Houston Chamber Choir Welcomes Anton Armstrong for YA GOTTA BELIEVE Tonight

Building on an exceptional 20th anniversary season, Houston Chamber Choir will perform a compelling program entitled "Ya Gotta Believe." Featuring music by many of today's best-known composers, the concert will take place tonight, November 14th, 2015 at 7:30pm at South Main Baptist Church.

The choir will be led by guest conductor, Anton Armstrong, director of the prominent St. Olaf Choir and early believer in the mission of Houston Chamber Choir. In the words of Dr. Armstrong, "a celebration like this is a time for thanks. It's an evening honoring not only the singers that have been a part of it, but also the audiences that have benefited from the artistry of 20 years."

This program, conceived by Dr. Armstrong, is centralized on the theme of remembrance and thanksgiving. The month of November hosts national and religious holidays that call for reflection, including All Saints Day, Veteran's Day and Thanksgiving. Works of this program echo the sentiment of these holidays, and span a wide range of choral genres from the American spiritual to the contemporary ballad, to the quintessential Bach motet. Highlights of the program include In Remembrance by David Childs, a somber yet uplifting song featuring splendid harmonies that result in pure harmonic bliss. Building on the same theme, the choir will perform Dan Forrest's work Eternal Father, Strong to Save written for the National President's Day Choral Festival in Washington D.C. honoring JFK's service in the U.S. Navy. The choir will also perform The Cloths of Heaven by M.E. Valverde, whose music is described as, "overwhelming" and "brilliant." As an illustration of joy of gratitude, Andre Thomas' Beautiful City set in an exclamatory fashion will conclude this triumphant evening.

Anton Armstrong is the conductor of the St. Olaf Choir and holds the position of Harry R. and Thora H. Tosdal Professor of Music at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Michigan. As one of America's esteemed choral conductors, Dr. Armstrong is editor of the multicultural Choral Series for Earthsong Publications. His choral achievements include conducting the World Youth Choir, Zimriya-The World Assembly of Choirs, Prague Proms International Music Festival sponsored by the Czech National, and the Oregon Bach Festival. Dr. Armstrong is frequent clinician with the American Choral Directors Association, Music Educators National Conference, Choristers Guild, International Federation of Choral Music, Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, American Guild of Organists, Organization of American Kodaly Educators, and the Orff-Schulwerk Association. His awards include the first recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from the American Boychoir School, as well as The Distinguished Alumni Award from Michigan State University. Dr. Armstrong ranks amongst the strongest influencers in choral music today, and currently serves on the National Artistic Council for Houston Chamber Choir.

Purchase tickets online at www.HoustonChamberChoir.org or call (713) 224-5566. South Main Baptist Church 4100 Main Street Houston, TX 77002. General admission tickets at concert are $40 for adults, $36 for seniors (65 and over), and $10 for students (with valid ID).

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