Masterworks chorale 2025-2026 season

Welcome to the 48th season of the Louisiana Choral Foundation’s Masterworks Chorale. It is our pleasure to offer innovative and compelling programming once again for the musical enrichment of Southwest Louisiana. This season, entitled Music Spread Thy Voice Around, will feature thought-provoking and entertaining musical offerings.

Our Fall Concert will be presented in the sanctuary of University United Methodist Church in Lake Charles on Sunday, October 19 at 3:00 p.m. The title for this concert will be Choral Gems. The program will feature some “choral gems” representing several different time periods and styles. We will start with the chorus, “Let Their Celestial Concerts All Unite” from the oratorio Samson by George Frederick Handel accompanied by strings and piano. We will follow that with American Mass by Ronald Kean accompanied by an instrumental ensemble. Next, we will move to England where we will perform John Rutter’s The Sprig of Thyme, a set of English folk songs accompanied by a small instrumental ensemble of flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon and strings. Some songs included will be “Down by the Sally Gardens,” “The Bold Grenadier,” “Afton Water,” and of course, “The Sprig of Thyme.” We will close the program with a medley of songs from Jersey Boys including, “December 1963 (O What a Night),” “Working My Way Back to You Babe,” and “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You.” 

The annual Christmas Concerts entitled Songs of Gladness Ring will be performed in two venues: On Friday, December 12, at St. Luke United Methodist Church in Lake Charles at 7:00 p.m., and again on Sunday, December 15 at the Immaculate Conception Church on Maplewood Drive in Sulphur at 3:00 p.m. These concerts will feature the major work Gloria in Excelsis Deo by Kevin Memley accompanied by brass quintet; “Christmas Day” by Gustav Holst; Four Christmas songs arranged by Mack Wilberg: “What Shall We Give?”, “How Far Is It to Bethlehem,” “Whence Is That Goodly Fragrance Flowing?” and “One December Bright and Clear.” Two spiritual selections will include “Jamaican Noel” by Kirby Shaw and “Go Where I Send Thee” by André Thomas. In addition to Masterworks Chorale, Les Petites Voix directed by Melonee Cooper and the Bayou Bell Choir directed by Bruce Allured will each present seasonal selections. The concert will conclude with the traditional “O Holy Night” combining all groups.

The Spring Concerts entitled Come Lovely Spring will both be held in the sanctuary of St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Lake Charles on April 17 at 7:00 p.m. and on April 19 at 3:00 p.m. These concerts will feature traditional choruses from major works: “Music Spread Thy Voice Around,” “Draw the Tear From Hopeless Love,” and “Swell the Full Chorus” from G. F. Handel’s Solomon; Two choruses by F. J. Haydn, “Come Lovely Spring” from The Seasons, and “The Heaven’s Are Telling” from The Creation.” Moving into the folk era of the 50s and 60s, Masterworks will perform “If I Had a Hammer” by Lee Hays and Pete Seeger, arr. by Robert DeCormier, “Where Have All the Flowers Gone” by Seeger, arr. by Mark G. Sirett, “The Times They are A-Changin’” by Bob Dylan, arr. by Adam Podd, and “Blowin’ in the Wind” by Dylan, arr. by Mac Huff. We will close with highlights from the Broadway smash hit, Hamilton by Lin-Manuel Miranda arranged by Lisa DeSpain.  

Hope to see you at the concerts,

Darryl Jones 

Artistic Director