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TriCounty Choir Institute Performance Schedule

WHY MUST HE DIE?

For the 19th consecutive year, the Teen Chorale of the TriCounty Choir Institute will present the Passion Play 'Why Must He Die?' throughout this Lenten season. There are 13 performances scheduled throughout the area. The twenty-one regular cast members and four additional fill-ins include 8th grade through high school and college students from 19 area schools, including: Aliquippa HS, Ambridge HS; Avonworth Jr. and Sr. H.S; Beaver Falls HS, CCAC-graduate; Geneva College, Home School from Beaver, Bulgar and Gibsonia; Lincoln Park Academy; Moon HS; Pa Culinary Institute-Graduate, Pa Cyber School; Quaker Valley HS; Robinson Town Christian School; Sewickley Academy; St. Vincent College, and Woodland Hills HS.

'Why Must He Die?' written and directed by Linda Wallace, is a meditation through music, drama and liturgical dance on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. This is a unique passion play using a play within a play. Throughout the trial of Jesus by Pilate and the Accusers, the action is repeatedly frozen. The disciples and apostles are then seen reflecting on Jesus' life and reacting on what led to Jesus' impending death. They share these thoughts with the audience as if they hypothetically would have been allowed to observe the trial.

The trial of Jesus (William Wolf of Bulgar at Home School) takes place between Pilate (Isaac Fritsch of Baden at Ambridge HS), and the Accusers (J.P.Coletta of Lincoln Park Academy, and Madison Cofield of Sewickley at Sewickley Academy). Some of the feature soloists include: Mary Magdalene (Gabrielle Lewis of Swissvale at Woodland Hills HS), who sings, I Don't Know How To Love Him; Mother of Zebadee's Sons (Katie Ferguson of McKees Rocks at PA Virtual Charter School), who sings Turn Back Oh Man; ), John (Calvin Hitchcock of Beaver at Home School), who sings 'He' with Peter (Ryan Johnson of Aliquippa at Lincoln Park Academy); Mary, Mother of Jesus and Liturgical Dancer ( Trinity Kronk of Sewickley Hts. at Sewickley Academy), who sings O Come And Mourn; and Judas (Tyree Jones of Aliquippa at Aliquippa HS), who sings Was It I Lord? The play concludes with Jesus' death and resurrection portrayed through the songs Jesus Remember Me, Take My Mother Home, Who Was That Man?, Why Did He Die?, To Buy My Pardon, Rise Again, and Lamb of God from Gospel Mass of Robert Ray.

Other members of the cast include: Samartian Woman (Tori Andrewson of Sewickley at QV HS); Pilate's Wife (Rachel Moersch of Kennedy Township at Robinson Town Christian School); Elizabeth (Catherine Cahill of Beaver at Home School; Veronica (Bethany Scheboth of Gibsonia at Home School); Woman in Crowd (Amanda Scheboth of Gibsonia, graduate of CCAC); Martha (Hannah Gaul of Beaver Falls at BF HS), Jarius' Daughter (Rachel Manko of Sewickley at Moon HS), Matthew (Jacob Morrison of Ben Avon at Avonworth HS, James of Baden at Ambridge HS, Mark (Curtis Scheboth of Gibsonia at Home School and the Guard ( Chris Morrison of Ben Avon at Avonworth HS. Helping to fill in the cast are: TerriLynn Cheponis of Kilbuck at St. Vincent College; Rebecca Lewis of Swissvale, graduate of PA Culinary Institute, Dawn VanderWagen of Hopewell at Geneva College and Tom Waruszewski of Pittsburgh at St. Vincent College. The director and writer is Linda Wallace of Sewickley Hills. Since 1991 it has been presented continuously by the TriCounty Choir Institute's Teen Chorale. The accompanist is Amy Tennant of Bellevue. Bernadette Cheponis of Kilbuck is the Sr. Manager for the Teen Chorale. Cindy Gaul of Beaver Falls and Deana Coletta of Robinson are the Assistant Managers. Dawn Scheboth of Gibsonia is the costume designer. Roger Wagner from Industry is the Vocal Coach and Rocky Lewis from Swissvale is Technical & Sound Advisor. Assisting is Ruth Siegfried. 'Why Must He Die?' is 1 hour and 20 minutes in length and over the last eighteen years has been presented in over 130 different churches and schools of all denominations.

There is no charge for the performance, but a free will offering will be taken.

LENTEN MEDITATIONS

Invigorate your soul with music and refresh your spirit as the Village Singers of the TriCounty Choir Institute present: 'Lenten Meditations', a choral concert with inspiring Lenten reflections which will be presented on these occasions:The first is on Saturday, March 20th at 7pm at Penn Hills Alliance Church at 7605 Saltsburg Road, Pgh, 15239 412-795-1818 and again on Sunday, March 21 at 2:30pm at St. Patrick Catholic Church at 615 Pike Street in Canonsburg. The one and a half hour concert will include: classical small works including Cantique De Jean Racine by Faure, along with Pie Jesu from Andrew Lloyd Webber's Requiem; lush arrangements of hymns as How Great Thou Art, a new arrangement of Old Rugged Cross, beautiful hymns as Softly and Tenderly and and moving Gospel renditions of Just A Closer Walk With Thee, Days of Elijah and parts of the wonderful Gospel Mass by Robert Ray. The Village Quintet, our exclusive men's quartet will also be featured. It is a free concert open to all.

A good will offering will be taken.

The Village Singers is under the direction of Linda Wallace of Sewickley who directs the three community choirs of TriCounty Choir Institute. The Singers number 50 choristers from the five county areas of Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Lawrence and Washington counties. They have performed at the Civic Arena, 3 Rivers Stadium, Carnegie Hall of Architecture in Oakland, PPG Wintergarten, Byham Theater, with the River City Brass at Carnegie hall, on Cornerstone TV, at Music Hall of Carnegie Library in Homestead as well as for country clubs, retirement homes, civic groups, as well as in over 60 different churches of all denominations. They have recorded the opening theme song for the Jack Bogut show and can be heard at 6:05 each morning on WJAS 1320.

The accompanist for the Singers is Roberta Birchler of Darlington. Roger Wagner of Industry is Vocal Coach and Janet Guidry of Ambridge is the Manager. A beautiful way to reflect on the passion of our Lord during this Lenten season is by attending one of these concerts.

For more information, please call 412-741-3463, email Linda Wallace or check this website regularly.

Other places where you can hear each of the groups individually perform include:

(These are the concerts thus far.)

Hope to see you there.

The tenth anniversary "Spiritual Reflections Concert", the "Christmas Reflections Concert" and "Spring Reflections Concert" on CD are all available for $10.00 each. Contact Linda Wallace at 412 741 3463 to get your copy.

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