PRESS RELEASE from Calvary Baptist Church.
On Saturday, June 29, 1:00 p.m., Freedom Celebration 2019 will be presented at Calvary Baptist Church as part of Charleston’s FestivALL celebration.
Director Barry Skeenes conducts musical selections commemorating our country’s independence and other struggles for freedom.
The Declaration of Independence is read by Ed Rabel, enhancing this musical event performed with community chorus and orchestra. Selections will include, among others:
- “When Johnny Comes Marching Home”
- “God of Our Fathers”
- “We Will Stand as Strong, Tall Towers” – commemorating 9/11
- Movement I of The Testament of Freedom by Randall Thompson
- “The Nation’s Prayer” paired with “Still wie die Nacht” by Karl Böhm
and, of course, the ever popular:
- “Stars and Stripes Forever”
- Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the U.S.A.
- “God Bless America” by Irving Berlin
- and Peter Wilhousky’s “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”
Selections from past concerts have also included: a medley of Armed Forces hymns; Antonin Dvořák’s Ninth Symphony, Movement II (“Largo”) with chorus singing the spiritual “Goin’ Home;” the complete Testament of Freedom by Randall Thompson; “Fanfare for the Common Man,” Aaron Copland; “The Nation’s Prayer” based on César Franck’s “Panis Angelicus;” “On the Threshold of Liberty” by Mark Isham; American Portrait #1, Robert W. Smith; “This Is My Song,” Mary McDonald; “If My People Will Pray,” Jimmy Owens; and “Gabriel’s Oboe,” Ennio Morricone. Pieces arranged and orchestrated by the Director are usually included in each performance.
Concerts often include singers from 15 or more churches and civic organizations while the orchestra consists of instrumentalists from the region and from the West Virginia Symphony Orchestra. Performances are met with standing ovations.
As you consider which FestivALL events to attend, mark this one on your calendar as one not to be missed! And you will not want your friends and neighbors to miss it as well!
The concert is free and tickets are not required.
Those who have sung in a choral setting are invited to participate in future programs. Call Barry Skeenes, 1-304-761-2807 cell, or Calvary, 304-343-4391. The Director reserves the right to audition singers.
Calvary Baptist Church is recognized for its support of activities on the West Side and to the greater Charleston area, not only for this annual FestivALL program but throughout the year with other programs which reach out into the community.
In its long history, the church was once called “The Singingest Church in West Virginia” by the Sunday Gazette Mail State Magazine. That tradition has expanded to include orchestral instruments in its major programs.
To listen/view last year’s celebration, click here.
Calvary Baptist Church is located just off the westbound I-64 exit for Washington Street West and the Lee Street exit of eastbound I-64, on Charleston’s West Side at the corner of Lee Street and Maryland Avenue directly behind the Kroger’s store.
Contact Information:
Barry Skeenes, Music Director
Cell phone: 1-304-761-2807
skeenba@juno.com
Calvary Baptist Church is located at 510 Maryland Avenue Charleston, WV 25302
We hope you can attend.
