ORANGE PARK - The Orange Park Chorale, a local non-profit ensemble of choral voices, invites the community to enjoy a patriotic celebration of our country and uplifting spiritual tunes of hope as the choir presents its free fall vocal concert, "Stars, Stripes & Spirituals," in three inspiring performances.

On Saturday, Nov. 7, the Orange Park Chorale will perform at 4 p.m. at Orange Park Presbyterian Church, 1905 Park Ave. The second concert is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 14, at 4 p.m. at Riverside Park United Methodist Church, 819 Park St.

The third concert will be held on Sunday, Nov. 15, at 4 p.m. at Penney Memorial Church, 4465 Poling Blvd. This performance will feature a very special premiere by the Orange Park Chorale of a commissioned song in celebration of both the church’s 100th anniversary and the 100th anniversary of Penney Retirement Community. “Come Unto Me” by Donald McCullough is a mixed chorus and piano work based on the gospel text of Matthew 11:28–29, serving as a beautiful embodiment of Penney Retirement Community’s mission to provide a safe and restful environment for retiring adults.

 The Chorale is pleased to welcome accompaniment from the Gainesville Brass Quintet for all three performances. Concert attendance is free, though donations will be gratefully accepted.

Led by Artistic Director David Holladay, "Stars, Stripes & Spirituals" honors the nation’s 250th anniversary year with song selections deeply rooted in American history. The program celebrates the love and pursuit of freedom while recognizing the benevolent hand of God in securing our liberty. Complementing the theme are spiritual melodies that re-emphasize land and home, illustrating hope for our future resting place of blessings and delight.

The featured patriotic work for the fall concert is "The Testament of Freedom," composed by Randall Thompson using four passages from the writings of Thomas Jefferson, to commemorate the bicentennial of Jefferson’s birth in 1943. The four settings include “The God Who Gave Us Life,” which refers to life and liberty being forever joined, from Jefferson's notes in 1774; “We Have Counted the Cost,” a rally supporting the cause against slavery where Jefferson wrote about the necessity of taking up arms, from 1775; “We Fight Not for Glory,” a stance that we must defend the freedom that is our birthright, again from 1775 writings; and “I Shall Not Die Without a Hope,” taken from an 1821 letter to John Adams where Jefferson expresses firm confidence in the continuing light and liberty of America established on July 4, 1776.

Other patriotic concert selections include “The Star-Spangled Banner,” “Battle Hymn of the Republic,” and “Hymn for America,” a floatingly beautiful lyric by Michael Dennis Brown set to music by Stephen Paulus that celebrates our country’s natural landscapes while emphasizing hope, care and gratitude.

Additional spiritual tunes feature “Simple Gifts,” a Shaker dancing song written by Elder Joseph Brackett in 1848; “I Got a Home In-a That Rock,” a movement from a set of three spirituals arranged by Howard Tappan identifying God as the rock, an unshakeable, ever-present refuge; and “Bound for the Promised Land,” a traditional American Hymn written by Samuel Stennett and arranged by Mack Wilberg which offers a robust and rhythmic journey of early pioneer optimism and the Christian pilgrimage toward eternal life.

For more information about the Orange Park Chorale or the group’s upcoming fall performances, visit orangeparkchorale.org/upcoming-performances  or contact Board Chair Mary Jeanette Howle at (904) 868-6666.