most recently, he was named to the board of the National Assembly of State
Art Agencies.
Upcoming Events...
Tuesday, February 5, 2008 - Noon - Chattanooga Kiwanis
Sunday, February 10, 2008 - 3:00
pm - 15th Annual Simmons-O'Neal Memorial Concert.
Saturday, April 19, 2008, 5:00 pm - Third Annual Lee
Norris Mackey Memorial Concert, Fisk Jubilee Singers, Tivoli Theatre.
Friday-Sunday, May 23-25, 2008 - Piccolo Spoleto, Charleston,
SC
Friday, May 30, 2008, 5:00 pm - Joyce Mathis High School
Vocal Competition and Annual Spring Concert, First Baptist Church (Golden
Gateway)
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 - Music from Sacred Concerts (Ellington)
with Chancel Choir of First-Centenary U, Jan McNair, Director and Scenic
City Chorale, Bill Long, Director, DeVonne Gardner, Soloist - Holston
Conference of the United Methodist Church, Junaluska, NC.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008, 7:30 pm - Music from Sacred Concerts
(Ellington) - 89th Annual Convention of The National Association of Negro
Musicians, Inc., First-Centenary United Methodist Church.
October (TBA) - Annual African American Music Workshop.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008, 6:00 pm - Annual Candelight
Service, Lessons, Carols, and Spirituals, First Baptist Church (East Eighth
Street).

Join
Us...
The Chattanooga
Choral Society invites you to join us each Monday evening at 7:00 pm,
at First Baptist Church of 8th Street, Chattanooga, Tennessee. Auditions
are arranged upon request or by contacting Wilma LeSure (423) 892-1439
or Bryant Lowery (423) 902-4983.

| The
current Choir Roster as of January, 2008 is as follows:
Soprano: Betty Conley, Sylvia Dance,
Atheria Freeman, Wendal Gray, Sonya Henry,Claraniece Hogan-Collins,
Brenda Holloway, Elizabeth Jones, Vanessa Kimbrough, Bertha Lawrence,
Wilma LeSure, Mildred Logan, Lauvern McBee, Wynona McGhee, Lucilla
Nash, Conious Price, Daisy Scott, Patricia Starks, Juliet Williams
Alto: Juliette Brown, Cynthia Carter,
Dawn Dunn, Valeria Garth, Sheressa Gober, Rebecca Harris, Annaiah
Jones, Glenna Kelley, Aundrette Logan, Aloha Pope-Bailey, Beverly
Scott
Tenor: Dorthy Denkins, Lynn Ford,
Robert Freeman, Bertram Jenkins, Gatha Logan, Jr., Ruth Rutland,
Larry Taylor, Arthur Terry, James Toney, Michael Mitchell (student)
Baritone: Michael Geer, Eddie LeSure,
Dale McCoy (student)
Bass: James Baldwin Jr., Larry
Bray, Floyd Eaves, Rodney Gilliam, Bryant Lowery, LaFrederick Thirkill,
Bo Walker, Arthur Woods, Christopher Pollard (student)
|
|
Sponsorships...
Major Corporate Sponsors ($1,000), Corporate Sponsors ($300), Concert
Partners ($100 plus), Concert Patrons ($100), and Friends of the Choral
Society. Contact Wilma LeSure, Michael Geer, or Bryant Lowery for details.
Contact
Us...
Assistant Director,
Wilma LeSure, 423-892-1439
President-Bryant
Lowery, Vice President-Lynn Ford, Treasurer-Michael
Geer, Secretary-Aundrette Logan, Financial
Secretary-Juliet Williams, Chaplain-Rev. Robert
Freeman, Board Secretary-Aloha Pope-Baily, Parliamentarian-LaFrederick
Thirkill, Librarian-Brenda Holloway.
|
Last
updated:
December 31, 2007
Copyright 2006-2008 - © Chattanooga Choral Society for the
Preservation of African American Song - All Rights Reserved
|
|