On Sunday, June 6, the Choral Society’s Women’s Ensemble, conducted by Isabelle Peterson, performed a free program of secular and sacred music at Nativity of Our Lord Catholic Church (9945 Hillview Drive). The pianist was Meredith Stemen.

They performed the three songs they sang to open the Society’s May 15 program at Pensacola State College: “All Things Bright and Beautiful” by Philip E. Silvey, “An die Musik” (To Music) by Franz Schubert, and “Ständchen” (Serenade) by Josephine Lang. The brief program also included “Love’s Lullaby” by Augusta E. Stetson and two traditional spirituals (“Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child,” arranged by Joe Ridenour, and “Steal Away to Jesus,” arranged by the conductor), as well as “A Suffrage Hymn” by Mrs. Alfred E. Clark, published in 1912.

The ensemble is a group of singers from the larger chorus and generally ranges in size from eight to twenty singers. They represent the Society in events throughout the community. In the months before the pandemic began, for example, they hosted the Society’s annual holiday singalong, participated in a Waterfront Mission fundraiser organized by the Pensacola Folk Music Society, and sang the national anthem at a practice of the Blue Angels. The group currently comprises Sarah Brown, Gwyn Chadwick, Pam Davey, Vicki Gordziel, Marie Hall, Carla Quinn, and Jamie Meyerholz.