Plano, September 7, 2025
News Summary
St. Andrew Methodist Church in Plano will feature the concert ‘The Poetry of Psalms’ by composer Taylor Davis on September 28. This 40-minute choral-orchestral work combines Biblical psalms with secular poetry and is designed for audiences ages 8 to 100. The event will showcase the church’s Chancel Choir alongside a professional orchestra from the Dallas–Fort Worth area, providing an enriching musical experience for both seasoned concertgoers and newcomers.
Plano — St. Andrew Methodist Church will present the concert Taylor Davis’ “The Poetry of Psalms” on Sunday, September 28, from 3 to 4 p.m. The concert features a 40-minute original choral-orchestral work by composer Taylor Davis and is designed to be accessible to listeners aged 8 to 100.
What is happening
The centerpiece of St. Andrew’s fall music programming is a performance of The Poetry of Psalms, an original composition that pairs Biblical psalms with secular poems in a series of call-and-response musical movements. The work was commissioned by the Texas Master Chorale for their 40th anniversary and received its world premiere in May with that ensemble. This presentation at St. Andrew will feature the church’s Chancel Choir accompanied by a professional orchestra made up of musicians drawn from across the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex.
Key details
- Date and time: Sunday, September 28, 3–4 p.m.
- Location: St. Andrew Methodist Church, 5801 W. Plano Parkway, Plano, Texas
- Work length: 40 minutes
- Composer and church role: Taylor Davis, creative director of traditional worship and music at St. Andrew
- Performers: St. Andrew Chancel Choir and a professional orchestra drawn from the DFW area
- Audience: Intended for ages 8–100 and both seasoned concertgoers and first-time listeners
Structure and content of the work
The Poetry of Psalms is organized as ten distinct movements, each lasting about four minutes. Each movement pairs one Biblical psalm with a secular poem, with the paired texts functioning in a call-and-response format to create layered vocal and orchestral textures. Pairings in the work include a Scottish poem titled “As the Rain Hides the Stars” matched with Psalm 8, and Emily Dickinson’s poem “Will There Really Be a Morning?” set against Psalm 113. Across the ten movements, the composition explores themes of doubt, wonder, praise, and gratitude.
Artistic intent and programming goals
The composer’s intention was to combine the poetic quality of the psalms with contemporary and secular poetic voices to add a broad palette of emotional and linguistic color to the sacred texts. The pairing approach aims to present sacred material alongside everyday questions and language, highlighting connections between religious expression and common human experience. St. Andrew lists the concert as part of a broader effort to provide artistically excellent programming for the community while remaining accessible to a wide audience.
Community and educational outreach
The concert is specifically intended to engage a range of listeners, from classical music enthusiasts to young musicians and students in the DFW area, particularly high school and college music students. As part of the church’s ongoing music initiatives, the Chancel Choir is also preparing for a separate performance at Carnegie Hall scheduled for June 2026. The September presentation serves both as a community offering and as part of a longer-term slate of artistic activity at the church.
Venue and church background
St. Andrew Methodist Church was founded in 1986 and has grown to a congregation of more than 7,000 members. Weekly worship services regularly draw over 2,000 attendees. The church offers multiple worship styles, including traditional services featuring a pipe organ and contemporary services supported by advanced audio-visual technology. A recently added Hasley Chapel provides a 300-seat space for more intimate worship and gatherings. In 2022, the congregation transitioned to an independent Methodist church focused on living out the teachings of Jesus and expanded community service and ministry initiatives.
Logistics
The concert will be held in the main worship space at St. Andrew Methodist Church at 5801 W. Plano Parkway. The program is presented as a single 40-minute work intended to fit within a one-hour event window. The performance features collaborative work between the church’s Chancel Choir and an orchestra assembled from professional musicians across the metroplex.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the concert?
The concert takes place on Sunday, September 28, from 3–4 p.m. at St. Andrew Methodist Church, 5801 W. Plano Parkway, Plano, Texas.
What is The Poetry of Psalms?
It is a 40-minute original composition by Taylor Davis that pairs Biblical psalms with secular poems in ten call-and-response movements, exploring themes such as doubt, wonder, praise, and gratitude.
Who performs the piece?
The performance features the St. Andrew Chancel Choir and a professional orchestra comprised of musicians from the Dallas–Fort Worth area.
Who is the intended audience?
The program is described as suitable for listeners aged 8 to 100 and aims to appeal to both experienced classical music listeners and first-time concertgoers, including high school and college music students.
Was this work previously performed?
Yes. The piece was commissioned by the Texas Master Chorale for their 40th anniversary and had its world premiere in May with that ensemble.
How is this concert connected to other church music initiatives?
This concert is the highlight of St. Andrew’s fall music programming and aligns with the church’s broader music and outreach work, including preparations for the Chancel Choir’s performance at Carnegie Hall in June 2026.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | The Poetry of Psalms by Taylor Davis |
| Duration | 40 minutes (single work), presented within a 1-hour event |
| Structure | 10 movements, ~4 minutes each, psalm-poem pairings in call-and-response |
| Premiere | World premiere in May with the Texas Master Chorale (commissioned for TMC’s 40th anniversary) |
| Performers | St. Andrew Chancel Choir and DFW professional orchestra |
| Location & Time | St. Andrew Methodist Church, 5801 W. Plano Parkway — Sunday, Sept 28, 3–4 p.m. |
| Audience | Intended for ages 8–100; community-focused and educational outreach for students |
| Themes | Doubt, wonder, praise, gratitude; blending sacred and secular poetic voices |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- Ntxe News: The Poetry of Psalms Concert
- Wikipedia: Choral Music
- Ntxe News: St. Andrew Methodist Church
- Google Search: Taylor Davis Composer
- Ntxe News: Community Outreach through Music
- Google Scholar: Orchestral Works
- Ntxe News: Texas Master Chorale
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Music
- Ntxe News: Upcoming Concerts in DFW
- Google News: Events in Dallas Fort Worth
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