Lexington Choral Society will celebrate 50 years of choral music
Lexington Choral Society will celebrate 50 years of choral music in Davidson County with the 2022 - 2023 season! This promises to be a season filled with wonderful music and we would love to have you join us!
Rehearsals begin Monday, August 22. Letters will go out to Friends of the Society and past singers at the beginning of August with more information. If you'd like to be added to the mailing list, send us a message!
Help be a part of this milestone celebration! director@lexingtonchoralsociety.org
#choralmusic #communitychoir #lexingtonnc #davidsoncountync #singing
History:
The Lexington Choral Society (LCS) was founded by Dr. Jo Ann Poston and Bea McCrary in 1972. Initially a women's ensemble, the group opened its first season on November 11, 1972, with a performance for the North Carolina Federation of Music Clubs' district meeting in Lexington, followed over the years by many performances at all types of venues. Annual full concerts began in 1981, with the first “Spring Sing,” followed that fall by the first “Welcome to December!” concert. Additional events programmed over the years have included summer sings, community sings of the “Messiah,” community carol-sings, an annual fundraiser and high school vocal scholarship competition.
A "brother" men's group was established in January of 1984 and the men and women soon merged as a mixed ensemble. Out-of-town appearances by the Choral Society included two appearances in Myrtle Beach Choral Festival-by-the-Sea (1994 and 1995), a debut performance at New York's Carnegie Hall in 1997, and a presentation in the Choral Artist Series of the Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC in 2001. The 30th Anniversary 2001 - 2002 season opened with an appearance at the North Carolina Furnishings Festival in High Point, and closed with the promise of many more years of music-making for the love of the art, both close to home and afar.
In 2006, the Lexington Choral Society's 35th Anniversary Season held great celebration and great sadness. After 35 years, Dr. Jo Ann Poston decided that it was time to retire as conductor of LCS. The organization had experienced huge musical successes under her leadership and developed an extremely impressive repertory of choral music. In 2007, Jo Ann chose as her successors, Phil Rector, conductor, and Melonie Rector, assistant conductor, to lead LCS to even greater heights of choral achievement and enjoyment.
During Phil and Melonie’s 10 enriching years as directors, LCS has grown in membership, repertoire, and musical challenges. Members looked forward to rehearsal each Monday night under their direction, which always proved to be a disciplined approach to learning the musical selections for concerts, and “getting those vowels right.” Members also looked forward to the comradery, jokes and light heartedness. LCS is grateful to Phil and Melonie for sharing their passion for music, their musical expertise and their dedication and commitment in continuing the LCS legacy of excellence in music.
In 2017, the Rectors chose Ellen Peterson to continue LCS legacy. Ellen, who has been a LCS member for many years, is only the third director since the Society was formed. She teaches choral music and theater arts at, serves as choral director at First Reformed United Church of Christ, and is a highly skilled musician in choral direction and voice. Ellen’s philosophy when it comes to music is “you can’t get enough of a good thing” and she is always willing to take on more if it means a chance to be part of good music.
