Plymouth Congregational Church and the Wichita AGO had the privilege to host composer Howard Helvey for a weekend of Helvey’s music. It was a joy for this event to finally happen after three years of planning and schedule interruptions by a pandemic.
The weekend started with a dinner and lecture on Friday, September 23rd. Choir members and Wichita AGO members listened to Helvey speak about….. His talk included a few of the pieces to be featured on the concert.
The September 24th concert opened with a thrilling four-hand piano duet on LOBE DEN HERREN played by Howard Helvey and Christopher Shaw. During the concert, Helvey played several piano arrangements from his recent publication, “Transformations.” The Bethel College Chamber Choir performed “Three Teasdale Madrigals.” The combined church choirs closed their part of the program with Helvey’s “O Be Joyful,” accompanied by organist Christopher Shaw. The program closed with an original organ composition and singing the hymn TRURO with a reharmoziation and a closing “Fughetta” played by Helvey.
Guest musicians for the event were Plymouth Congregational and Grace Presbyterian Church Choirs, and the Bethel College Chamber Choir; vocal soloists Chad Ingram, Wesley Kelley, and Georgeanne Yehling; instrumentalists Carmen Lemoine, James Pisano, and Kyle Stanberry.