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Home > Church Growth > Church Music > Mississippi Baptist All-State Youth Choir and Orchestra > About
The Mississippi Baptist All-State Youth Choir and Orchestra (MBASYC&O) began in 1991 with a God-given vision in the hearts of Graham Smith, director, and Susan Clark Luttrell, youth music/drama consultant for the Church Music Department of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board, to musically and spiritually strengthen Mississippi Southern Baptist high school students. The choir has grown from 40 members in 1993 to over 110 singers. These young people share their love for Christ throughout the state and across the country. Ninth through twelfth grade students audition and interview each fall for positions with the choir and orchestra. Those who are selected attend a three-day rehearsal camp on the campus of William Carey University, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, and a seven-day concert tour the following summer.
The Mississippi Baptist All-State Youth Choir and Orchestra has been presented in concert in churches throughout Delaware, Maryland, Mississippi and the southeastern United States. They have been privileged to be featured in concert at the Southern Baptist Church Music Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, (1999) and New Orleans, Louisiana, (2008).
An important aspect of this choir and orchestra ministry is involvement in ministry and missions projects. In recent years the students have ministered by presenting concerts in the following locations:
Their ministry projects have included:
The September, 2008, issue of YouthCUE, a publication which exists to support and foster the growth of youth choirs in churches and schools across the United States and Canada, honored this ministry by featuring an article and photos sharing the vision and ministry of the choir and orchestra.
Dr. Richard Joiner, the former chair of the Music Department, Mississippi College, Clinton, Mississippi, directed the choir for the first ten years of its ministry. Dr. Jamie Meaders, current chair of the music department at Mississippi College, has served as choral director since 2003. The orchestra is conducted by Mr. David Young, instrumental consultant for the Church Music Department of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board.
A scholarship to aid deserving MBASYC&O members has been established in memory of Reneé Phillips, who was a member of the choir for several years as a result of our partnership with the Maryland/Delaware Convention. Reneé went to be with our Lord in September, 2005, following a year long battle with lung cancer.
Responding to the desire of Reneé and her parents, Rick and Donna, the 2006 scholarship was awarded to a choir member affected by Hurricane Katrina.
Other deserving students, who would not have been able to participate without the provision of the scholardship, have also been assisted.
Contributions to this scholarship fund would be greatly appreciated in order to continue to assist young people in being a part of the ministry that was so important to Reneé and her family. Please send donations to Church Music Department, Mississippi Baptist Convention Board, P.O. Box 530, Jackson, MS 39205.
MBASYC&O article from the July 16, 2009, Baptist Record
Home Page | About the Choir | Mission Statement | Audition Information | Tour Dates and Info
To contact us: Phone: 800.748.1651 Or 601.968.3800 E-mail: scluttrell@mbcb.org
In Mississippi: 1-800-748-1651 Outside Mississippi: 601-968-3800
