Rehearsing "In the Garden"

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St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church has begun a program to hire a composer to write an original piece of music for its choir each year. The first piece, titled "In the Garden" by Chicago-based composer James Stephenson, debuts Palm Sunday.

Choirmaster and organist Stephen L. Furches directs the St. Dunstan's Episcopal church in Sandy Springs during a nighttime practice. The choir will debut an original choral piece called "In the Garden" by James Stevenson, on Palm Sunday, March 16. The commission was paid for by a fund established by the late Charlie Yates, a church member who also happened to be a former president of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. The Yates fund will pay for a new original work every year.

Soprano soloist Laura Withers, who has a solo in the original choral piece, "In the Garden" by James Stevenson, sings during choir practice at St. Dunstan's Episcopal church in Sandy Springs.

Mary Summerville, a soprano for St. Dunstan's Episcopal church choir in Sandy Springs, follows along as Choirmaster Stephen L. Furches outlines a certain area in the commissioned piece "In the Garden by composer, James Stevenson, during practice in the chapel of the church.

Organist and Choirmaster Stephen L. Furches raises his hand to direct the St. Dunstan's Episcopal church during choir practice.

Geoff Walker (foreground) and Lee Morris, both from Atlanta, sing as tenors in the St. Dunstan's Episcopal church in Sandy Springs during a nighttime practice. The choir will debut an original choral piece called "In the Garden" by James Stevenson, on Palm Sunday, March 16.

Ruth Roser, an alto for the St. Dunstan's Episcopal church choir, takes a look at the sheet music for "In the Garden, " an original choral piece by composer James Stevenson.

During practice, Choirmaster Stephen L. Furches, uses a piano but in the performance and debut of the commissioned piece "In the Garden" by nationally-known composer, James Stevenson, he will lead the choir with an organ.

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Choirmaster and organist Stephen L. Furches directs the St. Dunstan's Episcopal church in Sandy Springs during a nighttime practice. The choir will debut an original choral piece called "In the Garden" by James Stevenson, on Palm Sunday, March 16. The commission was paid for by a fund established by the late Charlie Yates, a church member who also happened to be a former president of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. The Yates fund will pay for a new original work every year.

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