The Greenwood Chorale

08/04/2026

To those who have sung with the Greenwood Chorale over the past decade and a half, whether last season or fifteen years ago, this message is for you.

Our director Paul Brown often speaks of our inaugural concert, performing Vivaldi’s Gloria with an ensemble that laid the foundation for everything we are today. As we prepare to revisit that masterpiece (alongside the Magnificat) with a full chamber orchestra, we find ourselves hoping to see familiar faces back in the fold.

There is a distinct magic in reuniting voices that have shared the same music, in the same spaces, across different seasons of life. If you have been considering a return to choral singing, we cannot imagine a more fitting moment.

Please send a quick note to Paul at [email protected] to let him know you are coming home to sing.

08/04/2026

This is the sound of joy.

The Greenwood Chorale closes our 2024 concert with John Rutter's magnificent arrangement of "All Creatures of Our God and King." The words, originally written by St. Francis of Assisi in 1225 as the "Canticle of the Sun," call all of creation to praise: from the burning sun and silver moon to the rushing wind and flowing waters.

The hymn tune, "Lasst uns erfreuen," is a German Easter hymn published in 1623 that became widespread in English hymnals after a 1906 arrangement by Ralph Vaughan Williams. Our director, Paul Brown, arranged this version for piano, organ, and percussion, creating a full, vibrant sound that showcases the power of community voices raised together.

🎵 From "The Gift of Life" · November 12, 2024
📍 First Presbyterian Church, Greenwood, MS

🎹 Director: Paul Brown
🎵 Piano: Dr. Jung-Won Shin
🎹 Organ: Dr. Robert Knupp
🥁 Percussion: Josh Armstrong, Jason Mathena, Anterius Nisby
🎵 Harp: Marian Shaffer
📽️ Video Recording by Third Bird Films

🎶 Interested in singing with the Greenwood Chorale?

We are preparing for our 15th Anniversary Concert this December: Vivaldi's Gloria and Magnificat with a 15-piece chamber orchestra. We're looking for voices of all parts. Former members, new singers—all are welcome.

📧 Email our director, Paul Brown: [email protected]

07/30/2026

Joy. Energy. Precision. This is the Greenwood Chorale.

The Greenwood Chorale performs the "Gloria" from John Leavitt's Missa Festiva, a work that demands rhythmic vitality, crisp diction, and exuberant spirit. Leavitt sets the traditional Latin text in an ebullient style, featuring mixed meters and syncopation that keep both singers and listeners on their toes—a thrilling showcase of what a dedicated community choir can achieve.

This is music that fills the room with light. It's the kind of piece that reminds us why we sing (and why we sing together).

🎵 From "Sacred Transformation" · April 15, 2025
📍 St. John's Methodist Church, Greenwood, MS

🎹 Director: Paul Brown
🎹 Piano: Ray Smithee
📽️ Video Recording by Third Bird Films

🎶 Join us for our 15th Anniversary Concert!

We are preparing for our December concert—Vivaldi's Gloria and Magnificat with a 15-piece chamber orchestra. We're looking for voices of all parts. Former members, new singers—all are welcome.

📧 Email our director, Paul Brown: [email protected]

07/29/2026

This is what happens when voices come together.

The Greenwood Chorale performed "God So Loved the World" from John Stainer's oratorio The Crucifixion (1887). Taken from John 3:16–17, this beloved chorus is the spiritual centerpiece of Stainer's meditation on the Passion and one of the most cherished anthems in all of choral music.

Set in the radiant key of D major, Stainer's setting transforms these familiar words into something transcendent: a moment of pure, unaccompanied beauty that captures both the weight of sacrifice and the promise of redemption. The choir sings with hushed reverence, building to a luminous climax that reminds us why we sing... and why we sing together.

🎵 From "The Crucifixion" · March 26, 2024
📍 Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church, Greenwood, MS

🎹 Director: Paul Brown
🎻 String Quintet: Marta Szlubowska, violin · Vince Massimino, violin · Ausra Hristov, viola · Marcelo Vieira, cello · Glen Hale, bass
🎹 Organ: Ray Smithee
📽️ Video Recording by Third Bird Films

🎶 Interested in singing with the Greenwood Chorale?

We are preparing for our 15th Anniversary Concert this December—Vivaldi's Gloria and Magnificat with a 15-piece chamber orchestra. We're looking for voices of all parts.

📧 Email our director, Paul Brown: [email protected]

07/28/2026

This autumn, the Greenwood Chorale marks a profound milestone: fifteen years of voices raised together in the Mississippi Delta.

To honor where we began, we are returning to our very first program, Vivaldi’s resplendent Gloria, and pairing it with his exquisite Magnificat. For this anniversary, we will be joined by a 15-piece chamber orchestra, promising what our director, Paul Brown, calls "one of the most exciting and rewarding performances in our history."

We are extending a hand to every singer who has ever graced our risers, as well as to new voices who wish to become part of this legacy. If you have ever felt the pull of the choral art, we invite you to raise your voice with us for this celebration.

📅 Save the Date: Tuesday, December 15th (rehearsal details forthcoming).
📧 To join or return, please reach out to Paul directly at [email protected] to let him know of your interest.

07/07/2026

Enjoy this video recording of "Our Heritage: A 250th Celebration" and make plans to join us again in the Fall!

This is "GWD Chorale_Our Heritage" by Third Bird Films - Matthew Moore on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

06/23/2026

That’s a wrap on rehearsals!

Tonight, the Greenwood Chorale gathered for our final rehearsal, and we can’t wait to share Our Heritage: A 250th Celebration with you tomorrow, Tuesday, June 23, at 7 p.m. at the Episcopal Church of the Nativity in the Parish Hall.

This special concert commemorates the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding through a moving blend of music and narration.

The audience will hear beloved favorites including America the Beautiful, The Stars and Stripes Forever, a stirring tribute to each branch of the Armed Forces, In Flanders Fields, Let There Be Peace on Earth, and God Bless America.

Along the way, community leaders will bring to life words from Thomas Jefferson, Emma Lazarus, Ronald Reagan, John F. Kennedy, and others.

We are also honored to be joined by Boy Scout Troop 200, American Legion Posts 29 and 200, Girl Scout Troop 33150, our Children’s Chorale, cellist Stephanie Weldon, and pianist/director Paul Brown for what promises to be a memorable evening.

Admission is free, and everyone is welcome. We hope you’ll join us as we celebrate our shared heritage through the gift of music.

02/16/2026

Greetings from the Greenwood Chorale! 👋

If you’ve sung with us in the past, this message is for you. It’s time to start gearing up for a very special performance, and we need YOU to be a part of it!

Join us in celebrating the Nation’s 250th! 🇺🇸
We are planning a concert to honor this historic milestone, bridging the time between Memorial Day and Independence Day. The concert will feature a blend of remembrance and celebration, with narrations provided by local civic leaders.

Save the Date for our Annual Meeting:
🗓 Tuesday, March 17th at 6:00 PM
📍 St. John's Methodist Church (Choir Room)
We will be discussing music and plans for the spring/summer season.

Concert Dates (TBD):
We are looking at either Tuesday, June 16th OR Tuesday, June 23rd. We want to ensure the date works for the majority of the ensemble, so please let us know your availability!

We Need YOU!
This is bold music, and we need all the voices we can gather. We are especially in need of men—so if you know someone who might be interested, please share this post and spread the word!

Get a Sneak Peek:
Listen to a few of the powerful selections we’ll be performing:

-- The God Who Gave Us Life (from Testament of Freedom): https://youtu.be/fljIwFA4zo4
-- Our Heritage of Faith: https://youtu.be/ESqsTxwmfBc
-- America the Beautiful: https://youtu.be/IzK9Yf3Rvjo
-- In Flanders Fields: https://youtu.be/mI-2EiX-3gc

Please let us know if you plan to participate! Your response helps us order music in time for the meeting next month. You can comment below, send a message, or reach out to Paul directly.

Let’s come together and give this musical gift to our community. We hope to see you all there! 🎶

—
Paul Brown, Director
📧 [email protected]

12/15/2025

Greenwood Chorale - Throwback to where we started! 🎵

As we put the final touches on our music today, we're feeling a bit nostalgic. These photos take us back to our first rehearsals in October in the choir room at St. John's Methodist Church.

We're so grateful to St. John's for hosting us, and now to First Presbyterian Church for being our performance home.

All that preparation leads to tomorrow night! Join us for our free concert, "On Christmas Night."

📅 Tuesday, December 16, at 7:00 p.m.
📍 First Presbyterian Church Sanctuary, 300 Main St.

Bring a friend!