Area singers to perform at Carnegie Hall

An exciting choral concert event will be taking place at Carnegie Hall in New York City on Saturday evening, July 12, directed by music composer/arranger Mark Hayes & music composer/arranger Lloyd Larson. It will also include the world premier of Lloyd Larson's 'Amazing Grace: From Blind to Free.” Both are from the midwest with Larson from the Twin Cities area and Hayes was born in Ladysmith and lived there until about the age of 3 but now resides in Missouri.

Hayes had also come to Ladysmith in October 2024 for a weekend choral clinic, working with the Blue Hills Chorale, Ladysmith Community Singers, & Gilman Choir. The weekend was rounded out with a concert on Sunday, October 13. But before that, Hayes invited the singers to the special choral event in New York City, which will include about 240 singers from around the United States. There are 30 singers from the three area choral groups, who have been rehearsing the music and will be singing in this concert, with family members attending in the audience.

The members from Blue Hills Chorale are: Pat Arnold, Chris Hamel, Gary Hecimovich, Carol Jackan, René Kurth, Pam Lamm, Darryl Leonard, Jan Leonard, Becky Smith, and Ryan Smith. Four members are with both Blue Hills Chorale and Ladysmith Community Singers. They are: Mary Messmer, Paul Messmer, Tony Tousey, and Tyra Uitdenbogerd. Members from Ladysmith Community Singers are: Brenda Danielson, Nicole DeFord, Madelynn Jensen, Rhonda Mataczynski, Amy Phillips, JillMarie Phillips, Kim Rogers, Shawna Strzok, and Kari Thompson. Members from Gilman Choir are: Ken Henneman, Elsie Hochstedler, Marilyn Newman, Pat Schultz, Pamm Spooner, Pat Welter, and Lily Wry.