Amazing Grace

How sweet the sound! Set your soul soaring to a magnificent musical mosaic combining classical choral music and the African-American spiritual and gospel tradition. Directed by Anton Armstrong, you’ll hear music by Mendelssohn, Bach’s Lobet den Herrn with organ and continuo, and Paul Christiansen’s Easter Morning. Beloved works by dear friends include Ken Jennings’ The Lord is the Everlasting God and Ralph Johnson’s Lord, Thee I Love. Robert Ray’s jazzy Gospel Mass will satisfy your soul with rousing rhythms and boundless joy, along with the triumphant Ride On, King Jesus by Moses Hogan. A tender Lullaby by Daniel Elder and music by Horatio Parker and F. Melius Christiansen complete an extraordinary evening of spirited music and celebration at Westwood Lutheran Church.

Dr. Anton Armstrong, guest conductor

Anton Armstrong became the fourth conductor of the St. Olaf Choir in 1990 after ten years in Grand Rapids, MI where he taught at Calvin College and led the Calvin College Alumni Choir, Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus, and St. Cecilia Youth Chorale. He is a graduate of St. Olaf College and earned advanced degrees at University of Illinois and Michigan State University. He is editor of Earthsongs Publications and co-editor of the revised St. Olaf Choral Series. Among many other distinguished awards, Armstrong received the Robert Foster Cherry Award for Great Teaching in 2006 from Baylor University.