United Church of SF, Feb 9

Nationally-known Composer and Conductor Brandon Boyd leads the 7th Annual FebFest Choral Workshop celebrating African American sacred music Saturday, Feb 9 at United Church of Santa Fe. The all day choral workshop begins at 8:30am and concludes with a concert at 4pm. You can purchase tickets to participate in person or online.

The all-day Choral Workshop led by Dr. Boyd is jointly sponsored by United Church and Albuquerque’s Coro Lux, and it is open to all singers (no audition needed). Director of Choral Activities at the University of Missouri, Dr. Boyd is known to the Santa Fe community through his collaboration with the Desert Chorale. Special guest Amy Owens, professional soprano and Director of the Young Voices Program of the Santa Fe Opera, will present a workshop on Techniques for Life-Long Singing. Cecilia Webb, long-time host of “Train to Glory,” KUNM’s Sunday morning Gospel program, will appear as part of a panel on the African American sacred music traditions and future.

The closing 4:00 concert is free and open to the public, with a freewill offering benefitting the new Santa Fe Symphony’s Children and Youth Choirs and also the University of New Mexico’s Gospel Choir, Fervent Praise.

Dr. Boyd is Associate Professor of Music at the University of Missouri-Columbia. An active composer and arranger, his music is sung regularly by ensembles throughout the United States and abroad. He is also the editor of the “Brandon A. Boyd Choral Series,” with Hinshaw Music Publications, helping promote exciting and innovative works composed by both established and new composers and arrangers. Dr. Boyd holds degrees from Florida State University (PhD, MM) and Tennessee State University (BS).

Now in its 7th year, FebFest is a collaboration between Albuquerque’s Coro Lux (Chorus of Light) and the United Church of Santa Fe with a focus on the rich and deep traditions of African-American sacred music. Nationally-known conductor and composer Bradley Ellingboe is the Artistic Director of Coro Lux and also the Director of Music of the United Church, where the Rev. Talitha Arnold is Pastor and well-known to the Santa Fe community for her involvement in social justice concerns. Both Coro Lux and the United Church are committed to offering high-quality choral music from a variety of traditions and also supporting the wider community.

For information or to register, please contact Rev. Talitha Arnold (505-988-3295) or Music Director Bradley Ellingboe (ellingboe@abqcorolux.org), or go to abqcorolux.org. To purchase tickets, go to Buy tickets – FebFest 2025.