BandofAngelsFINAL2

FIFTY YEARS FORWARD.
With the Choirs of
The University of Alabama
at Birmingham,
Alabama A&M University,
& Ramsay High School
The Birmingham City Council,
St. Thomas Episcopal Church &
A Service of
Remembrance
For the children who
died in racial violence on
September 15, 1963 in
Birmingham, Alabama
by K. Lee Scott
World Premiere Performance
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Alys Stephens
Performing Arts Center
Jemison Concert Hall
Present
Band
of
AngelSS
Paper Wing top type_Layout 1 9/25/2013 7:56 AM Page 1
Band of Angels PRogram.indd 1 9/27/13 2:32 PM

Sunday, October 13, 2013
Alys Stephens Performing Arts Center - Jemison Hall
5:00 p.m.
Birmingham City Council
Presenting Sponsor
Honorable William A. Bell
Birmingham Mayor
Roderick V. Royal, Council President
Steven W. Hoyt, President Pro Tem
Valerie A. Abbott
Johnathan Austin
Maxine Herring Parker
Lashunda Scales
Kim Rafferty
Sheila Tyson
James “Jay” Roberson, Jr.
Birmingham City Council
Magic City Choral Society
Fiscal Agent
Dr. Joseph Paul Dease
Executive Producer
K. Lee Scott
Councilwoman Valerie A. Abbott
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
Producers
K. Lee Scott
Composer and Conductor
Dr. Horace Carney, Jr.
Conductor
Alabama A&M University
Dr. Brian Kittredge
Conductor
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Myrna Ross
Conductor
Ramsay High School
Valerie Harris
Performance Accompanist
Ty Robert Thornton
Accompanist
Pastor Lawrence Conaway
Joey James Regal-Favors
Leria Lowe Jordan
Bernadine Layton
Readers
Paul Warnke
Cover Design
Market Monkey Creative Group
Program Design
BAND OF ANGELS

WELCOME FROM THE OFFICE OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Greetings! I welcome
you to this historic
concert memorial,
“Band of Angels.” A little under
a year ago Birmingham City
Councilwoman Valerie Abbott
contacted me to see if the Magic
City Choral Society would be
interested in spearheading a
world premier musical project as
part of the City of Birmingham’s 50
Years Forward Commemoration.
Councilwoman Abbott scheduled
a listening meeting to preview this
work and discuss the possibility
of its becoming part of the city’s
commemoration. At the time I
was not aware that the musical
composition to which she was
referring was by a favorite
composer of mine - Alabama
composer K. Lee Scott.
Fast forward several months
and here we are this afternoon - a
major collaborative effort. This
sort of collaboration echoes “the
dream” where people of divergent
backgrounds gather in order to
make music, and by making music
together, they form a community.
Each choir brings its own sonic
texture to this performance and
when these textures combine,
working together as 250 voices,
the whole will be greater than the
sum of its parts. In short, this
will be a profound and powerful
sound. The combined 250
singers under the direction of
composer K. Lee Scott will sing
the opening spiritual Hold Out
Your Light, a re-imagined and
newly-composed Battle Hymn
of the Republic, and the closing
movement, In Paradisum.
However, to truly appreciate
the beauty of the whole, it is
important to experience the
beauty of the individual choirs.
Under the direction of their
respective conductors, each
choir will perform at least one
movement alone so that the
whole is understood through
the appreciation of the parts.
Beyond the musical beauty,
this is a sacred time for each of
us to honor and remember the
children - Addie Mae Collins,
Cynthia Wesley, Carole
Robertson, Denise McNair,
Johnny Robinson and Virgil
Ware - who lost their lives on
September 15, 1963.
Sincerely,
Artistic Director
WELCOME FROM MCCS ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Great Day, by Warren Martin
Alabama A&M University Concert Choir
Dr. Horace Carney, Jr., conductor
Opening Remarks
A Moment of Silence
Band of Angels
- By K. Lee Scott
A Service of Remembrance
of Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson,
Denise McNair, Johnny Robinson and Virgil Ware
who died in the racial violence
on September 15, 1963, in Birmingham, Alabama
Where is the balm to heal so deep a wound?
Where shall a sov’reign remedy be found?
Look, Gracious Spirit, from thy heav’nly bow’r.
And thy full joys into their bosoms pour;
The raging tempest of their grief control,
And spread the dawn of glory through the soul,
To eye the paths the saints departed trod,
And trace them to the bosom of their God.
Phillis Wheatley, alt. (1753-84)
Hold Out Your Light
Reading: Habakkuk 2:20
Reading: Psalm 122:1
Reading: Mark 10: 14b-16
Reading: Psalm 46: 1-3, 7
The Magic City Choral Society, Alabama A&M University,
The University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Ramsay High School
K. Lee Scott, conductor
PROGRAM

Father, I Stretch My Hands To Thee
Assembly sing stanzas 1 & 2
Reading: Psalm 23: 4-6
Assembly sing stanza 3
Sweet Chariot
Ramsay High School Choir
Myrna Ross, conductor
PROGRAM

Battle Hymn Of The Republic
Keep Your Lamps Trimmed And Burning
Reading: Isaiah 6:1-8
The Magic City Choral Society
Dr. J. Paul Dease, conductor
Responsive Reading
Psalm 10, Book of Common Prayer
Why do you stand so far off, O Lord,
and hide yourself in time of trouble?
The wicked arrogantly persecute the poor,
but they are trapped in the schemes they
have devised.
The wicked boast of their heart’s desire;
The covetous curse and revile the LORD.
The wicked are so proud that they care not for
God;
their only thought is, “God does not
matter.”
Their ways are devious at all times; your
judgments are far above out of their sight;
they defy all their enemies.
They say in their heart, “I shall not be shaken;
no harm shall happen to me ever.”
Their mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and
oppression;
under their tongue are mischief and
wrong.
They lurk in ambush in public squares and in
secret places they murder the innocent;
they spy out the helpless.
They lie in wait, like a lion in a covert; they lie in
wait to seize upon the lowly;
they seize the lowly and drag them away in
their net.
The innocent are broken and humbles
before them;
the helpless fall before their
power.
They say in their heart, “God has
forgotten;
he hides his face; he will never
notice.”
Rise up, O Lord; lift up your hand, O
God;
do not forget the afflicted.
Why should the wicked revile God?
why should they say in their
heart, “You do not care”?
Sure, you behold trouble and misery;
you see it and take it into your
own hand.
The helpless commit themselves to
you,
for you are the helper of
orphans.
Break the power of the wicked and
evil;
search out their wickedness until
you find none.
The LORD is King for ever and ever;
the ungodly shall perish from his

A Charge To Keep I Have
Reading: James 5:1-8
Reading Matthew 18:1-5a; 19:13-15
Precious Jewels
Reading: II Corinthians 5:1-10
The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Dr. Brian Kittredge, conductor
Valencia Callens and Mary Katherine Whatley, soprano soloist
PROGRAM

Lonesome Valley
Reading: Revelation 21:1-6
Alabama A&M University Concert Choir
The River Of Life
Reading: Revelation 19:5-9
The Magic City Choral Society
Dr. Joseph Paul Dease, conductor
Harps Eternal
The Magic City Choral Society and The University of Alabama at Birmingham
Dr. Brian Kittredge, conductor
Benediction
Christopher Cole, tenor soloist
In Paradisum
Alphonso Dallas, bass soloist
A MOMENT OF SILENCE IS KEPT

During the past decade or
so I became increasingly drawn
to the subject of the events of
September 15, 1963. Believing
that a choral work would be a
worthy undertaking, I floundered
for quite a while trying to decide
what form and structure such a
work should take. A few years
ago while teaching Choral
Arranging at Samford University, I met Hose Perry,
a young African-American student. After sharing
my ideas and vision with him, he pointed out that
perhaps my concept was too large in scope, and
that such a work could not express everything I
wanted it to convey. I took his advice to heart. He
also expressed the desire that the work be deeply
felt and vividly expressive using musical language
from the African-American tradition. I must say that
all this was very serious wisdom from a young man
in his early twenties, and I listened.
About a year ago after trimming down my ideas,
I settled on a form resembling a church service
containing hymns, choral pieces and solos all
linked together by passages from the Bible to be
read between the musical selections. This would
allow a patch-work of styles to work comfortably
together. About half of the work is based on texts
and tunes familiar to the Civil Rights Movement of
the early 1960’s. Other texts range from 19th century
hymnody to Biblical passages to Latin liturgical
prayers. “Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory” is the
most dramatic piece in Band of Angels. Its driving
force recreates the energy of the conflict in the
streets between the demonstrators and police. The
darker notes are necessary to portray the tone of the
times, but the mood gradually sweetens to one of
comfort and consolation. After a Biblical benediction
is sung by a tenor soloist, the choirs conclude with
“In Paradisum”, an ancient Latin prayer for the
departed to be lead to the Holy City of Jerusalem
by choirs of angels. Surely these children who died
all stand in the presence of God, and this prayer is
used as a remembrance of their passage to heaven.
Music is a wonderful idiom to portray such a scene.
A single voice concludes with two stanzas of the
previously sung, “A Charge to Keep I Have”, and this
sets up a moment of silence to be kept at the end.
I have recently come to know some of the survivors
of the events of September 15, 1963, and I have
come to realize that we need to remember them
and their losses and sorrows concerning that time
also. No loss is as great as death, but we need to
remember all who suffered. It is my hope and prayer
that this work expresses a faith of all involved. Their
eyes were fixed on Jesus Christ as their Redeemer
God, and his grace sustained them and their families
during the aftermath of that terrible day. A work of
remembrance should do no less than express that
same faith. May the Holy Spirit bless our service
today in worship and consolation.
K. Lee Scott received two degrees in Choral
Conducting and Literature from the University
of Alabama School of Music under the tutelage
of Frederick Prentice. In addition to Prentice, he
also studied composition with Paul Hedwall and
Gail Kubik. Scott has served as adjunct faculty for
the University of Alabama School of Music, the
University of Alabama at Birmingham Department
of Music, Samford University School of the Arts and
Birmingham Southern Department of Music. His
more than 350 published works are represented
in the catalogues of more than a dozen publishers
including Galaxy Music and Oxford University Press.
His works have been performed and recorded by
such groups as the Los Angeles Master Chorale,
Chicago A Cappella, Princeton University Singers,
Harvard University Choir, The Mormon Tabernacle
Choir, the Choir of Trinity Church, Wall Street, the
Singapore Youth Choir (a college level ensemble) and
Grex Musicus, Helsinki. He has traveled extensively
as a guest conductor and clinician and presently
serves as Choir Director/Organist for St. Thomas
Episcopal Church.
Joseph Paul Dease is a
native of Dothan, AL. He earned
a Bachelor of Arts in Choral/
Vocal Music from the University
of Montevallo (1995), a Master
of Music in Choral Conducting
with advanced studies in Vocal
Pedagogy from East Carolina
University (1997), and a Ph.D.
in Choral Conducting/Choral
Music Education from the
Florida State University College of Music (2006).
Currently, he is the Founding Artistic Director and
Conductor of the Magic City Choral Society where
he is the principal conductor of the Men’ Chorus,

Women’s Chorus, and Chorale. His conducting
and teaching experiences include The University of
Alabma, The Red Mountain Chamber Orchestra,
members of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, the
Red Mountain Theatre Summer Youth Workshop,
Opera Birmingham, The Florida State University
College of Music, the Tallahassee Symphony
Orchestra Chorus, East Carolina University, and the
Greenville Choral Society and New Carolina Sinfonia.
Dr. Dease has studied under André Thomas, Judy
Bowers, Kevin Fenton, Cliff Madsen, Rhonda
Fleming, and Brad Logan. His early music mentors
include Gilda Wilkerson, Kathryn Foster, and
Judy and Gene Montgomery. Dr. Dease an active
adjudicator and guest conductor, and is a member
of the American Choral Directors Association, the
National Association for Music Education, the Voice
Care Network, Chorus America, and the Alabama
Association of Nonprofits.
Brian Kittredge joined
the University of Alabama
at Birmingham faculty in
2010 as Director of Choral
Activities, where he conducts
the University Concert Choir,
Chamber Singers, University
Chorus, and teaches courses
in conducting and music
education. The UAB choirs
under his direction have been
selected as the recording choir for the MorningStar
Publication series, featuring premiere performances
of K. Lee Scott’s Gloria and Michael Trotta’s I Shall
See. Most recently, the UAB Concert Choir was
invited to perform in the Championship Competition
at the Interkultur World Choir Games in Riga, Latvia
in July 2014, and was the featured ensemble in the
world premiere performance of Glenn McClure’s
Songs of Freedom, a project to commemorate the
anniversaries of the Civil Rights Movement and
the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. The
Concert Choir was also invited to perform at the
2012 Alabama Music Educators Conference in
Montgomery, AL.
Dr. Kittredge is an active clinician and guest
conductor and has appeared at choral festivals in
Alabama, Louisiana, Georgia, Mississippi, and New
York. He is currently serving as the Youth and Student
Activities Coordinator for the Alabama Chapter of the
American Choral Directors Association, and serves
on the artistic faculty at the New York State Summer
School of the Arts, where his choirs have appeared
in several concerts at the Chautauqua Institute and
SUNY Fredonia. Kittredge holds a Doctor of Musical
Arts degree from Louisiana State University (2011), a
Master of Music degree from the Eastman School of
Music (2004), and a Bachelor of Music degree from
Mansfield University (2002), and has studied under
the mentorship of Kenneth Fulton, William Weinert,
and Peggy Dettwiler. He is an active member of
the American Choral Directors Association and the
National Association for Music Education.
Horace R. Carney, Jr. was
born in Nashville, Tennessee
but grew up in Tuskegee,
Alabama. He graduated from
Tuskegee Institute High School
fourth in his class. His post-
secondary education includes a
Bachelor of Arts in Music at Fisk
University (magna cum laude),
Master of Arts in Music Theory
at the Eastman School of Music
as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow, and the Doctor of
Philosophy in Music Theory at the University of Iowa.
He has attended choral workshops at Potsdam
Choral Institute, Sarasota, New York, University of
South Florida, and Georgia State University.
Dr. Carney’s career in music began in
elementary and continued through high school
as a member of the choir, pianist, and leader of a
dance band. He studied at Tuskegee Institute with
Lexine Weeks, Charlotte Giles, and Hildred Roach.
He continued at Fisk University as a member of the
renowned Fisk Jubilee Singers for four years. His
professional career includes Talladega College where
he served for fourteen years as Choral Director and
Acting Chairman of the Music Department, Lincoln
University, Lincoln, PA; Coordinator of Choral
Activities and Chairman of the Humanities Division for
three years; and Sixth Avenue Baptist Church, where
he served as Minister of Music and Coordinator of
Cultural Affairs. Since 1990, Dr. Carney has been
the Chairman/Coordinator of the Music Program at
Alabama A&M University, Huntsville, Alabama. He is
currently the Chair for the Department of Fine Arts,
Coordinator of the Music Program, and the Interim
Director of the Alabama A&M University Choir.
Recently Dr. Carney was selected as a regional
conductor of the 105 Voices of History. This afforded

him the opportunity to network with HBCU choir
directors all over the United States.
Professional Memberships include: The
American Choral Directors Association (ACDA),
Music Educators National Conference (MENC),
International Association for Jazz Educators
(IAJE), Society for Music Theory (SMT) and the
Technological Institute for Music Educators (TIME).
He is the founder and director of the Birmingham
Community Chorale which is renamed the Horace
R. Carney, Jr. Chorale by its members.He is also
the founder, manager, and player of the Omni-
Music Enterprises, a musical entertainment group
for special occasions. He is the Minister of Music at
Bethel Baptist Church, Collegeville, Birmingham, AL
Myrna Ria Ross
was born in Birmingham,
Alabama. From a very early
age, she knew that God had
placed a call to teach on her
life. She began to develop
her gifts in the arts, which
culminated with a diploma from
L. Frazier Banks High School
and a Bachelor of Science
degree in Music Education from the prestigious
Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia.
Combining her talents with her spiritual
gifts began with a teaching assignment in Mississippi
Public Schools that lasted for seven years. She also
served as music minister for both Protestant and
Catholic congregations at the Naval Air Station,
Meridian, Mississippi.
In 1986, Miss Ross moved to Birmingham
and worked as a substitute teacher, and in 1987
was asked to take the position as director of choirs
at Ramsay High School. During her twenty-five
year tenure at Ramsay, the Ramsay choirs have
garnered numerous awards, recognitions, and
commendations. Through her wisdom, dedication
and patience, Miss Ross has had the pleasure
of watching her “quarter notes” evolve into
appreciative “half notes.” She is still referred to as
“BIG SISTER WHOLE NOTE ALMIGHTY” by former
students when they stop by for a visit or give an
occasional call.
During her career, Miss Ross has been
listed numerous times in Outstanding Young
Women in America, Outstanding Women in
America, and Outstanding Teachers of America.
Her professional memberships include: The
American Choral Directors Association, National
Association for Music Education, and the Alabama
Vocal Association.
Believing that music is the universal
language, and education is for life, Miss Ross
continues to strive for excellence through spiritual
growth. Presently, she serves as a section leader in
her church choir at Faith Chapel Christian Center.
Humble, kindhearted, and obediently serving her
heavenly Father. Miss Ross continues to educate
and arm young people by helping them understand
who they are in Christ so that they will be equipped
to reach their full potential and discover their God-
given destiny.
Valerie Reese Harris
began her pursuit of God’s
presence through music at
an early age by taking piano
lessons. Growing up the
second of five children in
Selma, Alabama to Civil Rights
Activist and Pastor Frederick
D. & Alline Reese, she began
to recognize the power of
God’s presence in music. After
Valerie gave her heart to the Lord at the tender age
of 5, the Holy Spirit found a permanent residence
in her and she was anointed by God to minister on
the piano.
Valerie pursued higher education and excelled
as a classical virtuoso pianist at the prestigious
University of Montevallo, where she was quickly
recognized and was offered an accompanist
position after graduation. Increasing lineages of
musical partnerships have been formed in the
area of instruction and accompaniment with the
Alabama Symphony Orchestra, Tuskegee University
and a host of other collegiate and professional
music forums. Recently, she has been appointed
the Gospel Choir Director of Birmingham Southern
College. Her passion, though, has been the 28
years spent cultivating the Body of Christ in Intimacy
& a Worship Lifestyle to the Lord. Her distinct sound
and teaching methods became evident & appealing
to record labels and several employed her services
in the area of Choir Vocalization/Band Direction for
Recordings. Requests poured in for her from Judy

Fine and Performing Arts at Birmingham-Southern
College. He also worked as musical director with
Terrific New Theatre, Birmingham Festival Theatre,
the Drama department of Canterbury United
Methodist Church, and Dane Peterson’s Theater,
and served as accompanist for the Opera and
Musical Theatre Departments of Birmingham-
Southern College, the Pensacola Opera, the
Pensacola Choral Society, the music department
of the University of West Florida, the Music and
Drama Departments of Pensacola Junior College,
the Alabama Ballet, and Opera Birmingham.
Ty Thornton received a B.A. in Piano Pedagogy
and a M.A. in Piano Performance from Bob Jones
University, and an M.M. in Historical Musicology
from Florida State University. Mr. Thornton comes
to the Magic City Choral Society with an extensive
background as a performer, accompanist and
teacher. His teaching credits include: Bob Jones
University, Hartford Christian Academy, Pensacola
Christian College, The University of Alabama,
Birmingham Southern Conservatory of Fine and
Performing Arts of Birmingham Southern College,
and a healthy private studio. Mr. Thornton served
as Music Director for many musical theater
productions for the Birmingham Festival Theater,
Dane Peterson’s Theater, and Terrific New Theater.
Mr. Thornton has also been an active church
musician since 1992, serving Methodist, Lutheran
and Presbyterian congregations.
Jacobs, Juanita Bynum & Jonathan Butler, Joseph
Garlington, Joe Pace and a host of Contemporary
Christian music heavyweights. Few musicians have
the ability to cross genres with such ease but even
fewer are able to maintain a place in Classical, Gospel
& Contemporary Christian music successfully.
As an ordained Elder and affectionately
declared “The Pastor of Worship” by Bishop, Dr.
Mark Chironna of The Master’s Touch International
Church, Valerie is also a woman of the word of God.
Valerie has been given an even wider assignment to
minister the preached word of the Lord as well as
sing. Her ministerial commission is overseen by a
Board of Apostolic Ecclesia including Bishop Joseph
Garlington and Apostle John Stevenson. She travels
to South Africa and also within the United States
sounding a trumpet in Zion that, “There is a shift and
a new sound being birthed. Just Listen!”
Her business, Levitical Vessels, Inc., is a
prolific tool being utilized to cultivate spirituality and
promote musical excellence. Whether it be through
providing administrative, musical or lifestyle training,
Valerie utilizes years of academic knowledge and
spiritual revelation to develop musicians, vocalists
and fine arts departments into “Kingdom Quality
Levites.” Her mission is to move the nations to its
knees in total surrender to God in adoration, creating
devotion and intimacy like never before.
Ty Robert Thornton
began his piano studies at
the age of 6. He earned a
Bachelor of Arts degree in
Piano Pedagogy in 1978
and a Master of Arts degree
in Piano Performance in
1980, both from Bob Jones
University in Greenville, South
Carolina, where he studied
with Mr. Warren Mack. Mr.
Thornton holds a Master of Music in musicology
from Florida State University (1988), where he
also completed the Certificate in Early Music and
pursued doctoral studies in musicology. His post-
graduate piano teachers include Julia Benfer, Dr.
John Salmon, and Robert Sherwood. He studied
piano and harpsichord with Dr. Karyl Louwenaar,
and organ with Dr. Ronald Sider. He taught on the
music faculties of Pensacola Christian College, the
University of Alabama, and the Conservatory of

is also committed to good citizenship and
the community. We pay forward the good
will and generosity we receive by singing an
additional 10-11 outreach concerts for other
earnest nonprofits, community groups, and
organizations throughout the year. In the past
six years dedicated volunteers have managed
the administrative needs of MCCS, however,
because of our steady growth MCCS has
grown beyond the ability of our volunteers to
manage the organization without professional
assistance. During 2013-2014 fiscal year
MCCS will hire a part-time a general manager
and development coordinator to meet these
needs and usher MCCS into the next phase
of its service to the community. In addition,
MCCS will partner with an underserved public
school where music is not taught to develop a
pilot educational outreach program to provide
music education for its students. MCCS is the
context for many good and profound things
for its members and for community.
Since 2007 the Magic City Choral Society
has performed concerts in the following
venues: Gadsden’s Wallace Hall, the Southside
Baptist Church, the Alys Stephens Center,
Samford’s Wright Center, the BJCC Concert
Hall, Bluff Park United Methodist Church,
Grace Episcopal Church, St. Andrew’s
Episcopal Church, the Pell City Center for
Performing Arts, the Montgomery Convention
and Visitors Bureau and River Walk, the
Alabama Shakespeare Festival, and Covenant
UMC in Dothan Alabama. The MCCS has
also collaborated with the following entities:
Red Mountain Chamber Orchestra, Magic City
AIDS Walk, the Nature Conservancy’s Earth
Day Celebration, PFLag regional conference,
First Light Women’s and Children’s Shelter,
the Apollo Bal, Integrity Alabama, Alabama
American Choral Directors Association, the
Seasoned Performers, Birmingham AIDS
Outreach, Episcopal Place, Pepper Place,
Sloss Real Estate, Central Alabama Pride,
AIDS Alabama, Southside Baptist Food Bank,
West Alabama AIDS Outreach, the 1917 Clinic,
Whatley Middle School, Ramsay High School
Choir, UAB Choir, Macy’s Galleria, SAKS 5th
Avenue at the Summit, and most recently, the
grand opening of the UAB Comprehensive
Cancer Center.
The Magic City Choral Society (MCCS) is
a 501(c)3 not-for-profit community-based
organization that was founded in October
2006. The founders recognized a need in the
Birmingham metropolitan area for an inclusive
community based choral organization that
could provide high quality choral/music
education and performance opportunities
to any male or female over 18 without
audition. In addition, the founders desired
that this organization would combine artistic
excellence and social/community impact.
Therefore, access to excellent choral music
and community service became the focus for
MCCS to achieve its mission. The MCCS
began to fulfill its mission by employing part-
time, highly-degreed musicians/educators,
establishing non-auditioned men’s and
women’s choruses, providing scholarships,
offering music and vocal education to
members, providing free concerts, seeking
out collaborations and partnerships, engaging
in community service, and performing at
community and civic events.
Every year more than 100 people
participate without audition in the Magic City
choral Society’s (MCCS) men’s and women’s
choruses and the MCCS Chorale. The
MCCS makes up to $5,000 of scholarships
available to people in need who desire to sing
with the MCCS. The choruses present 3-4
free concerts each year and each concert
is performed at least twice and often more.
Each concert series cost MCCS an average
$15,000 to produce and represents a total
of 12-16 hours of live concerts. These are
choral masterworks of the highest caliber that
entertain, educate, and inspire more than 2000
concert attendees from across the region.
Two of Birmingham’s best cultural distinctions
are always featured at each performance:
the performers and some of Birmingham’s
finest concert venues. Each performance
represents more than 60 hours of music and
vocal education that members receive during
weekly rehearsals August through May. While
the quality of performance is immediately
observable, participants possessing more
singing experience and those with degrees
in music liken the kind of education received
through MCCS as equivalent if not better than
they received in higher education. MCCS

MCCS ARTISTIC
PERSONNEL
Artistic Director &
Conductor
Ty Robert Thornton
Principal Accompanist
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
Officers
Trynna Brown
Board Chair
FedEx
Robert Noah
Vice Chair
Fortis Institute
Clay Walls
Secretary
UAB
Brian White
Treasurer
Private Educator
Grant Hall
Member at Large
Drummond Corp.
Kevin Weaver
Member at Large
CFEFA
Founding Artistic Director
Board
David Garrett
Weld for Birmingham
Katie R. Mason
Hoffman Media, LLC.
Joseph McGough
Children’s Hospital
Melissa Musgrove
Regions Financial Corp.
Brett Pohlman
Regions Financial Corp.
Heather S. Reid
Homewood City Council
Bunky Wright
Graphic Designer
Lisa Venable
Event Coordinator
Women’s Chorus
Officers
Lisa Venable
President
Michele Santiago
Vice President
Martha Jane Patton
Secretary
Lynda Lollar-Goldstein
Treasurer
Carol Scott
Librarian
Amanda Perry
Soprano 1 Section Leader
Leshundra Reddock
Soprano 2 Section Leader
Ashley Husley
Alto Section Leader
Sopranos
Robyn Arnold
Patty Cline
Elaine Cottle
Lynda Lollar-Goldstein
Missy Hayes
Lynn Hedl
Susanna Hunter
Mary E. Jones
Kat Martin
Margie Miller
Amanda Perry
Cherith Parrish
Carmen Preston
Lynette Pope
Leshundra Reddock
Carol Scott
Amy Smith
Sarah Smith
Terri Staples
Stephanie Perry
Lisa Venable
Altos
Trynna Brown
Trudy Callaghan
Megan Cooper
Ashley Coutch
Donna Davitte
Amber Johnson
Alice Johnston
Mary A. Jones
Amy Love
Whitney Nichols
Thea Ostroy
Martha Jane Patton
Charlotte Rush
Michele Santiago
Linda Williams
Kelly Wiltsey
Men’s Chorus
Officers
Bunky Wright
President
David Reynolds
Vice President
Brian Vaughn
Secretary
Brian White
Treasurer
Clay Walls
Tenor 1 Section Leader
Travis Harrell
Tenor 2 Section Leader
Rhett Ryder
Baritone Section Leader
Steven Sisco
Bass 2 Section Leader
Tenors
David Cantrell
Greg Evans
Terry Hall
Travis Harrell
Brad LaMonte
Ever Lopez
Bruce McClanahan
Joe McGough
Robert Noah
Paul Odom
Curt Pounders
David Reynolds
George Rush
Micah Saunders
Andrew Sims
Peter Sims
Brad Smith
Clay Walls
Paul Warnke
Brian White
Bunky Wright
Basses
Wesley Carter
Josh Childs
Tony Cox
Alan Davis
Fred Dickinson
Allan Francis
Jim Garner
Stan Kilgore
Joe King
Stephen Morros
Brett Pohlman
Xavier Roberson
Tommy Robinson
Rhett Ryder
Steve Sisco
Gregg Stuart
John Stuckey
Jeff Thomas
Brian Vaughn
John Woods
Robby Wright

The Alabama A & M University Choir
The Alabama A & M University Choir continues a choral tradition, which has its inception during the tenure of
William Hooper Councill, an ex-slave, who founded the school in 1875. Among other things, the choir’s tradition
included an annual Christmas Musicale which brings many music lovers from great distances to the university
each December. The choir’s tradition contains a high standard of performing excellence that is continuing under
the Interim Director, Dr. Horace Carney. Former Directors, Richard F. Tucker, Assistant Professor of Music (1989-
2002) and Nell Lane Bradford, Associate Professor of Music (1947-1989) established this high standard.
Each year the choir is invited to various parts of the country to appear in concert. Past tours and appearances
have included Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile, Anniston, Phoenix City, and Tuskegee, AL. Other cities include
Los Angeles, CA, Atlanta, GA, St. Louis, MO, Fayetteville, TN, Indianapolis, IN, Detroit, MI, and Chicago, IL.
In a previous concert, the press commented that this choral aggregation is one of the finest in the southeast;
however, a minister commented, “Indeed, this sentiment is too limited. The Alabama A&M University is one of the
finest choirs in the nation.” The AAMU Choir received kudos in January, 2010 by being the first Afro-American
University to give a full concert at the annual state conference of the Alabama Music Educators Association.
The choir has a goal to perform in European tour Spring 2013. It will be the first that the university has
performed in Europe. It is in the process of raising the needed $150,000 for this historic trip. The Alabama A &
M University Choir released its first exclusive CD in 2006. Their second recording is on a Christmas CD recorded
November, 2007 along with renditions by the AAMU Gospel Choir.
Sopranos
Alexandra Carter
Andrianna Haygood
Ashlee Faush
Breuna Hill
Brittany Seay
Cleo Pair
Destiny Smith
Essence Byars
Ge’Naia Allen
Hannaan Ester
Jabria Finch
Jamelia Edwards
Janeisha McCurdy
Jonnaya Ragland
Kelsey Townsend
Keneisha Dennis
Kimberley Agee
Krystian Frierson
Kyndal Shepard
Melissa Johnson
Raven Formby
Raven Miles
Raven Williams
Samantha Benard
Shana Rowe
Sharita Smith
Shundrell Williams
Altos
Alana Plump
Brianna Davis
Caromanda Griffin
Christian Mitchell
Chrystal Turner
Darian Miles
Indigo Askew
Jasmine Whestone
Jonayce Otey
Karmessa Padgett
Keisha McClain
Korrinne Mitchell
Olivia Bennett
Rakesia Jones
Sonyata Pair
Trenesha Nickerson
Trijon White
Tenors
Aubrey Perkins
Brandon Patterson
Brandon Wilson
Cameron Randle
Christopher Cole
Daniel Burton
Deric Jackson
JeShun Horton
Marcus Cochran
Marcus Hughes
Michael Hines
Phillip Pugh
Phillip Pugh
Basses
Alferis Coby
Alfonso Dallas
Brian Seay
Cameron Blackmore
Cartellis Wesley
Charles Dove
Demetrius Farley
Galik Horton
Julian McMillian
Ken Henley
Rodney Daniels

The Ramsay High Choir
The Ramsay High School Concert Choir has enthralled music audiences everywhere. Choral music at
Ramsay has always had a standard of excellence. The Ramsay choirs have sung their way into the hearts and
memories of concert goers everywhere under notable past directors such as Gregory Durr White, Elizabeth
Selman and James Pruitt.
The choirs perform a vast array of music that includes the compositions of classical masters, Negro
spirituals, contemporary jazz and gospels. Traditional performances of the Ramsay choirs include a Christmas
concert, African American History month performances, and the end of the year gospel concert. These
performances bring many music lovers to our performances annually.
The Ramsay High School Concert Choir, under the direction of Myrna Ria Ross, continues a tradition
of choral excellence in performance. The choir has the distinct pleasure of being the only Birmingham City
high school to receive consecutive “Superior” ratings at the annual All-City Choral Music Performance and
Sight-Singing Evaluations. The Ramsay High School Concert Choir received the “Distinguished Musicianship
Award” in recognition of receiving All Superior Ratings during the 2013 Alabama Vocal Association State Choral
Performance Assessment at the University of Alabama. They have also received ratings of “Superior” at the
Gulf-Coast Choral Festival. Through the years, many Ramsay choir members have been selected to participate
in the Alabama All-State Choir. Ramsay choir members have participated in the University of Alabama Honor
Choir, the UAB Honor Choir, and The University of Montevallo Honor Choir Festival. The choir has performed
at Samford University, Miles College and at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga where they were the
invited guest of world renown composer, Roland Carter. The choir has received many resolutions from the
Birmingham Board of Education for meritorious service.
Ramsay choir has performed in many area local churches some of which include Trinity Baptist, Sixteenth
Street Baptist, The Cathedral of St. Paul, Southside Presbyterian, St. Luke Baptist, Briarwood Presbyterian,
First Baptist Fairfield, Westminster Presbyterian, Rising Star Baptist, Southside Baptist, St. Mary’s Episcopal,
Sixth Avenue Baptist, The Guiding Light Church, Lily Grove Baptist, St. James Baptist, More Than Conquerors
Faith Church, McElwain Baptist, Soul’s Harbor Deliverance Center, First Baptist Church of East Lake, Woodlawn
Methodist, St. Marks C.M.E., New Rising Star Baptist, and Faith Chapel Christian Center.
Civic performances and performance venues include The Botanical Gardens, The Birmingham Jefferson
Civic Center for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, The Birmingham Art Museum, The Club, MBUSA (Mercedes Benz),
The Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport, Vulcan and The Summit Club, to name a few. Ramsay
Choir recently had the honor of performing in New York City with cast members of the Broadway musical,
“Hairspray”. This tour continued on to Washington D. C. and Hampton, Virginia before returning to Birmingham.
During the 2013 school year, the choir was afforded the opportunity to perform for a global audience and
received rave reviews from as far away as Brazil! We look forward to more exciting vocal opportunities in the
years to come.
Evan Averhart
Kelli Blackmon
Chelsea Caldwell
Morgan Carwell
Khadesha Crouch
Jontrell Davis
Olivia Drake
Daniel Ford
Timothy Foster
Breannah Gilbert
Markayla Goins
Robyn Gulley
Brionne Hawkins
Destinee Heard
Carmen Jackson
Alexis Johnson
Kiara Johnson
Zekia Kemp
Ahkeem Lee
Anthony Marks
Michael Moorer
Keosha Morris
Myah Morton
Jordan Nevels
Jakobe Perry
Alaynna Pruitt
Shannon Robinson
Jazmyne Rolley
Kierra Smith
Deja Stephens
Jabria Stephens
Catherine Thomas
Joseph Thrash
Darius Watkins-Sims
Raven Watts
Javian Whitt
Reagan Williams
James Wilson
Melody Wilson
Erica Wright
Shatonya Young

UAB Concert Choir
The Concert Choir is the premiere choral ensemble at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The choir has
developed an outstanding reputation across the United States and Europe. Recent activities include a World
Premiere performance of Glenn McClure’s Voices of Freedom, a work commemorating the anniversaries of the
Civilr Rights Movement and the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation in 2013, and K. Lee Scott’s Gloria for
MorningStar Publications. The choir has most recently performed concerts in Philadelphia, PA, Knoxville, TN,
Greenville, SC, and Virginia Beach, VA. Other performances include the AMEA In-Service Conference in 2012,
The choir has also performed in international choral competitions, including the Fleischman International Trophy
Competition in Cork, Ireland and the 34th annual Florlilege Vocal de Tours in Tours, France. Most recently, the
choir has been invited by peer review to compete in the Champions Competition of the July 2014 World Choir
Games in Riga, Latvia.
Soprano
Valencia Callens
Leah Desiderio
Allison Davis
Stephanie Hickey
Cindy Spellman
Virginia Lynn
MK Whatley
Katie Mulvaney
Amanda Cousins
Karissa Woodley
Kayli Aycock
Leah Eiland
Laura Qualls
Misha Vernon
Jasmine Dickerson
Cynthia Smith
Alto
Tammara Turner
Ella Smitherman
Courtney Cooper
Emily Collinsworth
Kelsey Byrd
Madison Carter
Anna McLemore
Dylana Moore
Caryanne Swindal
Catherine Ritchey
Alex Stanek
Madison Harris
Samantha Doucette
Julia Foley
Tanishia Sims
Raktima Datta
Lydia Knight
Meredith Powers
Kenya Thomas
Tenor
Phillip Ritchey
Corey Griffin
Jake Hemminger
Elie Younes
Gabe Hatcher
Trent Sullivan
Micah Brooker
Jeremy Phillips
Nole Jones
Russ Timothy
Samson Alliu
Bass
Coley Quinn
Jordan Roberts
Patton Lenard
John Kiyak
Johnathon Lyons
Michael Meyer
Hunter Smith
Jontomas Johnson
Tom Mulvaney
Tom Speers
Michael Blackwell
Robert Worthey
Pearce Gruenenfelder
Alex Fecanin
Reginald Melton
Devon Ahern
Chris Farley
Kyle Owens
Randall Toffel
UAB Chamber Singers
Shai’Briana Atkins
Mallory Bubbett
Samantha Cipriano
Felix Crutcher
Allison Davis
Samantha Doucette
Rebecca Egeland
Leah Eiland
Grace Davis
Christiaan Heersink
Stephanie Hickey
April Hoge
Athqiya Israil
Brooke Jones
John Kiyak
Ashley Kuehner
Keanna Lowe
Ali Massoud
Benjamin McCafferty
Hannah Pate
Michaela Richmond
Jordan Roberts
Marie Russell
Tanishia Sims
Cindy Spellman
Samuel Sullivan
Elie Younes
Carolyn Walsh

THANK YOU
The Birmingham City Council
Birmingham City Councilwoman Valerie Abbott
Hose Perry
Kevin Weaver
UAB Choirs
Alabama A&M Choir
Ramsay H.S. Choir
Paul Warnke
Marth Jane Patton
Clay Walls
Brian White
Market Monkey Creative Group
Donors through the St. Thomas “Band of Angels” Fund
St. Thomas Episcopal Church Women
Mountain Brook Presbyterian Church
Lynn Funkhauser
Charles Guyton
Margaret Jameson
Max and Ellen Mayer
Noel and Lucy Merrill
Mike and Kathy Moates
Carl and Caroline Poythress
Dr. William A. and Nancy M. Raabe
Lynn Schoel
Peggy Thompson and Gary Smoke

ConcertsUpcoming
Fall Concert
Thurs., Oct 17 at 7 p.m.
Southside Baptist Church
Admission $5/$8
Christmas at Alys
Mon., Dec. 2 at 7 p.m.
Jemison Hall
Admission $5/$8
Honor Choir Concert
Sat. Jan., 18 at 3p.m.
Jemison Hall
Admission $5/$8
UAB Dept. of Music
Gala
Sun., March 16 at 3 p.m.
Jemison Hall
Admission $10
UAB Concert Choir
BAMA
Tues., March 11 at 7 p.m.
Southside Baptist Church
Admission $5/$8
Benefit Concert
Sun., March 30 at 3 p.m.
TBA
Donations
Spring Choral
Concert
Tues., April 8 at 7 p.m.
Jemison Hall
Admission $5/$8
Farewell Concert
Thurs., Jul 3 at 7 p.m.
European Tour 2014
Donations
UAB CONCERT CHOIR
ALABAMA A&M UNIVERSITY CHOIR
Magic City Choral Festival
October 23, 2013
Sardis Baptist Church
Birmingham, AL
Alabama Invitational Collegiate Choral
Festival
November 7, 2013
Trinity Methodist Church
Huntsville, AL
Annual Christmas Musicale
featuring MAGNIFICAT by John Rutter
Sunday, December 8, 2013, 5:30 p.m.
M. Elmore Building
Alabama A & M University
MAGIC CITY CHORAL SOCIETY
Christmas at Alys
Mon., Dec. 2 at 7 p.m.
MCCS joins the UAB Choirs, several local high school choirs,
and the UAB faculty brass ensemble to ring in Christmas at the
www.magiccitychoralsociety.org
2013 Holiday Concerts
“True Light”
Saturday, Dec. 7
Pell City Center for the Arts
7:00 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 15
Bluff Park UMC
5:00 p.m.

BandofAngelsFINAL2

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

Viewers also liked

Viewers also liked (11)

Similar to BandofAngelsFINAL2

Similar to BandofAngelsFINAL2 (20)

BandofAngelsFINAL2