Chorale announces rehearsals begin Tuesday for Christmas concerts

Published 8:44 am Monday, September 3, 2018

Rehearsals for the Stanly County Chorale’s Christmas Concerts will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Choir Room at First Baptist Church in Albemarle. The church is at 202 North Second Street, immediately across from the Albemarle Police Department.

Singers should park in the parking lot behind the church, which is accessible from North Street, North Second Street or North Third Street. Entrance to the church building is through the double doors at the church office, located near the children’s playground. The Choir Room is upstairs, above the church office. An elevator is available for access to the second floor.

The Chorale will combine voices with the North Stanly High School Chorus to present a concert that will feature much of the Christmas music composed or arranged by English composer John Rutter. The North Stanly Handbell Choir will also perform a variety of Christmas selections. Concerts are scheduled for 4 p.m. Dec. 8 in the sanctuary of Albemarle First Baptist Church, and 7 p.m. Dec. 11 at First Baptist Church in Badin.

Aza Hudson, a North Stanly music educator, will direct Stanly County Chorale and North Stanly’s musical groups in a pair of Christmas concerts.

Aza Mabry Hudson will direct The Chorale and the North Stanly musical groups. Aza is a native of Stanly County. She earned degrees in Music Education and Church Music at Pfeiffer University, where she honed her skill as an organist under the direction of Stanley Scheer. She is a National Board-Certified Teacher and has completed some graduate work at Westminster Choir College in Princeton, New Jersey. She has been involved in church music since she was 14 and is currently the Director of Music at First Baptist Church in Albemarle.

Aza has been a Music Educator in the Stanly County Schools for 34 years, and is teaching vocal music and handbells at North Stanly High School. She is married to Kevin Hudson. They live in Albemarle and have four children: Elizabeth, Eben, Elaine and Elithe. Aza is quick to say that she is blessed to have a loving family and two jobs that she enjoys going to every week.

Zoey Brouthers will return as the Chorale’s accompanist. She holds a BA degree in Piano Performance from Appalachian State University and a MA degree in Music Theory from Bowling Green State University. She is currently an Adjunct Professor of Music at Pfeiffer University. Zoey is beginning her fifth season as the keyboard accompanist for the Chorale. When she is not teaching at Pfeiffer, she resides in Cary, where she teaches private piano lessons.

New singers are welcome to join The Chorale. For more information, visit The Chorale website at www.stanlychorale.org or call Becky Wall at 704-474-3991 or Paul Hinkle at 704-422-5480.

The 2018 Christmas Concert is sponsored, in part, by Uwharrie Bank. The Chorale is also grateful for the continued support of The Stanly County Arts Council. This project is supported by the N.C. Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural & Cultural Resources: www.NCArts.org .
The Stanly County Chorale is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization.