October 29, 2007
Lyon College News Bureau

At Lyon College’s annual Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans service held Oct. 21 during Homecoming Weekend, Dr. Dorothy Landis Gray, emeritus professor of music, led a combined choir of more than 80 people in two anthems in what is fast becoming a part of the tradition of choral excellence at Lyon College.

The choir, made up of alums from distant corners of the country, combined with the Lyon College Concert Chorale, the chancel choir of First Presbyterian Church, and the newly formed Batesville Choral Society. Though choir directors Joel Plaag and Ceil Smith had prepared most of the choirs, they had not met until 2 p.m. the previous day.

After a two-hour rehearsal under the baton of Dr. Gray, the combined, massive choir was ready for the morning service, which also featured the Lyon College Pipes and Drums under pipe major Jimmy Bell, Lyon President Dr. Walter Roettger, Lyon Chaplain Rev. Nancy McSpadden, Lyon Campus Ministries President Natalie Marlin, and Revs. Bob Cox and Leslie Roper of First Presbyterian Church.

The performance of “Holy Is He,” by David Clydesdale, can be heard through streaming audio at: mms://vidserv1.lyon.edu/choir/Clydesdale-Holy-is-He.wma

Dr. Gray, who directed the Arkansas College Choirs from 1946 to 1986, flew in from her home in Pennsylvania to direct the choir, and is planning to do so again at the next Kirkin’ service, tentatively scheduled for October 19, 2008.

The combined Alumni, Student, Community and Church choirs rehearse under the direction of Dr. Dorothy Landis Gray. The choir drew more than 80 singers for the Kirkin’ o’ the Tartans service Oct. 21.

Adele Grilli, Katie Wheeler, Edgar Schoenike and Alan McNamee rehearse as part of the combined choir for the Kirkin’ service held during Homecoming ’07.