Atlanta's Chorale New Creation
Atlanta, GA | INDIE
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Proving that the voice is the king of the instruments, Atlanta's Chorale New Creation delivers a stunning sophomore acappella album in The Jericho Project.
CD Under the direction of the Oakwood College trained Tony Thompson, the 30-voice choir is pulled from several of Atlanta's Seventh Day Adventist churches, and has been singing for over twenty years. Thompson founded the choir.
New Creation shows itself capable of the most subtle of nuances, but is also capable of thrusting vocal power. Specializing in the arranged spiritual with a classical approach, familiar songs such as "Elijah Rock" and "Great is Thy Faithfulness" spring forth with such energy that you feel like you're hearing them for the first time.
On the vigorous "Joshua Fit The Battle", the walls come tumbling down with the intense power of the piece, arranged by Moses Hogan and featuring some soaring soprano solos from amidst choir ranks.
"True Religion", with Thelma Isaac soloing, is a meld of lyrics from several like-themed spirituals. Ronald Carter's arrangement moves from a soft treatment at the outset, to a swinging finale.
In contrast, meditative interpretations such as the contemporary composition "Let Thy Presence" by Russian composer Paul Tschesnokoff and Bill Pierce's "In This Quiet Moment", show New Creation's skill in vocal blending, while maintaining an appealing resonance.
An album high point is "Hold On", an age-old, melodic spiritual with lyrics encouraging us that "ya' gotta keep'a your hand on the gospel plow". Director Tony Thompson's warm tenor solo is interspersed with slowly rendered wordless vocals from the choir.
Acappella albums can sometimes become tiresome after the first few tracks. Not so here. Credit New Creation's ability to drive to the heart of each composition, ministering in vocal interpretation with an excellence that is perhaps unparalleled.
- GospelFlava.com
Monday, October 25, 2004
Religious Zeal Flows During Obama Visit
By VIRGINIA SMITH
Staff writer
DAYTONA BEACH — It was a rally. It was a revival. Or it was both.
When rising Democratic star Barack Obama arrived at the John H. Dickerson Community Center on Sunday evening, he met an audience that had adopted the early voting cause with missionary zeal and biblical language. And the event — though political — had enough spiritual trimmings to satisfy those who’d slept through church that morning.
The U.S. Senate hopeful from Illinois, campaigning on behalf of John Kerry, was preceded by a performance by Atlanta’s Chorale, which sang a capella spirituals such as “Rock My Soul” and “Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho.”
“How many of you realize we are in a fight?” its musical director, Tony Thompson, asked the racially diverse and hopped-up crowd.
Everyone, it seemed.
Reporter's follow up note:
Dear Tony-- we really enjoyed you, and we're still talking about your performance here in Daytona.
All the best!!
Virginia Smith - Daytona News-Journal
ATLANTA -- A four year dream of an Atlanta choir is finally coming true. The chorale group named Atlanta's Chorale: New Creation is invited to sing at four inaugural events.
They've been keeping their fingers crossed that the selection committee would choose them, and on Wednesday, they got the call.
Director Tony Thompson said he thought he might be dreaming when his publicist called with the news.
The 20 member chorale had a full schedule performing in the metro this past holiday. They'd put their name in the hat for inaugural consideration back in November, hoping and praying.
Four years ago, they sang for John Kerry during a campaign stop in Tampa. They did so well, he invited them to sing at his inauguration. Of course, that didn't happen, but ironically the person who invited them to Tampa was then-Senator Barack Obama.
New Creation was not forgotten.
Posted By: Michael King
Reported By: Brenda Woods
- WXIA-TV - 11 Alive
Discography
Always Remember - 2001
The Jericho Project - 2003
A Starry Night - 2008
Serenity -2010
"With My Whole Heart" - coming soon
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Bio
Atlanta's Chorale enjoys an enduring reputation for choral excellence. The vocalists and musicians are dedicated to the preservation, integrity, and faithful presentation of choral music. Central to the fine quality of their work are high musical standards. Every aspiring member must pass a rigorous audition before he or she is considered for the group. Those who join the chorale are expected to maintain a high level of proficiency.
Instrumental to preserving the Atlanta's Chorale tradition is Tony Thompson, the chorale's director; he founded the group at the tender age of twelve. Mr. Thompson's passion for music, attention to detail, and exceptional skill in conducting have made him an esteemed musical talent around Atlanta for more than 20 years. Tony, though still very youthful, has what seems to be a lifetime of experience and devotion to the choral arts. Coupled with this experience, he has also recently completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Performance from Oakwood College in Huntsville, Alabama.
ACNC's arrangements and performances are creating a revitalized interest in the 'arranged spiritual', one of the ensemble's specialties, but the ACNC repertoire is about much more. In an ever-expanding range of a cappella pieces--anthems, sacred songs, traditional and non-traditional spirituals and secular standards, classical and contemporary compositions--Atlanta's Chorale continues to seek out songs that reflect the sensibilities of a broad spectrum of cultures and ethnicities. The ACNC sound is characterized by a refined sense of dynamics and the rare ability to project exhilarating power and mystical quiet in its music, primarily using only their voices. The result is a spiritual, unique, uplifting musical experience, where audience and performers meet in heightened fellowship in the presence of our Creator.
ACNC has performed extensively for diverse audiences across the United States, at high profile gatherings and conventions, colleges, and churches. In September of 2001, they appeared on the Three Angels Broadcasting Network's (3ABN) worldwide broadcast of the Southern Union Centennial Celebration. Since that time, New Creation has recorded performances for 3ABN and is heard regularly on that network's programming, and has appeared on other local and national television broadcasts.
The chorale has two official recordings, "Always Remember", released in February 2001 and "The Jericho Project", released on March 22, 2003. "With My Whole Heart", the chorale's upcoming third recording, is one of the most anticipated a capella projects this year as it will include original songs, written and produced by the renown LA producer, Mervyn Warren.
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