St. Louis Symphony Orchestra celebrates Kevin McBeth’s 10th anniversary as IN UNISON Chorus Director

(February 4, 2021, St. Louis, MO) – The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is celebrating its remarkable 10-year partnership with Kevin McBeth, Director of the St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus, a pioneering resident SLSO chorus that specializes in the interpretation, performance, and preservation of the music of African American and African cultures. The 26-year-old chorus—a 120+-voice ensemble formed in 1994 and featured multiple times each season—is part of the SLSO’s IN UNISON program, a multi-pronged effort to connect the orchestra with the St. Louis region through partnerships with African American churches, a mentorship program for young musicians, and an academic support arm.

Over the past decade, McBeth has led the IN UNISON Chorus in a wide range of repertoire, from traditional African American spirituals and sacred music, to secular tunes and covers of popular songs, and has broadened the chorus repertoire to include new works by Isaac Cates and Rollo Dilworth. The IN UNISON Chorus will also premiere a new piece for chorus and orchestra by Haitian American composer and flutist Nathalie Joachim in the 2021/2022 classical season, under the direction of Music Director Stéphane Denève.

Appointed in late 2010 to succeed IN UNISON Chorus founding director Dr. Robert Ray, McBeth leads the chorus in three performances each season and supports an array of SLSO activities, from orchestral concerts and Live At Powell Hall performances to community and education programs. In honor of McBeth’s milestone and the IN UNISON Chorus, the SLSO and its media partners will share performances by McBeth and the chorus over the coming weeks.

Marie-Hélène Bernard, President and CEO of the SLSO, said, “We are immensely proud of Kevin and his extraordinary contributions to making the IN UNISON Chorus a cornerstone of our SLSO family. As we honor Kevin, we celebrate his generous spirit and our IN UNISON Chorus’ lasting impact on our stage and throughout our community. Every corner of our institution has been deeply touched by Kevin’s talent and dedication, and we look forward to our continued artistic partnership and friendship.”

Michelle Byrd, Manager of the St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus, said, “Under Kevin’s leadership, the IN UNISON Chorus has seen tremendous artistic growth. Kevin’s emphasis on programming diverse works means IN UNISON Chorus concerts attract and retain a varied and loyal audience. He also excels at recruiting and retaining singers of diverse ages, backgrounds, and experience levels. He has positioned the chorus on an amazing path for the future.”

Kevin McBeth, Director of the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra IN UNISON Chorus, said, “The initial thrill of making music on the stage at Powell Hall is still with me ten years later. The IN UNISON Chorus rises to every challenge and the members are passionate about the music we offer. It is a great privilege and honor to work with such gifted musicians!”

McBeth directs the IN UNISON Chorus in three performances each season: the annual Gospel Christmas concert in December and the Lift Every Voice: Celebrating Black History Month concert in February, both with the SLSO; and a free community concert of choral music each spring.

To mark McBeth’s anniversary and celebrate the IN UNISON Chorus, the SLSO is providing free access to several performances, including:
• Sunday, February 7, 5:00pm CDT: A rebroadcast of the annual Lift Every Voice: Celebrating Black History Month concert from 2019 on Nine PBS with McBeth leading the SLSO, IN UNISON Chorus, and guest artists, vocalists Jermaine Smith and Denise Thimes, including the world premiere of Isaac Cates’ “It’s Working.” Nine PBS will also post this rebroadcast on its website to stream for a limited time.
• Saturday, February 20, 8:00pm CDT, 90.7 KMWU St. Louis Public Radio: A rebroadcast of the October 2009 concert featuring the classical season debut of the IN UNISON Chorus, singing Rollo Dilworth’s Freedom’s Plow and Michael Tippett’s A Child of Our Time in collaboration with the St. Louis Symphony Chorus and then-Music Director David Robertson. Listen online for 30 days after this radio broadcast.
• Available for 30 days from February 27-March 27: The February 2011 Lift Every Voice concert, McBeth’s first as IN UNISON Chorus Director, produced by Nine PBS—available on the orchestra’s website.

Since his first concert on February 18, 2011, McBeth has led dozens of concerts and collaborated with many guest artists, including acclaimed vocalists Oleta Adams, Patti Austin, Kennedy Holmes, Marlissa Hudson, Wintley Phipps, and Denise Thimes; ensembles including a cappella groups Take 6 and Ambassadors of Harmony; and instrumentalists including jazz trumpeter Byron Stripling.

IN UNISON Chorus concerts regularly draw capacity audiences to Powell Hall. Under McBeth’s leadership, IN UNISON Chorus members have performed twice at the annual SLSO concert in Forest Park. IN UNISON Chorus singers also joined members of the St. Louis Symphony Chorus at Carnegie Hall for performances of Benjamin Britten’s opera Peter Grimes in 2013 with then-Music Director David Robertson. The chorus also performed at the Urban League National Conference, held in St. Louis in 2017. McBeth has led the IN UNISON Chorus in a wide range of repertoire, from traditional African American spirituals and sacred music, to secular tunes and covers of popular songs. Broadening the repertoire of the chorus, McBeth has introduced foreign language compositions, leading the chorus in works sung in Swahili and Latin.

McBeth also leads orchestral and special performances throughout the year. He has been on the podium for collaborations with several high-profile guest artists, including the R&B/jazz singer Ledisi, Broadway stars Leslie Odom, Jr., and Sutton Foster, and recording artists Boyz II Men and Amos Lee. He also conducted collaborative concerts of the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra and its alumni in honor of the YO’s 50th anniversary in 2020, and the Joining Forces program—a free community concert where SLSO musicians share the stage with area military musicians. In the community, McBeth has led the orchestra in performances under the Gateway Arch at Fair St. Louis and at Manchester United Methodist Church, where he also serves as Director of Music and Worship.

From 2011-2019, McBeth also directed the Holiday Festival Chorus, a unique ensemble of young singers from across the St. Louis region that performed with the SLSO at its annual Holiday Celebration concerts. McBeth also engages with the SLSO’s educational programming and has led Tiny Tunes concerts with hundreds of Pre-K students on stage at Powell Hall.

McBeth is the second director of the IN UNISON Chorus. Robert Ray directed the chorus from its founding in 1994 through 2010. In 2019, the chorus celebrated its 25th anniversary. Chorus members represent a variety of backgrounds, careers, and experience levels. Some come from IN UNISON partner church congregations. Since its inception, the IN UNISON Chorus has been supported by Bayer Fund.

Calendar listings
The SLSO is celebrating McBeth and the IN UNISON Chorus with several broadcasts in the coming weeks.

Sunday, February 7, 2021, 5:00pm CDT
Nine PBS (Channel 9)
This concert was originally held on February 22, 2019.
This concert will be available to stream for a limited time on the Nine PBS website following the rebroadcast.

Kevin McBeth, conductor
Harry Cecil, conductor
Denise Thimes, vocals
Jermaine Smith, vocals
Patricia Land, vocals
Jennifer Kelley, vocals

Julius WILLIAMS The Legacy, Overture of African American Spirituals
Rollo DILWORTH Freedom’s Plow
George GERSHWIN “It Ain’t Necessarily So” from Porgy and Bess
George GERSHWIN “There’s a Boat That’s Leaving Soon” from Porgy and Bess
TRADITIONAL “Every Time I Feel the Spirit”
Stephen FLAHERTY “Make Them Hear You”
Billy TAYLOR “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free”
Isaac CATES “It’s Working” (World Premiere performance)
J. Rosamund JOHNSON “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
Robert RAY Gospel Mass

Saturday, February 20, 2021, 8:00pm CDT
90.7 KWMU St. Louis Public Radio
This concert was originally held on October 23, 2009.
This concert will be available to stream for a limited time on slso.org following the rebroadcast.

David Robertson, conductor
Measha Brueggergosman, soprano
Kate Lindsey, mezzo-soprano
Paul Groves, tenor
Jubilant Sykes, baritone
St. Louis Symphony Chorus | Amy Kaiser, Director
Members of the IN UNISON Chorus

Charles IVES The Unanswered Question
Samuel BARBER Adagio for Strings
Rollo DILWORTH Freedom’s Plow
Michael TIPPETT A Child of Our Time

Available to stream from February 27-March 27 on slso.org
This concert was originally held on February 18, 2011.

Kevin McBeth, conductor
Patrice Jackson, cello

John WILLIAMS Liberty Fanfare
Randall THOMPSON “The God Who Gave Us Life” from The Testament of Freedom
TRADITIONAL “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty”
Camille SAINT-SAËNS Allegro non troppo from Cello Concerto No. 1
TRADITIONAL “Deep River”
TRADITIONAL “Peace Like a River”
TRADITIONAL “Keep Your Lamps!”
J. Rosamund JOHNSON “Lift Every Voice and Sing”
Scott JOPLIN The Entertainer
TRADITIONAL “Goin’ Up to Glory”
TRADITIONAL “Hush! Somebody’s Callin’ My Name”
TRADITIONAL “Lord, I Want to Be a Christian”
Karl JENKINS Benedictus from The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace
TRADITIONAL “We Shall Overcome”
Rollo DILWORTH Freedom’s Plow