"For the Love of Music!"
Our 2021 Spring Concert

Welcome, everyone, to the Lexington Singers Spring concert, “For the Love of Music”! Our theme is inspired by Music In Our Schools Month (March), a movement sponsored by the National Association for Music Education. With this program, we are celebrating music educators and the power of music in all of our lives.  Our selections are centered around the concept of how much music means to those who make it and enjoy it — which is all of us!
The Lexington Singers and Lexington Ringers will be exploring a wide range of musical styles from Baroque (G. F. Handel) to contemporary to spirituals and gospel music. Along the way we’ll hear testimonials from members of our musical community including teachers, students, and members of the Lexington Singers telling us what music has meant in their lives.
In keeping with our educational theme, we are also featuring selections from two of our community's outstanding choir programs: Tates Creek High School and Lexington Christian Academy. You can read more about these guests at the end of the program!
Please join the Lexington Singers, Ringers, and guest soloists and ensembles as we show our love for the art form that has been so meaningful to our lives, "For the Love of Music!"

This streaming concert will debut on Friday, March 26th, at 7:30pm!

You can tune-in on our Facebook event page,
or you can watch this concert in the YouTube video player below!

Program Order

Introduction -- Brandy Shumake, President of the Lexington Singers
Program Description -- Dr. Jefferson Johnson, Artistic Director

"An die Musik", D547                              Franz Schubert  (1797–1828)
Presented by the Lexington Singers

"Music, Spread Thy Voice Around" from Solomon, HWV67                              G. Frederic Handel (1685–1759)
Presented by the Lexington Singers

"Since By Man Came Death" from Messiah, HWV56                              G. Frederic Handel (1685–1759)
Presented by the Lexington Singers

"O Love"                              Elaine Hagenberg (b. 1981)
Presented by the Lexington Christian Academy Chamber Choir

"Dorian Dance"                             Michael W. Joy
Presented by the Lexington Ringers

"Oh, Freedom"                             E.R. Nance, arr. Johnie Dean
Presented by the Lexington Singers, featuring Nathaniel Thompson

"Precious Love"                             James Morrison, arr. Nick Johnson
Presented by the Tates Creek HS Combined Choirs

"Music, When Soft Voices Die"                              Eric Nelson (b. 1959)
Presented by the Lexington Singers Small Ensemble

"The Stars Await"                             Ron Mallory
Presented by the Lexington Ringers

"Over My Head"                             Unknown, arr. Johnie Dean
Presented by the Lexington Singers, featuring Whit Whitaker

Information about the Lexington Singers

Information about the Lexington Ringers

Information about our Guest Conductors

DANIEL E. WESLEY is the Director of Choirs at Lexington Christian Academy, where he serves as the Fine Arts Department Chairman, conducts the high school choral ensembles and teaches courses in piano and music theory. He is also the Director of the Advanced Chorus of the Lexington Singers Children’s Choir and Lexington Avenue Baptist Church in Danville. Mr. Wesley also serves as the State Choral Chair for the Kentucky Music Educators Association.

Mr. Wesley’s ensembles have consistently received superior ratings at regional, state, and national festivals. Choirs under his direction have performed at Carnegie Hall, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Chicago’s Orchestra Hall, Walt Disney World, and the 2013, 2016, and 2017 Kentucky Music Educators Association’s Annual Conferences. Mr. Wesley has conducted and accompanied school and community honor choirs in several states, adjudicated dozens of choral festivals, and presented lectures and reading sessions at church and school music conferences throughout the southeastern United States.
 
In 2013, Mr. Wesley received the Ruth Coppler Outstanding Teacher Award. He holds degrees in Music Education from the University of Kentucky and Campbellsville University. In addition to his work in music, Mr. Wesley is an advocate for hemophilia research and education. Mr. Wesley and his wife, Kendra, reside in Lexington with their children, Zeke, Evie, and Lori.
NICK JOHNSON is the choir director and guitar teacher at Tates Creek High School in Lexington, KY. Johnson earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education at the University of Kentucky in 2015. During his time at UK, Johnson served as a member of, and student coach for, the acoUstiKats, an all-male a cappella ensemble that was featured on NBC’s “The Sing-Off” during his time in the group.

Under his direction, Tates Creek High School Choral Enembles have performed at the 2018 Kentucky Music Educator’s Association convention, the 2017 National A Cappella Convention, Carnegie Hall, and the Ryman Auditorium. Take Two, the TCHS a cappella group, has released two EP's in recent years, and in 2018, they earned two Contemporary A Cappella Recording Awards for Best High School Soloist and Best High School Arrangement.

In 2015, Johnson’s arrangement of “I Want You Back” by the Jackson 5 was chosen as the first place winner in the “Macy’s Back To School A Cappella Challenge”. He also has other selections published with Walton Music, including "Hard Times." Johnson currently serves as the Contemporary A Cappella Repertoire and Resources chair for the Kentucky American Choral Director’s Association.