The Copiah-Lincoln Concert Choir and Ambassadors directed by Dr. Bobby Helms presented an impressive and varied program at a recent gathering of Matinee Musicale members and guests at First United Methodist Church.  President Carrene Scafidel welcomed the guests and introduced Dr. Helms and accompanist Steve Russell. 

Helms did undergraduate work at several Georgia universities but recently was awarded his doctorate at the University of Southern Mississippi. He has served as Director of Choral Activities at Copiah-Lincoln Community College since 2019. The choirs were accompanied by Russell, who has been a piano instructor and staff accompanist at Co-Lin for 37 years. Russell received his music degrees from Mississippi College. 

The elite Ambassadors performed an impressive program including five acapella arrangements, beginning with ‘Non Nobis Domine’ by Powell. They transitioned to the more familiar ’80s “Right Here Waiting” by Shaw, and concluded their program with the joyful “Ain’t a That Good News” by Dawson.

The 30-member Co-Lin Concert Choir began their portion of the program with “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by Dilworth. Tom Fettke’s “The Majesty and Glory of Your Name” delighted the audience, many of whom knew the choral arrangement. Melodies by Mozart, Chilcott, Liebergen and Baker followed. An Irish blessing “You Do Not Walk Alone” by Hagengerg and “Hold Fast to Dreams” by LaBarr were inspiring. The program concluded with “The Storm is Passing Over” by Baker.