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On Saturday, May 24, Dr. Joseph Holt will take the stage at the Church of Palms with the Choral Artists of Sarasota and the Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble for United We Stand: A Memorial Day Concert. This is far from the first time that Holt, the artistic director of the Choral Artists for the past 16 years, has led the group in a patriotic concert—the Choral Artists have a long-standing tradition of July 4th concerts—but it will be his last. On May 9, Dr. Holt announced that he will retire as artistic director in June, a position he has held since 2011.

“Artists live in a different mindset and there’s a certain thought that we never really stop what we’re doing. Essentially it’s the concept that we didn’t choose this, it chose us,” says Dr. Holt, who will be continuing on in his work with the Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning and the Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota. “While every career arc of an artist is different, there’s a pattern of when you start out you’re in spring, where you get more active, then you’re in summer and things are happening and ultimately make the turn into autumn. At 65 years of age I’ve recognized that I’m no longer in the spring and summer and it’s time to make the change to allow for a newer generation of creative energy to lead this organization into its next chapter.”

Although the Choral Artists, initially known as Gloria Musicae, have been in Sarasota since 1979, Dr. Holt’s leadership reinvigorated the organization, making it one of the region’s leading vocal ensembles. Under Dr. Holt, the Choral Artists have reformed their artistic identity, performing milestone concerts such as the 80th commemoration of D-Day in Normandy, France in 2024, 2024’s Considering Matthew Shepard and the Florida premiere of The Children’s March in 2023.

In United We Stand, the Choral Artists and Lakewood Ranch Wind Ensemble will honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country while incorporating other patriotic elements often found in the July 4th concert. Pieces include John Kander’s A Letter from Sullivan Ballou, which include excerpts from a Union soldier's letter to his wife, John Williams’ A Hymn to the Fallen, Where Valor Proudly Sleeps, the Sarasota premiere of Gwyneth Walker’s composition of The Midnight Ride of Paul Revere and excerpts from Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.

United We Stand: A Memorial Day Concert, May 24 at 4:00pm, Church of the Palms, 3224 Bee Ridge Rd, Sarasota, 34239

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