Guest Conductor Adds Gospel Spark to Candlelight Concert

Crane Candlelight 2022: Let it Shine!
Mountain Lake PBS

December 19 at 8 pm
December 20 at 5 pm
December 23 at 2 pm
December 24 at 9 pm
December 25 at 2:30 pm

The Crane Candlelight Concert, an annual tradition at the State University of New York at Potsdam, features music composed and arranged by guest conductor Dr. Raymond Wise, a professor and choral director at Indiana University.

In the program this year, singers and musicians at the Crane School of Music perform five gospel pieces, under the direction of Dr. Wise.  This marks the first year the music performance and music education students have worked with a guest conductor for the holiday show.

Enjoy Spotlight producer Paul Larson’s interview with Dr. Wise here. 

Dr. Wise currently serves on the faculty of Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, where he serves as Professor of Practice in the African American African Diaspora Studies department and instructs courses in African American music. He is the associate director of the African American Arts Institute at Indiana University.  Wise conducts the African American Choral Ensemble.

An internationally renowned gospel conductor and composer, Dr. Wise is also an ordained minister and has served as a church musician for more than 40 years. He has appeared on radio and television, recorded 22 albums, and performed with opera singers, orchestras, dance companies, and professional recording groups. He has toured extensively throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and Asia as a singer, pianist, composer, lecturer, choreographer and conductor for festivals. Wise recently performed at Carnegie Hall where he debuted one of his many compositions. Wise has penned more than 600 compositions.

Crane Candlelight 2022:  Let it Shine! premieres on Mountain Lake PBS Monday, December 19 at 8 pm.  It repeats Tuesday, December 20 at 5 pm, Friday the 23rd at 2 pm, Saturday the 24th at 9 pm, and Christmas day at 2:30 pm.

Spotlight is made possible, in part, by the Glenn and Carol Pearsall Adirondack Foundation, dedicated to improving the quality of life for year-round residents of the Adirondack Park.  Spotlight is also supported by Hill and Hollow Music.