Published by New Jersey Stage
originally published: 07/03/2023
(OCEAN GROVE, NJ) -- One of Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association (OGCMA)'s most steadfast and beloved traditions, the Annual Choir Festival, now in its 69th season, returns on Sunday, July 9 at 7:00pm in The Great Auditorium. This spectacular choral event features dozens of choral organizations from the Northeast, forming a massed choir of hundreds of voices accompanied by the Great Auditorium's historic 13,000+ pipe organ and featuring the Great Auditorium Soloists. This year's theme is "And the Greatest of These Is Love."
The Choir Festival will be conducted by OGCMA’s Director of Music Ministries, Dr. Jason C. Tramm, as well as Special Guest Conductors. Accompaniment will be provided by Organist-in-Residence Dr. Gordon Turk. This year’s guest conductors include Cindy Bell, Rider Foster, Dr. Tom Juneau, Anthony LaGruth, Dr. Everett McCorvey, Dr. Mark A. Miller, Fiona Smith Sutherland, and Dr. Jason Tramm.
Soloists include: Monica Ziglar (Soprano), Laura Zahn (Mezzo Soprano), Ronald Naldi (Tenor), and Justin Beck (Bass).
Choir Festival Attire: Women should wear all white or white tops and black bottoms; men should wear a white shirt, a black tie, and black slacks.
The Great Auditorium is located at 21 Pilgrim Pathway in Ocean Grove, New Jersey. All facilities are handicapped-accessible. This is a non-ticketed event. A free will offering will be accepted.
This year, the combined choirs will perform anthems and hymns composed/arranged by classical and contemporary composers:
“Rejoice in the Lord Away” – George Rathbone
“Chords of Love” – Gwyneth Walker
“Greater Love Hath No Man” – John Ireland
“We Lift Our Voices” – Robert Cohen
“O Love” – Elaine Hagenberg
“Love Brought Me Back” – Dr. Mark A. Miller
“Hope For Resolution”- Caldwell and Ivory
“This Is Love” – Kevin Boesiger
“Et in Terra Pax” – Thomas Juneau
“Great Is Thy Faithfulness” – Nathan Carter
The first choir festival in Ocean Grove was held in 1955. The concept of a large-scale festival of Christian music evolved when Dr. and Mrs. Walter D. Eddowes recognized a need for an experience that would inspire choristers to attain higher goals in music for their churches. At that time, the Auditorium Choir secretary, Mrs. Anna Nichols, extended an invitation to vocal groups in Philadelphia and the Jersey Shore area. The first festival was a preaching service that included a hymn sermon, seven anthems, five conductors and nine choirs.About 200 singers augmented the Ocean Grove Auditorium Choir and the result was so thrilling that an annual event was established.
Through the years, many renowned composers of choral music have conducted their own works at Ocean Grove, performed by the huge festival choir. Among them are: John Ness Beck, Craig Courtney, Dr. Laurence Dilsner, Jester Hairston, Ross Hastings, Dr. Carl Mueller, Carl J. Nygard, Jr. and Clayton White.
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