Raleigh Flute Choir Next event in the St. John’s Acclaimed Chamber Ensemble Summer Concert Series is Sunday, August 7
Alvin M. Keeling
3 min read
VALLE CRUCIS, NC – The popular summer concert series at historic St. John’s Church in Valle
Crucis continues in early August with a performance by the Raleigh Flute Choir. The highly acclaimed
chamber music ensemble, based in the Research Triangle region of North Carolina,
will mark their first performance in the concert series.
The eight-member ensemble graces St. John’s Choir at 5 p.m. Sunday, August 7
2022. This will be their farewell concert just before the group leaves for Chicago
where they will perform at the annual convention of the National Flute Association.
Founded in 1986, the Raleigh Flute Choir is a chamber ensemble of professional flautists from
central North Carolina. They have distinguished themselves as one of the leading flautists in the country
choirs. Using all members of the flute family, they perform an exciting repertoire spanning
centuries from the Renaissance to the present day, including transcriptions and originals
compositions.
Their current “Folklore Concert Tour” features Appalachian folk tunes along with music
inspired by tango and Greek mythology. Raleigh Flute Choir artists include Irene Burke,
Kim Bridgers, Amy Holt, Andrea McKerlie Luke, Thomas Mease, Emma Morris, Lauren Robbins
Pollack and Rosene Rohrer.
A summer mission of Holy Cross Episcopal Church, the picturesque St. John’s Chapel,
dedicated in 1862, is located in rural Watauga County and offers wonderful
acoustics for music with its wooden walls and floors forming a natural sounding board for live
performances.
Reverend R. Allan McCaslin is Rector of Holy Cross. “After their scheduled performances in both
2020 and 2021 have been postponed due to the pandemic,” McCaslin said, “we are excited to finally
to host this outstanding group home in St. John’s, and believe me when I say they are doing well
worth the wait!”
McCaslin quoted the book of Job when he said, “They sing with the tambourine and the harp, and rejoice in
the sound of the flute. He also noted a phrase from Isaiah that quotes “joy of the heart,
like when you walk to the sound of the flute.
The Summer Concert Series features some of the High Country’s finest musicians as well as
regional artists of national notoriety. Attendees linger until sunset to mingle with performers
after their performance. All concerts start at 5 p.m. sharp, last about 60 minutes in
duration and followed by a potluck dinner. Suggested admission is $10 per person to make up
artists’ fees, with children 12 and under admitted free.
Participants traditionally bring a dish to share during the potluck dinner on the lawn that follows
every summer concert, with dozens of people arriving early to start the social aspect of the
evening festivities. Many spectators prefer to install lawn chairs near the open space
windows of the chapel and listen to the music that echoes throughout the valley. All are
welcome as local residents mingle with newcomers and visitors to the historic melting pot
St. John’s.
St. John’s Chapel is located at 645 Herb Thomas Road, off Mast Gap Road in the Sugar Grove
community near Valle Crucis, North Carolina. Signs are posted throughout the valley to direct the public
members instead of the concert. For more information, visit the concert website at
www.holycrossvallecrucis.net or call 828.963.4609.
