Renowned composer writes song for Blue Ridge School’s Centennial

Roger Emerson, whose work includes choral arrangements of Josh Groban’s “You Raise Me Up”, “Joyful, Joyful” from Sister Act, and “Season’s of Love” from RENT, composed a special song to note Blue Ridge School’s Centennial year.  The song, “A Thousand Fold” will be debuted at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Ivy, Virginia, at the 10:30 Sunday Service, April 19. 
BRS Choir Director, Dolores DeAngelis asked Emerson to compose a song for the Blue Ridge School centennial year after sitting beside each other at a choral workshop last summer.  DeAngelis’s vision was to use the school’s prayer, “A Prayer of a Thousand Fold” as the foundation of the song. 
As a teacher of music at the College of the Susckinyous in Northern, CA, Emerson understands the importance of creative learning and quality education, and was excited to work on a composition for Blue Ridge School.  Emerson agreed to work on the composition, and was inspired by the school’s prayer.  He also took it upon himself to incorporate the school’s honor code. 
“I especially thought it was important to incorporate the school’s honor code because it stresses personal responsibility and giving, and I think that is very important to learn; especially today”  said Emerson.
The song itself begins as a traditional hymn style then transitions in to an uplifting more popular choral style that Emerson is known for. 
“We are extremely happy to have had such a well known and gifted composer working on this special project” says Doloras DeAngelis of the Blue Ridge School.  She adds, “I was so pleased that he took the time to understand our school, and was able to arrange it so beautifully.“
The Blue Ridge School Men’s Chorus first performance of the song will be at St. Paul’s, Ivy to honor the long standing history between St. Paul’s, Ivy and the Blue Ridge School, which began during the foundation of the school.  The school’s prayer, which the song was based and named for, was written by The Reverend Frederick W. Neve of St. Paul’s, Ivy in the early 1900’s. The relationship has continued to thrive to this date, and the school thought it appropriate to debut the song where the inspiration originated.