All Saints Choir To Hold Fall Concert At The Shrine

Published: November 4, 2004

ATLANTA—The Festival Choir of All Saints Church in Dunwoody will present “God Gave Us Music” on Sunday, Nov. 14, at 3 p.m. at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The concert will feature a variety of choral styles and time periods ranging from Italian Renaissance to sacred music derived from Hollywood film scores.

Included are works by Palestrina, Hassler, Franz Biebl, Parker and Shaw, Moses Hogan, Patrick Doyle, John Williams and several others. Selections include the powerful eight-part setting of the “Ave Maria” by Franz Biebl, a rousing gospel setting of “My Soul’s Been Anchored in the Lord,” and a moving “Pie Jesu” by Andrew Lloyd Weber, featuring boy soprano Daniel DalPia, who sings with the Atlanta Boy Choir.

“The program offers the All Saints Festival Choir a unique opportunity to showcase their talents in a wide variety of styles,” said Bryce L. Robinson, director of music. “It provides music from across the centuries and into the modern culture. The Shrine is a beautiful church and its acoustic environment will enhance the drama of the music and the choral experience of those attending the concert.”

The Shrine of the Immaculate Conception at 48 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, adjacent to the state Capitol, was the first Catholic Church in Atlanta and is one of its oldest standing buildings. Designed by William H. Parkins in 1869, it reflects elements of early Victorian and Gothic Revival.

The Festival Choir features singers from two of the All Saints choral ensembles—the Parish Choir and the Schola Cantorum. The Parish Choir numbers around 90 and sings a wide, traditional range of musical styles from Gregorian chant to music from the baroque, classical and romantic periods, as well as music from various modern, contemporary sources. The Schola Cantorum is a semi-professional ensemble numbering about 30 that also sings a wide range of musical styles, with emphasis on a capella singing and chamber music.

The combined choir generally performs on major feast days and has performed several sacred choral masterworks in concert with orchestra, including Handel’s  “Messiah” and the Fauré and Rutter “Requiem.” In addition, the choir has been invited to participate in community choral events, including Light Up Dunwoody and Fourth of July celebrations.

Robinson received his master of sacred music degree at Southern Methodist University with honors in organ and choral conducting. While there he served as university organist and chapel choir director of SMU’s Perkins Chapel. He also helped direct and accompany the Perkins Seminary Singers with Dr. Michael Hawn, expert on global hymnody. A 1989 Fulbright Scholar to Lille, France, he pursued postgraduate studies in music composition at the Royal Guild Hall School of Music in London, England.

Admission to the concert is free. A love offering will be collected to help defray the cost of the program.