Elizabeth Anderson, a member of the Allon Chapel Seventh-day Adventist Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, is preparing for what she calls a “dream of a lifetime”—singing at the world-renowned Carnegie Hall in New York City.
Anderson, whose church is part of the Central States Conference, has been invited to perform with the community-based Unity Choir during a music festival at Carnegie Hall scheduled for June 13–17. To take part in the event, she has launched a fundraising campaign to help cover festival fees, transportation, airfare, food and lodging.
“This would be a dream of a lifetime,”
Anderson said. “To stand on the same stage where so many great performers have stood before me is incredible.”
The Unity Choir, directed by Dr. Tom Trenney, was formed three years ago and welcomes community members who enjoy singing a variety of musical styles and sharing fellowship through music. Trenney serves as Minister of Music at First-Plymouth Congregational Church in Lincoln and is also Assistant Professor of Music and Conductor of Choirs at Nebraska Wesleyan University. His choirs have performed at state, regional and national conventions of the American Choral Directors Association and have received honors in the American Prize for choral ensembles.
The Unity Choir typically participates in two major concerts each year—Nebraska Wesleyan University’s “Big Sing” in the spring and “Christmas With Wesleyan” in December. The invitation to perform at Carnegie Hall came through National Concerts, giving the choir an opportunity to sing in one of the most respected concert halls in the world.
For Elizabeth, the moment carries special meaning. The stage at Carnegie Hall has hosted many legendary performers, including Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, Luciano Pavarotti and Marian Anderson, whose performances helped break racial barriers in classical music.
“Who knows?” she said with a smile. “I could even be related to Marian Anderson.”
Beyond the musical opportunity, Elizabeth believes the trip marks the beginning of a new chapter in her life. She says God has called her to begin a public ministry called Fearless, Faith-filled, and Free.
The message of the ministry focuses on three key ideas she believes are essential to living a fulfilled life: knowing God, knowing one’s identity in God and understanding one’s God-given purpose.
“I envision a world where every person knows God, knows their identity in God and knows their God-given purpose,” Elizabeth said.
The ministry is designed especially to support adult Christian women who are survivors of childhood abuse. Through speaking and outreach, Elizabeth hopes to help them discover how to live what she describes as “fearless, faith-filled and free.”
Elizabeth’s connection to music began early in life. When her parents became Seventh-day Adventists, the family moved from Omaha to Lincoln and joined Allon Chapel. Her parents quickly became involved in ministry, and her mother joined the church choir.
“My mom had a beautiful soprano voice,” Elizabeth said.
As a child, she often stood beside her mother in the choir. Before she could read music, she simply followed her mother’s voice.
“When my mom’s voice went up, I went up,” she recalled. “When her voice went down, I followed.”
She sang in the chil
dren’s choir and participated in annual Christmas programs with the Bethesda Seventh-day Adventist Church in Omaha. The combined choirs often performed cantat
as by John W. Peterson such as Joy to the World, Born a King and The Wonder of Christmas. Elizabeth remembers rehearsing for hours and loving every moment of presenting the music.
As she entered her preteen years, she joined a small singing group at Allon Chapel called The Treblaires, directed by music leader Barbara Harriott. The group sometimes sang in church every week at the request of the music director.
Elizabeth also sang with the Lincoln Community Gospel Choir, directed by Oscar Harriott. The choir included singers from different denominations and performed music ranging from traditional hymns and spirituals to contemporary gospel.
Despite her love for singing, Elizabeth says she struggled with deep shyness and fear of performing alone.
One turning point came while she was a freshman at College View Academy during a camping trip to Glacier View Ranch in Colorado. While singing in the shower, her music teacher and camp counselor, Lisette Perez (now Deemer-Parks), heard her voice and insisted that she sing a solo during vespers that evening.
With trembling nerves, Elizabeth sang the song “Day by Day.” Although she believed she sounded terrible, several students and teachers later told her how beautiful the performance was.
Even with those encouraging comments, she continued to struggle with self-doubt and often avoided singing solo opportunities.
Over the years Elizabeth continued singing in different groups, including a group called Images, directed by Deah Harriott. The group performed at several venues, including the Gospel Music Workshop of America, where they shared the stage with artists such as Shirley Caesar, Kurt Carr, the Clark Sisters, John P. Kee, Vanessa Bell Armstrong and Richard Smallwood.
Later in life Elizabeth experienced a period when illness prevented her from singing, which she describes as one of the lowest seasons of her life. When she began to feel better, she searched for opportunities to reconnect with music.
That search led her to audition for Abendchor, a choir at First-Plymouth Congregational Church in Lincoln. The audition required prepared pieces and sight-reading, which caused her great anxiety. After praying for courage, she completed the audition and was invited to join the choir by Trenney.
When Abendchor finished its run, Elizabeth joined the Unity Choir, a community ensemble open to anyone who loves to sing.
Looking back, she believes those early experiences in church and community choirs helped prepare her for the opportunity she now has to sing at Carnegie Hall.
“This time, I won’t let fear stop me,” Elizabeth said.
“I’m going to lead with faith and use the gift God gave me.”
Those who would like to support Elizabeth’s journey can donate through her fundraising page:
https://gofund.me/1cf0200e5
She also shares updates about her ministry through social media under the name Fearless, Faith-filled, and Free, including YouTube, Instagram and Patreon.
By Elizabeth Anderson and Hugh Davis
