The
Power and Glory of God Through Music Concert Series
Presents the 2023 concert:

5:30PM, Saturday Evening, October 21, 2023

at the
First Methodist Church of Orlando.
142 E Jackson St, Orlando, FL 32801

About the Program

The music program that is to be presented on October 21 is part 1 in the third chapter of the "Power and Glory of God Through Music" concert series. In 2020 chapter 2, "The Music of the Redeemed" concluded with the concert "Worthy is the Lamb". This new chapter starts with part 1, "My Song in the Night." It is the musical hope granted by our Savior to us as we navigate through the darkness and turmoil in this world. The concert series was put on pause due to the COVID pandemic, and yet music continued to be a source of spiritual inspiration even without concerts. Now, we're coming back in a celebration of Gods power to see us through the dark times. Together with several other churches in the area, we are bringing to our audience a grand program of sacred, uplifting, and awe-inspiring music featuring a combined mass choir, orchestra, and organ.

We are constantly bombarded with news of bad things happening; on the local level, on the national level, on the global level. Music offers a break from that. Specifically, this music program exists for two reasons: to return a musical offering to the Lord, and to provide a brief respite from the constant bombardment of bad things in the world around us.

It may be noticed that there are no holidays near the program date. This is by design. The goal is to provide a musical oasis, no matter how brief, without the emotional ties to a holiday or event. The program is altruistic in nature; it exists because music and musical opportunities are good as well as fun.

Getting There

Parking is available in several areas around the church. The closest is in the seven-floor Seaside parking garage. There are other parking garages and surface street parking in the area. Garage parking has a small fee. Be sure to leave by 7:30PM, as the gates to the garage will lock at that time! Monday through Saturday, on-street parking is metered and enforced by the City of Orlando.

Map of the area

 

The Director

William Shortal

Bill served the First United Methodist Church of Orlando for 23 years as Director of Music and Worship Arts. There he administered a program of 14 ensembles and annually directed two concerts with full orchestra. Prior to Orlando, Bill held similar positions with churches in Fort Myers, FL; Wood River, IL; and Sioux Falls, SD. He holds degrees from Millikin University (BME) and the University of Illinois (MM). Previously, Bill served The Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship Arts as national president and vice-president, as well as president of the Florida chapter.

The Music

Mack Wilberg

Mack Wilberg is a composer, arranger, conductor, choral clinician and the current music director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. His compositions and arrangements are performed and recorded by choral organizations throughout the world. In addition to the many compositions he has written for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, his works have been performed by such artists as Renée Fleming, Frederica von Stade, Bryn Terfel, the King’s Singers, narrators Walter Cronkite and Claire Bloom.

Works Performed

  • Praise to the Lord
  • Redeemer of Isreal
  • My Song in the Night
  • Amazing Grace

Dan Forrest

Dan Forrest has been described as having "an undoubted gift for writing beautiful music….that is truly magical" (NY Concert Review), with works hailed as "magnificent, very cleverly constructed sound sculpture" (Classical Voice), and “superb writing…full of spine-tingling moments” (Salt Lake Tribune). In the last decade, Dan’s music has become well established in the repertoire of choirs in the U.S. and abroad. Dan’s music has received dozens of awards and distinctions, with premieres in major venues around the world. Dan is active as a composer, educator, and pianist.

Works Performed

  • Jubilate Deo: Song of the Earth
  • Jubilate Deo: Omnis Terra

Craig Courtney

Craig Courtney, a native of Indiana, is a pianist and composer. He studied at the University of Cincinnati and the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria. While in Salzburg, he directed a church choir and began composing sacred choral music. After catching the attention of John Ness Beck, he became a staff composer and editor at Beckenhorst Press. With over 160 choral octavos, vocal collections, and works for choir and orchestra, Mr. Courtney's compositions showcase his diverse background as a pianist, cellist, vocal coach, and choral director. He now resides in Columbus, Ohio, with his wife and son, directing the choir at The Church at Mill Run.

Works Performed

  • Psalm 23

Camp Kirkland

Camp Kirkland, a Florida State University graduate with music education degrees, taught band at various levels. He played euphonium and trombone in esteemed orchestras and bands. Camp is renowned for reestablishing instrumental music in churches, being the first Instrumental Director at First Baptist Church in Jacksonville. With hundreds of choral and instrumental publications, he remains a leader in church orchestra growth. An in-demand conductor and clinician, Camp is now a freelance composer and arranger residing in Florida with his wife, Fran.

Works Performed

  • No More Night

Ralph Vaughan Williams

Born on October 12, 1872, in Down Ampney, England, Williams was raised in Leith Hill Place and educated at Charterhouse School, the Royal College of Music, and Trinity College, Cambridge. Influenced by Charles Stanford, Hubert Parry, Max Bruch, and Maurice Ravel, he became one of the first to collect folk songs and carols from rural singers. As musical editor of The English Hymnal, he composed popular hymn tunes like "Sine Nomine" and "Down Ampney." His friendship with Gustav Holst played a pivotal role in both composers' development.

Works Performed

  • O Clap Your Hands

Glenn L. Rudolph

Since 1977, Glenn L. Rudolph has been actively involved in choral music in Pittsburgh. He directed church choirs, was a member of the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, and served as a Conducting Assistant to Robert Page. Rudolph joined The Pittsburgh Camerata and worked as a tenor soloist at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral and Temple Rodef Shalom. He graduated with a B.M. in Music Composition from the University of Cincinnati, where he also studied voice. Rudolph later obtained his M.M. in Composition from Duquesne University's Mary Pappert School of Music in 2011, studying with esteemed composers like Paul Cooper and David Stock.

Works Performed

  • The Dream Isaiah Saw

 

 

Mark Babienko

Mark is the producer of "The Power and Glory of God Through Music" concert series. In addition, he is the series' graphic artist, music librarian, website builder, sound engineer, video editor, print designer, and orchestral trumpet player. This year, he's adding the composers hat the collection, by having one of his works performed for the 2023 concert.

Works Performed

  • Proelium - War In Heaven

 

 

The Musicians

The Choir - An Exciting Partnership

The choir this year is composed of members from the Markham Woods Seventh-day Adventist church in Longwood, First Methodist Church of Orlando, Spring Meadows Seventh-day Adventist church, Forest Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church Choir, members of the Men of Markham Woods men's chorus, the vocal octet Restoration, several out of state choir performers, and numerous friends from the Orlando community and surrounding areas.

The concert is a unique and exciting opportunity to blend the choral talents of many congregations, and the result is anticipated to produce amazing experiences for both choir singers and audiences alike.

The Instrumentalists - An Incredible Experience

The concert this year provides a once-off exciting experience for the instrumentalists. Often an orchestra is composed of an established group. Here we have the blending of several smaller groups, including members of the Orlando Philharmonic, the AdventHealth Orchestra, the Markham Woods Brass, Sabbath Strings, and students from Forest Lake Academy, and numerous friends from the Orlando community and surrounding areas.

Together with full pipe organ the instruments for this years concert promise to deliver a spectacular experience for performers and audience alike.