The hall quieted as the Biola Chorale members settled into their positions across the stage. Dr. Shawna Stewart, the choir director, adjusted her music stand and looked at the choir. Then, with a gesture of Stewart’s hand, the choir members burst into song, their voices ringing loud in the auditorium...

The orchestra began to trickle onstage, taking their seats, and within moments arose the faint warm-up tunes of the strings, the brasses, the woodwinds and percussionists. It mixed with the murmurs of the audience, a quivering of excitement and anticipation in the air. The lights dimmed. The conductor,...