Sanctuary Series finale goes from ‘Baptist to Broadway’

The curtain is about to close on the ninth season of High Street United Methodist Church’s monthly Sanctuary Series with vocals and music.

Baritone Mark Spencer and pianist Connie Anderson will combine for “Baptist to Broadway,” a program with a wide range of music at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 7 at 230 E. High St. The show is free; free-will offerings to support the series will be accepted.

“This has been a great season and Mark and Connie will be great performers to finish it,” said J. Chris Moore, High Street’s Musical Director of Traditional Worship.

During the one-hour show, Spencer and Anderson, faculty members at Cedarville University, will take on songs from classic composers including Haydn’s “Creation,” Handel’s “Messiah” and Vaughn Williams’ “5 Mystical Songs.” The Broadway selections will include music from popular hits such as “The King and I,” “Camelot,” “Brigadoon,” “Man of La Mancha, Chess” and “Les Miserables.”

Spencer, an Associate Professor of Music at Cedarville where he teaches classical and contemporary voice, may be familiar to local audiences in the Springfield and Dayton area. Last spring, he appeared as a guest soloist with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, and has had lead roles in Summer Arts Festival productions including “Annie,” “Fiddler on the Roof” and “Footloose.”

Anderson is Cedarville University’s Director of the Keyboard Pedagogy program and involved in numerous clubs and associations.

As always, a meet-the-artists reception in the church commons will follow the performance.

The Sanctuary Series will celebrate its 10th anniversary season starting in September.


HOW TO GO

What: Sanctuary Series: Baptist to Broadway

Where: High Street United Methodist Church, 230 E. High St., Springfield

When: Sunday, May 7, 3 p.m.

Admission: Free; donations accepted

More info: 937-322-2527 or go to www.highstreetumc.com

About the Author