Saturday, November 11
5 – 6pm, Sanctuary

The Sanctuary Choir along with 10 members of the professional choir Orpheus Chamber Singers present this concert in remembrance in memory of our departed loved ones.

The music you’ll experience is lush and beautiful and provides a varied emotional landscape of light, love and hope, as well as deep sorrow and dread. Our 60-voice choir will perform from the stage, and joined by the organ in the balcony, will provide surround sound from the intimate to the thrilling.

Prior to the concert, you will also have an opportunity to light a candle in memory of a loved one.

Repertoire:
Requiem – Maurice Durufle
Sure on this Shining Night – Morton Lauridsen

Featuring Guest Musicians

Scott Dettra, organist

 Scott Dettra is acclaimed as one of America’s outstanding concert organ virtuosos.  Hailed as a “brilliant organist” (Dallas Morning News), and an “outstanding musician” (The Diapason), his playing is known for its clarity, rhythmic intensity, and musical elegance, and has been described by The American Organist as “music making of absolute authority and sophisticated expression.” He serves as Organist of Highland Park United Methodist Church in Dallas, teaches on the organ faculty of Southern Methodist University, and is organist for The Crossing, the multi-Grammy-winning professional chamber choir based in Philadelphia. 

Throughout 2022, Mr. Dettra undertook a celebrated national tour of the complete organ works of César Franck in commemoration of the composer’s bicentenary. Recent and upcoming performances include appearances in New York, Chicago, Boston, Washington, San Francisco, Atlanta, and Kansas City. Festival appearances include the Lincoln Center Festival, the Carmel Bach Festival, the Arizona Bach Festival, the Bermuda Festival of the Performing Arts, and the Piccolo Spoleto Festival. He has been a featured performer at national conventions of the American Guild of Organists, the Association of Anglican Musicians, the Organ Historical Society, and the Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, and is in demand as a clinician and adjudicator for master classes, workshops, and competitions.

Maiya Williams, soloist

Maiya Williams, mezzo soprano, is a Graduate Artist Certificate student in Voice Performance at the University of North Texas. Currently, she studies under the tutelage of Molly Fillmore. In 2021, she earned her B.M. in Choral Music Education from Stephen F. Austin State University and most recently, a Masters of Music in Voice Performance from the University of North Texas. During her studies, Williams has been a recurring member of Vox Aquilae, the Baroque vocal ensemble under UNT Choral studies. Past operatic roles include Mistress of the Novices (Suor Angelica), Háta (Prodaná nevěsta), Marcellina (Le Nozze di Figaro), Dido (Dido and Aeneas), and scenes from Cenerentola, Falstaff, La Boheme, Puccini’s Madame Butterfly, and an upcoming role as Dorothée in Massenet’s Cendrillon. She has also participated in the Luke Housner Summer Opera Workshop in Houston, TX. As a DFW based musician, Williams has made appearances with Orpheus Chamber Singers, Fort Worth Opera, The Puccini Society of Dallas, and will appear with The Dallas Opera chorus in Spring 2024 for the production of Romeo et Juliette

Jason Awbrey, soloist

Heralded as having “one of the most gorgeous baritones on earth” by The Dallas Morning News, baritone Jason Awbrey is an active vocal soloist and choral artist. His lyric voice has garnered critical acclaim for his performances of literature ranging from the early Renaissance period through the 21th century. In a recital of German lieder with Voces Intimae, Scott Cantrell of The Dallas Morning News said “everything sounded so easy, so natural” and “[it] was sheer magic.”

He has performed with various professional ensembles throughout the United States, Mexico, and Europe, including Ars Lyrica of Houston, Grammy® award-winning ensembles Conspirare and Roomful of Teeth, Dallas Bach Society, Dallas Symphony, Northeast Symphony, Crescendo, Harmonia Stellarum, Tactus, The Orchestra of New Spain, Orpheus Chamber Singers, Rapides Symphony Orchestra, San Antonio Symphony, Santa Fe Desert Chorale, Oklahoma Bach, Verdigris Ensemble, Texas Camerata and Vox Humana. Jason has recorded with a number of ensembles including Conspirare, Orpheus Chamber Singers, Verdigris Ensemble, and Vox Humana.

Recent and upcoming highlights include performances of Bach Cantatas BWV 4 & BWV 140 with Crescendo Bach Choir, Bach cantatas BWV 10 & 147 with Oklahoma Bach, Schütz Christmas Oratorio with Harmonia Stellarum, and a tour of Germany and Portugal with Roomful of Teeth.

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