M o n t h l y N e w s f r o m F P C Ty l e r • Vo l u m e 1 3 , I s s u e 7 : J u l y 2 0 1 8
Tyler Civic Chorale: 50 Years of Music by Weston Jennings Director of Music & Organist On Saturday, May 19th, the Tyler Civic Chorale celebrated 50 years of choral singing in East Texas, and the concert and gala marking the celebration made it an evening to remember! It is a joy when, on anniversaries such as this, a group can welcome back a director or two from years past, but with all past artistic directors present - many of whom having also been music directors at First Presbyterian Church - it was an even rarer treat. In February of 1968, a choir was formed to sing Felix Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the East Texas Symphony. The desire for a community choral group in Tyler was sparked and these singers continued to rehearse under the direction of Dr. David McCormick throughout that season. The first performance of the Tyler Civic Chorale was later that spring in Wise Auditorium and, as they say, the rest is history!
er’s King David. The gala served as a way to honor the rich history of this group, re-kindle musical and personal memories of years past, and to thank the directors and longtime members for their dedication and vision. As current artistic director, I believe that this occasion also demonstrated renewed enthusiasm for this choir and their mission to bring high quality choral music to our community, even after all these years. I am grateful for all those who made this event what it was and am enthusiastic for what the future has in store for the Tyler Civic Chorale.
In its five decades, the Chorale has brought a number of musical works to the region, often for the first time, including Giuseppe Verdi’s Requiem, G. F. Handel’s Messiah (with period instruments), and Arthur Honneg-
i n t h i s i s s u e | H I GH LI GHT S & F E ATU RE S PW Officers | pg 3
PEB Scholarship Student | pg 4
Take a look at the 2018-19 officers for Presbyterian Women.
Meet Pertiksha Kashif, FPCs scholarship recipient from Pakistan.
Lemonade on The Lawn | Sundays in July | pg 2
Join us for fellowship and treats at 9:15 a.m. First Presbyterian Church of Tyler, Texas 230 West Rusk Street, Tyler, Texas 75701-1696 (903) 597-6317 | www.fpctyler.com