November 9, 2009
LAKE JUNALUSKA, N.C. – As Dr. Glenn Draper’s final season as the Director of the Junaluska Singers continues, familiar faces and voices can be seen and heard at upcoming concerts at Lake Junaluska Conference and Retreat Center. Persons from all over the country are making plans to visit Lake Junaluska to celebrate Glenn and Lounelle Draper's 55 years of contributions to Lake Junaluska through their music, ministry, and time.
A special seasonal concert, Candlelight Sacred Carols, will be held in historic Memorial Chapel on Thursday, December 10th at 7:30 p.m. Persons of all ages will enjoy this intimate concert, but seating is limited, so tickets should be purchased before space runs out.
Celebrations of Dr. Draper’s service to Lake Junaluska will continue during Lake Junaluska's annual Appalachian Christmas performance. The Junaluska Singers will perform Handel's Messiah and Christmas carols on Friday, December 11th in Stuart Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. The 2009 Junaluska Singers will be accompanied by many former singers, including John Dominique, who has performed in Carnegie Hall. Strings and winds will also accompany the Singers. Tickets are available online, or can be purchased by calling 828-452-2881, ext. 0.
Dr. Glenn Draper will take up his baton for his final performance as the Director of the Junaluska Singers at 2:30pm on Saturday, December 12th in Stuart Auditorium. Dr. Draper’s farewell concert, A Christmas Potpourri, features musical selections that capture the many moods of Christmas. Former Junaluska Singers will join Draper and the 2009 Singers onstage during this performance. Following the concert’s conclusion, everyone is invited to pay tribute to Glenn and Lounelle Draper at a gala celebration with reception in the Terrace Auditorium.
In addition to the free gala reception, Lake Junaluska has established “The Glenn and Lounelle Draper Endowment for Music Ministries” to celebrate Glenn and Lounelle’s contributions over the past 55 years. The endowment will ensure the continuation of the Junaluska Singers and their ministry while honoring the Drapers in a permanent and far- reaching way. For information on how to contribute to the endowment fund, call 866-256-1079.
The Heritage Center at Lake Junaluska also recently opened an exhibit celebrating the Drapers - "Glenn and Lounelle Draper: A Tribute." Their passion for music and sharing the Gospel of Christ through the beauty of music and voices has been inspiring. The exhibit includes memorabilia, rare photographs of the Singers and the Drapers, as well as Junaluska Singers records, programs, and much more. When visiting the Heritage Center, guests can also enjoy rare videos from the early years of the Junaluska Singers.
For more information about Dr. Draper and the Junaluska Singers, please visit www.lakejunaluska.com/christmas.aspx.