First Baptist Church-East 8th Street will host the Sonoraville High School Phoenix Chorale at its 11 a.m. Worship Service on Sunday, February 22, according to the Reverend William T. Ladd, III, Senior Pastor. The Service will celebrate Black History Month at the Church, and will consist of music of African American Authors/Composers.
The Chorale, established in 2010 consists of 45 mixed voices of students who attend the Sonoraville School in Calhoun, Ga.
The Chorus has performed on two national tours to New York City and Washington, DC. In 2013, the Chorus sang on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s famous “I Have A Dream” speech.
In recent years, some members of the Chorale have traveled to Great Britain, Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, and Hungary. In June 2015, a small group of Chorus members will travel to Paris and Normandy, France to sing in honor of the 70th Anniversary of the end of World War II.
First Baptist Church, East 8th Street, organized in 1866 at its present location at 506 East 8th Street and is a “Church committed to the Message, Model, and Mission of Christ.” The “Gothic” Style brick building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Rev. Ladd, in his 5th year as Senior Pastor, is the 13th pastor of this historic Church in its 147 year history. Bryant Lowery serves as the Church organist and Director of Music Ministry.
In the Spring of 2015, the Sonoraville High School Phoenix Chorale will release its first CD recording. The recording will consist of 10 African American Spirituals arranged by Moses Hogan.