Four choral ensembles from Missouri Western State University will be featured at the First Thursday Downtown Noon Concert Series at 12:10 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 1 in the First Presbyterian Church, 7th and Jules in St. Joseph. The audience is invited to bring lunch to eat during the performance. Beverages will be provided. A freewill offering of $3 is suggested to defray expenses and insure the continuation of the series.
The concert will feature the Missouri Western Concert Chorale and the Men’s Chorus, under the direction of Dr. David Benz, and the Renaissance Singers and the Women’s Chorus, under the direction of Dr. Roger Hale. The final piece on the program will feature all four groups combined.
Dr. Benz, director of choral activities, joined the Missouri Western faculty in 2004. He received bachelor’s degrees from Southwest Baptist University, a master’s degree from the University of Kansas and a doctorate from the University of Missouri. Dr. Benz is also artistic director of the St. Joseph Community Chorus and Chamber Choir and co-founder and artistic director of the Missouri Verses and Voices Festival.
Dr. Hale, assistant professor of choral education, joined the Missouri Western faculty in 2009. He holds a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from the University of Utah and a doctorate from Florida State University. Under his direction, the Renaissance Singers won first place in the first music festival and competition associated with the Kansas City Renaissance Festival in Bonner Springs, Kan.
The concert series is sponsored by the First Presbyterian Church and the Missouri Western department of music. Additional financial support is provided by the Commerce Bank of St. Joseph.
Future concerts this season include:
- Dec. 6, Jason Riley, guitar
- Feb. 7, Matthew Edwards, piano
- March 7, First Presbyterian Sanctuary and Bell Choirs
- April 4, Missouri Western Symphonic Winds Ensemble