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Choral Concert

presented by
The Choir School
of First Presbyterian Church, Evansville, IN
June 5, 2008 | 7:00 PM
— in the Sanctuary

A program of choral and organ favorites from the sixteenth to the twenty-first centuries will be performed. The choir specializes in music from the English Cathedral tradition and works by living composers. All of the music will be from the choir's extensive repertoire of fine choral works sung in weekly worship services in historic First Presbyterian Church in Evansville, Indiana.

First Presbyterian Church of Evansville, Indiana is the oldest Christian community in this city on the Ohio River. Founded in 1821, the church has been in its present Victorian facility since 1873. Over the past twenty years the church has sensed a renewed calling to be in ministry in the downtown area. Responding to this call has included several building projects, both to restore our historic facility and to ready it for 21st century ministry. The first of these included the installation of a C.B. Fisk tracker organ Opus 98 in 1991. At about that time, the church choir affiliated with the Royal School of Church Music and launched The Choir School. This wonderful ministry has led the way in congregational revitalization and the church's leadership in the community. The Choir School education is open to any adult or child of any faith tradition, or no church affiliation, interested and committed to learning and singing fine choral music in a liturgical setting.

The Choir has sung at the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, and numerous churches and cathedrals throughout the Midwest, including Grace Episcopal Cathedral in Topeka, Kansas, St. Meinrad Archabbey, Second Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis, and Second Presbyterian Church in St. Louis. The choir has made an acclaimed CD, An Open Door featuring music by Jack Warren Burnam and Robert Nicholls in addition to other favorites.

Robert Nicholls, Director of Music and Organist at First Presbyterian Church in Evansville, Indiana began his musical training as a Chorister at Westminster Abbey in London, England. Following secondary education at Oundle School as a Music Scholar, he was admitted to Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge University as a Choral Exhibitioner. After completing his degree, he remained in Cambridge to sing with the Choir of St. John’s College, under the direction of Christopher Robinson. In 1996, Mr. Nicholls joined the staff at First Presbyterian Church. Robert is a strong supporter of the Royal School of Church Music in America and has served as both as vocal coach and organist for Summer Residential Training Courses. Robert has studied organ with James Parsons, Philip Scriven, Douglas Reed and Roberta Gary. Robert is also accomplished in the art of improvisation and was a finalist in the 2000 American Guild of Organists’ National Competition in Organ Improvisation.