A Platteville resident had the experience of a lifetime when he was on stage at the Concert Hall of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
Dr. Robert J. Snyder was a member of The New American Chorus, which performed with Christian music great Steven Curtis Chapman on June 14 in the nation’s capital.
“I’ve been working with and supporting a lot of Christian musicians for many years,” said Snyder. “I received an email from the Chapman team last summer about the concert. I sent in my application and was accepted.”
Snyder has been a member of the contemporary music praise team at Lutheran Church of Peace for more than 10 years.
The New American Chorus featured 155 voices, with members representing 32 different states.
“We received our music and practice tracks in January,” said Snyder. “We had nine hours of rehearsals over two days in Washington right before the concert.”
The Kennedy Center concert also featured the True North Symphony Orchestra, featuring 45 top musicians from the Washington area. The chorus and orchestra were under the direction of Camp Kirkland, who has more than 1,000 publications in his catalog and is considered to be an important contributor to the leading publishers of church music today.
Steven Curtis Chapman has sold more than 11 million recordings in a career that began in 1987. He has recorded 18 studio records, two of which are RIAA certified platinum albums and eight RIAA certified gold albums. Chapman has been honored with five Grammy Awards and 17 Grammy nominations. He has also received 58 Dove Awards, the most of any Christian recording artists.
Chapman’s 19th studio project, “Believe,” is set for release in a few months.
The Kennedy Center concert was sold out and lasted over two hours as Chapman performed 18 songs spanning the length of his career, followed by an encore of worship songs. After the concert, Chapman’s wife, Mary Beth, told the chorus that at least one member of Congress was in the audience.
“To share a stage with one of my favorite artists was exceptionally special,” said Snyder. “To do so in one of our country’s premier venues is unforgettable. To top it off, after the concert Steven Curtis told us that he felt that this was the best concert of his career. This was really a blessing and I’m grateful for the invitation and the support of my family.”
