ELLISVILLE – The three Jones College choral performing groups, JC Voices, the Concert Choir, and the Collegiate Chorale, will be presenting three concerts over the next couple of months. The public is invited to the free performances at the First Baptist Church of Laurel on Sunday, October 23, at 6 p.m. and the First Baptist Church of Quitman performance on Sunday, November 13, at 6 p.m.
Jones College music and piano instructor, Dr. Victoria Johnson will accompany
the group on piano as the Director of Choral Activities, Dr. Imgyu Kang will be conducting different musical genres for each group. Featured songs such as, The Phantom of the Opera medley, Gospel style songs, traditional hymn style songs, and a selection for a male chorus will all focus on the theme of “Grace” for this concert.
“Now that we are back as much as we used to be, we are so grateful to be able to go around without a mask in our daily lives, especially here in Mississippi. Thinking of the grace we have received from God and the grace we have received from our friends, neighbors, and family, we have planned this concert with the theme of ‘Grace’ in the hope that it will be a time to thank each other, to share, and to build community together again,” said Dr. Kang.
Each vocal group will be featured beginning with the JC Voices performing “Grace” and Schubert’s Mass in G major, including, Kyrie (The Lord have Mercy on us), Gloria (Glory to God) and Agnus Dei (Lamb of God). The Concert Choir will follow up with seven selections including, “Holy is He,” “Vive L’amour,” “The Phantom of the Opera,” and “I Sing Because I’m Happy.” The Collegiate Chorale group will perform the “Hallelujah Chorus” and the JC Voices will conclude the concert with two musical pieces, “Every Time I Feel the Spirit” and “A Gaelic Blessing.”
“The choir exemplifies the theme of ‘Grace’ with the songs they sing, and we wanted to begin this year with that theme,” said Dr. Kang. “We have told the story of Grace through our past concerts with the theme of ‘The Storm is Passing Over’ and ‘Peace and Blessings.’ We want our audience to feel a sense of grace, or God’s love, through our music.”
Jones College choir member Marcus Sims of Laurel, shared his definition of Grace and encouraged the public to hear what grace sounds like in their concerts.
“Grace to me means receiving the kindness from God that we do not deserve. There is nothing we can do to earn this favor. It is a gift from God. The air we breathe, the sounds we hear, the colors we see, the love we feel, everything that God has blessed us with is what I consider, Grace,” said Marcus Sims.
Dr. Kang and the Jones College Fine
Arts Department also invite the public to attend the upcoming, “Christmas with the Arts” scheduled for Friday, December 2, at 7 p.m. as the Choir performs selections from Handel’s “Messiah.” For more information about upcoming events check out the Jones College website, https://www.jcjc.edu/ and media outlets.
Concert Choir Members
Chrishon Arrington, Waynesboro
Karoline Ayres, Laurel
Cameron Beech, Laurel
Samantha Bishop, Florence
James Brashier, Laurel
Aryka Breland, Ellisville
Jayen Bridges, Laurel
Shayna Bruce, Raleigh
Wesley Carmical, Ellisville
Bethany Chaney, Newton County
Antarian Chapman, Hebron
Jaylynn Conner, Waynesboro
Keri Coulter, Pearl
Shana Davis, Jayess
Hannah Dickerson, Lucedale
Miyalexis Douglas, Pearl
Silas Ensign, Laurel
Darion Evans, Waynesboro
Josephine Evans, Waynesboro
Ricshawn Fair, Ellisville
Rayshawn Gamblin, Waynesboro
Mackenzie Golemon, Moselle
Gracee Green, Laurel
Caleb Griffin, Laurel
Graham Gunn, Petal
KeShon Hicks, Laurel
Lily Hendrix, Sumrall
Kathryn Hyatt, Laurel
Carson Ishee, Laurel
Alejandro Jarillo, Laurel
Hannah Johnson, Laurel
Kaylee Jones, Raleigh
Destiny Keyes, Laurel
Kacie Kitchens, Laurel
Travis Kogutkiewicz, Waynesboro
Mackenzie Lacy, Pass Christian
Bri Lee, Moselle
Cody Lowe, Laurel
Jessica Manning, Quitman
Abby Nix, Ellisville
Rebecca Parker, Laurel
Anna Pickering, Laurel
Jalen Poindexter, Jackson
Xavier Porter, Laurel
Morgan Prestage, Morton
Annaleigh Ragsdale, Magee
Rodrick Rankin, Mount Olive
Sommer Ramsey, Laurel
Inari Reed, Greenwood
Kailee Rogers, Laurel
Karlee Rogers, Laurel
Karina Ross, Waynesboro
Bailey Rowell, Waynesboro
Madeline Russell, Foxworth
Haley Kat Shepherd, Petal
Jaylon Sims, Raleigh
Marcus Sims, Laurel
Nick Singletary, Hattiesburg
Linsey Smith, Ellisville
Isaiah Spradley, Soso
John Taylor McCraw, Laurel
Abigail Thrash, Laurel
Dylan Walters, Laurel
Seth Walker, Laurel
Susannah Walters, Ellisville
Aliyah Watts, Sandy Hook
Skylar White, Laurel
Donovan Williams, Laurel
Molly Waldrop, Laurel
Hanna Wood, Sandersville