FOR IMMEDIATE RELASE: April 8, 2019

For More Information:
Glenville State College
Public Relations Department
(304) 462-4115

GLENVILLE, WV - Members of Glenville State College’s Concert Choir will join the Lewis County High School and Buckhannon-Upshur High School Choirs to perform “Come Away to the Skies: A High, Lonesome Mass” by Wes Ramsay and Tim Sharp. This collaborative concert will take place on Tuesday, April 23 in GSC’s Fine Arts Center Auditorium. The concert begins at 7:00 p.m. and there is a $2.00 admission fee.

The high school choirs are led by GSC alumni Seth Stemple and Jeremiah Smallridge.

The choirs will be joined by one of the composers of the work, Dr. Tim Sharp. He will be playing banjo at the concert as well as conducting the choirs. Sharp is the Executive Director of the American Choral Directors Association, the largest choral organization in the world, and is a graduate of East Fairmont High School. 

“Come away to the Skies: A High Lonesome Mass” is a setting of the traditional high church mass which can be found in many Christian denominations such as the Roman Catholic Church as well as protestant congregations like the Lutheran and Episcopalian churches.  The work combines the traditional mass with Southern American hymn tunes and spirituals which are accompanied by the “high lonesome” sound associated with bluegrass music. 

The performances will also showcase native professional baritone Joshua Stubbs as well as local band, Key to Adam, featuring Adam Moyer (guitar) and Kiara Williams (fiddle). Other instrumentalists of the Mass include GSC alumnus Ryan Spangenberg (mandolin), Chris Broadwater (banjo), Mason Atha (bass), and current GSC student Austin Broussard (drum set). 

The doors will open thirty minutes prior to the concert.