History of the Oxford Civic Chorus

By Jo Ann B. Miller / Updated by Linda Sperath

The first rehearsal/meeting of the Oxford Civic Chorus was Monday evening, August 24, 1998 in the Fellowship Hall of the First Presbyterian Church. The chorus was made up of approximately 40 volunteer community members who had a desire to participate in choral singing. The original organizers were Gabriel C. Statom, a senior music major at the University of Mississippi, and Dr. Martha Hitch of the university’s Music Department faculty. Hitch and Statom were the chorus’ founding Artistic Directors.

The focus of the first year’s concerts was on performing large choral works with orchestra or instrumental ensembles, taking advantage of a then-existing state and regional funding program designed to bring quality classical music to new and wider audiences. The first concert was on November 15, 1998, at which time “Gloria” by Antonio Vivaldi and “Gloria” by John Rutter were presented, accompanied by the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and the University of Mississippi Brass Ensemble.

In December of 1998, the Civic Chorus led a community wide sing-along of “Messiah” by G.F. Handel. On May 1, 1999, “Requiem” by Johannes Brahms was presented, with Statom again directing the chorus and this time the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra from Jackson.

Statom graduated in May 1999 and left Oxford; Dr. Hitch continued leading the group in the fall, but because of serious illness, had to step down. She persuaded Dr. Robert Aubrey, also of the University of Mississippi music faculty, to take on the conducting responsi¬bilities, and he directed the chorus and an orchestra of local musicians for another “Messiah” sing-along in December 1999.

In January 2000, the Civic Chorus began rehearsing an entirely different kind of pro¬gram, “The Best of Broadway,” which was presented in May 2000 in the Fellowship Hall of the First Presbyterian Church. Audience approval and appreciation were such that the chorus was asked to give the same program at the annual Fourth of July celebration in the Grove at Ole Miss. Again, the audience enthusiasm prompted a change of direction in programming by which it was hoped that an ever larger audience would be reached.

Beginning with the chorus’ Fall 2000 rehearsal schedule, preparations were begun for a pre-Thanksgiving concert of beloved American and patriotic songs. This took place Sunday, November 19 at 3:00 p.m., again in the First Presbyterian Fellowship Hall. On May 6, 2001, “From Stage and Screen,” music of theatre and film, was presented.

Fall of 2001 saw a change in direction as the chorus took on learning Rutter’s “Magnificat” which was presented at the Oxford-University United Methodist Church on December 16 with a guest soprano, Nancy Maria Balach, of the university music faculty.

Dr. Aubrey designed another exciting program, “A Grand Night For Singing,” featuring some of America’s favorite tunes, for our spring concert on Sunday, May 12, 2002. Nancy Maria Balach was again our guest soprano.

Because of increasing teaching responsibilities, Dr. Aubrey resigned in August of 2002. Philip Walkley, a senior music major at the university, was chosen as the new director. Our fall concert was given on Saturday, November 16, 2002, at the First Presbyterian Fellowship Hall, and the audience was the largest ever. The program was entitled “Sound and Spirit: A Celebration of American Spirituals.”

From its inception, the chorus has elected officers and a board of directors. Mr. Greg Parks, an attorney in Oxford, volunteered to draw up our official by-laws and standing rules. These were submitted to the IRS and the Oxford Civic Chorus became incorporated with non-profit status on September 25, 2000. Although in our first year the singers also put on fund-raising events to pay for music, musicians, and other expenses, support now comes through members’ dues, individual and business donations, and grants from various sources.

The original officers and board members were: Ed Neilson, president; Wally Guess, vice president; Lisa Lake, secretary; Betty Guess, treasurer; Sherry Styers, publicist; Jo Ann Miller, historian; and Janis Miller, librarian. Community members of the board (non-singers) were Harry Alexander, Ulysses Howell, and Rev. Leroy Wadlington. In August 2001, Ed Neilson asked to be replaced as president, and Wally Guess became president, with Ed serving as vice president. Additional board and officer changes also took place at annual meetings of the corporation in subsequent years.

The Oxford Civic Chorus can best be described through the mission statement written by Dr. Aubrey, adopted by the members, and later expanded:

The primary goals of the Oxford Civic Chorus are to provide artistic experiences to persons in the North Mississippi area, allowing members the opportunity to sing music from a variety of cultures and styles in a community setting; to promote cultural excellence and community pride; and to enrich and enlighten their audiences with each performance. The membership is made up of dedicated musicians who come from many areas of endeavor and from many differing experiences; each possesses a common desire to continue a musical journey throughout life. All are committed to the joy of music and to the expressive power that it brings.

After Philip Walkley graduated and left Oxford, Herbert V.R.P. Jones, a University of Mississippi doctoral student in choral music, was selected to direct the Oxford Civic Chorus in Fall 2003. Herb brought a wealth of knowledge and experience, having worked with choirs all over the country as an educator and clinician. During the next four years under his leadership the Chorus again ventured into new territory by including other musical groups in our programming, through festivals and joint concerts. Herb completed his D.M.A. degree in 2007 and returned to his home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to begin a new phase in his career. Following are summary outlines of concerts presented by the Oxford Civic Chorus under the direction of Herbert Jones.

Fall 2007 found the Civic Chorus again in need of a new director, and fortune smiled. Dr. Jerry Jordan and Mrs. Jean Jordan agreed to co-direct the chorus, and a new era of artistic growth and excellence began. The Jordans led one of the most active and accomplished collegiate choral programs in the U.S. for 21 years at Ole Miss. Under their leadership the Oxford Civic Chorus began auditioning singers for the first time in Fall 2008, and even so the group’s membership more than doubled. Following are summary outlines of concerts presented by the Oxford Civic Chorus under the direction of Jerry and Jean Jordan.

An Ole Miss bachelor’s and master’s music graduate, Brooke Bagley Worthy, was named Oxford Civic Chorus Artistic Director in Fall 2009. Brooke is a Fulbright Scholarship recipient who studied at the Zoltan Kodaly Pedagogical Institute of Music in Kecskemet, Hungary. Her career has included positions as choral music director for the Oxford Middle School, private voice teacher for the Oxford Academy of Fine Arts, children’s choir director for St. Peter’s Episcopal Church of Oxford, and director of the Oxford Children’s Choir. Following are summary outlines of concerts presented by the Oxford Civic Chorus under the direction of Brooke Bagley Worthy.

December 7, 2003 - Sounds of the Season

Oxford-University United Methodist Church, Oxford, MS

Reading:  Carols and Caroling
Once in Royal David’s City ~ Willcocks
O Come O Come Emmanuel ~ Rutter
Reading:  Christmas is the Time of Little
Reading:  To You a Season of Melodious Things
Fanfare for Christmas ~ Pfautsch
Reading:  Candlelit Heart
Reading:  The Three Wise Men
Behold a Star from Jacob Shinin ~ Mendelssohn
What Child is This? ~ arr. Shaw/Parker
Reading:  Remembering Those Who Gave
O Holy Night ~ Adam, arr. Rutter
Thou Must Leave Thy Lowly Dwelling ~ Berlioz
Reading:  My Christmas Miracle
Christmas Day ~ Holst
Reading:  The Gift
The Twelve Days of Christmas ~ Smith
Reading:  Gifts
Reading:  The Holly and the Ivy
The Holly and the Ivy ~ Boughton
Hallelujah Chorus (Messiah) ~ Handel
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing ~ Mendelssohn, arr. Rutter

April 20, 2004 ~ The Oxford Festival of Choirs

Gertrude C. Ford Center, University of Mississippi

Oxford Community Band:
 Gershwin Extravaganza ~ Gershwin, arr. Fox
Patriot Songs ~ Traditional, arr. Fox
Individual Choral Presentations:
United Voices of Praise, Sardis
United Voices of Praise, Sardis
Oxford-University United Methodist Church
North Oxford Baptist Church
First Baptist Church, Oxford
Oxford Civic Chorus

Oxford Community Band:
 Songs of the Spirit ~ Traditional, arr. Fox
Combined Choirs:
 Festival Piece on St. Anne ~ arr. Young
Battle Hymn of the Republic ~ arr. Wilhousky
Oxford Community Band:
 Kentucky – 1800 ~ Grundman, arr. Fox

May 2, 2004 - The Choral Sounds of Spring

First Presbyterian Church, Oxford, MS

Three Blind Mice ~ arr. Aschenbrenner
Take Me Back ~ Malpede & Moninger
Music, When Soft Voices Die ~ Shelley/Butler
Reading: The American Temperance Movement
Little Teetotalers ~ Gabriel/Davis
The Mountain of the Lord ~ Butler
Swing Low ~ arr. Dryer
Reading: The Life and Musical Contributions of Moses George Hogan
Let the Heaven Light Shine on Me ~ arr. Hogan
Climb Ev’ry Mountain ~ Rodgers/Hammerstein, arr. Smith
With You ~ Schwartz, arr. Leavitt
The Magnificat ~ Jones

December 11, 2004 - Joyful Sounds of Christmas

First Presbyterian Church, Oxford, MS

Lamb of God ~ arr. Christiansen
Break Forth O Beauteous Heavenly Light ~ Bach
Excerpts from Messiah ~ Handel
 And the Glory of the Lord
O Thou that Tellest Good Tidings to Zion
Silent Nigh ~ arr. Fissinger
O Come O Come Emmanuel ~ arr. Krogstad
Angels We Have Heard on High ~ arr. Courtney
O Hearken Ye ~ Burt
Mary Had a Baby Carter
Rise Up Shepherd and Follow ~ arr. Thomas
Bring a Torch Jeannette Isabella ~ arr. Rutter
Joy to the World ~ arr. Rutter
Carol of the Drum ~ Davis
Do You Hear What I Hear? ~ Simeone
Come Here Jesus If You Please ~ Carter

April 21, 2005 - Second Oxford Festival of Choirs

Gertrude C. Ford Center, University of Mississippi

Oxford Community Band:
At the Races ~ arr. Fox
Nat Cole Favorites ~ arr. Fox
Ase’s Death ~ Grieg
George M. Cohan Classics ~ arr. Fox
Individual Choral Presentations:
 Coahoma Community College Concert Choir
First Baptist Church Choir, Water Valley
Holly Springs High School Choir
The Oxford Singers
Oxford Civic Chorus
South Panola High School Choir
Spirit of Soulsville Singers, Memphis
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Choir, Oxford
United Voice of Praise, Sardis
University of Mississippi Gospel Choir
 Combined Choirs:
Fanfare for a Festival ~ Nelson
Amazing Grace ~ arr. Kendrick
Oxford Community Band:
Disney Cavalcade ~ arr. Fox

April 25, 2005 - Spring Choral Sounds

Oxford-University United Methodist Church, Oxford, MS

Gloria Vivaldi

I. Gloria in excelsis
II. Et in terra pax
III. Laudamus te
IV. Gratias agimus tibi
V. Propter magnam gloriam
VI. Domine Deus
VII. Domine Fili Unigenite
VIII. Domine Deus, Agnus Dei
IX. Qui tollis
X. Qui sedes ad dexteram
XI. Quoniam tu solus sanctus
XII. Cum Sancto Spiritu

Ol’ Man River ~ Hammerstein, arr. Robinson
Over the Rainbow ~ Arlen, arr. Chinn
Stormy Weather ~ arr. Althouse
Turtle Dove ~ Williams
Misty ~ Garner, arr. Robinson
From Sea to Shining Sea ~ arr. Billingsley

December 10, 2005 - Music, The Gift of Life

Oxford-University United Methodist Church, Oxford, MS

Fanfare: A Celebration in Song ~ Spevacek
For We Wish You Music ~ Wagner
Autumn ~ Beck
Music, Spread Thy Voice Around ~ Handel, arr. Spevacek
Let There Be Music ~ Albrecht
Christmas Hymn ~ arr. Jungst
If Music Be the Food of Love ~ Beck
And the Night Shall Be Filled with Music ~ Gilpin
Angels We Have Heard on High ~ arr. Shaw/Parker
Set Me as a Seal Upon Your Heart ~ Childs
*Come Sunday ~ Ellington, arr. Parker
*Deep River ~ Hogan
*Hear My Prayer ~ Hogan
*with the participation of the Greenville-Weston HS Concert Choir

April 22, 2006 - A Spring Concert Celebration

First Baptist Church, Oxford, MS

Lacrimosa ~ Mozart
The Paper Reeds by the Brooks ~ Thompson
Danny Boy ~ arr. Flummerfelt
Amazing Grace ~ arr. White
Embraceable You ~ arr. Shaw
Precious Lord ~ Dorsey, arr. Sevier
Soon-Ah Will Be Done ~ arr. Dawson
Keep Your Lamps ~ arr. Thomas
*Lift Every Voice and Sing ~ arr. Carter
*You’ll Never Walk Alone ~ arr. Mann
*I’ve Been ‘Buked ~ arr. Johnson
*By-n-By ~ arr. Stanton
*with the participation of the Greenville-Weston HS Concert Choir

December 10, 2006 - "Holly-Day" Choral Sounds

Oxford-University United Methodist Church

Regina Coeli ~ Mozart
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas ~ arr. Gailey
Christmas Music for Voices ~ arr. Cacavas
Swing Low, Sweet Chariot ~ arr. Dryver
Sweet Little Jesus Boy ~ arr. Rentz
Amen ~ arr. Hairston
Come Here Jesus, If You Please ~ arr. Carter

April 22, 2007 - A Collage of Spring Choral Sounds

North Oxford Baptist Church

Ave Maria ~ Busto
Two Hymn Settings ~ Hogan
 I Surrender All
I Need Thee Every Hour
A Joyful Alleluia ~ Young
 Be Thou My Rock McDonald
Weep, O Mine Eyes ~ Bennet
No One’s Perfect ~ arr. Rodby
Praise Ye the Lord ~ Randegger
Like a Mighty Stream ~ arr. Hogan
My Jesus, I Love Thee ~ arr. Sjolund
Battle Hymn of the Republic ~ Wilhousky
with the participation of Byhalia HS Choir, Coahoma CC Concert Choir, Corinth HS for Academics and Performing Arts, First Baptist Church Choir, South Panola HS Choir, and instrumentalists

November 11, 2007 ~ Celebrating New Beginnings

North Oxford Baptist Church, Oxford, MS

Star Spangled Banner ~ arr. Jordan
Non Nobis ~ Quilter
Lux Aurumque ~ Whitacre
Lord, God of Israel ~ Nystedt
Tornami a vagheggiar (solo) ~ Handel
Caro Nome (solo) ~ Verdi
Sing a Song of Sixpence ~ arr. Rutter
Melodies Fell Into My Heart ~ Dvorak
Charm Me Asleep ~ Leslie
Nelly Bly ~ arr. Halloran
The Prayer (duet) ~ Sager & Foster
This Place is Mine (solo) ~ Yeston
Pie Jesu (duet) ~ Webber
A More Humane Mikado (solo) ~ Gilbert & Sullivan
Shenandoah ~ arr. Luboff
Over the Rainbow ~ arr. Chin
Deep River ~ arr. Luboff
Witness ~ arr. Halloran
I Believe This is Jesus ~ Moore

November 27, 2007 ~ Yokoke: The Thanking

presented by Yoknapatawpha Arts Council

Star Spangled Banner ~ arr. Jordan
Non Nobis ~ Quilter
Lux Aurumque ~ Whitacre
My People (solo) ~ Gordon
Mild Mother (solo) ~ Rorem
Melodies Fell Into My Heart ~ Dvorak
Charm Me Asleep ~ Leslie
Nelly Bly ~ arr. Halloran
Witness ~ arr. Halloran
The Prayer (duet) ~ Sager & Foster
Shenandoah ~ arr. Luboff
Over the Rainbow ~ arr. Chin
Deep River ~ arr. Luboff
I Believe This is Jesus ~ Moore
Lonesome Road ~ arr. Carrington
Irish Blessing ~ Bernhardt

April 18, 2008 ~ Spring Joint Choral Concert

University of Alabama at Birmingham

Oxford Civic Chorus and Ensemble:
 Star Spangled Banner ~ arr. Jordan
All That Hath Life and Breath ~ Clausen
Lux Aurumque ~ Whitacre
Prayer for Honour ~ Kodaly
John Henry ~ arr. Groff
Wade in the Water ~ arr. Luboff
God and the Universe ~ Stanford
Lay a Garland ~ Pearsall
Don’t You Let Nobody Turn You Roun’ ~ arr. McIntyre
Nelly Bly ~ Foster, arr. Halloran

UAB Chamber Singers, Women’s Chorale, and Concert Choir:
 Haec dies ~ Byrd
Michelle ~ arr. Ives
Country Dances ~ arr. Swingle
Oh the Beautiful Treasure ~ arr. Gilbert
Aura Lee ~ arr. Artman
Riddle ~ Chilcott
Regina Coeli ~ Twardowski
Nunc dimittis ~ Holst
So fahr ich hin zu Jesu Christ ~ Schutz
With a Lily in Your Hand ~ Whitacre
Star of the County Down ~ arr. Parry
Silence of Time ~ arr. Meader
He’s Got the Whole World ~ arr. Liebau

May 4, 2008 ~ Spring Concert

Gertrude C. Ford Center, University of Mississippi

Ave Maria ~ Bieb
I Need Thee Every Hour ~arr. Hogan
Star Spangled Banner ~ arr. Jordan
All That Hath Life and Breath ~ Clausen
Lux Aurumque ~ Whitacre
How Can I Keep from Singing? ~ arr. Nelson
Prayer for Honour ~ Kodaly
God and the Universe ~ Stanford
Let Us Break Bread Together (solo) ~ arr. Althouse
Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen (solo) ~ arr. Althouse
Don’t You Let Nobody Turn You Roun’ ~ arr. McIntyre
A Little Bit of Heaven (solo) ~ Ball
Love Lifted Me ~ Smith, arr. Smith
Lay a Garland ~ Pearsall
Nelly Bly ~ Foster, arr. Halloran
John Henry ~arr. Groff
All the Things You Are ~ Kern
Steal Away ~ arr. Luboff
Wade in the Water ~ arr. Luboff

November 15, 2008 ~ 2008 Fall Concert

North Oxford Baptist Church, Oxford, MS

Star Spangled Banner ~ arr. Jordan
Regina coeli ~ Twardowski
O Crux ~ Nystedt
Loving Shepherd of Thy Sheep ~ Rutter
All That Hath Life and Breath ~ Clausen
I Have Had Singing ~ Sametz
My Love Dwelt in a Northern Land ~ Elgar
With a Lily in Your Hand ~ Whitacre
Deep Purple ~ de Rose & Parish
Soldier, Soldier won’t You Marry Me? ~ arr. de Cormier
Simple Gifts ~ arr. Clausen
Roll, Jordan, Roll ~ arr. Brown
Oh Shenandoah ~ arr. Houkom
‘Roun’ the Glory Manger ~ arr. Scott

April 3, 2009 ~ Spring Joint Concert with UAB

North Oxford Baptist Church

University of Alabama-Birmingham Concert Choir:
 Alleluia ~ Karai
Os Justi ~ Bruckner
Trois Choeurs ~ Bernard
Three Choral Ballads ~ Stenhammar
Go Lovely Rose ~ Scott
Beautiful River ~ Hawley
Garota de Ipanema ~ arr. Pereira

Oxford Civic Chorus and Ensemble:
 Ascendit Deus ~ Philips
Ave Maris Stella ~ Kverno
A Stephen Foster Medley ~ arr. Liebau
Silence of Time ~ arr. Meader
Hold On! ~ arr. Simpson
Sourwood Mountain ~ arr. Rutter
Rodgers & Hammerstein Medley ~ Rodgers & Hammerstein
Michelle ~ arr. Ives
Gimme Yo’ Han’ ~ arr. Brown

April 15, 2009 ~ MS Chapter of ACDA Convention

Galloway Memorial Methodist Church, Jackson, MS

Ascendit Deus ~ Philips
Ave Maris Stella ~ Kverno
A Stephen Foster Medley ~ arr. Liebau
Silence of Time ~ arr. Meader
Hold On! ~ arr. Simpson
Michelle ~ arr. Ives
Gimme Yo’ Han’ ~ arr. Brown

May 3, 2009 ~ Guest Concert

Germantown Presbyterian Church, Germantown, TN

Star Spangled Banner ~ arr. Jordan
Ascendit Deus ~ Philips
Ave Maris Stella ~ Kverno
Loving Shepherd of Thy Sheep ~ Rutter
All That Hath Life and Breath ~ Clausen
I Have Had Singing ~ Sametz
A Stephen Foster Medley ~ arr. Liebau
Deep Purple ~ arr. Liebau
Soldier, Soldier won’t You Marry Me? ~ arr. de Cormier
Silence of Time ~ arr. Meader
Hold On! ~ arr. Simpson
Simple Gifts ~ arr. Clausen
Sourwood Mountain ~ arr. Rutter
Rodgers & Hammerstein Medley ~ Rodgers & Hammerstein
Oh Shenandoah ~ arr. Houkom
> Michelle ~ arr. Ives
Gimme Yo’ Han’ ~ arr. Brown
Irish Blessing ~ arr. Bernhardt

December 12, 2009 ~ Sing We Now of Christmas

First Baptist Church, Oxford, MS

Oxford Civic Chorus and Ensemble:
O Come O Come Emmanuel arr. R. Shaw
Enatus est Emmanuel Praetorius
Kyrie from Mass in G, D. 167 Schubert/arr. Leavitt
Sing We Now of Christmas arr. Clemens
Psallite Praetorius/arr. Greyson
Carol of the Bells arr. K. Shaw
Rise Up, Shepherd arr. Berg
I’ll Be Home for Christmas Gannon/Kent/arr. Liebau
Twelve Days of Christmas arr. Rutter
Angels We Have Heard on High arr. Burkhardt
Garland of Carols Spevacek


Oxford Community Bell Choir:
Stille, Stille, Stille arr. Thompson
Joy to the World Mason/arr. Stephenson

May 2, 2010 ~ How Can I Keep From Singing

North Oxford Baptist Church, Oxford, MS

Salmo 150 Aguiar
How Can I Keep from Singing arr. Ellingboe
Come Sing and Be Joyful Vivaldi/arr. Spevacek
Rejoice and Sing Dilworth
O Lux Beatissima Helvey
Evergreen Sonntag
A Cappella Overtures Beck
A Red, Red Rose Mulholland
The Pasture from “Frostiana” Thompson
In Time of Silver Rain Johnson
Blue Skies Berlin/arr. Zegree
Secret Garden Medley Norman/Simon/arr. Lojeski