Bach: Cantata BWV 148 / Bringet dem Herrn Ehre seines Namens

Joshua Knight began musical training with piano lessons around age eight and within a few short years was playing hymns for his small hometown church in Auburn, Alabama. After high school, providence and a childhood fascination with the pipe organ led him to study with Judy Glass at Southern Adventist University. He has served in several area churches and enjoys frequent accompanying opportunities. Joshua currently works as a reed maker at Richards, Fowkes & Co. organ builders and is organist at Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church.

Born in Valencia, Spain, and raised in Loma Linda, California, Daniel Esperante began his musical studies with the flute at the age of seven. He is currently a senior studying flute performance at Southern Adventist University. Upon completion of his undergraduate degree, he wishes to begin his master’s degree in orchestral conducting. Daniel is most interested in the historical extremes of the flute’s repertoire, particularly, unaccompanied Baroque sonatas and modern “extended technique.” The works
presented today are among his favorite in the Baroque repertoire, as they are a prime example of how so much color can be shown with so simple a resource. Daniel studies under the tutelage of Kristen Holritz, principal flautist of the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra.

Rachel Walls, mezzo-soprano, is a vocalist and music teacher. She earned her music education degree from Lee University in 2017. Rachel has performed as a soloist in Handel’s Messiah alongside the Lee University Choral Union, and has sung with various choirs in East Tennessee and South Carolina. She has appeared as soloist with the Chattanooga Bach Choir. She currently sings with The King’s Counterpoint, a choir specializing in early Renaissance and Baroque music, and traveled abroad with them to perform evensong and Eucharist services in Canterbury Cathedral and Westminster Abbey. She currently teaches music to grades Pre-K–7 in Charleston, South Carolina.

A native of Chattanooga, James Harr is a candidate for the doctoral degree in vocal performance at the University of Memphis. He holds a master’s degree in vocal performance from Washington University. He has sung concerts with symphonies in St. Louis, Memphis, and Chattanooga. While in St. Louis, he sang with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra Chorus for seven years as a principal singer. Upon moving to Memphis, James sang with the Rhodes MasterSingers, the Memphis Symphony, and the Memphis Masterworks Chorale. Since returning to Chattanooga, he has appeared with both the Chattanooga Symphony and the Chattanooga Bach Choir. James has performed a number of opera roles. Here in Chattanooga, he has appeared with Opera Tennessee and Scenic City Opera.James is on the faculty of the McCallie School where he serves as the Director of Choral Programs.