May 2 – June 8, 2026 @ Various Venues
The choirs of the Mountain Empire Children’s Choral Academy announce a slate of spring concerts as well as their New York City tour.
“We are so excited to present these spring concerts,” says Artistic Director Jane DeLoach Morison.“This spring we are returning to the fabulous Paramount Center for the Arts in Bristol to perform our annual spring concert.Due to the upcoming 250th birthday of the United States of America our children’s choirs are singing American folk songs and standards, including Aaron Copland’s ‘Simple Gifts,’ and a couple of Appalachian folk songs. We hope everyone will join us for these events.There is nothing like the voices of children and youth raised in song.”
The Highlands Youth Ensemble, the premier mixed choir (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) of the Mountain Empire Children’s Choral Academy announces their return to Carnegie Hall for two concerts in June.
Morison says, “It is such an honor to take our wonderful singers to perform in this world-famous venue.This will be the fourth time the Highlands Youth Ensemble has performed at Carnegie Hall (2006, 2010, 2016, 2026), and this will be the second time we have performed a solo 'spotlight' concert.Our repertoire explores the theme of the 'promised land' with selections by Rosephanye Powell, Thomas Tallis, Daniel Gawthrop, Jennifer Lucy Cook and others.In addition to our solo concert, we will join other choirs in performing 'Illuminare' by Elaine Hagenberg, under the baton of Dr. Derrick Fox.It will be such an amazing opportunity for our singers to perform both as the Highlands Youth Ensemble and in conjunction with other wonderful choirs.In addition to our Carnegie Hall concerts Monday, June 8, we will perform at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine Saturday, June 6.”
Morison continues, “The Highlands Youth Ensemble was chosen to perform their spotlight concert after submitting recordings to a panel of judges, and I just got the news that we are first on the program on June 8.”
All MECCA choirs perform May 2, at 7:30 p.m., at Paramount Center for the Arts, Bristol, Tennessee.
A Bon Voyage concert is June 1 at 7:30 p.m., at Central Presbyterian Church, Bristol, Virginia.
Highlands Youth Ensemble performs June 6 at 4 p.m., at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine and June 8 at 8 p.m., Carnegie Hall, both in New York City.
For more information about the Mountain Empire Children’s Choral Academy or to audition for one of its choirs, contact Artistic Director, Jane DeLoach Morison at 423-914-9082or go towww.meccacademy.org.
Category: Music