The Appalachian Men’s Ensemble presents “Of Thee I Sing,” a concert designed to honor the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, at two locations in November. The first concert is Friday, Nov. 6, at 7:30 p.m. at Central Presbyterian Church, Bristol, Virginia. The second concert is Saturday, Nov. 7, at 3:30 p.m. at the recently restored Chapel on the Mountain Home VA Campus, Johnson City, Tennessee.
More than just another patriotic concert, this program highlights the diverse cultural heritage of the United States, with folk songs, hymns, barbershop, jazz, rock & roll and more. The central feature of the program is “The Testament of Freedom,” a piece written by the American composer Randall Thompson using lyrics taken from the writings of Thomas Jefferson, who was the primary author of the Declaration of Independence.
“We are delighted to honor the rich cultural heritage of our country by performing songs from throughout our history,” said Artistic Director Noah DeLong. “From ‘Yankee Doodle’ in the Revolutionary era to ‘We Shall Overcome’ in the Civil Rights era, the spirit of our nation has been expressed through song.”
The Appalachian Men’s Ensemble includes singers from across the Tri-Cities region and is committed to engaging audiences through musical precision, passion and commonality. With a dual sense of spirited fraternity and professional excellence, AMEn aims to bring a variety of choral music to our community and to educate, inspire and entertain audiences through its activities. The ensemble is led by Artistic Director Noah DeLong, Assistant Conductor Brad Fore and Pianist Steve Sensenig.
Concert admission is by donation, with suggested amounts of $10 for adults and $5 for students. The Appalachian Men’s Ensemble is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Additional information and concert updates can be found at www.appmensensemble.org and on Facebook.
