
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, May 19, 1994                   TAG: 9405190065
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: S-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: FRANCES STEBBINS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

CHURCH MEMBERS JOIN FOR CHORAL WORKSHOP

An estimated 275 adults and children representing 14 churches are expected to participate Friday and Saturday in a choral workshop led by guest musicians. Their several hours of training will be climaxed by a free public concert Saturday afternoon at 2:30 at First Presbyterian Church, 2101 S. Jefferson St.

Leaders will be Andre J. Thomas, director of choral activities and associate professor of choral music education at Florida State University in Tallahassee, and Henry Leck, a member of the music faculty at Butler University in Indianapolis, Ind. Leck also is founder of a city children's choir in Indianapolis.

Thomas holds a doctorate from the University of Illinois; Leck is studying for a doctorate in choral conducting. This will be the second year Thomas has led the workshop.

Phyllis Wampler, coordinator of the program, said the number of churches involved has tripled this year. Participating will be choirs from Calvary, Connelly Memorial, Virginia Heights, Preston Oaks and Maple Street Baptist; Central and Ninth Street Churches of the Brethren; St. John's Episcopal; South Roanoke, West End, Cave Spring and Raleigh Court United Methodist; Grace Church and First Presbyterian.

The workshop is sponsored and subsidized by the Roanoke Valley chapter of the American Guild of Organists, a grant from the Presbyterian Association of Musicians and a fee from each participating church.

Thomas will work with the estimated 200 adults and Leck with about 75 children.

The singers will practice Friday night and Saturday morning for a total of nine hours. The culminating concert is free to the public.

by CNB