SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2023
Join us for a day of exploring the music of Stacey Gibbs with the composer himself! Singers are invited to participate in the festival chorus which rehearses Saturday morning and afternoon, culminating in a performance Saturday evening.
Stacey V. Gibbs is a prolific and highly sought after composer and arranger. Best known for arrangements of spirituals, he is highly acclaimed for his ability to infuse new energy into familiar works without sacrificing their authenticity or power.
Maestro Gibbs’ spirituals have been performed by the United States Air Force Sergeants, The St. Olaf Choir, the Stellenbosch Choir of Africa, the University of Southern California Chamber Singers, the Winston-Salem State University Singing Rams, Morehouse & the University of Michigan Glee Clubs, the Wartburg Choir, and many other college, university, high school, and professional ensembles both domestically and internationally. His music has been programmed at all state festivals, National Association of Music Educators (MENC) Festivals, the World Choir Games, and regional and national American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Conventions. Several of his works also appear on J.W. Pepper’s Editor’s Choice lists, including Didn’t It Rain: The Spirituals of Stacey V. Gibbs, recorded by the Sunday Night Singers of California, and his setting of Way Over in Beulah Lan’ which was performed at the 57th Inaugural Service for President Barack Obama.
Recently, two of his settings were debuted at the World Choral Symposium in Barcelona and he was also honored by five debuts at the American Choral Directors Association National Conference in Minneapolis. Maestro Gibbs’ made his conducting debut at Carnegie Hall in April 2017 and debuted his new works Freedom, I’m So Glad and I Wish That I Knew How It Feels to Be Free. He will present another new work From Agony to Glory: the Spiritual in 2018.
Mr. Gibbs serves as a clinician (nationally and internationally) for university, high school, professional, and church choral organizations. He attended Kentucky State University where he served as student conductor. The Stacey V. Gibbs Chorale debuted in July 2016. A management professional with 20 years experience, Mr. Gibbs holds membership in ACDA. He currently resides in Detroit, Michigan.
Repertoire:
• No Color
• Witness
• Be Still and Know
• Gloryland
• Way Over in Beulah Lan’
• Down by the Riverside
• Softly and Tenderly
• His Eye is on the Sparrow
The Day’s Schedule:
8:30 – 9:00 a.m.: Registration
9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Rehearsals, Lunch, more Rehearsal
7:00 p.m.: Concert Warm-up
7:30 p.m.: Concert
8:30 p.m.: Reception
Registration Fee: $20
Lunch: $17
Repertoire Packet: $16.88
REGISTRATION DEADLINE ~ OCTOBER 31, 2023
For questions, more information or to register by phone contact us at 248-646-1200 x 3125 or
music@fumcbirmingham.org
