The Hendersonville Chorale will present its Fall Concert, “Stars”, at 3 pm on Sunday, November 18, at First United Methodist Church. The program features musical selections that reflect the many different ways we think of stars. Chorale Director Michael S. Brannon explains that a star can be a heavenly body, but it also may be used as an ornament, an award—a mark of excellence. He said, “A star may serve as a memorial to loved ones whose lives were taken too soon and, at times, a brilliant star may help us find our way, as one did for the shepherds in Bethlehem long ago”. He added that in this concert, the Chorale will be singing of stars in their several different roles.

The program begins with Stars I Shall Find, arr Dickau, which is based on a poem by Sara Teasdale about the hope one has in that which is desired, yet not immediately attainable. Another piece, Gazing Up at Stars, arr Kilstofte, was composed as a memorial to the victims of 9/11 and is based on a poem by Isaac Ponder. Interspersed through the program are several movements from Vivaldi’s Gloria. And, as is customary in the Chorale’s Fall concert, there will be music of the coming Advent season, including two familiar Christmas carols, with which the audience will be invited to sing along.

Now in its 44th concert season, the Hendersonville Chorale is the oldest continually performing choral group in Henderson County. Some 40 non-auditioned singers with a wide range in age and skill levels currently lend their voices to the Chorale, and all share the love of singing.

Michael S. Brannon currently serves as director of music for First United Methodist Church and as the Musician for Agudas Israel Congregation. He teaches private piano and organ lessons and is a member of the Blue Ridge Chapter of the American Guild of Organists, the American Choral Directors Association, Choristers Guild, and the Fellowship of United Methodists in Music and Worship.

Piano accompanist Rebecca Brake is a passionate musician and an internationally acclaimed educator and performer. Originally from Australia, sheand her family currently reside in North Carolina.

In addition to its own annual fall and spring concerts, the Chorale frequently performs at the invitation of other area organizations. In recent years, their community involvement has included appearances at Biltmore Estate, Asheville Tourist games, the Henderson County Heritage Museum’s Veterans Hall for Memorial Day, and the Apple Festival. The Chorale has also been the guest choir with the Brevard Philharmonic and the Hendersonville Community Band. In May 2017, Chorale members joined the Asheville Symphony Chorus and the Asheville Choral Society in a musical venture that took them to Prague and Brno in the Czech Republic, and on to Vienna and Salzburg, Austria.

Concert tickets are available at the Henderson County Visitor’s Center, at the door, and online at HendersonvilleChorale.com. Cost is $22.

For more information, about the concert or about how to become a Chorale member, visit www.hendersonvillechorale.com