Louisville—The Kentucky Baptist Convention’s All State Youth Choirs participated in the regional American Choral Directors Association concert in Louisville on Feb. 23 at the Kentucky Center for the Arts.

Although the entire choir could not be present because of school, around 40 teenagers participated. The group rehearsed and was hosted by Southern Seminary, even getting the opportunity to sing in chapel on the day after Billy Graham’s death.

“It was pretty monumental,” Jason Stewart, the group’s leaders and worship and music consultant with the Kentucky Baptist Convention, said. “My heart was full all day long knowing that the youth choir got to sing in chapel.”

The choir was led by Mickey Ballard and Sue Ellen Ballard and accompanied by Jennifer Bursaglia.

The group submitted recordings over three years’ time at the urging of ACDA member Mickey Ballard and was selected to participate. They performed alongside college, semi-professional, and children’s choirs, both secular and religious, from a myriad of Southern states, including groups from Samford University and University of Kentucky.

“It’s a prestigious honor to be selected,” Stewart commented. “They did a fabulous job as always.”

Stewart emphasized that they sang songs “with a clear gospel message,” including “Lord, for Thy tender mercy’s sake,” by Richard Farrant and “At the Name of Jesus” by Cindy Berry.

“It was a real opportunity for us to present the Gospel through song, and that’s what we did,” Stewart added. (WR)