Aggie choir brings harmony to Lexington
Sunday evening the parking lot at First Reformed United Church of Christ was full and Uptown Lexington were full in anticipation of renowned The North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Choir. Cars lined both sides of the street, and every pew in the sanctuary was filled fast. The evening was presented by Faith and the Arts of Lexington, a newly formed group that brings the churches and the arts community of Lexington together.
The crowd was welcomed by First Reformed UCC Rev. Elizabeth Horton. Bill Herndon followed with a warm welcome of his own. Then Rev. Arnetta Beverly of St. Stephen UMC came to the front and welcomed the choir and the community together.
The ensemble Maestro Travis W. Alexander.
He is the university’s Director of Choral Activities and its University Organist, and he has led the choir for nearly two decades. He was recognized by the Recording Academy and GRAMMY Museum in the 2018 GRAMMY Music Educator Award, one of the highest honors a music teacher in this country can receive. Under his direction, the choir has performed at the White House. He and his singers were featured in a PBS documentary, and their annual Christmas concert. He has conducted not only across the United States but internationally.
The Maestro took his place, gave a small nod, and lifted both hands. He held them there, perfectly still, and the whole room went silent with him..
It started so softly that people leaned forward in their pews to hear it. With the smallest motion of his hands, Maestro Alexander brought the sopranos in first, then the altos underneath them. When he opened his arms wide and the tenors and basses joined, the sound rolled down from the loft and swept over the congregation. By the final amen, half the room was on its feet and the other half was reaching for tissues.
From Lift Every Voice and Sing to gospel greats, the ensemble changed position based on the instrument leading. Next came a nod to the country music this part of North Carolina loves so well. The choir sang Dolly Parton’s. I’ll Aways Love You that was made more popular by Whitney Houston.
Then the lights dimmed a little. The Maestro stepped aside.
The room did not breathe. Her voice started low and plain, almost like speaking. Then it climbed, and kept climbing, until it seemed to go up past the rafters and the steeple and out over the whole town. When she reached the top note and held it, the sister from Thomasville grabbed her sister’s hand hard. The young man at the end of the pew had tears running openly down his face.
The standing ovation went on so long that the Maestro finally had to wave everyone back into their seats.
Outside, the November air turned cold and clear. Long after the choir bus had pulled away toward Greensboro, people were still standing in the parking lot under the streetlights. Many remarked the unity of the warm moment.
For future events visit Faith and the Arts of Lexington · faithandtheartslexnc.org
