BelCanto-ChristmasintheBasilica

Richard Hynson, Music Director presents

Christmas in the Basilica Saturday, December 8, 2012 at 7:30 PM Sunday, December 9, 2012 at 3:00 PM and 6:30 PM The Basilica of St. Josaphat featuring Bel Canto Boy Choirs Ellen M. Shuler, Director Stained Glass Brass Donald Sipe, Leader Kevin Bailey Organ

Thank You to Our Concert Sponsors:

with funds from the State of Wisconsin and the National Endowment for the Arts

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H. J. Gauntlett, harm. A. H. Mann Ethan Shuler, treble (evenings) Michael Wiebersch, treble (Sun 3pm) Bel Canto Chorus Bel Canto Boy Choirs Ding Dong Merrily On High Ed Lojeski, arr.

Bel Canto Boy Choirs Sonata Pian e Forte Giovanni Gabrieli Stained Glass Brass A Spotless Rose Herbert Howells Jonathan Laabs, baritone Bel Canto Chorus O Come, All Ye Faithful J. F. Wade’s Cantus Diversi, 1751 Sing‐Along with Organ and Brass Love Came Down at Christmas from Two Rossetti Settings Coventry Carol Welcome All Wonders!

The First Nowell

Richard Hynson Bel Canto Chorus Stained Glass Brass Stained Glass Brass Rebecca Whitney, soprano Kevin Bailey, organ Bel Canto Chorus Stained Glass Brass

Don Sipe, arr.

Richard Dirksen

Old English Carol, pub. 1833 Sing‐Along with Organ and Brass Intermission

Featured artwork – Nativity Setting

by Ruth Grotenrath: Ruth Grotenrath and her husband, Schomer Lichtner, created thousands of paintings during their lives in Milwaukee, including a whimsical collection of Christmas cards from the 1950s and 1960s. An exhibit of their Christmas silk screens will be on display before and after the concert, courtesy of the David Barnett Gallery.

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Gloria I. Gloria in excelsis Deo II. Domine Deus, Rex coelestis III. Quoniam tu solus sanctus

John Rutter

Rebecca Whitney, soprano Sandra Lash, mezzo-soprano Kathleen Hughes, alto Kevin Bailey, organ Bel Canto Chorus Stained Glass Brass Hark! The Herald Angels Sing Sing‐Along with Organ and Brass The Lamb Bel Canto Chorus O Come, O Come Emmanuel Stained Glass Brass Balulalow Bel Canto Boy Choirs Silent Night Joy to the World

Bel Canto Chorus Sing‐Along with Organ and Brass

Felix Mendelssohn John Tavener Donald Sipe, arr.

Douglas Walczak Michelle Hynson, arr.

G. F. Handel

profiles RICHARD HYNSON, Music Director/ Conductor This season marks Richard Hynson’s 25th anniversary season as Music Director of the Bel Canto Chorus and Orchestra. In addition, Hynson has served as Music Director of the Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra since 2006. In demand as a guest conductor, Hynson’s past engagements include performances with the Milwaukee Symphony, the Skylight Opera Theatre, and the Racine, Sheboygan, and Waukesha Symphony Orchestras.

Hynson has conducted at Carnegie Hall in New York City, where he led a large national festival chorus and orchestra in Ralph Vaughan Williams’s Dona nobis pacem. In 2009, he guest-conducted the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra in one of the Concerts on the Square in Madison. He also served

as the Music Director for Gathering on the Green, the popular outdoor music festival in Mequon, WI, in 2009 and 2010, and 2012.

Hynson and members of Bel Canto Chorus have performed internationally at the acclaimed Spoleto Music Festival in Italy, the Festivals of Troyes and Rheims in France, the Llangollen Festival in Wales, and the Elora and Huntsville Festivals in Canada. In addition to its annual concert season, the chorus is often called upon to participate in national touring performances. In July 2010, Bel Canto participated in Star Wars in Concert; and in November 2010, Bel Canto sang in the Video Games Live national touring concert.

Bel Canto completed another successful international tour in July 2011, performing with several orchestras in Argentina and Uruguay. In June 2012, Bel Canto will sing three performances of Brahms’s Requiem with L’Orchestre de Bordeaux in France.

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On September 15th of this year, Hynson was awarded the 2012 American Prize – community choral division. This national prize provides evaluation, recognition, and reward to America’s finest performing artists, ensembles, and composers. In making the award, the American Prize committee wrote: “During his 24 years as Music Director, Dr. Richard Hynson has transformed Bel Canto Chorus of Milwaukee from a venerable community chorus to a vibrant, successful arts organization respected for its artistic excellence, innovative programming, and impactful outreach…”

In addition to his work as a conductor and educator, Hynson is a composer.

He has written a substantial body of published choral, vocal, and ensemble works, many of which he has recorded with Bel Canto Chorus singers. The U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants have frequently performed Hynson’s In the Midst of Life, composed in response to the events of September 11. Most notably, they presented it in New York City’s Avery Fisher Hall for the national conference of the American Choral Directors Association.

Under Hynson’s direction, Bel Canto opened its 81st season on Sunday, September 11, 2011, with United We Stand in Cathedral Square Park. This free concert marked the tenth anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks, and featured Mozart’s Requiem and Samuel Barber’s “Adagio for Strings” in collaboration with the Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra. “The chorus sang with force and assurance, easily separating the complex vocal lines...and following Hynson’s judicious phrasing in when to hold back and when to let go.” (David Lewellen, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel) Also during last season, Bel Canto joined the Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra to inaugurate the first commemorative concert celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr. 4

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ELLEN M. SHULER, Bel Canto Boy Choirs Director Ellen Shuler holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Montana State University and a Master of Music Education with Choral Emphasis from Florida State University. In September 2009, Shuler helped establish the Bel Canto Boy Choirs. The choirs, composed of more than 20 auditioned boys, perform choral repertoire from classical to modern. Their first three seasons included concerts with Bel Canto Chorus, the Vienna Boys Choir, Vocal Arts Academy, and Midwest Vocal Express. Currently in their fourth season, the choirs were praised by music critic Elaine Schmidt (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, October 11, 2010) as being “well-trained, nicely blended, [and] disciplined.”

Prior to leading the Bel Canto Boy Choirs, Shuler was a director of the Milwaukee Children’s Choir for seven years, directing the first level premier choir, as well as the beginning and training choirs. She worked as the assistant director and accompanist of the Bozeman Children’s Choir in Montana, as well as for Bozeman’s Mastodon Productions, singing jingles for area businesses and back-up vocals for local artists. While in Montana, she was a member of the Bozeman Intermountain Opera Company. Shuler taught choral and general music in Idaho, Colorado, and New Hampshire, as well as preprimary music and movement classes in Colorado and New Hampshire. She worked for several years as a choral music editor at Hal Leonard Corporation, where she was a contributing author to the Macmillan McGraw-Hill music education series, “Spotlight on Music” and “Music Express” magazine. Last season, Shuler was selected to be the Repertoire and Standards Chair for Children’s Choirs for the Wisconsin Choral Directors Association.

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In addition to her position with Bel Canto Chorus, Shuler works at the University School of Milwaukee, where she directs the Upper School Concert Choir and Swing Choir, is music director of theatrical productions in both the Middle and Upper Schools, and teaches the preprimary general music classes. She also directs the youth choirs at Mequon United Methodist Church and maintains a voice and piano studio in Mequon, WI.

The members of Stained Glass Brass are full-time professional musicians who also perform regularly with many orchestras and ensembles throughout the Midwest, including the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Milwaukee Ballet Orchestra, Wilson Center Big Band, and the Madison Symphony, among others.

KEVIN BAILEY, Organ Kevin Bailey is the Director of Worship and Music at Fox Point Lutheran Church, where he is organist and choir director. He is a STAINED GLASS BRASS For over a decade, Stained graduate of Augustana College (IL) and Glass Brass has performed Indiana University. His principal teachmusic that has stood the ers for organ have been Tom Robin Harris test of time. The name of and Christopher Young, and he studied the group commemorates church music and improvisation with the artistic achievements Marilyn Keiser. He has accompanied and of sacred spaces. The conducted choirs at Anderson University churches and cathedrals of Europe have (IN) and served as choir director and organleft a legacy of both beautiful stained ist at several churches in Indiana before glass and great music. Composers such moving to Milwaukee in 2003. Bailey as Giovanni Gabrieli at St. Mark’s Basilica remains active outside the church as an in Venice and Giovanni Palestrina in St. accompanist and continuo performer, and Peter’s Basilica in Rome wrote music served as the accompanist for the Master specifically for such sacred spaces.

Singers of Milwaukee from 2004 to 2008.

For more information or to donate an item, please call 414-481-8801 or visit www.belcanto.org

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progr a m notes – by susan cha mberlin smith According to Luke the Evangelist, the first hymn of the nativity was sung by the angels to the shepherds on the hillside, “Glory to God in the highest.” In this concert, John Rutter’s setting of this ancient hymn will be performed. In the second century, Pope Telesphorus decreed that the Gloria in excelsis be added to the celebration of the Mass and “that in the holy night of the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour, they do celebrate public church services, and in them solemnly sing the Angel’s Hymn, because also the same night he was declared unto the shepherds by an Angel, as the truth itself doth witness.” By the third century, December 25 had been chosen as the date for the Feast of the Nativity, and in the fourth century, the first Latin Christmas hymns began to appear in Rome. Hymns such as Veni redemptor gentium, by Ambrose, Archbishop of Milan, and Corde natus ex Parentis (Of the Father’s love begotten) by Aurelius Prudentius, were written as statements of the orthodox doctrine of the Incarnation in opposition to the heresies of the time.

In the ninth and tenth centuries, a new form of hymnody arose in the monasteries of northern Europe, the Prose or Sequence, sung before the chanting of the gospel. The most famous Nativity sequence is St. Bernard of Clairvaux’s Laetabundus, exsultet fidelis chorus which dated from the beginning of the twelfth century and which, unlike earlier sequences, was written in rhymed stanzas. The writing of rhymed sequences, however, became common later in the century through the example of Adam of St. Victor (a medieval monastery outside Paris), who adopted an entirely new style, based on vernacular words and music.

Christmas music was not confined to the church during medieval times. In Italy, France, Germany, and England, a strong tradition of Christmas songs sung by minstrels in the native language was developed in conjunction with celebrations whose roots can be found in the pagan festivals that had been celebrated for centuries. Toward the end of the fourteenth century, when Latin was still the language of clerics and scholars but was losing ground to the vernacular, so-called “macaronic carols” were written in a combination of Latin and the vernacular, such as the German carol In Dulci Jubilo.

Another important influence on the carols of the Middle Ages was the production of mystery plays by the guilds of Europe and England. These plays helped ordinary people, many of whom were illiterate, to learn the biblical stories. Carols were an integral part of these productions, and, on occasion, near riots would break out if the popular songs were not sung at a play’s performance.

The word carol has several possible derivations: it could come from the French word carole, meaning to dance or perhaps from the Latin carula, referring to a circle dance or the song accompanying the dance. In the medieval period, a carol was not necessarily a Christmas song, but could be any joyous song with a verse and a refrain. It is interesting to note that stanza means “to stop or stand” and chorus means “to dance,” perhaps referring to the common performance practice.

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Christmas carols in printed English first appear at the end of a 1426 work of John Awdlay, the blind chaplain of Haughmond Abbey in Shropshire, who lists twenty five “caroles of Cristemas.” Awdlay’s carols are meant to be sung by “wassailing neighbours, who make their rounds at Christmastide to drink a cup and take a gift, and bring good fortune upon the house.” The fifteenth century and the first half of the sixteenth saw a blossoming of English Christmas poetry, with over five hundred carols from this period still known today. The oldest printed collection of English Christmas carols is that published by Wynkyn de Worde, in the year 1521.

In the Elizabethan era, English Christmas carols were probably divided into two sorts: one of a more scriptural serious nature, sung in churches, through the streets, and from house to house; the other, of a more convivial nature, sung at feasts and revelries, such as the wassailing songs which could be traced back to the Anglo-Normans. Carols were sung by the town waits, musicians hired by the town council and so named because they sang on Christmas Eve, “waitnight.” Carolers would visit the principal houses in the parish in ascending order of importance.

During the Reformation in Europe, the emphasis on congregational singing resulted in many new Christmas hymns, especially in Protestant Germany. Martin Luther’s “Vom Himmel hoch, da komm ich her” and Paul Gerhardt’s “Wie soll ich dich empfangen?” (“How shall I fitly meet Thee?”), which Bach sets in the “Christmas Oratorio” are fine examples of this era, which brought a sense of personal piety and a keen fondness for the Infant Christ to hymnody. When Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans came to power in England, the celebration of Christmas, including the singing of carols, was banned by an Act of Parliament in1644. Although the ban was lifted in 1660 when Charles II was restored to the throne, for generations carol singing was an underground activity. Almost no new carols were published until the revival of interest during the Victorian era.

When Victoria was born in 1819, carols were only being sung in a few isolated communities. Beginning in 1822, however, as collections of the old songs were published, the caroling tradition that had nearly died out was revitalized. Because Victorian popular taste and Victorian Protestant religious observance in the United States and England were closely linked, these carols steadily gained in popularity in both countries. Composers like Arthur Sullivan also helped to repopularize the Christmas carol.

Perhaps the most influential collection of carols in the era was William B. Sandys’ Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern, published in 1833, which marked the first appearance of many now-classic English carols, such as “God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen,” “The First Noel,” “I Saw Three Ships,” and “Hark, the Herald Angels Sing.” Sandys wrote: “Some few of them are printed occasionally in the country, and also in London, Birmingham, and other places, as broadside carols; others have appeared, with some variation, in Mr. Gilbert’s collection, having been derived from similar sources; but a large portion, including some of the most curious, have, I believe, never been printed before.”

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In 1880, before the Cathedral of Truro in Cornwall was built and services were being held in a temporary wooden structure, the first Bishop of Truro created the tradition of the service of nine biblical lections and suitable Christmas music which he called a “Festal Service for Christmas Eve.” Now known as the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, this service has been held at King’s College, Cambridge, since 1918, and always begins with the singing of Once in Royal David’s City. In today’s performance, following the tradition at King’s College, the first verse will be sung unaccompanied by a solo boy chorister.

JOHN RUTTER, born in London on September 24, 1945, received his first musical education as a chorister at Highgate School. Rutter’s parents were not musical, but music was a part of his life from an early age. He remembers, “My parents had an old upright in the flat which was only there because it was too big to get downstairs. I think it had been winched in through the window - it belonged to a previous occupant - and they couldn’t get it out. And I used to climb up and play this thing - not scales and arpeggios like you’re meant to, but my own tunes. I would go into a kind of fantasy world and improvise these little pieces for hours and hours, singing and playing on my own, immensely happy.”

Rutter then studied music at Clare College, Cambridge, where Sir David Willcocks called him “the most gifted composer of his generation.” In 1974, Rutter visited the United States for the first time to conduct the premiere of his Gloria, commissioned by the Voices of Mel Olson, Omaha, Nebraska. The work, which is based on one of the Gregorian chants for the text, is written for chorus, brass, percussion, and organ. Rutter’s Gloria is in three movements, which roughly correspond to the traditional symphonic structure, fast-slow-fast.

In 1981, Rutter founded his own choir, the Cambridge Singers, which he conducts and with which he has made many recordings of sacred choral repertoire (including his own works), particularly under his own label Collegium Records. Rutter is an honorary Fellow of Westminster Choir College, Princeton, and a Fellow of the Guild of Church Musicians.

He was awarded a Lambeth Doctorate of Music by the Archbishop of Canterbury in 1996, in recognition of his great contribution to church music.

Although Rutter’s larger choral works, such as his Requiem and Gloria are frequently performed throughout the world, he is best known for his Christmas carols, both arrangements of traditional carols and original works. When asked about his feelings on the holiday, Rutter answered, “For me, first and foremost, Christmas is happy memories of the way it was celebrated when I was a kid. As everyone would probably say, it revolves around the family and gatherings. But it also revolves around my school chapel. I was at a school in north London that happened to have a chapel with a fine choir. And our Christmas carol service was the high point of our singing year. So I actually developed a love of the whole music of Christmas, along with the message of Christmas, from when I was a kid. With music, your Christmas can always be perfect. With real-life Christmas, there’s always something that’s going to go a bit wrong. You’re hoping it’s going to snow on Christmas day, but it doesn’t. Or your turkey smells absolutely gorgeous, but it turns out that it’s a bit burned when you come to eat it. But the music of Christmas is always perfect, and so I love to remember and celebrate Christmas in music and song.”

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C h r i s tm a s at t h e b a s i l i c a 2 012 Once in Royal David’s City

By H. J. Gauntlett Harmonized by A.H. Mann Text by C. F. Alexander Once in royal David’s city, Stood a lowly cattle shed, Where a mother laid her Baby, In a manger for His bed: Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ, her little Child.

He came down to earth from heaven, Who is God and Lord of all, And His shelter was a stable, And His cradle was a stall: With the poor, and mean, and lowly, Lived on earth our Savior holy.

And through all His wondrous childhood He would honor and obey, Love and watch the lowly maiden, In whose gentle arms He lay; Christian children all must be Mild, obedient, good as He. For He is our childhood’s pattern; Day by day, like us, He grew; He was little, weak, and helpless, Tears and smiles, like us He knew; And He feeleth for our sadness, And He shareth in our gladness.

And our eyes at last shall see Him, Through His own redeeming love; For that Child so dear and gentle, Is our Lord in heaven above: And He leads His children on, To the place where He is gone.

Not in that poor lowly stable, With the oxen standing by, We shall see Him; but in heaven, Set at God’s right hand on high; Where like stars His children crowned All in white shall wait around.

Ding Dong! Merrily On High Arranged by Ed Lojeski Ding Dong! Merrily on high, The Christmas bells are ringing!

Ding Dong! Heav’n and earth reply With angel voices singing!

Gloria! Sing glory to the Highest!

Fa la la la la la la.

Good King Wenceslas looked out On the feast of Stephen.

When the snow lay ‘round about, Deep and crisp and even.

Brightly shone the moon that night Tho’ the frost was cruel, When a poor man came in sight, Gath’ring winter fuel.

A Spotless Rose

By Herbert Howells A spotless rose is blowing, Sprung from a tender root, Of ancient seers’ foreshowing, Of Jesse promised fruit; Its fairest bud unfolds to light Amid the cold, cold winter, And in the dark midnight.

The rose which I am singing, Whereof Isaiah said, Is from its sweet root springing In Mary, purest Maid; For through our God’s great love and might, The Blessed Babe she bare us In a cold, cold winter’s night.

Love Came Down At Christmas

By Richard Hynson Text by Christina Rossetti Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, love divine; Love was born at Christmas, Star and angels gave the sign.

Worship we the Godhead, Love incarnate, Love divine; Worship we our Jesus: But wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token, Love be yours and love be mine, Love to God and all men, Love for plea and gift and sign.

Welcome All Wonders!

By Richard Dirksen Text by Richard Crashaw Welcome all wonders in one sight!

Eternity shut in a span.

Summer in winter; day in night,

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Heaven in earth, and God in man.

That He, the old Eternal Word, Should be a Child and weep.

Each of us his lamb will bring, Each his pair of silver doves, Till burnt at last in fire of Thy fair eyes, Ourselves become our own best sacrifice.

Gloria

By John Rutter Gloria in excelsis Deo. Et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis.

Laudamus te, benedicimus te, Adoramus te, glorificamus te, Gratias agimus tibi, Propter magnam gloriam tuam.

Glory to God in the highest.

And on earth peace, good will towards men.

We praise You, we bless You, We worship You, we glorify You, We give You thanks for Your great glory.

Domine Deus, Rex caelestis, Deus Pater omnipotens.

Domine Fili unigenite, Jesu Christe.

Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty.

Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris, Qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.

Qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram.

Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis.

Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, Who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.

Who takes away the sins of the world, receive our prayer.

Who sits at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us.

Quoniam tu solus sanctus. Tu solus Dominus.

Tu solus altissimus, Jesu Christe, Cum Sancto Spiritu, in gloria Dei Patris. Amen.

For You alone are holy, You alone are the Lord.

You alone are most high, Jesus Christ, With the Holy Spirit, the glory of God the Father.

Amen.

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Personent hodie

By Gustav Holst Personent hodie voces puerulae, Laudantes jucunde qui nobis est natus, Summo Deo datus, Et de virgineo ventre procreatus.

Today the voices of young boys ring out, Joyfully praising Him who was born for us, Given by the highest God, And born of a virgin’s womb.

In mundo nascitur, panis involvitur, Praesepi ponitur stabulo brutorum, Rector supernorum, Perdidit spolia princeps infernorum.

Born into the world, wrapped in swaddling clothes, Laid in a manger in an animals’ stable, The Ruler of all, The Prince of Hell is robbed of his spoils!

Magitres venerunt, parvulum inquirunt, Bethlehem adeunt, stellulam sequendo, Ipsum adorando, aurum thus, et myrrham ei offenrendo.

Three Magi came, asking after the boy child.

They went to Bethlehem, following a star, In adoration, offering gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Omnes clericuli, pariter pueri cantent ut angeli: Advenisti mundo, laudes tibi fundo.

Ideo, o, o, ideo, o, o, ideo, gloria in excelsis Deo. All clerks, like all boys, sing with angels: “You have come into the world, all praise to You. Glory to God in the Highest!”

The Lamb

By John Tavener Text by William Blake Little Lamb, who made thee?

Dost thou know who made thee?

Gave thee life, and bid thee feed By the stream and o’er the mead; Gave thee clothing of delight, Softest clothing, woolly, bright; Gave thee such a tender voice, Making all the vales rejoice?

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Silent Night

By Franz Grüber Text by Joseph Mohr Arranged by Michelle Hynson

Little Lamb, I’ll tell thee; He is called by thy name, For he calls himself a Lamb.

He is meek, and he is mild, He became a little child.

Silent night! Holy night!

All is calm, all is bright, Round yon virgin Mother and Child, Holy infant so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace.

I, a child, and thou a lamb, We are called by his name.

Little lamb, God bless thee!

Balulalow

By Douglas Walczak O my dear hert, young Jesu sweet, Prepare a credil in my spreit, And I will rock thee in my hert And never mair from thee depart.

But I sall praise thee ever more, With sanges sweet unto Thy gloir, The knees of my hert sall I bow, And sing that richt balulalow.

Silent night! Holy night!

Shepherds quake at the sight; Glories stream from heaven afar, Heavenly hosts sing alleluia!

Christ the Savior is born.

Silent night! Holy night!

Son of God, love’s pure light; Radiant beams from thy holy face, With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord at thy birth.

b e l c a n to c h o r u s Lindsey Adams+ Lotta Alajoki Vaughn Ausman Kevin Bailey+ Tom Barnum Jonathon Bartos+ Renee Bartos Kelly Bartyczak Alison Bayne Carol Bayne Jan Becker Deborah Betsworth Sara Louise Bitner CarolAnne Bozosi Susan Brown Jillian Hansen Bruss+ Marc Cohen Peter Craig Sarah DiMarco Elaine Ernst Christine G. Fitch Emily Fox Naomi Fritz Karri Fritz-Klaus

Josefina Z. S. Gardinier Janet Gibeau Andrea S. Goetzinger+ Eileen Griffiths Lynn Gutoski James U. Hammond Brett Hanisko Keith Heidmann Joan Henkel James Hill Craig Hoffmann Glenna Kate Holstein Dan R. Holzmiller Jeanne Houle Ronald Houle Sally D. Hoyt Katherine Hughes Kathleen Hughes+ Michelle Hynson+ Elizabeth Janicek Susi Kiefer Kieth Klemp Kyle Kolberg Russell Kopitzke+

Steven Kunda Erin Laabs Jonathan A. Laabs+ Penny Laferriere Lindsay Lamm Sandra Lash+ Angela Lee Gary Lesko John W. Lettermann+ Loretta Jelinek Lieske K. David Lupardus Barbara L. Lyons Patrick C. Lyons Carol Lynne McKean Theodore Perlick Molinari Stacey Naffah Sarah Pabbathi Marjorie Piechowski Alexandra Pieper Nicholas Scott Pullen+ John Reinardy Betty Reul David Reul Kay Richardson Christmas in the Basilica

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Marie Romero Susan Rugg Kerry Saver Kathleen Schilz Kate Schmitt Glenn R. Schumann Sarah Schwab Joe Skurzewski Nicolas Sluss-Rodionov+ Susan Chamberlin Smith William R. Smith+ Binette Solomon

Philip Starr Joan Stevens James D. Stout Sheila Strock Lora Sunder Jon Szczepaniak Tim Szczepaniak Ken Tazelaar Kim Terek Mary Thiele Tom Thiele Carolyn Tramel

Kristin Traut Thomas Treder Fausta Urboniene Sarah Warran Jennifer W. Watson Nathan Wesselowski+ Hazel Wheaton Rebecca Whitney+ Alyssa Wilda Jessica Wirth +Denotes Section Leader

b e l c a n to b o y s c h o i r s Elias Baldino Kai Bartl Peter Boyland Brody Drews Keven Eberle Teddy Esten Joshua Hodge

Evan Hunter William Kenealey Sam Laferriere Brodie Mutschler Ahokava Paea Nathan Rausch Ethan Shuler

Philip Shuler Oliver Stockel Aidan Treder Daniel Wallace Joseph Wiebersch Michael Wiebersch Jordan Yoon-Buck

s ta i n e d g l a s s b r a s s Donald Sipe, Trumpet, Leader Michael Dorau, Trumpet Richard Leister, Trumpet Kevin Wood, Trumpet David Lussier, Trombone Jonathan Winkle, Trombone

Mark Hoelscher, Bass Trombone Michael Forbes, Tuba Jason Haaheim, Percussion Dean Borghesani, Tympani

Do you know a boy who loves to sing? Join the Bel Canto Boy Choirs!

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b e l c a n to c h o r u s o r g a n i z at i o n Board of Directors President............................................................................................................................. Merilou Gonzales President-Elect.......................................................................................................................Martin Tierney Treasurer..........................................................................................................................................Jim Hyland Secretary.......................................................................................................................................... Tom Thiele Chorus Representative ..................................................................................................................... Jim Hill Joshua Blakely, Marc Cohen, Tyler Draheim, Patrick Foran, Todd Jones, Betty Reul, Ariana Voigt Artistic Staff Music Director/Conductor.............................................................................................. Richard Hynson Assistant Conductor/Accompanist.............................................................................Michelle Hynson Boy Choirs Director.............................................................................................................. Ellen M. Shuler Administrative Staff Interim Executive Director.......................................................................................................Marla Hahn Education and Outreach Manager.............................................................................Rebecca Whitney Patron Services Manager...........................................................................................................Jim LaBelle Technical Staff Equipment Manager............................................................................................................James D. Stout Chorus Cabinet Jan Becker, CarolAnne Bozosi, Susan Brown, Elaine Ernst, Jim Hill, Susi Kiefer, Carol Lynne McKean, Marge Piechowski, Kerry Saver, Kate Schmitt, Kristin Traut, Jenny Watson b e l c a n to c h o r u s m i s s i o n s tat e m e n t The mission of Bel Canto Chorus is to enrich the lives of its audiences and singing members through the outstanding presentation of the finest choral music, and to reach out to the community in order to share the benefits and the joy of the singing arts. b e l c a n to c h o r u s e n d owm e n t f u n d Consider donating to Bel Canto Chorus’s Endowment Fund, where your gift to choral music can be appreciated for years to come. Whether it is a gift of stock or a check, simply indicate that you would like your investment to go toward our Endowment Fund.

For more information, contact the Bel Canto office at (414) 481-8801. b e l c a n to l e g ac y s o c i e t y Members of the Bel Canto Legacy Society have agreed to include the Chorus as part of their estate planning arrangements. You may join them by contacting the Bel Canto office (414) 481-8801.

Vaughn Ausman and Sally D. Hoyt Margaret E. Haggerty Kerry Saver Chris and Joanna Smocke

James Steinman David and Roseann Tolan Louis Winter Christmas in the Basilica

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ac k n ow l e d g e m e n t s ( L i s t e d

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Bel Canto Chorus wishes to thank these patrons for their generous support of our 2011-2012 and 2012-2013 seasons. Please consider adding your name to this list.

Standing Ovation ($50,000 +) United Perfroming Arts Fund Bravissimo ($5,000 +) Chuck Barnum Lynde & Harry Bradley Foundation John W. Hayes, Sr. Herzfeld Foundation Sally Hoyt & Vaughn Ausman Hydrite Chemical Milwaukee County CAMPAC Nicholas Family Foundation Oconomowoc Area Foundation The Riverbend Fund at Schwab Charitable Fund Jean & Peter Storer Ireene Sullivan Bravo ($1,000 - $4,999) Robert W. Baird Foundation Jan & Bob Becker Wendy & Marc Cohen Susan & Thomas Connor Gardner Foundation Janet Gibeau Harley-Davidson Motor Company Kathleen & Tyrrell Hughes Michelle & Richard Hynson LoRayne Kostecke Rudy Malz Keith Mardak Northwestern Mutual Foundation Betty & Dave Reul S. C. Johnson San Camillo Billie & David Smith Susan Chamberlin Smith & William Smith David Tolan 14

Bel Canto Chorus

Uihlein Charitable Foundation Helen Vettori Wegner LLP William Stark Jones Foundation Inge & Frank Wintersberger Wisconsin Arts Board Karyn & Bernard Youso Fortissimo ($500 - $999) Carol Alexander & James Coutts American Landscape Anonymous Carole & Thomas Barnum Eloise Black Karen Bubenzer John Cullen Fund Deloitte Linda & Vincents Dindzans Direct Supply, Inc. Janice Dodson Mary Alice Tierney Dunn First Bank Financial Centre Christine & Jim Fitch J. William & Lois M. Foran Family Trust Merilou Gonzales Michael Hayes & Patricia Teets Christine & James Hill Katherine Hughes Laura & Jim Hyland Eileen & Bud Kehoe Kiwanis Club of Milwaukee Adeline & Harvey Kohn Sue & Gary Lesko Jamy & Michael Malatesta Sue Martin-Steiner & Tony Steiner In memory of D.J. Martin Patricia & Ray Mehler Linda & Jock Mutschler Marjorie Piechowski Alexandra & Richard Pieper Suzanne & Richard Pieper Ramiah Investment Group

Kerry Saver Mary Schueller & Michael Walton Katherine & Don Schwerin Bruce Tammi Mary & Tom Thiele Janet & Martin Tierney Kay & Joseph Tierney Kristin & Dave Traut Glen Van Fossen Betsey & Earnest Williamson Wipfli Foundation Jessica Wirth Zeppos & Associates, Inc. Forte ($250 - $499) Tolly & Jim Arthur Carol & Jay Bayne Deborah Betsworth CarolAnne Bozosi Randy Casey Center for Communication Hearing and Deafness, Inc. Sally & Michael Chier Sandra Christensen Kay & John Crichton Ann Fritsch Carolyn Fritz Josefina Gardinier Eileen Griffiths Marla Hahn & David Poytinger Herbert Kohl Charities, Inc. Susan Jasan In honor of Sally Hoyt and Vaughn Ausman Bonnie & Kieth Klemp Mark Krueger Charmaine & James LaBelle Jean & Hilton Neal Gwen & Jim Plunkett Connie Pukaite Margaret Robertson* S. C. Johnson Matching Gifts and Dollars For Doers Programs Brenda Skelton-Bendtsen Kris Smith

ac k n ow l e d g e m e n t s Judy & James Stoddard Nicole Warner Heather Watson Midge Wheeler & Peter Foris Marilyn & Doug Zwissler Mezzo-Forte ($100 - $249) Anonymous (2) Lynne Ausman & David Croll Blanche Banerian Evert Bos James Brennan Dawn & David Brightsman Susan Brown Don Carlson Doris Chamberlin Nan & Richard Conser Jennifer Cooley Emily & Dean Crocker Dorothy & Larry Curran+ Ruth Danby Jane & Joseph Dean In honor of Peggy Dean Rosemarie Deisinger Patricia Donohoe Maureen Dowling John R. Dunn East Shore Specialty Foods Rosemary Fischer Marynell Foran Patrick Foran Janet & Stanley Fox Naomi Fritz Karri L. Fritz-Klaus In memory of Dr. Robert J. Fritz Cindy Gallun Joan & Dave Henkel Jeanne Houle June Hoyt In Honor of Sally Hoyt Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee Kasdorf Companies Nancy Kennedy’s Book Club Friends* Sally & Kenan Kersten Susan & Don Kiefer Michelle & Ed Kotnarowski Lynn & Cal Kozlowski

c o n t.

Ray Krueger Penny & Bob Laferriere Helga Larsen Mavis & Jeff Luther Barbara & Patrick Lyons Roy MacGregor Dorothy J. Martin Jayne Micheln Kelsey & Theodore Molinari Edith Moravcsik Mary Ann Mueller* Margaret Neis-Robertson Maribeth & Chet Nielsen Old Fashioned Foods Heather Parsons Deborah & Jamshed Patel Richard Pietsch Mary Pollock Laurel & Mark Poytinger Jane Quinn & Jeff McCarthy* Carol Rausch Mary & James Ries* Nikki & Darin Riggleman Mary & Michael Ryan E. Thomas Schilling Kathleen & Timothy Schilz Marcia & Jeff Schwager Fred Sentman Mary Smiltneek* Mary Smith Jack Spooner Joan & Bill Stevens Sheila Strock Ellen Strommen Yvonne & John Stubbs Barbara Sullivan Lora & Gregg Sunder+ Ken Tazelaar Ariana & Peter Voigt Judith & Richard Wagner Gail & John Ward* We Energies Foundation Dr. & Mrs. Robert K. Webb Elizabeth & Carl Wege Tina & Scott Weiss Michelle LaBella Wilkins & Brad Wilkins Virginia Wirth Gordon Zion

Friend (to $99) Anonymous J. Mark Baker Barb & Chris Bondioli+ Daniel Boote Barbara & Neal Borkenhagen+ Debra & Michael Brophy* Sandra Burg+ Robert Christie Julie & Peter Craig Joey Cross Patricia & Phil Crump Bernadine & Bernd Davidson+ Janet Day+ Peggy Dean Julie & Vincent DeCarlo* Catherine Draeger Marcella Egges* Anne Ellison Elaine Ernst Sharon & William Evers+ Dean Evert+ Kathy & Roy Evert+ Linda Evert & Wayne Komarek+ Lisa & Bill Falcon Patricia Foley Joanne Foran Danella & Mark Friday Steve Geiermann Andrea Goetzinger Virginia Halaska Marilyn Hartmann Mary Henzsey Mary Horne Barbara Isgren+ Marjorie Jothen John Karkheck Elaine Kennedy Phyllis Kharbanda* Elizabeth & Jed Kirchenwitz+ Ronald Kovach Lindsay & Timothy Lamm Angela Lee Annette & Michael LeRoy* Loretta & John Lieske Lynne & Thomas Lindemann Christmas in the Basilica

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ac k n ow l e d g e m e n t s Elizabeth Liu* Thelma Mahoney Raquel Maxwell Carol Lynne McKean Grace Merten Ione Minster Eleanor Moe Pamela Moes-Nordquist & Jerry Nordquist* Linda Mordy Mary Moscisker Curt Nunn Erik Olson Lori Ann & Scott Pannier Jane Patterson Jayne Pelton Carol Pitterle* Joseph Pukac Adrienne & John Reinardy

c o n t.

Donald Robertson Marian Roeglin Marie Romero Rosa Ruehl* Aida Sabulyte-Gust Herb Schick Molly & Timothy Schmidt Quenten Schumacher Mark Schwertfeger John Shier Anne Siebers & Randy Stanford* Maureen Sieveke Arleen Sjoberg Barb Smith Julita Snell Binette Solomon Patty & Brad Spaits* Margaret Ann Stack*

Edwin Stieg Alice & Michael Stolaski+ Martha Stryker+ Carolyn & Chuck Tramel Christina Treiber Mary & Robert Treleven+ Ruth Treul* Carol Utech+ Pat Warchol Hazel Wheaton Rebecca & Steve Whitney Linda Wilson+ Wines For Humanity Suzanne Zblewski+ *Donation in memory of Elaine Kennedy +Donations in memory of Reese Griffiths

s p e c i a l t h a n k yo u to Christopher Berry, Steven Delisi, Christine Fitch, Edward Ingold, Susan Chamberlin Smith, The Basilica of St. Josaphat & The St. Josaphat Basilica Foundation, The David Barnett Gallery

Bel Canto Chorus and Richard Hynson win the 2012 American Prize

Richard Hynson, Music Director and Conductor

Bel Canto Chorus The American Prize in Conducting Choral Division, Community Chorus

Bel Canto Chorus

Richard Hynson, director The American Prize in Choral Performance Community Division, 2nd place

From the judges:

“I saw music being made, not just beats being given. And the chorus and orchestra responded...it’s clear one would enjoy singing for this conductor, who would make a singer sing expressively and emotionally. This was a very impressive job.”

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Bel Canto Chorus

ŠUPAF, Milwaukee WI. All rights reserved Bel Canto Chorus, painting by Shelby Keefe, Š2012 UPAF

Thank You! Your generous contribution to the 2012 UPAF Campaign helps us to continue improving lives with the arts. With this support, our Member Groups are able to produce more than 2,000 live performances and provide arts education programs for thousands of children annually.

Donations to support the performing arts in Southeastern Wisconsin are always appreciated.

Visit www.UPAF.org or call 414-273-8723.

Christmas in the Basilica

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U p c o m i n g C o n c e rt s Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Sunday, January 20, 2013 at 5:00 pm

Holy Redeemer Institutional Church of God in Christ 3500 W. Mother Daniels Way, Milwaukee 53209 This second annual commemorative concert combines the immortal words of Dr. King with music that compels us to stand, clap, and sing.

Featuring Bel Canto Chorus and Milwaukee Chamber Orchestra

All-Night Vigil (Vespers)

Sunday, March 10, 2013 at 3:00 pm

St. Joseph Center Chapel - 1501 S. Layton Blvd., Milwaukee 53215 Bel Canto Chorus presents Sergei Rachmaninoff’s profoundly moving All-Night Vigil. In honor of Maestro Hynson’s 25th anniversary as Music Director, Bel Canto will also present the world premiere of its newly commissioned work by Alexander Levine. Join us in the St. Joseph Hall after the concert for a celebratory reception!

Featuring Bel Canto Chorus and Bel Canto Boy Choirs

Ein deutsches Requiem

Saturday, May 18, 2013 at 7:30 pm

at Oconomowoc Arts Center - 641 E. Forest St., Oconomowoc 53066 Sunday, May 19, 2013 at 3:00 pm at Christ King Parish - 2604 N. Swan Blvd., Wauwatosa 53226 Brahms’s Requiem shows the first flowering of his large-scale orchestral style and is considered by many scholars to be the precursor to his First Symphony. By composing a work filled with tenderness and redemptive hope, Brahms rejected the strict doctrine of the traditional Roman Catholic Mass for the Dead.

Featuring Bel Canto Chorus and Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Edo de Waart, Music Director 18

Bel Canto Chorus

A CLASSIC FAMILY TRADITION! music theatre

Groups 10+ SAVE - Call 414-299-4964 414-291-7800 www.skylightmusictheatre.org

Supported by

Baird Private Asset Management

Christmas in the Basilica

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The Ottoman Society A FINE FURNITURE CONSIGNMENT SHOP

13408 Watertown Plank Rd Elm Grove, Behind Great Harvest Bread Tues-Sat: 10-6

We Recycle Beautiful Things furnishings consignment shop now in Elm Grove, invites you to a unique buying and selling experience. your own to sell.

262-786-1786 www.theottomansociety.com