Springsation Concert 2010
Come and join with
Martene Craig, Creator/Producer/Director
the ARISE Joy Ringers (handbell performance group)
the ARISE Joy Singers (adult singers from churches in the local area)
a youth choir, (youth from churches in the local area)
a children's choir, (children from churches in the local area)
Celebration Ringers (from Covina United Methodist Church)
Handbell Choir (from Christ First Baptist Church of Covina)
Orchestra (from the local area)
for a "SPRINGSATION" CONCERT!
All are invited to participate. See rehearsal flyer PDF below.
May 16, 2010 at 7 pm
Covina United Methodist Church
Pastor Robert Morley
Michael Adam, Director of Music
437 W. San Bernardino Road, Covina, CA 91723
www.covinaumc.org
Springsation 2009:
The concert featured handbells, handchimes, adult, youth, and children's choirs, piano, organ, violin, classical guitar, trumpet, flute, percussion, and a rhythm section in a variety of musical numbers.
Highlights of the 2009 presentation:
Majesty with the adult choir, handbells, and piano and organ duet
I Sing the Mighty Power of God – with combined choirs, handbells, bass, percussion, and piano and organ duet
Joy in the Morning with the adult choir, handbells and handchimes
No Other Name with the adult choir, soloist, handbells, rhythm, percussion, violin, and flute
Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory – with the adult choir, handbells, handchimes, tall flags, dancers, color guard, representatives of each branch of the military, piano and organ duet, trumpet, keyboard, and percussion
The Youth Choir is featured in a song of their own:
Siyahamba "We are Singing, for the Lord is our Light" – utilizing African drums, ethnic dance, choreography, and the adult and children's choirs.
The Children's Choir is featured in a song of their own:
Dry Bones: captivating choreography, and included handbells, percussion, and speaking parts
If you would like more information or to participate in 2010, please email: springsation@martene.org.
Back to Top
---------------------
2008 Program Video Clips
video will begin automatically please wait for it to load
2009 Printed Program
Back to Top
---------------------
2009 Newpaper Articles
Daily Bulletin
Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher/Staff Photographer
Violinist Jean Graham, wearing tiny handbell earrings, plays the instrumental solo lead for Lauren Boyd's and Sean Masterson's dynamic dance on "Via Dolorosa
Like no other
Springsation had music to suit all tastes
by Imani Tate
Staff Writer
There were no musical shortfalls in the Springsation program with everyone from young children to senior citizens joyously and expertly presenting sacred, secular, Broadway, Gospel, contemporary and patriotic songs.
But some stood out and etched memorable moments in the minds and hearts of those attending the late April program at Covina United Methodist Church. The concert literally left people singing and skipping up the aisles of the church.
The evening's most momentous performance featured professional dancer Lauren Boyd and Mt. San Antonio College communications major Sean Masterson in an incredible number re-creating Christ's journey to the cross. Boyd literally became the cross in the dramatic depiction choreographed by her mother, Diana Boyd of San Dimas.
Brooke Boyd, Lauren's 9-year-old sister, also wowed the crowd with her fluid ballet and modern moves accented with a few gymnastic gestures on "Why," Nicole Nordeman's song about faith.
Connie Baldwin, an original Broadway cast member of "The Sound of Music" with Mary Martin, was to perform "Climb Every Mountain" and the "God Bless America" intro to the patriotic tribute. She was rushed to the hospital just before the program and couldn't perform.
San Dimas High School Principal Michael Kelly and soprano soloist Lauren Carpenter of Covina's Christ First Baptist Church handily stood in for Baldwin.
Carpenter's warm voice steadily soared on "Climb Every Mountain," making it hard to believe she'd had no rehearsal with the mass choir of singers and musicians from numerous churches and the Joy Ringers from the Arts In Service (ARISE) musical ministry. Carpenter was a little girl when she first sang for Martene Craig as a member of Fullerton's First Baptist Church children's choir.
Kelly's booming baritone voice gloriously echoed through the sanctuary, inspiring people to sing the familiar "God Bless America" with him and fill the room with patriotic pride.
Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher/Staff Photographer
A "star" in the Covina United Methodist Church sanctuary shines down on the Joy Ringers, Joy Singers, and producer/conductor Martene Craig.
Diana Boyd twirled tall flags and danced with the Santa Ana Winds Youth Troupe for the 1984 Olympics opening ceremonies. Now 43 and still physically fit, she put on her old uniform and joined daughter Brooke, Bonita High School junior Markisha Lauderdale of La Verne and International University student Jennifer Nelson of Riverside, to twirl tall flags for the military medley.
La Verne's Lutheran High School senior and Naval Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps student leader David Ulvog, 18, led the Lutheran JROTC color guard cadets William Bennett, Johnny Froio and Joseph Ford. The teen boys stepped sharply in military style to the pulpit, then stood silently solemn.
The audience rose to its collective feet when armed forces representatives marched forward and joined the cadets taught by retired Navy Master Chief Eduardo David.
Thunderous applause accompanied Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Taffoya of Chino Hills, Coast Guard Auxiliary Capt. Roy Garrabrant of West Covina, Air Force Airman 1st Class Joseph-Peter Cindass of Rowland Heights, Marine Corporal Marco Aguirre of El Monte and Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Carlos Medina-Sanchez of Hacienda Heights as they marched to the pulpit.
The military men's stoic faces melted into beaming smiles as singers and musicians played the theme songs for their respective branches and veterans in the audience saluted them.
Variety spiced the concert with musical flavors.
Eric Mandeson alternately tapped bass bells with mallets and rang the big bells, providing the bottom to the higher tones of handbells and chimes.
The King's Kids won harts with a cute rendition of "Dry Bones." Six-, 8- and 10-year-old Hudson, Tivoli and Sterling Treloar charmed the audience with a jazzy version of "This Little Light of Mine," featuring scatting by Lori Banta.
The Rev. Robert Morley, Covina United Methodist senior pastor, provided humorous remarks and melodic music. He was the tuneful tenor lead on "How Can I Keep From Singing?," a song appropriately sung by a preacher since it was composed by a preacher in 1860.
Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher/Staff Photographer
Diane Shellman of West Covina sings "Majesty" with the Joy Singers.
Michael Adam, the host church's musical director, deftly demonstrated his worship leader skills. He began directing the Joy Singers and pianist Marilyn Porter on "Life Your Light," then turned around and engaged the audience in rousing accompaniment. Classical guitarist Brian Britvec showed off his versatility playing flamenco style on "Malagueña."
Paul Chambers and Diana Boyd literally transversed the Bible from Genesis to Revelations to call the names of God. Chambers' solo on "No Other Name" exalted singers to raise their voices to a harmonic crescendo.
Morley declared the concert a success.
"We are believers that music is the most perfect and powerful language," Morley said. "It speaks to the mind, body and soul. Music brings people together when other things tend to separate Music in the sanctuary makes it a holy place. It seeps into the woodwork and God is happy to be here."
Adam said he welcomed the chance to work with Craig.
"Twenty years ago, she was minister of music at Pomona First Baptist and conducted workshops," Adam recalled. "They say the best ideas are stolen ideas, so I stole her ideas for my programs at First Baptist Church of Taft. Everybody thought I was wonderful. Little did they know it was Martene who was wonderful,"
As an educator, Kelly liked the way Springsation engaged children.
"They say it takes a village to raise a child. Well, the church is a village. Music is a village," Kelly said. "You can reach children with this because they share our love of music. Music gets to their hearts."
Music in the air
Springsation leaves audience in awe
Photo by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher/Staff Photographer
From left, Joy Ringers Sue Porter, Michelle Lockhart, Jean Graham and Diane Rise enter the Covina United Methodist Church sanctuary and prepare to perform at the Springsation.
Masterson, Boyd stun audience with performance
Photos by Jennifer Cappuccio Maher/Staff Photographer
Dancers Lauren Boyd and Sean Masterson dramatically re-create Christ's journey to Calvary to be crucified. The duo danced to the music of "Via Dolorosa" at the Springsation musical extravaganza conducted by Martene Craig at Covina United Methodist Church.
By Imani Tate
Staff Writer
Sean Masterson's shirt, tattered and torn from "soldiers' whipping," slowly and painfully moved toward the pulpit of Covina United Methodist Church, carrying the "cross" of Lauren Boyd.
A hush fell over the standing-room-only Springsation audience as people watched in astonished awe as the two dancers dramatically re-created the scene of Jesus Christ's journey to the cross.
"Unbelievable," one woman whispered, one finger touching the tip of her mouth as Lauren and sean danced, Joy Ringers gently shook handbells and chimes and violinist Jean Graham melodically played "Via Dolorosa."
"In Jerusalem that day the soldiers tried to clear the crowded streets and move back those straining to see the man wearing a crown of thorns and bleeding from the beating of soldiers," said internationally acclaimed sacred music producer Martene Craig of La Verne to prepare people for the duo dancing in the April 26 musical extravaganza involving singers, dancers, instrumentalists and narrators from San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire churches.
"He chose to walk that road out of his love for us, to walk the Via Dolorosa all the way to Calvary," she said.
The concert's most notable moment was Boyd's and Masterson's chillingly creative portrayal of Christ carrying Lauren as the cross, dropping to his knees and staggering toward the hill where He would be crucified, and Lauren's graceful modern dance as Masterson knelt and prayed. She smoothly and effortlessly resumed her role as the cross, stretching her arms outward as Masterson slipped onto the cross of her outstretched arms and hung his head in "death."
Lauren's parents, Diana and Scott Boyd, had danced this same dance 18 years ago. It was choreographed then and now by Diana Boyd. Craig had seen the parental version of the dramatic dance years ago at Christ Church of the Valley in San Dimas and wanted it featured in the 2009 Springsation concert.
"When my mom stopped doing this dance, my dad and I did it. But this time, Dad said 'I'm getting too old and can't lift you anymore,' so Sean did it," Lauren said.
Lauren, 20, a 2007 graduate of San Dimas High School, is now a professional dancer performing throughout the western United States. Masterson, also 20, graduated from Western Christian High School in Covina before entering Mt. San Antonio College where he majors in communications. This was the first time he'd ever danced for a concert.
"Weren't they simply amazing?" Craig asked.
Back to Top
---------------------
|
