The use of cameras or recording equipment during the 

performance is not allowed. Please be sure that cell phones,

pagers, and other electronic devices are turned off.

Please note that late entry or reentry ofthe 

West Building after 6:30 pm is not permitted.

For the convenience of concertgoers, 

the Garden Cafe remains open for light refreshments

until 6:00 pm on Sundays.

Music Department

National Gallery ofArt

Sixth Street and Constitution Avenue nw

Washington, DC

www.nga.gov

The Sixty-ninth Season of

The William Nelson Cromwell and F. Lammot Belin

Concerts

National Gallery ofArt

2,835th Concert

Women and Girls ofthe

Washington Performing Arts Society Gospel Choir

Stanley J. Thurston, artistic director 

Michelle Fowlin, guest director; Diedre Neal, choreographer

with

Stephanie Thomas, pianist

Deirdre Ball, bassist; Lynyetta Johnson, percussionist

March 27, 2011

Sunday Evening, 6:30 pm

West Building, West Garden Court

Admissionfree
The program will be announcedfrom the stage

The Musician

WASHINGTON PERFORMING ARTS SOCIETY GOSPEL CHOIR

Formed in the early 1990s to celebrate the tradition and inspirational roots

of gospel music on America’s main stages, the Washington Performing

Arts Society’s (wpas) Men, Women, and Children ofthe Gospel Choir has 

showcased its distinctive style ofinspirational performances for audiences

at the Kennedy Center as well as the Atlas Performing Arts Center, the 

Harman Center, the United States Department of State, the Washington 

National Cathedral, and the White House. Having gained national recognition 

through repeated performances on nbc’s Today Show and an appearance in 

Jazz at Lincoln Center, the choir has shared the stage with Yolanda Adams,

Kathleen Battle, Kurt Carr, Y’Anna Crawley, Beverly Crawford, Dame Kiri

Te Kanawa, Wynton Marsalis, Donnie McClurkin, Dottie Peoples, Richard

Smallwood, and Vickie Winans as well as with such renowned ensembles as

the Ramsey Lewis Trio and Sweet Honey In The Rock. Under the leadership

of artistic director Stanley J. Thurston, the wpas Gospel Choir has worked 

with some ofthe area’s noted choral directors to enhance its training.

For more than four decades, the Washington Performing Arts Society

has created profound opportunities for connecting the community to artists, 

in both education and performance. As one ofthe leading arts presenters in

the nation, the Society supports a complete spectrum of arts presentations,

revealed in performances ofthe highest quality. These include classical music,

jazz, gospel, contemporary dance, international music, and works involving

other art forms that bend genres in provocative ways, wpas also commissions world premieres on local stages and dynamic education programs in

schools. More information about wpas is available at www.wpas.org.

Performing in tonight’s concert with the wpas Women ofthe Gospel

Choir are:

Ghordan Bingham Phyllis Miller

Allean Brown Annisse Murillo

Denise Bryant Shelia Parker

Phyllis Chesley Yolanda Peterson Jones

Julia Dennis Sidney Porter

Gloria Duarte Rebecca Powell

Candace Dyson Noelle Price

Deborah Easter Salma Qarnain

Jordan Embrack Iris Richard

Cheryl Few Jacqueline Richardson

Channita Fraser Barbara Rogers

Karen Hall Sharon Ross

Khanner Hancock Janel Saunders

Phyllis Harris Cheri Snyder

Dawn Hawkins Joy Swafford

Tumara Jordan Jamie Ward Black

June Lambert Alexis Wilder

Jacqueline Lucas Vickie Wilkerson

Kristina Lyles Verica Williams

Annice Majette Gina Abercrombie Winstanley

Mildred McCullough

Samantha McElhaney

Leavia Wright

3
MY GOD IS STANDING BY

Walter Hawkins

Solo -Everywhere you go there is trouble (there is trouble)

Solo -Everywhere you go there is strife (there is strife)

Solo -Everywhere you go there is something that worries you but remember

Choir -My God is standing by

Repeat

Bridge:

Solo -God is standing by (no need to cry)

Solo - My God is standing near (no need to fear)

Solo - Jesus he’ll be right there (He’s everywhere)

Solo- He’s rolled the dark clouds away (yes)

Solo - And he’ll answer you when you pray (oh, yes)

Solo - He’ll hear you when you call (yes)

Solo - He’ll catch you before you fall (oh, yes)

Solo - Jesus, he’ll be your friend (yes)

Solo - Stick by you till the very end

Choir - My God is standing by

Repeat bridge

Performer Biographies and Song Texts

Women and Girls of the Washington Performing Arts Society Gospel Choir

March 27, 2011

Michelle Fowlin, guest director

A graduate of Howard University with bachelor and master ofmusic degrees, Michelle Fowlin

studied vocal performance and pedagogy with Carmen Balthrop, Charlotte Holloman, and 

Regina McConnell. Under the tutelage of Dr. James Weldon Norris, she developed her

conducting skills, serving as lead soloist and assistant to the conductor for the Howard

University choirs during a period when the ensembles performed in England, Russia, Spain, and 

the U.S. Virgin Islands. Upon completing her studies, Fowlin has continued her vocal career

while serving as a music teacher in the Washington, DC, public school system. She has worked

with the Washington Performing Arts Society’s Children ofthe Gospel Summer Music Camp;

led church youth choirs; and conducted vocal health and wellness clinics, voice and piano master

classes, and gospel music workshops. Awards recognizing her service to the community include

the Washington, DC, Mayor’s Award and a Certificate ofRecognition from the DC Commission

on the Arts. Fowlin is currently the director of choirs at Eleanor Roosevelt High School and the

cofounder of HerSanctuaryTM, a spiritual partnership ofwomen musicians.

Stephanie Thomas, pianist

A native of Washington, DC, Stephanie Thomas has been singing and playing the piano since

age five, and has received widespread recognition for her versatility and the passion of her

performances. She has performed throughout the United States and in Europe as a soloist and in

choirs and other ensembles. A graduate ofthe College of William and Mary in Williamsburg,

Virginia, where she double majored in public policy and music and studied under Donald

Harrison, Anna Kijanowska, Harris Simon, and Maria Yefimova, Thomas currently studies law

at The American University in Washington, DC. She is the keyboardist and Praise Team director

at First Mount Zion Baptist Church in Dumfries, Virginia.
Deirdre Ball, bassist

Gospel bassist Deirdre Ball regards her talent as an opportunity to minister through music. She 

has played for several Women’s Day events in the Washington, DC, area and served as one of

the bassists at Mount Ennon Baptist Church in Clinton, Maryland, as well as bassist for the male,

women’s, and massed choirs at First Mount Zion Baptist Church in Dumfries, Virginia.

Lynyetta Johnson, percussionist

Cofounder with Michelle Fowlin ofthe all-female vocal and instrumental gospel music

ensemble, HerSanctuaryTM, Lynyetta Johnson has been involved in music since she was nine

years old. She worked with many churches and gospel artists before founding an independent

music label, It’s About Time Records, in 2002. That same year she formed the Jonre Music

Group (JMG) to produce an independent film, SOUNDCHECK. As a composer, Johnson wrote

music for an award-winning commercial and won a composition contest sponsored by Kirk

Franklin, General Mills, and Jet magazine. A member ofthe Delta Sigma Theta sorority, she 

studied music and communication at Brevard College and George Mason University.

1 CANNOT STOP PRAISING THE LORD

Shirley Caesar

Chorus:

No I'll never stop praising the Lord (2x)

He brought me out of darkness into the marvelous light

I'll never stop praising him (2x)

Vs. 1 (solo):

Now I am so grateful for all the lord has done for me

He paid the price just to save a sinner like me

When no one else was around, Jesus came from heaven down

And I made up in my mind that I'll never, I'll never stop praising Him

Chorus

Vs. 2 (solo):

Now I can't stop lifting him up

He's been betterthan good to me

He fought my every battle and my sinful soul he set free

You can always depend on him when everything around you looks dim

I'll never (6x) never, never, never

Chorus

Bridge:

Cannot stop, will not stop, cannot stop

Praising the lord

Cannot stop, will not stop, cannot stop

Gotta keep going on and on and on and on and on and on—

Cannot stop (3x) praising the Lord

(repeat)

Cannot stop (llx)

Gotta keep going on and on and on and on and on and on—