The Life of Billy Ray Hearn

HYMN SING PROGRAM 4/5/09. WITH NASHVILLE SYMPHONY

This years's Hymn Sing was another great experience with two performances on April 5th at 2:30 and 7:30 at the fabulous Schermerhorn Symphony Center in downtown Nashville. With David Hamilton conducting the Nashville Symphony, John Coates conducting the Nashville Choir, Dennis Worley directing production I enjoyed sitting in my seat and singing along with all  the audience on great old hymns of the faith. Special guest artists led the audience in a hymn after they performed one of their favorites. Special guests were: Heather Headley (Power of the Cross), Wintley Phipps (It is Well with My Soul and Amen), Jars of Clay (Nothing But the Blood of Jesus), Phil Keaggy (Amazing Grace), Schola the Sisters of St. Cecilia (O Sacred Head Now Wounded) and the four MacKrell sisters who played their violins beautifully on an arrangement of All That Thrills My Soul is Jesus.

BR with Jars of Clay at Hymn Sing

BR with Heather Headley at Hymn Sing

BR with Wintley Phipps at Hymn Sing

Skola, Sisters of St Cecila at Hymn Sing

THE ALBINO DEER WAS IN MY BACK YARD RECENTLY.

It is confirmed that it is a Buck. He is almost grown. A beautiful site. My neighbor up the hill feeds him and his siblilng almost every day with corn, water and a salt lick. The last time I saw him was in my back garden and he ran into the bushes before I could get my camera. I am going up to the neighbors soon and get a picture.

BR with famous Chef Charlie Trotter from Chicago. He was in Nashville for a charity dinner.

THERE WAS A WEDDING IN CASE YOU HAVEN'T HEARD

 

NANCY SANDERS PETERSON AND I WERE MARRIED AT THE CATHEDRAL OF THE INCARNATION IN NASHVILLE FRIDAY NIGHT JANUARY 2ND AT 6:00 WITH THE TWO FAMILIES ATTENDING. SHE HAS 6 CHILDREN WITH THEIR SPOUSES AND 17 GRANDCHILDREN, ALL IN ATTENDANCE (see picture above). SO, WITH MY 3 CHILDREN WITH THEIR SPOUSES AND 2 GRANDCHLDREN (see picture below) WE MAKE A GOOD CROWD. MY GRANDAUGHTER ASHLEY HORNE COULD NOT ATTEND BECAUSE OF A PRIOR COMMITTMENT.

OFFICIATING THE CEREMONY WERE THE PRIEST OF THE CATHEDRAL, FATHER KIBBY AND AND MY PASTOR OF BRENTWOODD BAPTIST CHURCH, DR.MIKE GLENN. JOHN MICHAEL TALB0T FLEW IN FROM TEXAS AND DID ALL THE MUSIC. IT WAS A VERY SIMPLE YET ELEGANT SERVICE.

AFTERWARD WE ALL WENT TO F.SCOTT'S RESTAURANT'S PRIVATE ROOM FOR A FABULOUS AND BEAUTIFUL DINNER.

COMMUNITY HYMN SING WITH THE NASHVILLE SYMPHONY

The Nashville Symphony with the Nashville Choir and David Hamilton Conducting at the Community Hymn Sing, Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

Community Hymn Sing with Nashville Symphony

Beginning with the 2007 Nashville Symphony special events programs I have produced what we call "Community Hymn Sing with the Nashville Symphony". We print a small, words only, hymn book for the audience to use to sing along with the symphony on favorite old hymns. We also invite several "celebrity" artists or ensembles to walk on and sing one of their favorite hymns with the symphony and then invite the audience to sing along with them on another hymn. We do two programs on a Sunday -- 2:30 matinee and 7:30 evening. The first two years have been sellouts and the audience loves singing along with the symphony and really do so enthusiastically. David Hamilton is the conductor. He has toured with Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith on their tours. He also does a lot of the arrangements. Some of the arrangements come from recording sessions of hymn CDs I have produced. The 140 voice Nashville Choir founded and directed by John Coates helps lead the audience and performs two numbers. We also let the symphony perform two or three pieces alone. Many in the audience have never heard the symphony or been in the magnificant Schermerhorn Symphony Center. I hope it makes them want to come back for more symphony concerts.

Artists that have participated in the programs are: Alison Krauss, Steven Curtis Chapman, Steve Green, David Phelps, CeCe Winans, Fisk Jubilee Singers (2007) and Amy Grant, Bill Gaither, Travis Cottrell, Melinda Doolittle, Belmont Chamber Singers, Out for Souls Gospel Choir and a gospel children's choir (2008).