Submitted

SALISBURY — The Salisbury-Rowan Choral Society will present its first spring concerts since COVID-19 on Friday at 7 p.m. at First United Church of Christ, 207 W. Horah St. in Salisbury.

A second concert will be held on Sunday at 4 pm at Milford Hills United Methodist Church, 1630 Statesville Blvd. in Salisbury

Directed by Brian Sevison, the concert titled “For a Better World” will take everyone on a journey starting with pain and hardships happening around the earth and ending with an encouragement for all to work together to strive for a better tomorrow.

The first half of the program will focus on present-day hardships with “Earth Song,” “Famine Song,” and “The Prayer of the Children.” In the Gospel tradition, the Earth’s responsible inhabitants are encouraged to “Lay Earth’s Burdens Down.”

The second half of the concert offers hope for a positive tomorrow in “Heal the World” by Michael Jackson and “The Earth’s Been Good to Me,” which recalls the work and vision of John Chapman, also known as Johnny Appleseed. He nurtured apple orchards carefully as an example of one who “cares for the earth that cares for us.”

The concluding song “The Awakening,” by Joseph M. Martin, reflects a change from present-day woes to hope for the future with music as a major part of that transformation. It challenges the audience to call human beings to action with inspiring music.

These concerts are supported by the First United Church of Christ Foundation, the Rowan County Arts Council, the North Carolina Arts Council and generous patrons and audience.