Inspirational Chorale Hosts Guest Choirs for Collaborative Concert

Photo Submitted

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Inspirational Chorale will present a collaborative concert with the UA Concert Choir at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 4, at the Walton Arts Center.

Other guest choirs will include the UA Children’s Choir, Trinity Methodist Church Choir, and a special choral ensemble from the Central Junior High School Chantez. Eddie Jones, associate professor of music in the J. William Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences, directs both the Concert Choir and the Inspirational Chorale.

“The audience will hear a variety of choral music from Korean songs by Korean students to an operatic chorus by Verdi to spirituals and a gospel selection or two,” Jones said.

The Inspirational Chorale, founded in 1977 by Harry Budd, has continued to grow and impact many of the university’s students by keeping music from the black sacred music tradition alive through performances of spirituals, hymns, traditional and modern gospel.

Jones, a voice and choral methods teacher, has more than 95 percent of his students go on to teach in the music profession or attend graduate schools in music. He has guest conducted, adjudicated choral festivals, conducted master classes and presented worship seminars both nationally and internationally. He has conducted compositions by Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert and Bernstein.

General admission is $5 and $1 for students. Walton Arts Center is located on Dickson Street in downtown Fayetteville. Paid parking is available in lots near Walton Arts Center.