Sun, Apr 19
|First Presbyterian Church
The Gainesville Master Chorale
The Gainesville Master Chorale, under the direction of Dr. Will Kesling, will present a spring concert, 250 Years: Songs from Freedom’s Heroes.
Time & Location
Apr 19, 2026, 4:00 PM
First Presbyterian Church, 300 SW 2nd Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601, USA
About the event
250 Years: Songs from Freedom’s Heroes - This concert brings to life a historical overview of the most important songs of freedom’s heroes from the Revolutionary War to our day. Through arrangements of traditional and contemporary musical settings period texts, we celebrate the Semiquincentennial founding of the United States of America.
The Master Chorale
The Master Chorale is the premiere ensemble of the Gainesville Civic Chorus, whose performances frequently feature major choral masterworks with orchestra. The Master Chorale periodically collaborates with other performing organizations such as the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, The University of Florida Symphony Orchestra and Choirs, and Dance Alive National Ballet, among others. The Gainesville Master Chorale celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year.
Dr. Will Kesling, Conductor and Tané DeKrey, Accompanist
Selected Reviews~
A Washington Post review sums his abilities in two words: clear professionalism.
L’ARENA, Verona, Italy – Kesling baton perfect for Brahms. You rarely have the opportunity to perceive in a maestro a clear vision of the work that is evident by the gestures, at the same time expressive with great precision.
New York Daily News – Definitively Dvořák …Will Kesling’s conducting was truly inspired and impeccably paced; the orchestra played superbly; the massed choruses from Florida, Texas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, New Jersey, and Utah produced stirring sounds.
American Record Guide July/August 2020 – Kesling conducts a lyrical, dramatic performance…. Antonin Dvořák REQUIEM MASS, Op. 89 Centaur Records
International Award~
Gold Medal – 2021 Audio Visual Arts Digital International Competition. AVA Digital Awards is an international competition that recognizes excellence by creative professionals responsible for the planning, concept, direction, design, and production of digital communication. Sounds of the Season: Conquering COVID with a Carol produced and conducted by Dr. Will Kesling.
Book~ -Kesling, Will. The Voices I Hear: A Philosophical and Practical Approach to the Choral Art. Chicago: GIA Publications, 2022. (439 pages)
Dr. Will Kesling has conducted hundreds of choral ensembles and 46 professional symphony orchestras throughout the world. His talents for weaving together text and music, chorus and orchestra have garnered him international respect.
Dr. Kesling has conducted a number of engagements in Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, as well as in major concert halls internationally. He served as the Associate Conductor of the Manhattan Philharmonic Orchestra, New York City, as the Principal Guest Conductor of the St. Petersburg State Symphony Orchestra, Russia, for ten years, and was the Music Director and Conductor of the Mountain West Symphony Orchestra & Choral Society, Utah for 18 years. He now begins his 45th year as a Professor of Choral and Orchestral Conducting.