HOLIDAY POPS
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Thomas Wolfe Auditorium, 3:00 pm
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20TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT
Sunday • May 1, 2011
Arden Presbyterian Church, 3:30 pm
Arthur Honegger’s King David (Le roi David)
Soloists:
Jacquelyn Culpepper, soprano
Amanda Porter, mezzo-soprano
Bradley Howard, tenor
Narrators: Kenny Gannon and Becky Stone.
Orchestra: Members of the Asheville Symphony
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Asheville Symphony Chorus
Dewitt Tipton, director & conductor
E-mail: dewitttipton1@bellsouth.net
The Asheville Symphony Chorus has a long history of performing choral classics from every century. With a love for choral art, the chorus—founded by Asheville native Dewitt Tipton—has
presented hundreds of rich musical treasures with the intent of preserving them as well as introducing them to new lovers of classical music.
Tipton formed the chorus in 1991 to augment the Asheville Symphony—welcomed heartily by Robert Hart Baker, then conductor of the orchestra. At the time, the symphony was endeavoring to establish a strong base in Asheville, and they welcomed the opportunity to broaden their audience and musical repertoire to include choral works. The tradition continues today with ASO Artistic Director, Daniel Meyer.
Tipton meticulously prepares the chorus for performances for the annual Masterworks season. The Symphony Chorus also joins the orchestra for the
Asheville Holiday Pops program, a popular city event. The Symphony Chorus has consistently received excellent reviews for their work. In addition to singing with the symphony, the chorus presents independent concerts conducted by Tipton. The group has partnered with the Asheville Children’s Chorus and other church and university groups for special performances.
The group has performed mighty classics including Bach, Magnificat; Beethoven, Mass in C Minor and the Ninth Symphony; Brahms, Requiem; Vivaldi, Gloria; Verdi, Requiem; and Handel, Messiah. More recent composers dominate the programs as well: Walton, Belshazzar’s Feast; Orff Carmina Burana; Mahler, Symphony No. 3; Poulenc, Gloria; Vaughan Williams, Five Mystical Songs; Rutter, Mass of the Children; and the world premiere of Stephen Paulus, Heritage Songs.
Dewitt Tipton
The quintessential Renaissance man when it comes to music, Tipton’s talents range from performing solo piano and organ to conducting, teaching, directing professional musical theatre and accompanying musicians of the highest caliber. He performs throughout the Southeast as a soloist and accompanist in vocal and instrumental chamber music.
He has performed in master classes with Madame Lili Kraus and Mr. John Wustman, with the Brevard Chamber Orchestra, and with the Asheville Symphony Orchestra. Since 2000, he serves annually as official accompanist for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in Charlotte, NC, and since 2005 as official accompanist for the MONCA auditions in Columbia, SC. He has been rehearsal accompanist at the National Youth Choral Festival at Carnegie Hall, NY. He is also concert accompanist for the Chicora Voices, a choral organization for young voices.
Tipton earned his stripes early as a musician in Asheville, NC: by age ten he was playing the piano for his church; in college, he became assistant to Marilyn Keiser at All Souls Church (now the Cathedral of All Souls) in Biltmore.
He graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Music from Mars Hill College, and then attended the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, earning a Master of Music in performance and literature, studying with Dr. Kenneth Drake. He continued with doctoral studies in vocal coaching and accompanying with John Wustman.
Tipton has taught in six colleges and universities. He served as director of music theatre and assistant professor of theatre arts at Mars Hill College, Mars Hill, NC, for six years. He also directed numerous musicals over seventeen years for SART (Southern Appalachian Repertory Theatre) a professional repertory theatre on the campus of Mars Hill. Presently he teaches at Furman University. Tipton has served in churches of several denominations as organist and director of music, and now is organist for Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Greenville, SC.
The Asheville Symphony Chorus
is a financially independent adjunct to the Asheville Symphony Orchestra, formed to broaden the dimension of the Masterworks season. Members pay an annual membership fee and purchase all music for independent concerts. Scholarships to study and perform choral music are offered to high school students who exhibit vocal talent. Singers who join the chorus must audition with conductor/director Dewitt Tipton. Call for appointments at 828-206-9498.
