On Friday, 13 December Fieldstead and Company hosted a special presentation of Melanie Penn's Immanuel in collaboration with the Wescovaires, West Covina High School's choral ensemble. Immanuel is a collection of original songs that tells the Christmas story in the first person. The concert walks through the biblical Christmas narrative through they eyes of: Isaiah, Gabriel, Mary, one of the shepherds, the angel chorus, Joseph, the star of Bethlehem, one of the wise men and the innkeeper.
Melanie Penn is a Nashville based songwriter at the crossroads of faith and culture. After studying classical voice in college, she moved to New York City and pursued musical theatre where she enjoyed several years as a mainstay in the theatre scene, most notably playing Sandy on the Broadway national tour of Grease! starring Frankie Avalon.
After years in the Broadway scene Melanie transitioned to songwriting and started a collaboration with Nashville producer Ben Shive. Their first album together was called Wake Up Love (2010), and five more albums followed: Hope Tonight (2015); Immanuel (2017); Immanuel: The Folk Sessions (2019) and More Alive Vols. I and Vol. 2 (2020/2022).
The Immanuel project, Melanie’s songwriting journey through the Christmas story, was called a songwriting tour de force by Christian and mainstream press. It reached No. 1 on Amazon’s Christian, Worship and Holiday Download charts. Melanie is also a worship leader and for many years served at Redeemer Presbyterian Church under the leadership of author and theologian Tim Keller. She has been called “a New York songwriter in the age of skepticism.”
Wescovaires, West Covina High School’s Choral Department’s elite mixed-voice ensemble is directed by Tyler Wigglesworth. Composed of the school's standout sophomore, junior, and senior vocalists, Wescovaires is celebrated for its versatility; seamlessly navigating classical and contemporary genres, from Pop and Jazz to R&B and Broadway. This choir has not only graced stages throughout the country but has also collaborated with industry giants like The Walt Disney Company and has commissioned many new choir works from composers such as Melanie Penn, AJ Harbison, Trevor Gomes, and Joel Balzun (who wrote the instrumental interludes for the concert).
Tyler Wigglesworth is a distinguished graduate of The Biola University Conservatory of Music. With a Bachelor's Degree in Music Education and an emphasis in Voice and Choral Conducting, Tyler has conducted in world-class venues like Carnegie Hall and garnered accolades such as being named a Quarterfinalist for the Grammy Award for Music Educator of the Year. As the Choir Director at West Covina High School since 2013 and the Performing Arts Academy Coordinator since 2020, Tyler's dedication to elevating his students has earned him recognition most recently in Yamaha's 40 under 40 of Excellent Music Educators (class of 2023).
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