Debut Concert
May 26, 2005: SLCC Larry H. Miller Campus, Free Enterprise Center Auditorium.
Program 
| I’m Gonna Sing | Robert Hunter |
| I know He Lives and Cares for Me | Riding / Jorgensen |
| America, the Beautiful | arr. Mark Hayes |
| Look at the World | John Rutter |
| All Creatures of Our God and King | arr. Mark Hayes |
| It Had to Be You | arr. Russ Robinson |
| Sing Praises | Stanley Glarum |
| Come Unto Him | Dan Carter |
| Go Down Moses | Mark Hayes |
| Thanks to Thee | Valerie S. Crescenz |
Advertising
Narration
The program featured ten songs connected with a narration written by John Benson.
1. I’m Gonna Sing, by Robert Hunter
Sometimes… you just gotta sing! Thank you for joining us on our musical journey for the evening. With “I’m Gonna Sing”, the Chorale has set us in motion. Are you ready for the ride?
Our journey now takes us to a high vista from which we can look out upon the resplendent evidence of the love of God for His children. Does He love you, and me? Is He really aware of each of us? Is He really even there? These are questions for which answers are waiting, but which can be heard only by listening quietly, softly, carefully. Listen, as we now learn how “I Know He Lives and Cares for Me.”
2. I Know He Lives and Cares for Me, Words by Christian Riding; Music by Brent Jorgensen
The world around us, and the whisper of the Spirit tells us He cares for us. Is there other evidence of God’s interest in us? Ancient texts speak of His miracles, of manna from heaven, water from a rock, and healing from fatal serpent bites. He has protected his children from fiery pits, lions’ dens, and the evil designs of wicked men and women. His miracles have ranged from the spectacular show of the parting of the Red Sea to save thousands of the children of Israel, to the quiet daily appearance of oil and meal to sustain a humble widow and her son.
Long ago and through miraculous events, he promised and gave a land to a chosen people. Today, we are living witnesses to a miracle of our time. Our people, the people of America, have seen God’s hand in the discovery, preparation, and gift to us of our promised land: “America, the Beautiful.”
3. America the Beautiful, arranged by Mark Hayes; Music by Samuel A. Ward; Words by Katherine Lee Bates
How grateful we are for our country! Our freedoms and security are unprecedented. We are a blessed people.
Signs of God’s love for His children reach far beyond this land, though. They can be found in the Far East, in the southern hemisphere, in the deserts, the forests, the tundra, and the isles of the seas. In fact, we cannot escape them. If ever we desire to see the evidence of Him, we need but to “Look at the World.”
4. Look at the World, by John Rutter
On the fifth day of creation, God placed all creatures on the Earth. They pay homage to their creator by their wonder and beauty. When we see the world as it is – God’s creation for us – we are filled with reverence and awe. His work and His glory are the realization of our immortality and eternal life with Him. All that He does is for us. We are central to His purposes. We would do well in joining with “All creatures of our God and King” in singing praises to Him!
5. All Creatures of Our God and King, arranged by Mark Hayes
6. It Had to Be You, arranged by Russ Robinson
You know, when I hear the words “It had to be you,” it usually means I’ve been drinking straight out of the milk jug again.
Welcome back to our musical journey. We now return to a road that lifts our hearts and brings us peace. In times of sorrow, we call upon our Heavenly Father for comfort and strength. In times of joy, our hearts are drawn to “Sing Praises” to our God.
7. Sing Praises, by Stanley Glarum
After wasting his inheritance with selfish and short-sighted pursuits, the prodigal son returned and was welcomed home by a loving and grateful father. The older son was resentful and chided his father for celebrating his sinful brother’s return. His father reassured him, saying, “Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.”
We have a similar promise from our Heavenly Father. Through Jesus we become eligible for all that our Father has. We need only “Come unto Him.”
8. Come Unto Him, by Dan Carter, with flute obbligato played by Emily Collier
Famine drove Jacob – Israel – to leave the Promised Land and take his family to Egypt. Many generations later, the children of Israel had become slaves to Pharaoh and were unable to leave. God prepared a prophet to lead his people back to Canaan. The plan was set. The great Jehovah would show forth his power to the world in bringing the Israelites to freedom. He had just one problem: Moses didn’t quite get it.
9. Go Down Moses, by Mark Hayes
We hope you have enjoyed tonight’s journey. It has been a thrill for us to have you along as we have shared with you our love of music, one of our Heavenly Father’s greatest gifts to us. The power of music is irrefutable. It can evoke every human emotion: sorrow, joy, excitement, and peace. It can make our hearts beat faster, or it can soothe. This concert has been a celebration of the gift and beauty of music. “Choirs of angels singing on high” surely is not a metaphor.
All gifts, indeed everything we have and are, come from our Heavenly Father. Whatever glory awaits us in the eternities will be because of the Savior of the world. And so in closing, to Him we say, “Thanks to Thee.”
10. Thanks to Thee, by Valerie S. Crescenz