Kevin Fenton, Conductor
Yuliia Billa and Steven Olson, Graduate Conducting Associates
Victoria Coey, Blake Dwelle, and Dylan Rhodes, Piano
Saturday, November 9, 2024
Seven-thirty in the Evening Ruby Diamond Concert Hall
Live: wfsu.org/fsumusic
Liebeslieder Walzer
Johannes Brahms Rede, Mädchen (1833–1897)
Speak, dearest maiden, you whose glance has hurled into my cool heart these wild passionate feelings. Don’t you want to soften your heart? Do you want—you overly pious one—to rest without true delight? Or do you want me to come? Rest without true delight—I don’t want to suffer so bitterly. Do come, you dark-eyed maid; come when the stars appear.
Am Gesteine rauscht die Flut
Upon the rocks the high tide breaks, hurled by a mighty force. The one who knows not how to sigh learns it by loving.
O die Frauen
O women how they do delight! I would’ve become a monk long ago were it not for women.
Ein Kleiner, hübscher Vogel
A pretty little bird flew to the garden where fruit was plentiful. If I were a pretty little bird, I’d not delay, I’d do just as he did. Treacherous, sticky sap lies in ambush; the poor bird could not escape. If I were a pretty little bird, I’d definitely delay; I’d not do as he did. The bird was freed by a lovely hand; no harm came to the happy little bird. If I were a pretty little bird, I’d not delay; I’d certainly do as he did
Am Donaustrande
On the Danube’s bank there stands a house, and there a rosy maiden gazes out. The maiden is quite well protected; ten iron bars are blocking her door. But ten iron bars are but a joke; I will snap them as if they were just glass.
Nein, es ist nicht auszukommen
No, it is impossible to get along with such people; they know how to interpret everything so maliciously! If I’m merry, I’m said to have frivolous desires; if I’m silent, then it means I’ mad with love.
Schlosser auf, und mache Schlösser
Locksmith, come and make locks, innumerable locks, because I want to close their evil mouths one and for all!
Please refrain from talking, entering, or exiting while performers are playing. Food and drink are prohibited in all concert halls. Please turn off cell phones and all other electronic devices. Please refrain from putting feet on seats and seat backs. Children who become disruptive should be taken out of the performance hall so they do not disturb the musicians and other audience members.
Veni, Sancte Spiritus
Zanaida Robles
Come, Holy Spirit, send forth the heavenly ray of your light. Come, father of the poor, come giver of gifts, come light of hearts. Greatest comforter, sweet guest of the soul, sweet consolation. In labor, rest; in heat, temperateness; in tears, solace O most blessed light, fill the inmost heart of your faithful. Without the nod of your head there is nothing in man, nothing that is harmless.
Ave Maria Michael Ziolkowski (b. 1960)
Soloist: Madeline Schneider
Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, Blessed art you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the time of our death. Amen
Chantez a Dieu chanson nouvellle (Psalm 96)
Jan Pietersz Sweelinck (1553–1621)
Sing a new song to the Lord! Let the whole earth sing to the Lord! Sing to the Lord; praise his name. Each day proclaim the good news that he saves.
Micah Blues
Soloist: Jackson Roberts
Aidan May, saxophone; Shiloh Defabia, percussion
Come and Mend the Sky
i thank you God
Soloist: Maggie Merril
Ferris Kritzer and Shiloh Defabia, percussion
Kyle Pederson (b. 1971)
Jake Runestad (b. 1986)
David Conte (b. 1955)
I Wanna Be Ready arr. Brandon Boyd
Soloist: Erica Dowling
Kevin Fenton, Professor of Choral Conducting and Ensembles and Director of the FSU University Singers and Men’s Glee (Collegians), has conducted the Virginia Tech Meistersingers (1998), the University Singers (2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2013), and the Festival Singers of Florida (2012 and 2018) in performances at regional and national conventions of ACDA and NAfME. He has served as a Fulbright Specialist to SubSaharan Africa, teaching choral conducting and conducting pedagogy at Kenya’s Conservatory of Music. In fall 2019, Kevin taught conducting at the Universitas Pelita Harapan in Jakarta, Indonesia. As co-founder of AVoice4Peace, Kevin has held AVoice4Peace events in Kenya, Indonesia, Ireland, China, and for the Florida and Southern Region ACDA conventions. Fenton has conducted choirs in 35 states, including twentynine all-state choirs. Internationally, Kevin was a featured conductor for the International Choral Festival and Conference in Xi’an (2017) and Beijing (2007), South Africa’s National Youth Choir (2016), and the Dublin International Choral Festival (2016). A champion of new music, Fenton has conducted more than thirty premiere performances.
Fenton has taught graduate and undergraduate courses in choral literature and choral conducting at Florida State University since 2000, and his textbook, Foundations of Choral Conducting, is being used in beginning conducting classes throughout the country. He is a recipient of the Florida State University Teaching Award for Excellence, the Gamma Mu Chapter of Delta Omicron Music Professor of the Year Award, and the Wayne Hugoboom Distinguished Florida Service Award. Fenton was Artistic Director of the Festival Singers of Florida, who recently celebrated their 12th season.
Yuliia Billa is a Ukrainian soprano and conductor with a remarkable journey in music. Billa is a Tchaikovsky National Music Academy of Ukraine graduate with a conducting degree. During her time in the United States, she has earned the MM in Vocal Performance (2023) and is pursuing a master’s degree in Music Education/Choral Conducting. Billa has performed opera roles and recitals throughout Bulgaria, Italy, and the United States, and had been invited to participate in numerous choral and orchestral conducting institutes in Europe and the US. Additionally, Billa is director of music ministries at Trinity United Methodist Church in Tallahassee.
Steven Olson is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Music Education and Choral Conducting from Florida State University after completing the MM in Choral Conducting from FSU in the spring of 2024. Originally from Hazard, KY, Olson received the BME from the University of Kentucky before teaching in public-school settings in Georgia and North Carolina. Most recently, he served as the inaugural choral director at Green Level High School in Cary, NC and as a co-director for the Cary Youth Voices. In 2021, Olson received
the Cary Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Teaching award as well as the Richard G. Cox Award for Outstanding Emerging Choral Conductor from North Carolina ACDA. At Florida State, Olson serves as the assistant conductor for the University Singers and studies conducting with Dr. Michael Hanawalt, Dr. Kevin Fenton, and Dr. McKenna Stenson, and voice with Dr. Evan Jones.
Soprano 1
Yuliia Billa
Julia Chaves
Jazzy Ebert
Amanda Lopez
Isabella Pinilla
University Singers Personnel
Kevin Fenton, conductor
Yuliia Billa and Steven Olson, Graduate Associate Conductors
Alto 1
Kiley Berkery
Shiloh DeFabia
Alyssa Jimenez
Candace Jones
Grace Leali
Maddie Schneider
Emily Woo
Soprano 2
Annie Lane
Taylor Livingston
Daira Suster Sanchez
Rebecca Smith
Mogale Stewart
Sara Vanderford
Maggie Merrell
Veronica Saavedra-Howell
Caroline Wheeler
Alto 2
Allyson Andaluz
Gabriella Berrios
Myx Campbell
Erica Dowling
Samantha Rivera
Tenor 1
Sean Barnette
Tobias Deggans
Alex Mortier
Steven Olson
Jackson Roberts
Tenor 2
Kevin Borges
Blake Dwelle
Michael Haves
Connor Mickey
Adam Nguyen
Frank Pastore
Baritone
Seaira Anderson
Espen Brante
Nathan Cohen
Jack Marshal
Benjamin Reid
Jeremiah Tracey
Bass
Vincent Amiel Bagay
Grayson Dannelly
Ferris Kritzer
Christian Noel
Dylan Rhodes
Les and Ruth Ruggles Akers
Dr. Pamela T. Brannon
Richard Dusenbury and Kathi Jaschke
Bob Parker
Louie and Avon Doll
Patrick and Kathy Dunnigan
Kevin and Suzanne Fenton
Michael Killoren and Randy Nolan
Albert and Darlene Oosterhof
Jim and Betty Ann Rodgers
Paula and Bill Smith
Jo and Tate Todd
Todd and Kelin Queen
Karen and Francis C. Skilling
Bret Whissel
Kathy Wright
Marty Beech
Kathryn M. Beggs
Karen Bradley
Scott and Suzi Brock
Steve and Pat Brock
Brian Causseaux and David Young
Bonnie and Pete Chamlis
Mary and Glenn Cole
Sandy and Jim Dafoe
William H. Davis
Patrice Dawson
F. Marshall Deterding and Dr. Kelley Lang
Diane and Jack Dowling
Ron Erichson / Beth Frederick
Joy and James Frank
William Fredrickson and Suzanne Rita
Byrnes
Ric Gauthier
Dr. and Mrs. Douglas Henricks
Dottie and John Hinkle
Todd S. Hinkle
Matt and Holly Hohmeister
Alexander and Dawn Jiménez
Emory and Dorothy Johnson
Wade Johnson and Dr. Laura Rosner
Greg and Margo Jones
Martin Kavka and Tip Tomberlin
Dennis G. King, Esq.
Robert and Karen Large
Annelise Leysieffer
Nancy and Jeff Lickson
Linda and Bob Lovins
William and Gayle Manley
Ken and Kay Mayo
Robert R. and Patricia H. McDonald
DeWitt and Kathy Miller
Marian and Walter Moore
Ann W. Parramore
Almena and Brooks Pettit
Robert and Caryl Pierce
Mary Anne J. Price
David and Joanne Rasmussen
cont’d
Mark and Carrie Renwick
Lawrence and Lisa Rubin
Ken and J.R. Saginario
Lane and Fraser Smith
Greg Springer and Jonathan Jackson
Richard Stevens and Ron Smith
Lee Stewart
Joyce Andrews
Stan and Tenley Barnes
Mary S. Bert
Marcia and Carl Bjerregaard
Beverley Booth
Sara Bourdeau
Joan and Kip Carpenter
Carol J. Cooper
Malcolm A. Craig
Rochelle M. Davis
Pamala J. Doffek
Judith Flanigan
John S. and Linda H. Fleming
Bonnie Fowler
L. Kathryn Funchess
Debbie Gibson
Ruth Godfrey-Sigler
Bryan and Nancy Goff
Harvey and Judy Goldman
Kay Hall
Michael Hanawalt and Justine Sasanfar
Dr. Albert Henry
Jerry and Bobbi Hill
Madeleine Hirsiger-Carr
Jane A. Hudson
Sally and Dr. Link Jarrett
Judith H. Jolly
Arline Kern
Jonathan Klepper and Jimmy Cole
William and Ma’Su Sweeney
Anne van Meter and Howard Kessler
Steve M. Watkins and Karen S. Brown
David and Jane Watson
Stan Whaley and Brenda McCarthy
Sonya L. Wilcox
John and Jeanie Wood
Elna Kuhlmann
Donna Legare
Mary Lovell
Joan Macmillan
Mary “Jo” Mansfield
Victoria Martinez
Neil Mooney
Ann and Don Morrow
Joel and Diana Padgett
Thomas Parrish
Marjorie J. Portnoi
Karalee Poschman
David Reed
Edward Reid
Carol Ryor
Jill Sandler
Paula S. Saunders
Jeanette Sickel
Susan Sokoll
Alice C. Spirakis
Judy and Mike Stone
George S. Sweat
Ed Valla
Margaret Van Every
Sylvia B. Walford
Geoffrey and Simone Watts
Drs. Heidi Louise and
Christopher Williams
Jeff Wright
Jayme Agee
Patricia C. Applegate
Michael Buchler and Nancy Rogers
Judy and Brian Buckner
Marian Christ
Mary and David Coburn
Carla Connors and Timothy Hoekman
Kirk and Michelle Croasmun
Geoffrey Deibel
The Fennema Family
Fred Forsythe
Gene and Deborah Glotzbach
Laura Gayle Green
Richard Green
Donna H. Heald
Linda Husbands
Louise Jones
William and DeLaura Jones
Joseph Kraus
Willa Almlof
Florence Helen Ashby
Mrs. Reubin Askew
Tom and Cathy Bishop
Nancy Bivins
Ramona D. Bowman
André and Eleanor Connan
Janis and Russell Courson
J.W. Richard Davis
Ginny Densmore
Nancy Smith Fichter
Carole Fiore
Patricia J. Flowers
Jane E. Hughes
Hilda Hunter
Julio Jiménez
Paige McKay Kubik
Silky and John Labie
Dottie Lee
Sandra Leis
Eric Lewis
Mari Magro
Lealand and Kathleen McCharen
Annette Nelson
Janet Newburgh
Martha Onate
William Peterson
Joe, Amanda, Leah, Laura Price
Margaret S. Reed
Sanford A. Safron
Louise Simons
Allison Taylor
C. Richard and Phrieda L. Tuten
Scott and LaDonna Wagers
Karen Wensing
Patsy Kickliter
Anthony M. Komlyn
Fred Kreimer
Beverly Locke-Ewald
Cliff and Mary Madsen
Ralph and Sue Mancuso
Meredith and Elsa L. McKinney
Ermine M. Owenby
Mike and Judy Pate
Laura and Sam Rogers
Dr. Louis St. Petery
Sharon Stone
Donna C. Tharpe
Brig. Gen. and Mrs. William B. Webb
Rick and Joan West
John L. and Linda M. Williams
Kirby W. and Margaret-Ray Kemper
Corporate Sponsors
Beethoven & Company
Business Sponsors
WFSU Public Broadcast Center
The University Musical Associates is the community support organization for the FSU College of Music. The primary purposes of the group are to develop audiences for College of Music performances, to assist outstanding students in enriching their musical education and careers, and to support quality education and cultural activities for the Tallahassee community. If you would like information about joining the University Musical Associates, please contact Kim Shively, Director of Special Programs, at kshively@fsu.edu or 850-645-5453.
The Florida State University provides accommodations for persons with disabilities. Please notify the College of Music at 850-644-3424 at least five business days prior to a musical event if accommodation for disability or publication in alternative format is needed.