The Alleghany Highlands Chorale will present its spring concert Sunday at 7:30 p.m. in the sanctuary of the Clifton Forge Baptist Church.

A reception for all following the concert. Admission will be by donation.

The pieces chosen for the program consist of several sacred and secular selections, including a set of Civil War songs, some railroad pieces, and a group of folk songs.

The program will begin with "Lux Aeterna" by Brian Schmidt, a contemporary setting of the plea for eternal rest for those who have gone bfore us. The "Aleluia Brasileira" by Ralph Manuel simply contains the word aleluia, but pairs the one word complex Brazilian rhythms, and is sung at a spirited pace.

Other sacred pieces, an arrangement of "My Shepherd Will Supply My Need", featuring Michael Tyree on Violin, and "Down At The River To Pray", an arrangement with open harmonies and a "model" feeling. It will feature Bill McNown and Rachel Camacho as soloists.

Civil War songs will include "He's Gone Away" and "Goin Home", sung by Kathy Haynes Johnson and accompanied by Frank Johnson on mandolin, railroad songs will include a comical arrangement of "I've Been Working On The Railroad", sung by the men, "Long Black Train", sung by Alan Craft, and "Life's Railway To Heaven", sung as duet by Wayne Winebriner and Kathy Crutchfield.

The ladies will be featured on "I Know Where I'm Going", an English folk song, and Michael Tyree and Frank Johnson will play violin and cello on an arrangement of "Loch Lomond", arranged by David Lantz,III. Frank Johnson will also sing "Go Rest High", accompanied by Kathy Haynes Johnson on piano, and adding harmony on the chorus.

The concert will conclude "He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother", and a gospel piece by Keith Hampton called "Praise His Holy Name", which was used by the Alleghany County schools' Celebration of the Arts. Students who sang the song for the Celebration of the Arts are invited to come to the concert and join the chorale on the final number.

The chorale is sponsored by the Alleghany Highlands Arts Council and cosponsored by Arritt Funeral Home. Funding for this and other Arts Council programming is provided in part by grants from the Virginia Commission for the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, City of Covington, Town of Clifton Forge, County of Alleghany, Foundation for Roanoke Valley and The Alleghany Foundation.

Source: Virginian Review, Thursday, May 14, 2009.