‘America Celebrates 250’ concert

On June 7, as part our Mason Arts 250 programming, NoVA Lights Chorale celebrated the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence with a free concert featuring songs focused on the country’s history, beauty, and pursuit of freedom to an audience of more than 150 attendees at at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Bailey’s Crossroads. A reception with light food and beverages followed.

The performance of 14 songs conducted by artistic director Stanley Livengood and featuring accompanist Anna Eun Joung Ko included “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” “Words of Lincoln,” “Workin’ for the Dawn of Peace,” “My Country, ‘Tis of Thee,” and “The Star Spangled Banner” with historical narration by Chorale member Beatrice Squire.

Photos by Jay Townsend

Chorale Members

Soprano
Cheyenne Armstrong, Joanne Balzano-LaRusso, Karen Bennett, Evalyn Carter, Bonnie Clark, Johanna Droel, Sue Edwards, Jackie Fuller, Ann Marie Geraghty, Allison Gunn, Faith Hood, Gloria Hurdle, Marge Lee, Joyce Lindahl, Ginny McNair, Beth Schreiber, Joy Shenk, and Beatrice Squire

Alto
Cathy Becker, Nancy Bonanno, Charlotte Brown, Kristin Brown, Regine Camacho, Patrice Coss, Diana Deming, Lynnette Dingman, Lou Phelps, Nancy Rider, and Jen Tine

Tenor
Mark Crowley, Brendan Dingman, Gerry Edwards, Benny Robles, and Sam Scholar

Bass
John Evans, Dave Goode, Ronnie Hardcastle, Nick Nichols, Ron Parson, and Keith Schreiber

Artistic Director
Stanley Livengood
A music educator, singer, actor, and conductor, Stanley Livengood has sung in and conducted numerous school, community, and church choirs, and taught all student and adult levels. A teacher at Woodstream Christian Academy, he has been artistic director/conductor of the NoVA Lights Chorale in Falls Church, VA since spring 2018, and has served as a professional chorister/substitute organist in area churches. He was a featured soloist with the Fort Smith (Arkansas) Chorale and also for the Fort Smith Symphony’s performance of Handel’s Messiah. In regional Maryland opera companies, he has appeared as Ramphis in Verdi’s Aida, as the Page in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, and as a priest in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte. With a love of the theatre, Dr. Livengood has performed in plays and musicals in Illinois, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Maryland, appearing as actor, music director, or pit keyboardist. In recent years he has appeared as a featured extra in House of Cards – 4th season, and performed in the comedy Love, Sex, and the IRS, the world premiere drama Dancing at Midnight, and the world premiere musical Memories and Legends. For the latter show, he also served as the Music Director, which earned him a “Take a Bow” nod from the D.C. Metro Area Theatre Arts group.

Accompanist
Anna Eun Joung Ko
Anna began her performance career at 14 as organist for St. Michael’s Anglican Church in Korea and she followed with many solo performances on piano and organ. She continues to perform as organ, piano, and harpsichord soloist at concerts, recitals and other events in the US including harpsichord at the Kennedy Center for Mozart’s Mass and Vivaldi’s Concerto. She has worked with several choral groups and orchestras for many years. Anna organized and coordinated the Combined Concert Series of Northern Virginia Episcopal Churches and has been concert director, conductor, pianist, organist or harpsichordist for its 11 years of concert series. She is currently Music Director at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

Guest Percussionist
Julie Angelis Boehler
We’re delighted to have been joined by Julie, who retired from the U.S. Army Band “Pershing’s Own” and now plays with the Maryland Symphony Orchestra.