BERRY COLLEGE TENOR-BASS CHOIR
Assisted by Mr. Steven Wooddell, piano
Dr. Paul Neal, conductor
GMEA Performance
First Baptist Church
Athens, GA
February 1, 2025
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Dr. Stephen R. Briggs
President
Dr. David F. Slade Provost
Berry College Department of Fine and Performing Arts
Dr. Adam Hayes, Director
Evans School of Humanities
Dr. Kirsten Taylor, Dean Voice professors
Ruth Baker, Indra Thomas and Scott Willis
All the present and former members of the Berry Tenor-Bass Choir –without their hard work and talent, this group would not be here today.
Psalm 121 Ryan Cayabyab
Davis Henson and Jacob McCrary, soloists (b. 1954)
What If I Never Speed John Dowland
Sean Thrower, guitar (1563-1626) Arr. Paul Neal
Let Beauty Awake Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958)
Arr. James Bowyer
Vocalise Wilbur Chenoweth
Ben Dixon, soloist (1899-1980) He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother
Jay Althouse
Sentimental Gentleman from Georgia
Ed Waesche
FROM THE DIRECTOR
The Tenor-Bass Choir was a vision I had when I first arrived at Berry College a decade ago—to promote tenor-bass singing through exceptional music and camaraderie. Our group is open to any student on campus without an audition. We began with just eight members, and now we are honored to perform for GMEA. This concert showcases the dedication and talent of these young men. While most are not vocal music majors, they deeply value the opportunity to sing together, making this experience truly special.
PSALM 121 - RYAN CAYABYAB
The text of Psalm 121 holds special significance for our students, as it has been a part of Berry’s traditions, sung at college chapel and read at every opening convocation and closing Baccalaureate. Composed for the Baylor Men’s Choir, this piece has become a favorite of our group. Ryan Cayabyab, a National Artist of the Philippines for Music, is celebrated for his contributions to original Filipino music.
WHAT IF I NEVER SPEED - JOHN DOWLAND
John Dowland, a Renaissance composer renowned for his lute songs, demonstrated the era’s intricate interplay of music and poetry. This new arrangement for men’s choir follows Dowland’s original 1603 publication, which included multiple options for varied combinations of instruments and voices. From “The Third and Last Booke of Songs or Aires,” Dowland’s music captures the melancholy emotion of unrequited love.
LET BEAUTY AWAKE - RALPH VAUGHAN WILLIAMS
From the song cycle “Songs of Travel,” this piece by British composer Vaughan Williams is a classic for the male solo voice. Composed between 1901 and 1904, the cycle sets poems by Robert Louis Stevenson to music, capturing the spirit of adventure and the beauty of nature. It speaks of the beauty of the rising and setting sun, with the poet longing for beauty to remain alive throughout the day and into the night. Our students get to enjoy the beauty of our Berry campus every day, and this song speaks to how much all of us appreciate the beauty of Berry College.
VOCALISE - WILBUR CHENOWETH
A contemporary piece by a composer from California, Vocalise uses no words, allowing the listener to appreciate the complexity and color of the human voice. Wilbur Chenoweth, born in 1899, was a prolific composer and educator, known for his contributions to choral and organ music. The tenor solo showcases the singer’s range, dexterity, and agility, with the tenorbass choir providing a rich backdrop.
Choir members from the Mount Berry School for Boys in Frost Chapel, c. 1960
Photo by: Robert McCullough
Berry’s Tenor-Bass Choir in concert at First Baptist church in Rome. Oct. 29, 2017
Photo by: Brant Sanderlin
HE AIN’T HEAVY, HE’S MY BROTHER - BOBBY SCOTT AND BOB RUSSELL
This hit song from the 70s group The Hollies is important to our choir, symbolizing belonging and support. Written by Bobby Scott and Bob Russell, the song was inspired by a phrase used by Father Edward Flanagan of Boys Town, a home for troubled boys. It encourages our students to support each other both in college and beyond. We recently had the privilege of singing for Ruby Bridges and Berry College’s Be Love campaign. We are proud to be an inclusive ensemble that welcomes all students to join us in the fellowship of singing.
SENTIMENTAL GENTLEMEN OF GEORGIA - FRANK PERKINS AND MITCHELL PARISH
A well-known barbershop standard, this piece celebrates the men of Georgia. Barbershop music, with its roots in the early 20th century, is known for its close harmonies and nostalgic themes. Berry College has a long history of barbershop, including two quartets known as the BerryTones and Martha’s Finest. I am proud of these sentimental men of Berry, and I hope you enjoy their fun presentation of this final work.
It has been a pleasure to present this program to you today. I hope it inspires you to create a space for the tenors and basses in your choirs to feel heard and connected. Keep them singing!
BERRY
COLLEGE TENOR-BASS CHOIR
Founded by Dr. Paul Neal with only eight singers, the Berry Tenor-Bass Choir brings joy and musical excellence to Berry’s campus. Over the years, this choir has represented diverse majors, states, and countries, giving singers on Berry’s campus a place of musical fellowship and belonging. On campus, the choir performs at many college and community occasions, as well as concerts in the fall and spring. Recently, the choir’s mission has expanded to the local community, singing at elementary schools and supporting events and programs for high school choir men throughout the Southeast.
ARTIST BIOS
DR. PAUL NEAL Conductor
A native of Louisiana, Dr. Paul Neal has established his reputation as a musician, conductor, and educator. Choirs under his direction have received invitations to sing at both the Georgia Music Educators Association In-Service Conference and the Southern Division Convention of the American Choral Directors Association. Recent conducting opportunities have included an appearance at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center, and with the ensemble Clerestory in San Francisco, CA. He has conducted honor choirs throughout the US and abroad. He has given presentations for multiple organizations, including the Georgia Music Educators Association. He currently serves as Past-President for the Georgia Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association.
Dr. Neal is currently the Director of Choral Activities at Berry College where he oversees the choral program and serves as Associate Professor of Music. Under his direction, the Berry College Choral Program has quickly established itself as one of the best choral programs in Georgia. They have grown to include an established vocal/choral program, with multiple vocal faculty, and almost one hundred singers participating. Prior to his appointment at Berry College, Paul served on the faculty at Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Georgia, and Kilgore College in Kilgore, Texas. Dr. Neal has studied with such conductors as Donald Neuen, Dennis Shrock, Jerry McCoy, and Gerald Steichen.
MR. STEVEN WOODDELL
Rehearsal Accompanist
A native of Roanoke, Virginia, Steven Wooddell graduated from the North Carolina School of the Arts and spent a month studying with Louis Robilliard, in Lyon, France (noted for its 1880 Cavaillé-Coll organ). He then earned his Bachelor of Music at the Cleveland Institute of Music with Todd Wilson, and his Master of Organ Performance at Southern Methodist University with Larry Palmer. Winner of the 1994 Regional AGO Young Organists Competition in Cincinnati, he was awarded recital appearances throughout Indiana and Ohio. Steven Wooddell has recently played recitals in Virginia, Florida, and most recently at Spivey Hall in Atlanta. Mr.Wooddell also serves as organist at Peachtree Presbyterian Church in Atlanta, Georgia.
Kory Adams Freshman
Music Business
Landon Boyd Freshman
Music Education
Joshua Cox Junior Animal Science
Ben Dixon Senior Music
Davis Henson Freshman Exercise Science
Alexzander Alegria Freshman Biochemistry
Caspian Beard Senior Biology and Music
Kelby Black Senior Music Business
Hayden Brackett Senior Elementary Education
Jamie Cline Senior Music
Alexis Cortez Freshman Music
Bobby Hicks Freshman Music Education
Tanner Huey Sophomore Communication
Jacob McCrary Senior Music
Ryan Perry Senior Creative Technologies
Michell Ryder Sophomore Environmental Studies
BASS
Aiden Daniels Freshman Biochemistry and Music
Jacob Davis Freshman French
Sebastian Nivon Galvez Freshman
Exercise Science
Clarion Greer Freshman Undeclared
Sean Leard Senior Psychology
Joshua Lee Freshman Political Science
Kaiman Smith Freshman History
Alexander Watson Sophomore Music Business
Joshua Williams Sophomore Physics
Stephan Leebern Freshman Creative Writing
Liam Peterson Junior Music Business
Zayden Sullins Senior Communication
Ashton Vanderslice Senior Dual-Degree Engineering
DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC
With over a century of music-making, the Berry College Music program provides a diverse curriculum, multiple degree programs and a world-class faculty. Berry’s Music program prepares students for careers in music, while offering significant performance opportunities open to all students on campus.
Students do not have to be music majors to perform. In fact, more than 10% of the campus population participates in our ensembles.
The Berry College Music program is a fully-accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Music and has degree programs in the following three areas: Performance, Education, and Music Business. Non-major students can minor in music, or participate in many of the academic classes and performance ensembles. For students more inclined toward a customized degree, many of the music classes and qualifications can be incorporated into an inter-disciplinary study program, which the student and advisor design at the beginning of the academic track.
A leading resource for music education in the Southeast, the music program serves the campus and community by presenting lectures, master-classes, guest artists and over 30 free concerts annually, including the Berry College Concert Series.
CHORAL ENSEMBLES
Berry College is proud of its many choral ensembles, which are open to any student enrolled at Berry. Students do not have to major in music to participate in these groups, although some ensembles do require an audition. Please contact us for further information regarding auditions, admittance or scholarship aid.
ABOUT BERRY
Nationally recognized for academic excellence and extraordinary value, Berry is an independent, coeducational college of approximately 2,200 students. For more than a century, the College has offered a comprehensive liberal arts education that balances intellectual exploration, practical learning and character development.
seek challenge. find support.
Guided by a gifted and deeply engaged faculty, you’ll explore many disciplines while choosing among more than 75 majors, minors and a range of pre-professional programs. Berry’s liberal arts foundation provides the perfect opportunity to indulge your curiosity and discover your calling. Whatever your major, you’ll graduate with a collection of relevant skills and a powerful sense of purpose, ready to shape the communities in which you live, work and serve.
design a life. practice along the path. There is a plan here. Maybe you’ve already set your course. Or perhaps you’re still exploring. Through Berry’s distinctive, four-year guided experience known as The Berry Journey, you’ll take ownership of your education and steer it toward a purposeful life. Equipped with an impressive collection of skills and practical experiences to match, you’ll leave here with a sense of where you’re headed and a better understanding of the person, citizen and community member you want to become.
grasp an idea. shape it with your hands.
Through Berry’s LifeWorks program, students fill more than 1,000 jobs across all of the College’s 180 departments. While gaining as many as eight semesters of paid, professional development experience, they connect classroom studies to hands-on learning, gaining invaluable skills and taking ownership of their education.
explore the world. make it your own. There’s something about this community. The warmth of our campus culture. The sense of shared ownership and pride. A valued member of the Berry family, you’ll find a comfortable place to explore your interests and express your ideas. From a thriving arts scene to championship athletics to the natural wonders of our 27,000-acre home, your life will be filled with excitement, friendship and support.
Ranked in the top 10% nationally for studentfaculty interaction
74% of students with job offers on graduation day
99% of graduates say a Berry degree led to entry into a job or grad/professional school 97% of all students work for Berry at some point during their time at school
87% of recent graduates completed a significant research or internship experience
50+ performances and art exhibits annually
70+ student clubs
22
NCAA Division III sports teams
