On Sunday evening May 19 a concert to benefit Joseph’s Hammer, the non-profit constructing the multi-purpose Worship Chapel at the Ellen Halbert Women’s Prison in Burnet, will take place at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 105 FM 1431 in Marble Falls. The concert will be the culmination of many months of work by a host of singers and musicians.
Dr. John Mark Ousley, minister of music at The Church at Horseshoe Bay, explains how it all began. “The idea for this concert can be traced to my first church board meeting in the summer of 2023.” Bill Carrothers, chair of the benevolence committee, made a motion to expend $25,000 over two years to assist Joseph’s Hammer build the Worship Chapel at the women’s prison in Burnet.
Ousley recalls, “Needless to say, this was inspiring for me. I began to brainstorm about ways to unite and mobilize the vibrant Highland Lakes music community to support Joseph’s Hammer in building the chapel.”
Ousley’s first meeting was with Greg Gathright, the director of music at First Methodist Church in Marble Falls. Gathright had taught music in the Texas prison system and already had a heart for what Joseph’s Hammer was trying to accomplish. Ousley recalls, “I was taken aback by the harmony of circumstances. With a handshake at the end of lunch, the idea for this concert was born.”
At the next church board meeting, Ousley proposed a masterwork concert with full choir and orchestra to benefit Joseph’s Hammer. The board voted to support the concert and covered any up-front costs for music. Ousley immediately began reaching out to other music directors to gather the forces needed to make it happen.
Ousley enlisted the support of Graham and Mary Jane Avery, the founders of The Heart of Texas Orchestra. He calendared choral rehearsals at First Methodist Church in Marble Falls, the orchestra rehearsals at the Church at HSB, and the concert location at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. He was committed to a truly ecumenical effort involving every church and musical ensemble in the Highland Lakes.
The first organizational meeting on Jan. 29 included representatives of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, the Bluebonnet Chorale, the Highland Lakes Men’s Chorus, St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Lake Shores Church, Burnet Methodist Church, The Church at HSB, Highland Lakes Methodist Church, St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church and Joseph’s Hammer.
A dramatic musical masterwork, The Testament of Freedom by Randall Thompson, was selected for the concert performance. Rehearsals began in February. The 25 members of the Heart of Texas Orchestra rehearsed on Sunday evenings. The 50-voice choir, now known as The Heart of Texas Chorale, began rehearsals on Monday evenings.
When asked what success will look like, Ousley responded, “Success would be a quality performance that raises every last dime still needed to build the chapel. But in many ways, I feel like this process has already been a resounding success.”
The musical community of the Highland Lakes has united around this good cause. All that remains is for the Highland Lakes community at large to support this Masterwork Concert on May 19 at the beautiful sanctuary of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Marble Falls.
(Editor’s Note: Future articles will tell the story of the musical masterwork, The Testament of Freedom, and the remarkable story of Joseph’s Hammer and the ongoing miracle of the Worship Chapel being constructed at Ellen Halbert Women’s Prison in Burnet.)
