SUN PHOTO BY TAMI GARCIA, tgarcia@sun-herald.com
Composer Mark Hayes was the guest conductor for the Charlotte Chorale’s performance Sunday evening at Burnt Store Presbyterian Church in Punta Gorda. Here he performs on piano “Dry Bones,” a traditional spiritual. Hayes directed the chorale during several songs at the concert, including the world premier of his newest composition, “The Gettysburg Address.” He was commissioned to do the work by R. Bruce MacGregor, the chorale’s music director, who is retiring at the end of the season.

SUN PHOTO BY TAMI GARCIA, tgarcia@sun-herald.com
Laurel Webber, president of the Charlotte Chorale, welcomes those in attendance to a choir concert Sunday evening at Burnt Store Presbyterian Church. Webber also was a featured soloist along with Dave Johnson in the song “Gloria Movement I — Gloria in Excelsis Deo.”

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SUN PHOTO BY TAMI GARCIA, tgarcia@sun-herald.com
Charlotte Chorale soprano Virderie Kaminska sings along with fellow members of the group during a concert at Burnt Store Presbyterian Church. The chorale sang such songs as “And the Father Will Dance,” “When in Our Music God is Glorified,” “Bridge Over Troubled Water,” “Grace,” “The Ash Grove,” He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother,” “If Anybody Asks You,” “Let There be Peace on Earth,” “The Gettysburg Address,” “Credo,” “Over the Rainbow,” “You Raise Me Up,” “America the Beautiful,” and “One Word.”

SUN PHOTO BY TAMI GARCIA, tgarcia@sun-herald.com
Soprano section members of the Charlotte Chorale Sue Whiteman-Mazur, left, and Arlene Gebel perform during a concert at Burnt Store Presybterian Church. The performance featured artistic director R. Bruce MacGregor, and special guest conductor Mark Hayes.

SUN PHOTO BY TAMI GARCIA, tgarcia@sun-herald.com
It was standing room only during the Charlotte Chorale’s performance at Burnt Store Presbyterian Church Sunday evening, featuring guest conductor and composer Mark Hayes.

SUN PHOTO BY TAMI GARCIA, tgarcia@sun-herald.com
Mark Hayes, a widely acclaimed composer and performer, was guest conductor during the Charlotte Chorale’s recent performance at Burnt Store Presbyterian Church in Punta Gorda.

SUN PHOTO BY TAMI GARCIA, tgarcia@sun-herald.com
More than 65 singers belonging to the Charlotte Chorale perform to an audience of many during a concert at Burnt Store Presbyterian Church on Sunday.

SUN PHOTO BY TAMI GARCIA, tgarcia@sun-herald.com
Melissa Posilovich, an alto with the Charlotte Chorale, sings one of many songs during a performance at Burnt Store Presbyterian Church.

SUN PHOTO BY TAMI GARCIA, tgarcia@sun-herald.com
Ken Witzke, left, and John Pappa, baritones for the Charlotte Chorale, perform to an audience of many.

SUN PHOTO BY TAMI GARCIA, tgarcia@sun-herald.com
Charlotte Chorale bass singers, from left, Bill Caime, David Sifferd and Larry Keller, sing during a concert featuring guest conductor Mark Hayes.