A COLORADO CHRISTMAS
WITH YOUR COLORADO SYMPHONY
TAYLOR MARTIN, conductor
DEVIN DESANTIS , vocalist
COLORADO SYMPHONY CHORUS, MARY LOUISE BURKE, director
COLORADO CHILDREN’S CHORALE, EMILY CRILE, artistic director
Friday, December 13, 2024 at 7:30pm
Saturday, December 14, 2024 at 2:30pm
Saturday, December 14, 2024 at 6:00pm
Sunday, December 15, 2024 at 1:00pm
Boettcher Concert Hall
BRENT PIERCE Sing Noël
ARR. LARA HOGGARD Personent Hodie
ARR. JOHN LEAVITT Sing We Now of Christmas
ARR. MATT RILEY O Come, O Come Emmanuel
ARR. GARY FRY Holy Night of Angels
ARR. ARTHUR HARRIS God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen
ARR. GARY FRY Il est né, le divin Enfant
G.F. HANDEL For Unto Us (Messiah)
G.F. HANDEL Hallelujah Chorus (Messiah)
ARR. GARY FRY Old American Carols
— INTERMISSION —
HOLIDAY 2024/25
BALLARD/SILVESTRI
ARR. SNYDER
The Polar Express
LEROY ANDERSON Sleigh Ride
PITTMAN/LIGHTMAN At Christmas ARR. HUFF
GORDY/STORY/GAYE
What Christmas Means to Me ARR. HUFF
IRVING BERLIN
ARR. BRYMER
ALAN SILVESTRI
ARR. GARY FRY
JENNINGS/HORNER/CAREY
ARR. GARY FRY
Irving Berlin’s Christmas
A Christmas Carol
A North Pole Singalong
Where are You Christmas
GARY FRY Welcome Home
Special appearance by Brad and Susie Bolton Special thanks to Phil Hiester, lighting designer
CONCERT RUN TIME IS APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR AND 38 MINUTES INCLUDING A 20 MINUTE INTERMISSION.
Friday’s ConCert is sponsored by 5280 Magazine saturday’s Matinee is sponsored by Mike and nanCy zoellner
PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY
AUDIENCE SING-ALONG 2024/25
WHITE CHRISTMAS
I’m dreaming of a white Christmas, Just like the ones I used to know, Where the tree tops glisten and children listen To hear sleigh bells in the snow.
I’m dreaming of a white Christmas With every Christmas card I write. May your days be merry and bright And may all your Christmases be white.
LET IT SNOW
Oh, the weather outside is frightful, But the fire is so delightful, And since we’ve no place to go, Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
Well, it doesn’t show signs of stopping, But I’ve brought some corn for popping. The lights are turned way down low, Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.
FROSTY THE SNOWMAN
Frosty the Snowman was a jolly, happy soul With a corncob pipe and a button nose, And two eyes made out of coal.
Frosty the Snowman is a fairy tale, they say, He was made of snow but the children know How he came to life one day.
There must have been some magic In that old silk hat they found, For when they placed it on is head, He began to dance around.
Oh, Frosty the Snowman was alive as he could be, And the children say he could laugh and play Just the same as you and me.
Thumpety thump thump, thumpity thump thump,
Look at Frosty go!
Thumpety thump thump, thumpity thump thump, Over the ice and snow!
RUDOLPH THE REDNOSED REINDEER
Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer had a very shiny nose, And if you ever saw it, you would even say it glows.
All of the other reindeer used to laugh and call him names, They never let poor Rudolph join in any reindeer games.
Then one foggy Christmas Eve, Santa came to say “Rudolph, with your nose so bright, won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?”
Then how the reindeer loved him, as they shouted out with glee: “Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer, you’ll go down in history!”
SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN
Oh, you better watch out, you better not cry, Better not pout, I’m telling you why: Santa Claus is coming to town.
He’s making a list and checking it twice, Gonna find out who’s naughty and nice, Santa Claus is coming to town.
He sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake, He knows if you’ve been bad or good, So be good, for goodness’ sake!
Oh, you better watch out, you better not cry, Better not pout, I’m telling you why: Santa Claus is coming to town.
HOLIDAY BIOGRAPHIES
TAYLOR MARTIN, director designate and conductor
Taylor Martin is Director Designate and Conductor for the Colorado Symphony Chorus and Artistic Director of ELUS Vocal Ensemble. In 2019 Taylor made his debut with the Colorado Symphony conducting their staged version of Handel’s Messiah, titled Messiah: Awakening. Now in his tenth season with the Colorado Symphony Chorus, he has frequently taken the podium during the holiday season for productions of A Colorado Christmas and Messiah. Taylor has prepared the Chorus for productions with the Colorado Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, and Dallas Symphony, and he recently conducted a concert tour of Austria featuring works for chorus and organ, leading Anton Bruckner’s Te Deum with the Salzburg Domorchester. Known for his musical versatility, Taylor has prepared choruses for Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA, Al Green, and Josh Groban, among other critically acclaimed artists. Now in his eighth season with ELUS Vocal Ensemble, Taylor has led performances of great a cappella repertoire through imaginative programming of new music and major works, such as David Lang’s the little match girl passion and Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem to considerable acclaim.
DEVIN DESANTIS, vocalist
Devin DeSantis is a Jeff nominated artist who is regarded as one of Chicago’s leading theatrical vocalists. He has been honored to work with symphonies and theatre companies around the country and the world. And it all began here—at Boettcher Concert Hall, as a member of the Colorado Children’s Chorale. His solo career began with the Colorado Symphony at the age of 11 in Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, conducted by Marin Alsop. He’s a proud graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Music, as well as a proud member of Actor’s Equity on stages in Chicago, New York, and other wonderfully essential Equity houses around the country. Favorite professional theatre credits include: Dr. Pomatter in Waitress, Charlie Price in Kinky Boots, Tommy in The Who’s Tommy, Rapunzel’s Prince in Into the Woods, Marius in Les Miserables, Prince Eric in Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Britt Craig/Young Soldier in Parade, Dr. Frederick Frankenstein in Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein, Dr. Madden/Fine in Next to Normal, Anyone Can Whistle starring Patti LuPone and Audra McDonald, and The Most Happy Fella starring George Hearn. He was a singer for 4 years in The Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring The Rockettes at the world-renowned Radio City Music Hall. In between concerts and shows, he is a lead singer with the Bluewater Kings Band, and a member of The Four C Notes: a Tribute to Franki Valli and the Four Seasons. Above all, he is a loving husband and proud father. Have courage and be kind.
HOLIDAY BIOGRAPHIES
MARY LOUISE BURKE, creative director, A Colorado Christmas; associate director and conductor, Colorado Symphony Chorus
Mary Louise Burke is in her 31st season with the Colorado Symphony Chorus. In addition to assisting Chorus Director Duain Wolfe for many years, she has also prepared the chorus for various Colorado Symphony pops concerts and special projects, including Too Hot to Handel. She is the Creative Director of the Symphony’s A Colorado Christmas concerts. In the summer of 2022, she conducted the Symphony chorus on their concert tour of Austria. She has worked as the Associate Director of the Colorado Children’s Chorale, participating in hundreds of concerts and dozens of the Chorale’s regional, national and international tours. She was also Vocal Director of the Children’s Chorale, where she provided specialized vocal coaching and opera preparation. With an expertise in vocal technique, Burke frequently conducts seminars in vocal and choral techniques for area church and community choirs. She is the Vocal Advisor at Montview Presbyterian Church and has taught classes in Find Your Authentic Voice at the University of Denver. She has a Doctorate in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Colorado.
COLORADO SYMPHONY CHORUS
The Colorado Symphony’s 2024/25 Season marks the 41st year of the Colorado Symphony Chorus. Founded in 1984 by Duain Wolfe, our chorus has earned a reputation as one of the finest symphonic choruses in the United States. This outstanding chorus of volunteers joins the Colorado Symphony for numerous concerts each year, performing the great Masterworks, as well as pops concerts, movies and special projects, all to repeated critical acclaim.
Additionally, the Chorus has been featured annually at the Bravo!Vail Music Festival, performing with the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra or Dallas Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of notable conductors Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Jaap van Zweden, Alan Gilbert, Fabio Luisi, Hans Graf, as well as 25 years with the Aspen Music Festival.
In 2009, in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the chorus, Duain Wolfe conducted the chorus on a concert tour of Europe, presenting the Verdi REQUIEM in Budapest, Vienna, Litomysl and Prague; in 2016 the chorus returned to Europe for concerts in Paris, Strasbourg and Munich featuring the Fauré Requiem. In the summer of 2022, the Chorus toured Austria, performing to great acclaim in Vienna, Graz and Salzburg.
HOLIDAY BIOGRAPHIES
COLORADO SYMPHONY CHORUS
Duain Wolfe, Founding Director and Conductor Laureate
Taylor Martin, Director Designate and Conductor
Mary Louise Burke, Principal Associate Director and Conductor
Jared Joseph, Assistant Conductor
Hsiao-Ling Lin and ShaoChun Tsai, Pianists
David Rosen, Chorus Manager
Barbara Porter, Associate Manager
Eric Israelson, Chorus Manager Emeritus
SOPRANO
Meredith Anderson
Lottie Andrews
Mahli Benbow
Brianna Bettis
Jude Blum
Susan Brown
Jeremy Burns
Emily Burr
Denelda Causey
Ruth Coberly
Sarah Coberly
Suzanne Collins
Angie Collums
Kerry Harrold Cote
Claudia Dakkouri
Julia Damore
April Day
Mary Dobreff
Emily Eck
Gracie Ewert
Lisa Fultz
Andria Gaskill
Jenifer Digby Gile
Lori C. Gill
Susan Graber
Alaina Headrick
Elizabeth Hedrick-Collins
Erin Hittle
Angela Hupp
Lauren Kennedy
Lindsey
Kermgard
Catherine Look
Rebecca Machusko
Anne Maupin
Shannon McAleb
Erin Montigne
Jeannette O'Nan
Jodie Peterson
Kimberly Lord Pflug
Barbara Porter
Lori A. Ropa
Roberta Sladovnik
Syd Timme
Sue von Roedern
Marcia Walker
Alison Wall
Karen Wuertz
Cara Young
Joan Zisler
ALTO
Priscilla Adams
Liz Arthur
Brenda Berganza
Mary Boyle Thayer
Cass Chatfield
Jayne Conrad
Martha Cox
Janie Darone
Debbie Davies
Valerie Dutcher
Sharon Gayley
Gabriella Groom
Pat Guittar
Sheri Haxton
Kaia Hoopes
Wendy Ho-Schnell
Hansi Hoskins
Olivia Isaac
Brandy C. H.
Jackson
Christine Kaminske
Annie Kolstad
Andrea LeBaron
Carole A. London
Joanna K.
Maltzahn
Susan McWaters
Kristen Nordenholz
Christine Nyholm
Jill Parsons
Jennifer Pringle
Donneve S. Rae
Leanne Rehme
Kathi Rudolph
Elizabeth Scarselli
Melanie Stevenson
Deanna Thaler
Clara Tiggelaar
Kim Trubetskoy
Pat Virtue
Benita Wandel
Beth York
TENOR
Kevan Angel
Gary Babcock
Jim Carlson
Dusty Davies
Nicholas Dietrich
Jack Dinkel
Roger Fuehrer
John Gale
Frank Gordon Jr.
Forrest Guittar
David Hodel
Sami Ibrahim
Curt Jordan
Kenneth Kolm
Sean LundBrown
Tom Milligan
Richard Moraskie
Garvis J. Muesing
Tim Nicholas
Miguel Rangel
Tyler Richardson
David Rosen
Andrew Seamans
Kyle Shaw
Jerry Sims
P.J. Stohlmann
Hannis Thompson
Max Witherspoon
Kenneth Zimmerman
BASS
John Adams
Grant Carlton
Bob Friedlander
Tim Griffin
Chris Grossman
Nic Hammerberg
Douglas Hesse
Leonard Hunt
Terry Jackson
Tom Jirak
John Jones
Jared Joseph
Matthew Kersten-Gray
Jakson McDaniel
Matthew Molberg
Greg Morrison
Gene Nuccio
John Phillips
Ben Pilcher
Tom Potter
Jacob Pullen
Ken Quarles
Joshua Richards
Russ Skillings
Matthew Smedberg
Riley Somo
Matt Steele
Mike West
Marc Whittington
Lu Wu
Jeffrey Zax
HOLIDAY BIOGRAPHIES
COLORADO CHILDREN’S CHORALE
The Colorado Children’s Chorale has been performing with the Colorado Symphony on A Colorado Christmas concerts for more than 40 seasons. With a diverse repertoire ranging from fully staged opera and musical theater to standard choral compositions in classical, folk, and popular traditions, the Chorale performs with an innovative stage presentation and a unique theatrical spirit. In recognition of its artistic quality, the Chorale was awarded the Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts, the Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts and the prestigious El Pomar Award for Excellence in Arts and Humanities. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Emily Crile and Executive Director Meg Steitz, the Colorado Children’s Chorale annually trains 400 members between the ages of 7 and 14 from all ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds representing more than 170 schools in the Denver metro area and beyond. Since its founding, the Chorale has sung countless performances with some of the world’s finest performing arts organizations, performed for numerous dignitaries, and appeared in television and radio broadcasts. The Performance Program includes a series of self-produced concerts, numerous performances with other Colorado arts organizations and touring around the world. This season the Chorale presents Merry and Bright and Where Dreams Fly in Boettcher Concert Hall, as well as So Many Voices, Performing Small Miracles, and Spring Fling Sing! in venues across the metro area. Chorale children will also take to the stage in Amahl and the Night Visitors with Central City Opera, Carmina Burana with the Colorado Symphony, and La bohéme with Opera Colorado.
EMILY CRILE, artistic director, Colorado Children’s Chorale
Emily Crile, Artistic Director, exhibits her passion and enthusiasm for choral music through developing and conducting singers of all ages. In her 25th season with the Colorado Children’s Chorale, she now serves as the Artistic Director conducting Tour Choir and overseeing all aspects of the 50-yearold professional children’s choral organization. During her tenure with the Chorale, she has worked with all choir levels, established the young alumni ensemble, prepared children for appearances with the Colorado Symphony, Central City Opera, Opera Colorado, and Colorado Ballet, and toured throughout Australia, China, Costa Rica, Europe, New Zealand, South Africa, and the United States. With a commitment to equitable access for high quality music education, she crafted, led, and administered School Partnership and Community Choir programs across the Denver Metro area and earned a certification in Facilitating Effective DEI Discussions from Dena Samuels Consulting.
Emily is the Past-President of the Colorado American Choral Directors Association and is an active choral clinician and presenter throughout the United States. Prior to joining the Chorale in 2000, she served as an Assistant Conductor with the Northern Iowa Children’s Choir. She holds a Master of Music degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Colorado Boulder and a Bachelor of Music (Choral Education) from the University of Northern Iowa.
HOLIDAY BIOGRAPHIES
COLORADO CHILDREN’S CHORALE
Emily Crile, Artistic Director
Libby Cotten, Associate Conductor
Victoria Bailey, Assistant Conductor
Jared Joseph, Assistant Conductor
TOUR CHOIR
Tre Appleton
Keaton Bau
Maddi Burm
Reilly Butler
Jade Calkins
Annon Camero
Hale Camero
Cordelia Cheever
Nelle Collier
Kameron Covill
Anika Dande
Terra Darnell
Savannah Davenport
Tessa Ditterline
Eli Eastment
Camilla Franklin
Elliot Gee
Frank Gomez
Olivia Gramlich
Portia Hansen
Willow Hartman
Iola Higdon
Ethan Horner
Mayura Iyengar
Norma Jackson
Addie Jewell
Lyssa Klein
Vivi Kowalski
Sam Kraus
Jane Lanoha
Brooks Larson
Evan Lewis
Selisse Maceo
Kade Matsumoto
Carly Mehmen
Aliyah Morales
Christy Mulryan
Miranda Murillo
Durango
Abby Musser
Nicolaus Nagle
Gwenolyn Nicholas
Aiana Ochoa
Parker Olson
Cameron Onan
Alex Osaka McKenna Pardieck
Meg Politte
Emmy Pouliot
Riley Powers
Beckett Rathbun
Molly ReaganWilson
Grayson Riek
Monroe Rippe
Elijah Rosen
Rocco
Rowekamp
Gabriel Salaz
Juliette
Schneider
Clara Seigle
Mae Shamos
Henning Shook
Joshua Taylor
Katie Tkachenko
Gavin Ulmer
Karsten Visser
Elizabeth Von Stroh
Madeline Walker
Davina Wang
Emersyn Wheeler
Conor Winburn
Jonah Winburn
Bailey Winn
Charles Wisser
CONCERT CHOIR
Harper Ashburn
Liam Barnette
Matthew Bennett
Lily Bowsky
Stuart Britton
Bodie Brown
Colin Casey
Lexie Cassel
Caius Catalfano
Max Chen
Zoe Civitella
Aidan Coleman
Nina Cousineau
Adita Dande
Willa Daniels
Beatrice Dunn
Cerena Eason
Anania Erickson
Elliana Freund
Delilah Garcia
Piper GiffordChaney
Lola Gonzales
Lucy Gonzales
Evelyn Grabois
Ella Grimm
Eliana Hang
Allie Hawk
Alice Haywood
Annelise
Henriksen
Amalia Hunt Frias
Leo Jasper
Quinn Johnson
Runa Jorfald
Ryan Kaffer
Deeksha Kaza
Annie Ketcham
Dana Kim
Norah Kim
Alexa Kinsman
Clara Langhoff
Ellie LeCount
Abby Lee
Lyla Logan
Rose Loyd
Gus Martin
Cadence Moore
Audrey Moskowitz
Maddie Musser
Lili Nikic
Bethany Novak
Nadav Ohriner
Aliyah Penn
Rocco Persichitte
Maite Plata
Solano
Margaret Powers
Emma Purviance
Hattie Ralston
Cooper Rathbun
Emi Renteria
Grace Rich
Ethan Romero
Agota Rumsa
Wyatt Schmidt
Alexa Scofield
Richelle Sebuabey
Viola Sestito
Ellie Sheppard
Maisie Skelton
Josie Stacy
Athena
Stathopulos
Evann Stencel
Emily Stone
Claire Sullivan
Samuel Tkachenko
Violet Trimble
Christopher Von Stroh
Lily Walz
Diem Welch
Charlotte West
Juliet Westerhoff
Ethan Winburn
Ari Wood
Mia Zhuang
Kaylee
Zimmerman
Tragen Zuhlke