arts & entertainment

Nearly 100 singers and 55-piece orchestra will fill the stage – in a musical appeal for peace at 4:00 PM on Sunday, April 14 at the Vero Beach High School Performing Arts Center, 1707 16th Street in Vero Beach. That’s when the Vero Beach Choral Society and the young voices of the Vero Beach High School Chorus will come together to perform The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace under the baton of Dr. Jacob Craig. The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace is a 13-movement work by Welsh composer Karl Jenkins, first performed in 2000 to mark the transition from one millennium to another.

The framework for The Armed Man is provided by the traditional Catholic Mass and includes settings of the Kyrie, Sanctus, Agnus Dei and Benedictus. In addition, the text incorporates passages from other religious and historical sources, including the Islamic call to prayer, the Bible and the Sanskrit epic, the Mahabharata. Soloists for the work include Julia Glunt, soprano; Laura Glunt, alto; James Morris, tenor and Eric Martinez, baritone. Ben Walding will be featured on the cello. Alto soloist, Laura Glunt is also the choral director for the Vero Beach High School Chorus. Admission to The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace is free of charge. Donations to defray the cost of production will be accepted at the doors before and after the concert. For more information, visit www.VeroBeachChoralSociety.org or call (207) 650-0094.       

Dr. Jacob Craig, Artistic Director and Conductor for the Vero Beach Choral Society, hopes the concert will be another reminder for people to seek peace in the world.

“Each movement of this work is impactful,” said Dr. Craig, who also is the director of music and arts at First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach. “Daily, we learn about the horrors of war in conflicts between Ukraine and Russia, and Israel and Palestine. We must remember to strive for peace always, and this work is that reminder.”

The 55-piece orchestra for The Armed Man includes a string section filled with a number of students from the Brevard String Academy. Many of these youth players are recipients of the Vero Beach Choral Society scholarship program. The Vero Beach Choral Society is 501(c)(3) nonprofit and relies on community support to fund its musical scholarships for students in grades 6-12.

The nonprofit Vero Beach Choral Society has been thrilling audiences since its formation in 1984. The 60-member group is at home at First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach, known for its musical and artistic outreach to the Central Florida community. For a list of upcoming events or for more information, visit www.VeroBeachChoralSociety.org or call (207) 650-0094.       

ABOUT THE VERO BEACH CHORAL SOCIETY — The nonprofit Vero Beach Choral Society has been making beautiful choral music and thrilling audiences since its formation in 1984. The auditioned, community-based ensemble performs choral art music from the Renaissance through the 21st Century. The mission of the Vero Beach Choral Society is to perform high quality choral music for the enjoyment, enrichment and education of the residents of the Treasure Coast of Florida. Singers of all ages are encouraged to audition for the group, which rehearses on Monday evenings. Admission to VBCS concerts is free, with a $10 suggested donation. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit relies on community support to fund its musical performances and the annual Young Musician’s Scholarship for students in grades 6-12. From concerts in Europe to the prestigious Carnegie Hall, the 60-member VBCS is committed to making a difference through music. The Vero Beach Choral Society is at home at First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach, 520 Royal Palm Boulevard in Vero Beach, Florida, 32960. For more information about the Vero Beach Choral Society and its performing season, visit www.VeroBeachChoralSociety.org, connect with them on Facebook, or call (207) 650-0094. 

ABOUT DR. JACOB CRAIG, Artistic Director & Conductor
Dr. Craig is the Director of Music and Arts at First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach. He received his Bachelor of Music Education and Piano Performance degree from Shorter University in Rome, GA before moving on to Tallahassee, FL to receive his M.M. in Choral Conducting and Literature under Dr. Andre Thomas at Florida State University. In 2019, Jacob completed his Doctorate of Sacred Music in Performance at the Graduate Theological Foundation and Oxford University. Dr. Craig is also the Director of the ACTS Choristers, Sea Oaks Chorus, John’s Island Singers, and Silver Tones community choirs, and Pipe Major for the Vero Beach Pipes and Drums.