Simmons-O'Neal Memorial Concert marks 25th anniversary

Twenty-five years ago, two local choral ensembles partnered to present a concert in memory of their revered directors, who had been educational colleagues and good friends during their musical careers.

Members and alumni of the Chattanooga Boys Choir and the Chattanooga Choral Society for the Preservation of African-American Song will join voices on Sunday afternoon, Feb. 11, to mark the silver anniversary of the Simmons-O'Neal Memorial Concert.

The late Edmonia Simmons, a public school music teacher, was founding director of the Choral Society. The late Everett O'Neal was a public school music supervisor as well as longtime director of the Chattanooga Boys Choir. The two directors contributed richly to the development of music and music education throughout the Chattanooga community, says Vincent Oakes, CBC director.

Oakes says this concert remains a favorite annual tradition of members and audiences of both ensembles. The concert has been held in a different venue throughout the Chattanooga community - schools, churches, community centers, museums and other civic venues - every year in its quarter-century history.

In Sunday's concert, the CBC junior choristers will perform "Sing for Joy" from "Judas Maccabeus" by G. F. Handel, Andrew Miller's contemplative setting of "Alleluia Incantation," and Rollo Dilworth's arrangement of the gospel-style hymn "I Sing Because I'm Happy."

The Choral Society and Boys Choir will combine to perform Philip Wilby's setting of "If Ye Love Me" and the popular setting of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" by nationally known composer Roland Carter, retired Ruth S. Holmberg Professor of American Music in the Department of Music at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

The combined choirs will also premiere a special arrangement of "He That Believeth" composed by Michael Mitchell, director of the Chattanooga Choral Society for the Preservation of African-American Song.

There is no admission charged for the concert, however a freewill offering will be collected, which benefits the scholarship funds of both choirs.

For more information: www.chattanoogaboyschoir.og or www.ccspaas.org.