Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concert

The FUMC Chancel Choir, joined by jazz musicians from the UNT College of Music, presented a concert under the direction of Dr. Joshua Taylor. The event was led by Tito Charneco, a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate in Jazz Saxophone with a related field in sacred music. Charneco, a sacred music student of Dr. Taylor, arranged the charts and performed on saxophone. The program featured selections from Duke Ellington's Sacred Concert, a powerful and rarely heard work since the 1960s, along with two hymn arrangements by Charneco. The combination of choral and jazz traditions created a unique and inspiring musical experience. The event was well attended and provided a wonderful opportunity for the church to engage with the university music community, fostering connections through the shared appreciation of sacred and jazz music.