William Shortal
Leon Hauck
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
- To the Lamb on the Throne
- O God Beyond All Praising
- A Mighty Fortress is Our God
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
- Guide Us, O Though Great Jehovah
John Rutter
John Rutter is a conductor, record producer, and prolific composer of primarily choral works. Some of his best known and internationally acclaimed works include "Gloria", "Requiem", and "Magnificat". In 1981, Rutter founded his own choir, the Cambridge Singers, which he conducts and with which he has made many recordings of sacred choral repertoire (including his own works), particularly under his own label Collegium Records. He resides at Duxford in Cambridgeshire and frequently conducts many choirs and orchestras around the world.
Works Performed
- For the Beauty of the Earth
Rolf Løvland
Rolf Løvland's first brush with composing came at the early age of nine when he formed his first band. From then on, and throughout his youth, music came to be his constant companion and focus in life. He later studied music at the Music Conservatory in Kristiansand – and continued his Masters Degree studies in music at the Norwegian Institute of Music in Oslo. Rolf earned himself a Norwegian Grammy Award and the reputation as Norway’s most successful popular songwriter, and has gone on to international acclaim as a lyricist and composer.
Works Performed
- Raise Your Voices
- You Raise Me Up
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
"Inspiration is a guest that does not willingly visit the lazy." A fitting quote from such a prolific composer. Tchaikovsky's collective body of work constitutes 169 pieces, including symphonies, operas, ballets, concertos, cantatas and songs. Among his most famed late works are the ballets The Sleeping Beauty (1890) and The Nutcracker (1892).
Works Performed
- Manfred Symphony, Op. 58- I. Andante [Excerpt]
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Rimsky works have many religious, liturgical, oriental and folk themes incorporated into his various styles of music. Rimsky explored with harmonies, rhythms and was brave enough to cut off from total westernization while cleverly incorporating its styles with traditional, or as he called it, ‘nationalistic’ music. Often he would take a commonly sung hymn of the time and re-work it, building upon the original work's base tune and exploring new ideas with it, incorporating his own unique flavor and style.
Works Performed
- Glory!
Stuart Hamblen
Carl Stuart Hamblen was the son of a traveling Methodist preacher, and founder of the Evangelical Methodist Church. In 1931, and for 21 years thereafter, Stuart stayed on top of the popularity charts on the West Coast with his radio programs: "Covered Wagon Jubilee"; "Stuart Hamblen and His Lucky Stars"; and the "Cowboy Church of the Air". During this time he converted to Christianity, and wrote songs such as "Until Then."
Works Performed
- Until Then
Ola Gjeilo
Ola Gjeilo is one of the most frequently performed composers in the choral world. An accomplished pianist, improvisations over his own published choral pieces have become a trademark of his collaborations. Although Norwegian by birth, it is perhaps Ola’s adopted country of America that has influenced the composer’s distinctive soundworld the most, evolving a style that is often described as cinematic and evocative, with a lush, harmonious sound.
Works Performed
- The Ground
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 Markham Woods Brass, Sabbath Strings, and students from Forest Lake Academy, Lake Highland Academy, and numerous friends from the Orlando community and surrounding areas.
Together with full pipe organ and handbells, the instruments for this years concert promise to deliver a spectacular experience for performers and audience alike.