COLERIDGE TAYLOR STRING QUARTET Chamber Music Review by Marvin J. Ward,
February 10, 2002: http://cvnc.org/article.cfm?articleId=4737

By Marvin J. Ward
February 10, 2002 - Raleigh, NC

On the morning of Feb. 5, at the Church of the Good Shepherd, the vocal soloist for this educational concert, presented to a church full of youngsters from Carnage Middle School, was Jennifer Sieger, who was involved with Harrell in Videmus recitals for voice and organ Raleigh and Durham, NC on Feb. 4 and 11. The presentation lasted about an hour, and the kids seemed captivated — with good reason, for these folks did it beautifully. Organist Dwayne Holloway, former Community Development Director of the NC Symphony and host of the event, introduced Videmus director, Louise Toppin who introduced the artists. The kids seemed to be well prepared — the artists had supplied a study guide that had clearly been put to good use. The organ music consisted of a Solemn Processional by Robert A. Harris, a Prelude and Fugue by Leslie Adams, Adolphus Hailstork's fine Toccata on Veni Emanuel and Evelyn Simpson-Curenton's brilliant set of concert variations on "Lift Every Voice And Sing," Sieger sang Harris' Pater Noster, Adams' "In The Midnight Of My Soul" and "Amazing Grace" (which differs from the "standard" version), and J. Rosamund Johnson's setting of "Roll, Jordan Roll"; this was followed by Ralph Simpson's organ version of the tune. The grand finale was a sing-along of "Jacob's Ladder," also arr. Simpson, in which the children's commitment was palpable. We were astounded to learn afterwards that this was Toppin's first-ever presentation of this kind for children; she and her colleagues seemed completely at ease throughout.