By Marie Pfeifer
The Morris Choral Society concert on Saturday, June 27, 2015, at the Morristown United Methodist Church will be historic, and not just because the choir is celebrating our nation’s independence.
This patriotic show will mark the final evening behind the baton for Wayne Walters, who has led the 65-voice ensemble as music director for 40 of its 43 years.
He won’t go quietly, however. After Saturday’s Star Spangled Spectacular tribute to the United States, Walters intends to continue singing in the chorus, and with Express Male, the Society’s chamber group.
Walters said it was time to pass the baton, though he would not say to whom.
“In the course of my work with the Choral Society I have had an opportunity to connect with many talented, young conductors,” he said. “I feel a younger conductor will attract younger performers that will keep the group healthy and vibrant. I will be very proud to pass what I have accomplished to someone younger.”
Four decades at the helm is especially impressive for someone who at first entertained thoughts of a law career.
Years ago a college admissions counselor set Walters straight, reminding the applicant that his passion always had been music. Growing up in Wilkes Barre, PA, Walters was an All-State singer in his high school chorus, and a soloist in his senior year. His love of music may have been genetic; his mother plays piano.
After graduating from Wilkes College (now Wilkes University), he went into teaching, won a scholarship to the Juilliard School of Music, then continued his education at Trenton State University with a masters degree in voice and conducting.
The Morris Choral Society also has a fascinating back story. When fire destroyed the United Methodist Church in 1972, the Methodist congregation held its services in the sanctuary of Temple B’nai Or for two years.
In appreciation, Walters, the bass soloist at both the Methodist Church and at Temple B’nai Or, composed a setting of Shabbat Hodaah, the Friday evening service, and dedicated it to the B’nai Or congregation and Rabbi Z. David Levy. A chorus of area church choir members was assembled to perform the piece.
That performance was a hit. The following spring, Rabbi Levy asked Walters to re-assamble the group for a concert of Russian and Israeli folk music to honor the 25th anniversary of the State of Israel.
The group remained together under Mr. Walters’ leadership, and the Morris Choral Society was incorporated in the summer of 1973, performing for the first time that December.
As a musician, singer and composer, Walters has performed throughout the eastern United States and across Europe with ensembles ranging from the St. Cecilia Chorus to the Pastoral Chamber Orchestra.
A long time educator at Morristown High School, Walters has received the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Arts Education and was recognized as an “Outstanding Professional in the Arts” by Morris Arts.
Now, Walters said, he looks forward to spending more time composing both choral and instrumental works. His most recent major composition was the opera, Germaine, performed in January of this year.
Walters said he is very excited about the upcoming Morristown show. The chorus will perform Peter Wilhousky’s famous version of Battle Hymn of the Republic, William Billing’s Chester, Randall Thompson’s Frostiana and passages from Testament to Freedom, Irving Berlin’s Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor, Joyce Kilmer’s Trees and the premiere of Our Lady of the Harbor a poem written by Betsy Bramhall with music by Audrey Schultz.
Express Male, the men’s chamber group, will be featured along with guest speaker Suzanne Key Boyle Hermann, a descendant of Francis Scott Key, composer of the Star-Spangled Banner (which turned 200 last year), to celebrate the conclusion of New Jersey’s yearlong 350th birthday.
Showtime is 8 pm. Tickets are $25 general admission, $20 for seniors and $15 for students ages 18 and under. The United Methodist Church is at 50 South Park Place.
For more information or to order tickets, call 973-998-7239 or visit the choral society’s website.
