“Joyful Spirits Sing” is the first concert conducted by Dr. Noah DeLong, who is joining AMEn as artistic director.

Joyful spirits sing in the region

The Appalachian Men’s Ensemble kicks off its sixth season with a concert titled, “Joyful Spirits Sing” Friday, Sept. 28, 7:30 p.m. at Munsey Memorial United Methodist, Johnson City, Tennessee, and Saturday, Sept. 29, 7:30 p.m. at State Street United Methodist Church, Bristol, Virginia.

AMEn is an all-male vocal ensemble of auditioned voices from throughout the greater Tri-Cities area. The choir was founded in 2013 and is dedicated to performing a wide range of choral repertoire, both sacred and secular, from the late Middles Ages to the present. AMEn is one of the few male choral ensembles of its size to perform music of such a demanding caliber with a limited rehearsal schedule. AMEn has gained popularity throughout the Tri-Cities region.

The main feature of this concert is a performance of the Messe “Cum Jubilo,” Op. 11, by Maurice Duruflé. This work, like Duruflé’s more popular “Requiem,” displays a variety of musical moods from the tranquil to the majestic. Duruflé’s colorful organ part is played by Bryan Underwood, coordinator of music ministries at State Street UMC. Rounding out the program are a number of favorite American spirituals.

“Joyful Spirits Sing” is the first concert conducted by Dr. Noah DeLong, who is joining AMEn as artistic director. “I am excited for the opportunity to continue the strong tradition that AMEn has built in just five short years,” said DeLong, an associate professor of music at Milligan College. “There is something quite moving about hearing the sound of men’s voices together, and we are excited to share that experience with our audiences this year.”

Concert admission is on a donation basis (suggested at $10 for adults and $5 for students). For more information, contact AMEn at AppalachianMensEnsemble@gmail.com. Singers interested in joining the ensemble should contact the chorus manager at the same email. Concert updates and additional information about AMEn can be found at www.AppMensEnsemble.org or on their Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/AMEnEnsemble.