The Swinney Conservatory of Music at Central Methodist University will present the world premiere of a newly commissioned choral work by internationally recognized composer Jackson Berkey on Sunday, April 19, 2026, at 3 p.m. in Linn Memorial United Methodist Church on the campus of Central Methodist University.
This landmark performance of Voices from Heaven will feature the combined choirs of the Swinney Conservatory of Music – the Chorale and Conservatory Singers – under the direction of Dr. Thomas Clark, accompanied by chamber orchestra and pianist Dr. Melissa Loehnig Simons, dean of the Conservatory. Almeda and Jackson Berkey will be in residence at CMU on April 17-19, working directly with student musicians in rehearsal and offering artistic insight to the singers and instrumentalists as the premiere approaches.
Berkey is an internationally recognized American composer, pianist, and artist. As a founding member of the groundbreaking ensemble Mannheim Steamroller, he recorded and toured as the group’s featured keyboard artist for 38 years. His compositions span orchestral, choral, and solo piano and instrumental works and is admired for its rich harmonies, spiritual depth, and cinematic beauty.
The creation of Voices from Heaven grew from a meaningful artistic connection between the composer and the CMU choirs. During Clark’s premiere concert season at CMU, the ensemble performed Berkey’s South Dakota Shadows, which quickly became a favorite among singers and audiences alike.
Impressed by the warmth and artistry of the CMU choirs, Berkey was inspired to compose a new work written specifically for the voices of the Swinney Conservatory.
Voices from Heaven is a four-movement work for chorus and orchestra that draws upon beloved American hymnody and timeless poetry to explore themes of faith, reflection, and the soul’s journey toward eternity. Berkey’s score weaves together the cherished hymn tunes “Softly and Tenderly, Jesus Is Calling,” “The Unclouded Day,” and “The Solid Rock,” alongside poetic texts by Emily Dickinson (“I never saw a moor”) and John Milton (“Il Penseroso”).
Through these sacred texts, melodies, and poems, Berkey creates a deeply expressive musical narrative that reflects on the longing for heaven, the certainty of faith, and the quiet hope of returning home to the Creator.
“Voices from Heaven is a musical meditation on the journey home,” said Clark. “Jackson Berkey has created a work that speaks to the deepest human questions: faith, eternity, and the hope that lies beyond this life. The music is both intimate and transcendent, and it has been a tremendous privilege for our students to bring this extraordinary work to life.”
Berkey’s composition is dedicated to the memory and influence of composer Floyd Farmer, a mentor who helped shape Clark’s musical journey and was a mutual friend of Berkey. The commission has been generously sponsored by Caron Farmer, Floyd Farmer’s wife, in support of the students of the Swinney Conservatory.
In a particularly moving tribute, the third movement of the work – “Certain Am I,” a setting of Emily Dickinson’s poem “I never saw a moor” – is now expanded with a full orchestration for piano, oboe, and strings, and bears the dedication, “Remembering Floyd Farmer.”
The April 19 concert will mark the world premiere performance of Voices from Heaven, offering audiences a rare opportunity to experience a brand-new major choral work.
The concert is free and open to the public, with a suggested donation of $10 to support the ongoing work of the Swinney Conservatory of Music.
A preview performance of Voices from Heaven will take place on April 12, as the Chorale will travel to St. Charles for a special concert at First St. Chares United Methodist Church. The concert will take place at 3 p.m., with free admission for the public show.