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Welcome to the source of our Space for Grace Concerts here at First Christian, Wilson.
Composed of primarily two Noonday Series,
this collection of concerts is meant to provide a space for
​departure, meditation and renewal. 

The Sounds of Summer Series are Noonday concerts
scheduled during the summer months.  2024 is the 6th year of this series.

The Advent Series, will be in it's 15th year in 2024, is an intimate series of
noonday concerts every Wednesday during Advent.
These feature both secular and sacred melodies of Christmas! 

Music for Hope began in 2012 with support of musicians across the Wilson community and beyond.  Our 2023 concert will be the 13th Annual Music for Hope concert with 100% of the donations going towards Hope Station.  

All concerts are free and open to all. 
Continue down to view our upcoming concerts, join our email list
and view those who have supported the series!

If you wish to give to this series, we welcome such donations! 
If you have already given, we are deeply grateful.
Click the button below and in the 'memo' line, please designate "Music Series". 

Give to the Series

Upcoming Concerts at FCC Wilson
2024 Advent Series Series

 

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Wednesday, December 4
​Dr. Ginger Jones-Robinson, soprano
Casey Childers, pianist

A native of Garner, North Carolina, Ginger Jones-Robinson endeavors to share the awe of music. A mezzo turned soprano, she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro and her Master of Music degree from the University of South Carolina (USC). Also at USC, she recently completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree with a focus on the vocal music of George Walker. Dr. Jones-Robinson has had several appearances as a soloist, including with the Kronos Quartet, the Brevard Philharmonic, and the South Carolina Philharmonic. Ginger is a versatile vocalist who is equally passionate about the music of Verdi and Margaret Bonds; Handel and Damien Sneed; and Shostakovich and Evelyn Simpson-Curenton.
 As music educator, Dr. Jones-Robinson has held faculty positions in both pre-collegiate and collegiate settings. At Allen University, she served as the chair of the music department while maintaining a vocal studio and directing choral ensembles. During her tenure at Allen, she also held posts at Benedict College, and Claflin University. Currently, she is the director of Choral Activities at Northern High School in Durham, NC.
 Ginger currently resides in Wake Forest NC, with her husband (also a music educator) and their energetic and precocious four-year old. 

The program will consist of works by Uzee Brown, Jr., Mark Hayes, Giulio Caccinin, Franz Schubert, Pietro Yon, Robert MacGimsey and Jester Hairston.

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View the December 4 Program

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Wednesday, December 11 | Matthew Joyner, tenor
​Matthew Young, pianist

Matthew Joyner is the Director of Choirs at Ralph L. Fike High School where he teaches mixed chorus and the Fike Vocal Ensemble.
He graduated with his Bachelor's Degree in Music Education from East Carolina University where he studied voice under John Kramar and Daniel Shirley, and choral methods under Andrea VanDeusen. There he was a member of the world-renowned choir, the ECU Chamber Singers (James Franklin, director), and an active member in the ECU Opera Theatre.  He has sung under major clinicians such as Simon Carrington and John Rutter, and also performed the roles of Lord Tolloller in Arthur Sullivan's Iolanthe and Mr. Erlansen in Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music.  Joyner is also a sought after tenor soloist and keyboardist for church services and recitals, most recently singing the solo in Camille Saint-Saën's Oratorio de Noël and giving several recitals in the Wilson area. 
Mr. Joyner is active as a thespian and music director. He made his Wilson theater debut as the Doctor/Escapologist in 2019's summer musical, Matilda: The Musical, and has music directed several ACT for Youth and Playhouse of Wilson’s productions including The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: The Musical (October 2019), A Little Princess: The Musical (February 2020) and SpongeBob: The Musical (October 2021).
Mr. Joyner is an active member of NAfME (National Association for Music Education), NCMEA (North Carolina Music Educator's Association), ACDA (American Choral Director's Association), and Pi Kappa Lambda Honors Society.
Mr. Joyner resides in Wilson with his amazing wife, Andrea, and two wiley cats, Kiai Sunshine and Koda Jo.

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Matthew Young is the pianist and music associate at First Baptist Church in his hometown of Rocky Mount, NC. Matthew Young received a Bachelor’s in Piano Performance from East Carolina University and received a Master’s in Collaborative Piano from East Carolina under the direction of Dr. Catherine Garner. He is also the pianist for the Tar River Chorus as well as Carolina Choral Artists.

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View the December 11 Program

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Wednesday, December 18 | Shelley Maddox, soprano
Casey Childers, pianist

Shelley Maddox earned the Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance and Pedagogy and a Certificate of Advanced Performance Studies in Voice from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina and the Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Maryville College in Maryville, Tennessee. Maddox was an instructor of voice at Chowan University from 2008-2016. She has spent the last twenty years performing across the southeast in a variety of genres including opera, oratorio, solo recitals and numerous choirs across the region. Some of Maddox’s favorite performances have been as a featured soloist in Handel’s Messiah and Fauré’s Requiem and in the title role in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas. In addition to her solo work, Maddox enjoys choral singing. She is currently a member of the Chancel Choir at First United Methodist Church, the Maryville College Community Chorus, and is an Artistic Associate in the Maryville College Concert Choir. Maddox currently resides in Maryville, TN with her husband and chihuahua, Rosie. She is thrilled to return to FCC Wilson this year to share a recital of Christmas favorites.

Casey has been serving First Christian since 2007 when she arrived as organist. She served this position while gaining the Masters of Music degree in Organ Performance and Sacred Music from East Carolina University as well as the Colleagues' Certification (CAGO) through the American Guild of Organists. Prior to this she received Bachelor of Music degrees from Appalachian State University in both Music (Clarinet) Performance and Music Education (K-12). In time aside from First Christian, Casey serves as accompanist for the James B. Hunt High School Choral Program. She loves spending time with her husband, Andrew, sons, Jackson & Phillip, loves raking, sweeping, getting her hands in the flower beds and all things photography.

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View the December 18 Program

Contributors

Our deepest gratitude is extended to all who have helped sustain
these concerts through their generous donations. 
​This series is continued solely on this gifts!

All giving listed is for the entirety of the year 2024. 

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Contributors

Debra El Ramey in honor of Cricket El Ramey
Jane Gardner ​in honor of Kelley Garris
W. Glasgow
​Jan Johnson ​in honor of Mary Louise Gray
Jane Kolunie
Melanie Mauze in honor of Casey Childers
Jane Reaves
​Rita Terry

Supporters

Kitty Barnes
Charles & Gilda Cauley
Diane Chambers
Connie Farris in memory of Fletcher Barnes
Kelley Garris in honor of Casey Childers
Debby Boswell Keller in memory of Mozelle Woodall Boswell
& James Marshall Boswell
Jane Kolunie
Faye Maclaga
Vivian Whiteman in honor of Casey, Andrew, Jackson & Phillip Childers
​John S. Wright

Benefactors

Lisa Anderson
Todd Brame
John & Annette Glover
Mary Louise Gray
Linda & Skip Hanson
Al & Adrienne Johnston
​Phyllis & Wade Leary
​Melanie Mauze
Karen Wooten
in honor of all the music shared in God's glory

Donors

​Paul and Betsy Brewer
Pat & Sheldon Campbell
Ronald J. Horton
Bob & Leslie Kendall in honor of Casey Childers
​Rev. Scott & Beth Schieber
Dan & Susan Shackleford
Dan & Helen Shingleton
Larry & Joyce Wolfe

Sustainers

Clayton & Nelda Bardin