Payonk to be featured at St. Joseph Church

Saturday’s Easter Vigil Mass at St. Joseph Church in Chenoa will feature John Payonk, an internationally acclaimed baritone.

Payonk is standing in for Warren Moulton this year. Moulton had been a longtime performer at the mass. Payonk lends his powerful voice to the Illinois Wesleyan Collegiate Choir to support the St. Joseph Chenoa and St. Mary Lexington mass in Chenoa starting at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.

Payonk will chant the Easter Proclamation, the Exultet, as well as perform Cesar Franck’s moving Eucharistic hymn, Panis Angelicus, in addition to other principal parts of the Easter Vigil liturgy.

The Wesleyan Collegiate Choir will feature 24 voices directed by Dr. J. Scott Ferguson, music professor and director of Choral Activities at Illinois Wesleyan University. Dr. Ferguson will also provide accompaniment on St. Joseph Church’s restored Barckhoff Tracker pipe organ for this Easter Vigil liturgy.