The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass

Carol Barnett’s uplifting, popular bluegrass mass anchors a program full of hope and beauty

May 2 and 3, 2026    3pm 

John Wesley United Methodist Church

Katelyn was born into a family of musical talents. Her grandfather, mother and aunts were/are lovers of music and singing. Katelyn was a stand in “clapper” when her mom and aunts were singing in church, and when she was old enough, she joined the Jr. Choir at Allin Congregational Church in Dedham, MA. She sang in her high school choir and, on rare occasions, in a talent show or singing competition. After years of being asked to join the Sr. Choir at church, Katelyn finally gave in to all the requests and feels it is one of the best things she has agreed to do. Under the direction of Andrew Jonathan Welch, Katelyn has had many opportunities to sing solos and showcase her talents. In April 2023, Katelyn participated in “A Character Study” with Andrew in Providence, which featured music by Stephen Sondheim. Katelyn was more than excited when Andrew asked if she would be willing to sing with the Falmouth Chorale in the Spring of 2024.

Katelyn and her wife lived in East Falmouth for a short time, before moving to North Dighton with their two young girls, and hopes they will grow to love music just as much as their mom. Katelyn and her family frequent Falmouth in the summers to visit friends. 

Program Notes

To bring the solemnity of the  classical-based Mass together with the down-home sparkle of bluegrass-now there’s an assignment. My highest hope is that the listeners from one tradition - classical or bluegrass-and perhaps dubious about the other, might discover something new and wonderful in the combination, as I have. Composing the music for The World Beloved has given me the chance to write cheery sacred music-all too rare in a medium rife with staid and even lugubrious settings. It’s brought me back to memories of music heard while visiting my grandparents: country music with a church flavor that told stories and came out of a scratchy old record player. Grandma would not have allowed dancing, but under the table I tapped my toes.  

-Carol Barnett

Biographical Note

Carol Barnett’s music has been called audacious and engaging. Her varied catalog includes works for solo voice, piano, chorus, diverse chamber ensembles, orchestra, and wind ensemble. She was awarded the 2003 Nancy Van de Vate International Prize for Opera for her chamber opera, Snow; her music theater work Meeting at Seneca Falls was featured at the 2006 Diversity Festival in Red Wind, MN. The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass, commissioned in 2006 by VocalEssence and written with Marisha Chamberlain, had its Carnegie Hall debut in February 2013, and has become a favorite across the country. Barnett is a charter member of the American Composers Forum and a graduate of the University of Minnesota, where she studied composition with Dominick Argento and Paul Fetler. She was composer-in-residence with the Dale Warland Singers from 1992 to 2001, and an adjunct faculty member at Augsburg College from 2000 to 2015.