Dear editor:
To the music lovers in the area that were not at the concert at the First Presbyterian Church in Warren on April 1, I'm sorry you missed such a wonderful program.
The First Presbyterian and First Lutheran choirs joined together for the first local performance of John Rutter's "Requiem." They, along with instrumentalists, James Pearson, cello; Denise Pearson, flute; Heather Dietsch, piano; Robert Engstrom, timpani; and Jack Hemink (Pastor of First Lutheran), piano and organ; gave a tremendous performance of this piece.
Sopranos Mary Worley and Jennifer Koebley sang the solos beautifully. The "Requiem" was preceded by two pieces featuring flute with piano and cello with organ. The Pearson family, once again, displayed their superior musicality in "Chanson" by John Rutter and "Priere" by Saints-Saens.
Barry Dietsch, conductor, led the choir and musicians through the "Requiem" with confidence and musical knowledge. His years of choral conducting and singing produced an outstanding performance of this challenging music.
Followed by a delightful reception in the parlors, the musicians mingled with the audience amid congratulations for an afternoon of tranquility and peace generated by the music.
Thank you for providing this opportunity to hear the "Requiem" by John Rutter to the community. I look forward to the next choir piece you will be doing and presenting to the public.
Sincerely,
Vicki Hanson
Warren