On Saturday, July 13, one day before France’s Independence Day, or Bastille Day, as it is called, Historic Good Shepherd Church hosted a concert, art show and French feast. Featuring music by composers who refused to follow the edicts of the Royal Academy of Music first founded by Louis XIV, the program opened with French songs about love gone awry, and ended with arias that focus the listener on spiritual love.
Our priest-in-charge, Reverend Aloha Smith, opened the program by saying that Good Shepherd, as a historically Black church, can never get its fill of celebrating freedom. Before leading us in prayer, she welcomed guests to our site, and urged them to enjoy the music, art, food and fellowship so many had worked hard to prepare, and to also take time to walk the site, and read our three historical markers.
Our singers included Constance Green, who had a thirty-five year singing career with the Metropolitan Opera Company, and who also sang with a vocal quartet that performed free concerts at Carnegie Hall and in Iceland; Sher Harris, a graduate of the music program at Converse University who repeatedly won top awards for best up-and-coming soprano voice in National Association of Teachers of Music regional and national competitions, and who frequently performs in WNC and in the Upstate; Alex Nuesse, a student of Mary Meyers – a former soloist with the MET, and the current soprano cantor at Saint James Episcopal Church in Hendersonville. Accompanying the singers were Peter Kutt, who had a twenty-year career as a pianist with the Asheville Symphony, Rebecca Ashe, a flautist who performs regularly in Greenville and Tryon; and Mari Hashimoto, a violinist with the Carolina Primrose Quartet who recently performed with the Vienna Light Orchestra.
As our priest associate, Father Tim, remarked, “Good Shepherd offers a unique musical experience. The sanctuary is an intimate setting providing true connection between the artist and listener. Program selections are appropriate for the setting. I highly recommend this musical experience.”
We hope you enjoy this video that offers you a glimpse of the wonderful afternoon that the musicians, and also our painter, Marilyn Owens, a designer of clothing apparel for women who retired to Tryon, and who has spent much time in France, allowed us to spend together celebrating love and freedom, and all things French.