Jax State’s Dr. Eliezer Yanson Returns to Carnegie Hall as Guest Conductor

07/28/2026

By Brett Buckner 

Standing beneath the iconic arches of Carnegie Hall, where generations of the world's greatest musicians have carved their place in history, Jacksonville State University’s Dr. Eliezer Yanson Jr. felt a familiar sense of awe.   

“The place is simply magical,” said Dr. Yanson, professor of music and director of choral activities. “From the dressing rooms to the stage, every moment carries a sense of history and inspiration.”  

On May 30, Dr. Yanson returned to the famed New York City venue as a featured guest conductor for MidAmerica Productions’ 43rd anniversary concert season, leading a combined choir with the New England Symphonic Ensemble.  

The performance marked Dr. Yanson’s second appearance with MidAmerica and his fourth time conducting at Carnegie Hall.  

MidAmerica Productions, one of the nation’s largest independent producers of choral and symphonic concerts, brings together ensembles from across the country for its annual Carnegie Hall series.   

Dr. Yanson first conducted with the organization in 2018, and the return engagement once again placed him before a national chorus, including several singers from Jax State’s A Cappella Choir and Civic Chorale.  

Behind the glamour of Carnegie Hall lies a demanding rehearsal schedule. Guest conductors are given only a narrow window to shape a cohesive performance from singers who have prepared independently in their home states. The singers, however, arrive well prepared.  

“I only get to rehearse with the choir for two days, an hour rehearsal with the orchestra, and a 25-minute dress rehearsal,” Dr. Yanson said. “The challenge is time management. A conductor always wishes for more time to work with the choir and orchestra. But the orchestra was really excellent, and I have worked with them before.”  

Dr. Yanson’s segment of the concert featured three works by Dan Forrest, showcasing the composer’s signature blend of lyricism, emotional depth, and sweeping choral textures. His selections included Arise, Shine!, Auld Lang Syne, and “Sanctus” from Requiem for the Living.  

“I conducted Arise, Shine! in 2018, so it was special to perform that again,” Dr. Yanson said.   

Forrest’s arrangement of Auld Lang Syne, he added, “is simply breathtaking. It provided contrast to the majestic and grandiose Arise, Shine!”  

The final piece, Sanctus, remains “one of my favorite movements of the whole work,” he said.  

Composer Dan Forrest attended rehearsals and the performance, offering an added layer of excitement for both the singers and the conductor.  

Dr. Yanson was one of multiple guest conductors featured during the anniversary season. Fellow guest conductor Warren Cook led the Carnegie Hall premiere of Forrest’s latest oratorio, Creation, using the same combined choir.  

Cook served as Dr. Yanson's undergraduate and master's conducting professor and later became his colleague at Bob Jones University, where Dr. Yanson taught for nine years before joining Jax State.  

"It was an honor to share the stage with him," Dr. Yanson said.  

For Dr. Yanson, the opportunity to return to Carnegie Hall alongside former students, colleagues, and distinguished guest artists made the experience especially meaningful.  

“Standing there and realizing that so many of the world’s greatest artists have performed in Carnegie Hall is an experience that’s difficult to put into words,” he said. “The atmosphere of this historic venue—widely regarded as one of the finest concert halls in the world—is truly unforgettable.”  

Related Story: Jax State Singers Perform at Carnegie Hall