We are thrilled to bring the sounds of the season to you this afternoon. On behalf of the students, faculty, and staff of the
You will hear music performed by students from various areas and specializations within the School of Music, accompanied by a narrative created and performed by students from the School of Film, Media, and Theatre under the guidance of Professor
Please join me in thanking Professor Kathryn Hartgrove for her role as Artistic Director for this year’s Holiday Gala. She has curated a delightful program for today’s concert. We are especially honored to share the stage with President Brian Blake and First Lady Bridget Blake, Provost Nicolle Parsons-Pollard, Dean Chester Phillips and other members of the University’s
In addition, we are thrilled to welcome legendary Atlanta trumpeter and band leader Joe Gransden, alumna Melissa Joseph, and the Drew Charter School Urban Youth Harp Ensemble under the direction of Molly O’Roark.
This afternoon’s concert is the result of countless hours of dedication from nearly 300 members of the School of Music and our community partners. As you leave today, may the beautiful music stay with you and serve as a reminder of the magic of the
On behalf of the School of Music, the College of the Arts, and Georgia State University, we wish you a most magical holiday season. Please sit back, relax, and enjoy this wonderful concert performed by some of the most talented members of the GSU
↖ A Storyteller’s Welcome ↖
Featuring students from School of Film, Media & Theatre
ANTHONY NEWLEY | 1931-1999 / LESLEY BRICUSSE | 1931-2021
ARR. JEFF JARVIS | B. 1952
Pure Imagination
MERIDITH WILSON | 1910-1981
ARR. JEFF JARVIS | B. 1952
It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
STEVE ALLEN | B. 1984
ARR. WES FUNDERBURK | 1974
Cool Yule
GSU Jazz Band featuring guest alumnus, Joe Gransden
Gordon Vernick, conductor
Welcome
Dr. Stuart Gerber / Amy Reid
Interim Director of School of Music / Director Educational Outreach | Rialto Center for the Arts
↖ Santa are You Listening? ↖
RANDY BECK | B. 1926
‘Twas the Night Before Christmas GSU Opera Workshop Singers
↖ Snowman Stuck in Atlanta ↖
NOA FREEMAN, ROCKY CHATMAN, NICOLE YAKOVLEV, CHRISTOFER SANCHEZ, MATTHEW TANKERSLEY, JADON-LI ANTOINE Don’t Wait
Students of MTM Standard
↖ The Dollmaker ↖
PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY | 1840-1893 Pas de Deux
GSU Symphony Orchestra
Jackson Allred, conductor
↖ Overtime at the Polar Express ↖ music.gsu.edu
RICARDO MOLLÁ | B. 1992
The Guiding Star
GSU Brass Ensemble
Bill Mann, conductor
ROBERT MACGIMSEY | 1898-1979
Sweet Little Jesus Boy
Melissa Joseph, soprano, alumnus
Luther Enloe, guitar
↖ Elf Ted Talk ↖
TRANS. KEVIN JACKSON | B. 1964
The Twelve Days of Christmas
University Singers
↖ Scrap Piece of Paper ↖
ARR. JEFF JARVIS | B. 1952
Christmas Song
GSU Symphony Orchestra
Stephanie Morera, conductor
Joe Gransden, vocalist
↖ Work, Work, Work ↖
ARR. NICK DEMOS | B. 1962
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
GSU Administration
Closing Remarks
Dr. Stuart Gerber
↖ Happy Holidays to All, and to All a Goodnight ↖
RANDOL BASS | B. 1953
Gloria
GSU Symphony Orchestra & Choirs
Tamara Dworetz, conductor
Students from School of Film, Media & Theater
Anastasia Wilson, Director / Charlie Edwards, Playwright
Charlie Edwards, Joy/ Mr. Post Card
Kevin Banks, Ted the Elf
Victory Ironna, Ed the Elf/ Snowman
Aaliyah Navy, Narrator/ Dollmaker/ Doctor
Nailah Goldsby, Stage Manager/ Costumes/ Props
Taylor Palmor, Assistant Stage Manager/ Costumes/ Props
SAXOPHONE
Israel Humphrey
Chandler Greer
Omie Crockett
Josh Huffman
Riley Chester
TRUMPET
Adams Hollis
Tim Otis
Myles Ford
Alexis Johnson
Will Morgan
Tristan Pope
Urban Youth Harp Ensemble
Dr. Molly O’Roark, director
Madison Ford
Amber Nelms
Alexandra Price
GSU Jazz Band
Dr. Gordon Vernick, director
TROMBONE
Josias Muñiz
Jakobi Gerideau
Elijah Chivers
Gabe Mavis
Grant Erie
DRUMS
Ryan Walton
Hyewon Kim
Josh Barnes
Thomas Dotson
BASS
Joel Powell
GUITAR
Grant Jeffries
Matt Tankersley PIANO
GSU Opera Workshop Singers
Kathryn Hartgrove, director
Kylie Carpenter
Isabella Chaney
Madison Chambers
Max Clements
TyRese Floyd
Benjamin Longo
Anthony Menardi
Anne Sedlacek
Atasha Widemond
GSU Symphony Orchestra
Dr. Tamara Dworetz, director
FIRST VIOLIN
Adam Moore, concertmaster
Tommy Lee
Ethan Nicholas
Stephanie Khasayan
SECOND VIOLIN
Donghee Shin*
Tyler Pham
VIOLA
Cecilia Trode*
Richard Rowe III
Elena Martinez
CELLO
Rae Baker*
Sam Zajde
Allison Goldberg
BASS
Noah Gonzalez-Rubio*
Braylen Carter
Rex Delgado-Hernandez
David Cooper
HARP
Madison Ford
Amber Nelms
Alexandra Price
Students of MTM Standard
Guided by Profs. Al Thrash & Ben Yonas
INSTRUMENTALISTS
Matthew Tankersley, drums
Sydney Bynoe, electric bass
Christofer Sanchez, piano
Felipe Villegas, guitar
Adam Moore, violin
Ethan Nicholas, violin
Cecilia Trode, viola
Rae Baker, cello
CHOIR
Noa Freeman
Rocky Chatman
Nicole Yakovlev
Morgan Lett
Jordan Little
Amaria Bell
Jayden Barkley
GSU Symphony Brass Ensemble
Dr. William Mann, director
TRUMPET
Leo Barrios
Rodrigo Borges
Fish Brosmer
Rex DiPietro
FRENCH HORN
Caleb Randles
Amelia Young
TENOR TROMBONE
Xavier Genao
Gabe Mavis
Josias Muñiz
FLUTE/ PICCOLO
Emily Gabbitas*
Natalie Ng
OBOE
Emily Gunby*
Ayahnah Glymph
CLARINET
Rachel Odendahl*
Alex Kao
BASS CLARINET
Emelyn Carden
BASSOON
Ahmad Duncan*
Jackelin Guevara-Blanco
HORN
Amelia Young supporting artists
TRUMPET
Fish Brosmer
Rex DiPietro*
Luis DeLira
TROMBONE
Xavier Genao*
Jakobi Gerideau
BASS TROMBONE
Grant Erie
TUBA
Barbara Cortes
PERCUSSION
Austin Mellen*
Will Flinner
Thomas Philpot
Karma Allen
TIMPANI
Austin Mellen*
Will Flinner
*Principal
Atasha Widemond
Leajia Stevenson
Brooke Envall
Jonathan Neal
Jeremiah Brown
Allen Brooks
BASS TROMBONE
Grant Erie
EUPHONIUM
Camilo Ayala
Brandon Hardegree
TUBA
Israel LaFleur
PERCUSSION
Austin Mellen
Will Flinner
Thomas Philpot
Karma Allen
University Singers
Dr. Deanna Joseph, director
SOPRANO I
Astrid Adams
Laila Atkins
Kiley Carpenter
Sudha Gururaj
Kai Kvamme
Liana Perlman
Tamera Tabb
Madison Tiegreen
SOPRANO II
Carah Charles
Emma Johnson
Audrey Jung
Megan Littlepage
Carolyn Mielke
Kylie Pauls
Allessandra Roberson
Rebecca Simantov
Giovanna Simoes
Maropo
Audrey Williams
ALTO I
Madison Chambers
Isabella Chaney
Kelly Grba
Rachel Hilliard
Ja’Bree Johnson
Rae Laury
Adia Nejedly
Anne Sedlacek
Atasha Widemond
ALTO II
Kiana Castellano
Christine Choi
Jothea Elisa
Abigail Forester
Dayela Lima
Morgan McCray
Leaija Stevenson
TENOR I
Tyrese Floyd
Shaun Gibbons
Trey House
Micah Mondt
Jeremiah Snow
Tyler Stevenson
Treble Choir
Meghan Stoll, director
SOPRANO I
Astrid Adams
Kiley Carpenter
Aliana Hawkins
Madju (Sai) Kurella
Jazmine Mobley
Nicole Orabueze
Madison Tiegreen
Shana Suhanthan
Orion Young
Audrey Jung
SOPRANO II
Belle Arnold-Hoffman
Bella Caffee
Lany Campbell
Jothea Elisa
Autumn Lewis
Demia Moore
Allessandra Roberson
Rebecca Simantov
Carah Charles
TENOR II
Christian Aycock
Allen Brooks
Owen Davis
Brody Harlan
Trevor Kytola
Nathan Schreer
BASS I
Jeremiah Brown
Maxwell Clements
Myles Green
Ryan Griffin
Benjamin Longo
Anthony Menardi
Jonathan Neal
Caleb Nelson
James Wooten
Jack Almond
Marc-Alexandre Barbe
Jehl’n Bentley
Orlando Bolanos
Lucas Brotherton
Justin Copeland
Mobi Eleazu
Noah Frett
ALTO I
Aaluah Brumfield
Leslie Chavarria
Kelly Grba
Jordan Little
Elise Metz
Carolyn Mielke
Meg Lawrence
Zara Skinner
Leyla Vargus
Natalie Young
BASS II
Von Anderson
David Champion
Sunoo Kim
Jason Lee
Cullen Miller
Michael Mobley
Benjamin Varner
Tenor-Bass Choir
Dr. Patrick Freer, director
Shaun Gibbons
Stalarius Jones
Skyler Luong
Chase Lynda
Mark-Anthony Newell
Nathan Schreer
Gryffin Thomas
ALTO II
Morgan Mccray
Diana Hincapie
Sneha Kannan
Yvonne Lark
Olivia Moyston
Aisha Mtiamoah
Valerie Widjaya
McKenzie Carr
Tywilleen Edouard
Tia Brown
Nicole Frysh
Choral Union
Meghan Stoll, director
SOPRANO
Dylan Allen
Ahana Bhattacharya
Aero Bingham
Jaelyn Buford
Judah Copeland
Sudha Gururaj
Kai Kvamme
Sandy Land
Sydney Lecoin
Kylie Marrero
Nico McLean
Jazmine Mobley
Shaina Mohanty
Ashleyn Stephens-Berry
Tamera Tabb
Hinano Tomlinson
ALTO
Hansini Vojjala
Khelsie Washington
Zaria Beasley
Serenity Earheart
Shani Faya
Silver Johnson
Hannah Jackson
Natalie Young
Madyson Samuels
Melody Samuels
Nita Funtanares
Danesha McCroskey
Briana Christian
Magnim Tegnama
Diana Woods
Lindsay Denney
Taylor Luckey
Jasmyne Porter
Renee Sutton
Harper Sims
Carla Tobar
Aaliyah Brumfield
Nya Johnson
Sierra Slaton
Ashley Moore
Serenity Earheart
Leslie Chavarria
Diana Hincapie
Gigi Grady
Repertory Singers
Dr. Deanna Joseph, director
SOPRANO
Kiley Carpenter
Paisley Cass
Amaya Hardin
Audrey Jung
Liana Perlman
Allessandra Roberson
Rebecca Simantov
Madison Tiegreen
ALTO
Kayla Bennett
Briana Christian
Charlize Faulkner
Noa Freeman
Jothea Elisa
Allison Goldberg
Kelly Grba
Ja’Bree Johnson
Rae Laury
Carolyn Mielke
Charlize Nuñez
Magnim Tegnama
TENOR
Matthias Jackels
Donovan Crane
Mobi Eleazu
Maurice Foster
Jacob Nixon
Jabrell Roland
David Jeffires
Noah Abdul-Asim
Miguel Albert Pons
Dre Jones
Rhys Floyd
Mason Williams
Richie White
Trey Priester
Caleb Kenard
Case Moore
Blu Donner
Sam Pulliam
Aiden Bosler
Apollo Bruce
Lee Smith
Korbin Breaux
Jack Craven
Julian Magno
Diego Valverde
Dimitri Voulgaris
Jacob Hawkins
Elias Harger
Noah Pappo
Felipe Villegas
Justin Williams
James Kopp
Cameron Kindree
Carlos MazariegosMonterroso
BASS
Kyle Ransom
Garrett Moore
William Pruett
Jamir Coward
DiJean Horton
Jarell Reliford
Jack Logan
Toussaint Malik
McFaland Bragg
Mekhi Gargurevich
Alex Cates
Blu Kearse
Isaiah Anderson
Alex Baker
Orlando Bolanos
Bryce Bynum
James Han
Anthony Jordan
Timothy Lee
Gerald McClain
TENOR
Christian Aycock
Pranav Bommareddy
Shaun Gibbons
Alexander Harshaw
Trey House
Apollo Hinton-Bruce
Trevor Kytola
Christofer Sanchez Avila
Tyler Stevenson
Nathan Schreer
BASS
Marcus Navarrete
Osiris Nowlin
Anthony Stoney
Juliette Ellard
Harrison Jacobs
Chase Lynda
Laim Murphy
Jacob Peters
Christian Nixon
Maxime Wagner
Nyla Smith
Jadon-Li Antoine
Allen Brooks
Qi Cai
Rocky Chatman
Ryan Griffin
Benjamin Latting
Adam Mesbahi
Benjamin Varner
At 46 years old, Joe Gransden has already performed worldwide and released 16 albums under his own name. Renowned first for the hard bop approach of his trumpet, Gransden’s singing voice has been compared to that of Chet Baker and Frank Sinatra.
Gransden was born in New York City but spent most of his first 20 years in Buffalo. Coming from a family full of musicians, his introduction to music came early on through his father, a gifted singer and pianist. His grandfather was a trumpeter of merit, playing professionally his whole life throughout New York. On his mother’s side of the family was the piano virtuoso Carmen Cavallero. While in Buffalo Gransden studied with jazz greats Jeff Jarvis and Dave Schiavone.
Not long after high school, Gransden was on the road as a sideman with the big bands of Tommy Dorsey and Glenn Miller. A number of sideman gigs include Barry White, The Moody Blues, Kenny Rogers, The Temptations, Aretha Franklin, and The Whispers. Eventually moving to New York City, he performed with numerous groups, including sub work with Toshiko Akiyoshi and Chico O’Farrill at the famous Birdland Jazz Club. Meanwhile, he formed his own group, which performed in Brooklyn each week and included the venerable guitarist Joe Cohn and ex–Betty Carter bassist Matt Hughes.
Gransden has performed at Café 290 in Atlanta; The Blue Note in New York City; The Jazz Corner in Hilton Head, South Carolina; The Ritz-Carlton at Reynolds Plantation with Michael Fienstein; The Museum of Art and Design in New York City; Spivey Hall in Atlanta; and Tehema Golf Club in Carmel, California (where he plays occasional events for Clint Eastwood). His album Close To My Heart, produced by saxophone great Kenny G., is a collection of smooth jazz covers and originals written with Kenny. His new project Songs of Sinatra & Friends features Gransden with his 16-piece Big Band & Strings celebrating the music of Frank Sinatra.
Daniel Wilson
Barry Hurford
Harriet Zoller
Kathryn Ortega
Melanie Anderson
Valerie Pool
Beverly Green
Brandon Stephens
Karen Szypulski
Patron
($100 - $249)
John Wooten
CharityVest Inc.
M. Brinkley
Marian Johnson
Nicholas Jones
Sarah Adams
Bernard Dawson
Jerry Thompson
Barbara Friedman
J. Campbell
LeVon Williams
Nicholas Caputo
Christian Stephanos
Jordan Crawford
Matthew Werstler
Elena Juarez
Jeffery Jones
Curtis Bryant
Supporters
Martha Head
Thomas Guffin
Jonathan Tate Foster
American Online Giving Foundation
Marshall Holcomb
Lara Saville Dahl
Martin Norgaard
William Mann
Anne-Marie Canty
Adriana Daniel
Conni Atkinson
Richard Nunez
Kaylee Bramlett
Elizabeth Talaska
Marva Carter
Frances Emmons
Arolue Prater
Erin Miller
Nina Urban
Robert McTyre
Lisa Barber
Julius Johnson
Sandra Duchen
Jose Labiosa
Dillon Straw
Raymond Baskette
David Heggood
Ansley Usery
Sarah Harden
Michael Lindsay
Kaylee Bramlett, PR & Marketing
Lara Dahl, Graduate Director
Patrick Dover, Piano Technician
Deidra Dobbelmann, Director of Band Operations
Stuart Gerber, Interim Director
Cole Hankins, Production Coordinator
Justin Kalin, Academic Specialist
Jonathan Kochik, Bands Administrative Coordinator
William Mann, Director of Recruitement
Thomas McConnell, Chief of Staff
Devin Reid, Undergraduate Director
Ansley Usery, Recruitment & Admissions
ENSEMBLES AND CONDUCTING
Robert J. Ambrose, Director of Bands
Adam F. Dalton, Associate Director of Bands; Director of Athletic Bands
Tamara Dworetz, Charles Thomas Wurm Distinguished Professor of Orchestral Studies
Deanna Joseph, Coordinator of Ensembles & Conducting/ Director of Choral Activities
Devin Reid, Assistant Director of Bands
Meghan Stoll, Associate Director of Choral Activities
WOODWINDS
John Grove, Bassoon
Kenneth Long, Clarinet
Jessica Petrasek, Flute
Lara Saville Dahl, Coordinator of Woodwinds; Oboe
Jack Thorpe, Saxophone
BRASS
Eric Bubacz, Euphonium & Tuba
Alexander Freund, Trumpet
Adam Frey, Graduate Euphonium
Eric Hawkins, Horn
William Mann, Coordinator of Brass; Trombone, Director of Recruitement
Yvonne Toll-Schneider, Trumpet
Stuart Gerber, Percussion
Kellen King, Percussion
STRINGS
Luther Enloe, Classical Guitar
Alexis Lee, Cello
Tania Maxwell Clements, Coordinator of Strings; Viola
Jessica Stinson, Violin
Daniel Tancredi, Double Bass
JAZZ STUDIES
Tim Aucoin, Jazz Bass
Kevin Bales, Jazz Improvisation, Jazz Piano
Robert Boone, Jazz Percussion
David Frackenpohl, Jazz Guitar
Randall Hoexter, Jazz Arranging
Aaron Kruziki, Jazz Saxophone
Audrey Shakir, Jazz Voice
Gordon Vernick, Coordinator of Jazz Studies; Jazz Trumpet
KEYBOARD STUDIES
Sergio Gallo, Piano Performance, Pedagogy
Geoffrey Haydon, Coordinator of Keyboard Studies; Piano Performance; Jazz Piano
Kyung-Mi Kim, Collaborative Pianist
COLLABORATIVE PIANO
Andrew Choi, Collaborative Pianist
Jonathan Crutchfield, Collaborative Pianist
Justin Maxey, Collaborative Pianist
Clinton Smith, Collaborative Pianist, Opera Music Director/ Vocal Coach
Mengyao Sun, Collaborative Pianist
VOICE PERFORMANCE
Richard Clement, Coordinator of Voice; Voice
Kathryn Hartgrove, Voice, Interim Opera Director
Maria McDaniel, Voice
Andrew Ryker, Voice
Clinton Smith, Collaborative Pianist, Opera Music Director/ Vocal Coach
Talise Trevigne, Voice
Chris Costigan, Music Education
Tiffany English, Music Education
Patrick K. Freer, Coordinator of Music Education; Choral
Charles Jackson, Winds & Percussion
Matthew Koperniak, Music Education
Michelle Mercier-DeShon, General Music
Tonya Milsap, Music Education
Martin Norgaard, Associate Coordinator of Music Education; Strings
FOUNDATION STUDIES
Francisco Javier Albo, Music History, Music Appreciation
Marva Carter, History and Literature/ World Music
Emory Clements, Music Appreciation
Nickitas Demos, Coordinator of Composition
Ben DuPriest, Popular & World Music
Kyle Jenkins, Theory
Mark McFarland, Theory
Brent Milam, Theory
Marie Sumner Lott, Coordinator of History, Literature and World Music
Abby Zhang, Theory
MUSIC INDUSTRY
David (Dos Dias) Bishop, Music Production & Audio Recording
Richard Dunn, Music Management
Booker Edwards, Music Management
Scott Keniley, Music Mgmt, Industry, Law
Chelsea Mitchell, Music Entertainment Law
David (DJ Burn One) Sweeten, Music Production & Audio Recording
Al Thrash, Coordinator of Music Management
Ben Yonas, Coordinator of Music Production & Audio Recording
