The third annual East Carolina Religious Arts Festival was held in Greenville, North Carolina January 28-30, sponsored by the School of Music of East Carolina University and directed by Janette Fishell. Presenters included Sandra Willetts, James Lancelot, Sharon Munden, and Mickey Thomas Terry.
Dr. Willetts (Director of Choral Activities, University of Alabama) led workshops emphasizing techniques for improving choral tone through vowel purity, the importance of score preparation, rehearsal techniques, and the use of gesture to encourage better singing. Mr. Lancelot (Organist and Master of the Choristers, Durham Cathedral, England) conducted an organ masterclass and a session on service playing. Sharon Munden, a member of the voice faculty at ECU, led a workshop on vocal techniques. She began her session with meditation as a method of relieving stress and focused on vocal exercises and techniques for better singing and physical endurance. Another workshop, entitled "Christ hath a garden," explored the importance of plants and flowers and the creative roles they can play in liturgies.
On Thursday evening, Janette Fishell was joined by trumpeter John Rommel, soprano Jon Shaw, and mezzo-soprano Jane Kline in a concert at Memorial Baptist Church. The program included works of Reiche, Locklair (Phoenix Processional), Albinoni, Krebs, Handel, Persichetti, Tomasi, and Eben (Song of Ruth and Okna).
On Friday evening, Mickey Thomas Terry played a recital on the Casavant organ at Memorial Baptist Church, assisted by Louise Toppin, soprano and ECU faculty member. The program included works by African American composers Adolphus Hailstork, George Walker, and Mark Fax, along with music of Bach and Reger.
Sandra Willetts conducted the concluding service of hymns and anthems, sung by the festival participants, with James Lancelot at the organ. The closing festival event was a performance of Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors, staged by the St. James United Methodist Church Music Ministry. A post-festival organ recital was played by James Lancelot at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Goldsboro.
