Oct. 18: Hickory Choral Society opens 49th season with concert of remembrance, renewal

The Hickory Choral Society will open its 49th season, “Still We Sing,” with a concert centered on remembrance and renewal at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 18, at First Baptist Church in Hickory.

The program reflects on challenges that have shaped the first 25 years of the 21st century, including Sept. 11, political polarization, the COVID-19 pandemic, and Hurricane Helene. The concert explores themes of grief, uncertainty, division, and loss, as well as the power of gathering, remembering, and standing together.

The first half will begin with Troy Robertson’s “In Meeting We Are Blessed,” which celebrates the act of gathering together. It will be followed by “Undivided,” which the Hickory Choral Society recorded virtually in 2020 during the pandemic. The piece will be performed live in its entirety and uses harmony as a metaphor for human relationships, with individual voices remaining distinct while finding strength in listening to one another.

Ola Gjeilo’s “Dark Night of the Soul” will feature a string quartet and piano accompaniment. Based on 16th-century poetry by St. John of the Cross, the work describes a period of spiritual crisis and emotional exhaustion, with music that moves between turbulence, passion, tranquility, and hope.

The first half will also include the “Kyrie” from René Clausen’s “Memorial,” written in remembrance of those lost on Sept. 11, and will conclude with former Lenoir-Rhyne University music professor Paul D. Weber’s arrangement of “God Bless America.”

The second half will turn its focus to Western North Carolina and the resilience of communities affected by Hurricane Helene.

The Hickory Choral Society will be joined by Asheville-based bluegrass band Aubrey Eisenman & The Clydes for music centered on community, faith, loss, and perseverance.

Selections will include “Angel Band,” “Ghost Town,” “I’ll Fly Away,” “Hard Times Come Again No More,” and “Will the Circle Be Unbroken.”

This portion of the program reprises the Hickory Choral Society’s Oct. 10 performance at the North Carolina American Choral Directors Association Conference in Asheville.

The concert is underwritten by Corning and WHKY. Hickory Choral Society also is a funded affiliate of Arts Culture Catawba. 

The 3 p.m. concert will be preceded by a pre-concert talk with Hickory Choral Society Artistic Director Dr. Ryan Luhrs, all at First Baptist Church, 339 Second Ave. NW, Hickory.

Reserved seating is available for contributing members. Limited open seating will be available free of charge on a first-come, first-served basis.

Learn more about Hickory Choral Society at hickorychoralsociety.org.