McDonell settles in as latest III Century chief
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on September 7, 2014 1:50 AM
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News-Argus/BOBBY WILLIAMS
Durward McDonell practices his conducting skills at First Baptist Church of Mount Olive. McDonell is the new director of III Century Singers, taking over from Fred Kelly, who directed the group for 16 years.
As the new director of III Century Singers, Durward McDonell doesn't want to totally reshape the group, but instead take its members to their highest potential.
And he's just the person to do it.
McDonell has had training in conducting and singing -- and has even done some opera in his career.
The 69-year-old took over directing III Century Singers from Fred Kelly, who had the job for 16 years.
Kelly, who is 79 and music minister at First Baptist Church of Goldsboro, decided since he was getting older, he no longer had enough time to do everything he was doing and still do it well.
"I have my hands full here at First Baptist," Kelly said. "After 16 years, I thought I needed to lighten my load. Since First Baptist was my reason for coming here to begin with, I decided to stay at the church and retire from III Century Singers. And 16 years is a good run."
Kelly said he loved every minute of directing III Century Singers.
He praised its members, saying, "They became a very outstanding choir. I just loved standing in front of them and listening to those beautiful sounds as they poured over my head. I had the best seat in the house standing in front of them."
And Kelly wanted to make it clear that he didn't step down as director because he wanted to.
"I stopped because I felt I reached a point where I needed to lighten my workload," he said. "Both jobs I was doing were very heavy jobs. As minister of music at the church, I direct four adult choirs, two choral groups and two handbell choirs."
McDonell heard that Kelly was retiring and applied for the position, after having been at First Baptist Church of Mount Olive for only a month. He's excited about being able to conduct the group.
"My plans at my stage of life are not to turn everything on its head and shape this group in my image," he said. "I have an understanding of and a respect for the ethos of the group. They love Fred Kelly. He is one of the great gentlemen of sacred music conducting in this whole area. I am honored to follow him."
As conductor, McDonell is the timekeeper for III Century Singers.
And he's the signal man.
His right hand keeps the beat.
His left tells the singers when more or less sound is needed and when it's time to pick up the tempo and gives them entrances for other changes.
And being a trained singer himself, McDonell can also tell the group's members how to physically achieve the sound he wants from them.
McDonell said he likes some of the newer music coming out for choirs and hopes to introduce that to the III Century Singers for some of their concerts.
"I love Americana and music from the British Isles and Ireland," he said. "The president of III Century Singers and I have been talking about maybe doing an Americana program in the spring and cover everything from songs from Colonial times to frontier hymns, spirituals, Stephen Foster, the era of the parlor songs.
"We'll probably look at one of the classic Broadway medleys like 'South Pacific,' 'Oklahoma' or 'My Fair Lady.' And a couple of pop things."
McDonell directed a choir in Florida for nearly 17 years. He sang in small opera companies in New York. He did a season with the National Opera Company.
"With almost any performing musician, it's not just what you do; it's really an essential part of who you are and what you are," he said.