And Still, We Rise
Featuring the MN Premiere of a New Work by Marques Garrett
With the NLC Children’s Choir and Alumni Choir
Performance:
7:30PM - Friday April 30th
Normandale Lutheran Church, Edina
7PM - Saturday, May 1st*
Augustana Lutheran Church, West St. Paul
*livestreamed worldwide
This culminating program lifts voices of resilience and restoration. Featuring Marques Garrett’s new work—interweaving the Spiritual “Give Me Jesus” with Latin sacred texts—the concert embodies a powerful synthesis of traditions. Joined by the NLC Children’s Choir and Alumni Chorus, the performance becomes an intergenerational act of hope.
Marques Garrett
A Virginia native, Dr. Marques L. A. Garrett (he/him) is Associate Professor of Choral Studies at the University of North Texas. After completing the Doctor of Philosophy degree in Music Education (Choral Conducting) at Florida State University, he was an Assistant Professor of Music in Choral Activities at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Marques is an active conductor serving as the founding conductor of the Nebraska Festival Singers and has served as a guest conductor or clinician with several school, church, community, and festival/honor choirs throughout the country in addition to leading conducting workshops at other universities and conferences.
As a composer, his works are available through several publishers and have been performed by festival/honor, all-state, professional, community, and university choirs such as the Los Angeles Master Chorale and the Oakwood University Aeolians. Recent commissions include songs for the Des Moines Choral Society, Mendelssohn Chorus of Philadelphia, The Concordia Choir, and UNT A Cappella Choir. His research has resulted in published articles and presentations on the choral music of Black composers and rehearsal techniques for state, regional, and national conferences. For more information, visit www.mlagmusic.com. (Updated February 15, 2026)