Asbury choir to perform new cantata
The Chancel Choir of Asbury United Methodist Church will perform a new cantata for the Easter season at 11 a.m. Sunday. Written and composed by Pepper Choplin, “We Were There” is a dramatic re-telling of the Passion of Christ in a series of first-person accounts accompanied by stirring, emotional music along with multi-media effects.
Asbury’s Chancel Choir previously performed Choplin’s “Once Upon A Tree,” as well as a number of his many anthems.
The 48-year-old composer is minister of music at Greystone Baptist Church in Raleigh, N.C., where he is given a “composing day” each week.
Choplin began work on “We Were There” in December 2004 and finished it several months later. It was inspired by the African-American hymn, “Where You There?”
The Asbury chancel choir is under the directon of Jim Hutchinson, who also serves as organist. Featured singers in this performance will be Sharon Brown, Barb Cramer, Paul Cramer, Frank Kurtik and Cathy Petrucci. Jeff Martinec and Michael Slavin will be among those giving dramatic readings.
Asbury United Methodist Church is located at the intersection of South Beeson Avenue and Dunbar Street in Uniontown. The Rev. Thomas E. Brown is pastor.