ORANGE PARK —The Orange Park Chorale serenaded a plentiful audience with tuneful melodies on March 22 during their annual spring concert series stop at Orange Park Presbyterian Church.
It was the second of three performances dedicated to “A Spiritual Journey” (the first was at Mandarin United Methodist Church on March 21), yet that didn’t stop the 65-person ensemble’s fervor to provide a euphonious show for the packed pews. The concert was dedicated to bringing together traditional and well-known African American spirituals, folk and gospel songs that expressed a wide range of emotions, including determination and praise.
The showcase, directed by David Holladay and Mark Stallings, featured various songs, including: “Hush, Somebody’s Callin’ My Name,” often interpreted as a divine call to freedom; “Come By Here,” an African American spiritual with ties to enslaved Central Africans; a jazz-inspired rendition of “Dry Bones,” a spiritual based on Ezekiel’s vision in the Bible; and the popular “I’ll Fly Away,” which earned them a final standing ovation.
Soloists Wayne Bailey and Jack Sumrall III stood front and center during “Wayfaring Stranger” and “Ain’t Got Time to Die,” respectively. Sumrall also performed a solo for “The Chariot Jubilee.”
Kelly O’Brien played the string bass, and Chris Crothers was on the drums, while Lisa Heath played the piano and Lydia Landes played the organ.
The chorale will have one final performance at Penney Memorial Church, 4465 Poling Blvd., on March 28 at 4 p.m. Concert attendance is free and donations will be accepted.