WINTER RECAP // CURRENT VAP NEWS // VAP ALUMNI NEWS // VAP FACULTY NEWS SPOTLIGHT: DAWSON FRASIER // UPCOMING H&H EVENTS
WINTER 2011 RECAP to my eyes. It was so inspiring to watch the children in the audience listening intently to every word and note.” The performance marked the debut of a VAP ensemble at the museum and an exciting new partnership for H&H and BCM. Also on November 27, a select ensemble from the Young Women’s Chorus sweetly serenaded Bostonians at the Copley Place Holiday Music Series with traditional carols of the season. Led by conductor Alyson Greer, they were joined by H&H trumpeter Jesse Levine and pianist Michael Becker.
The Youth Chorus gave the Boston premiere of What is Christmas Made Of? by Francisco Nuñez and Jim Papoulis at the Prudential Center Lord & Taylor on November 14. Thirty-four choruses in eight different states performed the song simultaneously. H&H Singers enthusiastically caroled to a packed room of family, friends, and museum attendees at the Boston Children’s Museum (BCM) on November 27, led by conductor Heather Tryon and pianist Michael Becker. BCM President and CEO Carole Charnow introduced them and remarked, “The kids were amazing and their sweet voices brought a tear
Members of Young Women’s Chorus (pictured at left), the Young Men’s Chorus, and Youth Chorus greeted audiences with carols at Symphony Hall before H&H performances of Handel Messiah on December 2, 3, and 4. H&H’s Heartstrings program provided complimentary tickets to Messiah, for most a first-time experience. The VAP Winter Choral Concert on December 11 at United Parish, Brookline featured our ensembles performing with selections by Fauré, Handel, Praetorius, Schütz, and Thompson; world music; and contemporary composers for a full house. Singers transported us to Africa with Orff xylophones and African drum in Allundé Alluia, Youth Chorus took full advantage of the church’s acoustics during Personet hodie, with H&H Director of Education Robin Baker on flute. Following substantial works by Schütz and Papoulis, Young Men’s Chorus and soloist Connor Vigeant brought the house
down with Billy Joel’s The Longest Time. Under the direction of newly appointed conductor Alyson Greer, Young Women’s Chorus presented a serious program of musical “roses” spanning 500 years and then rocked the house with Go Where I Send Thee! The concert concluded with all four ensembles performing Lowell Mason’s O Music as a unity song. There was not an empty seat to be found in Boston Conservatory’s Seully Hall on December 17 for the VAP Winter Soloist Recital. Audience members were treated with Daniel Conners, Elizabeth Garibaldi, Lynea German, Berthony Henri, Maria Karamourtopoulos, Michelle Klevsky, Michael Paladino, Ruby Sands, Abigail Schuliger, Rachel Steinberg, and Connor Vigeant performing vocal solos accompanied by pianist Mana Tokuno. We extend our apologies to Mr. Vigeant, who was erroneously listed as a bass in the program (he is a tenor). We express appreciation to H&H Education Committee members Julian Bullitt, Paul Corneilson, Suzanne Hamner, Karen Levy, Emily Schabacker, and Kathleen Weld, as well as Barbara Winchester (NEC Extension Division faculty), who judged auditions for the 2012 Barbara E. Maze and Candace MacMillen Achtmeyer Awards to be awarded next spring. Many thanks to vocal faculty members Angela Gooch, Mark Lee, Thomas Oesterling, Jennifer Sgroe, Clara Sandler, H&H Chorus member Sonja Tengblad, and Barbara Winchester for their support throughout the year.
CURRENT VAP NEWS SINGERS Gabriel Clark will perform the role of Colin in The Secret Garden at the Amazing Things Arts Center in Framingham. The performances will be on February 10, 11, 17, and 18 at 8pm and on February 12 and 19 at 2pm.
YOUTH CHORUS Elizabeth DiFraia has been selected for the role of Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls at St. Joseph’s School, Medford next spring.
YOUNG MEN’S CHORUS, YOUNG WOMEN’S CHORUS, AND SOLOISTS The following VAP students were accepted to the 2012 Massachusetts Music Educators Association Senior District Festival Choruses: Sophie Whorf and Zoe Weisskoff* (Eastern district); Alison Cameron,* Daniel Conners,** Elizabeth Garibaldi,** Kathryn Hepkins,* Stephenson Lee, Lucy Page,* Michael Paladino,** Kurt Pfrommer,* and Jessica Toupin (Northeastern district); Abigail Adams, Freeman Dong, Christopher Kelleher,* Katherine Meallo, and Kayla McDermott* (Southeastern district). * All-State Chorus recommendation ** VAP Soloist Susan Dudka and Connor Vigeant** were accepted to the 2012 New Hampshire All-State Chorus. Due to their high audition scores, Susan was invited to sing in the Chamber Chorus and Connor in the Jazz All-State Chorus. Connor received the highest tenor score in one of three audition rooms for NH All-State. He also performed two patriotic selections on January 19 at Faneuil Hall for a federal court ceremony honoring new US citizens (pictured above).
Elizabeth George sang as a soloist for the Kyrie in Schubert’s Mass No. 2 in D Major with the Boston Latin School Chamber Choir on December 15. Hannah Frith played the mother and beatnik roles in the musical Hairspray at Rindge and Latin High School December 1–4. Adam Harding played Marc in the Stagecoach production of A Chorus Line on November 4–6 and also appeared in the Actorsingers production of The Sound of Music on November 11–12. He performed as the Snow King in GateCity Ballet’s The Nutcracker on December 4–5. He also wrapped up his senior year of marching band playing the drums. Christopher Kelleher has been accepted into the Latino Repertoire Honor Choir which will perform on February 18 at the 2012 ACDA Eastern Division Conference in Providence. Chris was recently honored with a 2011 Peer Leadership Award given by Norfolk County’s chief law enforcement official, District Attorney Michael W. Morrissey. Bailey Lee performed an original song, Saccharine Love, at the Medford High School Gay/Straight Alliance Coffeehouse on December 13. As a violist in BYSO’s Repertory Orchestra, she performed with the Greater Boston Asian American Youth Symphony Orchestra at the National Heritage Museum on December 17.
Michael Paladino built an Information Kiosk for Spence Farm in Woburn as part of his Eagle Scout Leadership Service project. His efforts included locating a design, buying materials, fundraising, construction, and supervising volunteers for the project. Rachel Steinberg has been a participant in From The Top’s Center for Development of Arts Leaders. For the past 10 months, her team has organized collaborative concerts for guests at the Hope Lodge, a place where people who come to Boston for cancer treatment can stay free of charge. Rachel’s team held discussions, played games, raised money for the American Cancer Society, and performed at Boston’s Relay for Life! They are organizing a drum circle and recording a “CD of Hope” for guests to take home with them. Jessica Toupin played the role of Penelope Pacemaker in Sandbag, Stage Left, written and directed by Jack Neary at Dracut High School in December. Zoe Weisskoff played Nurse Ruth Kelly in Harvey in November and in February she’ll play Antonia in Man of La Mancha, both at the Rivers School.
UPCOMING EDUCATION CONCERTS FEB
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Young Men’s Chorus at 2012 Young Men’s Choral Festival Young Men’s Chorus will perform with the WPI Men’s Glee Club, Boston University’s Dear Abbys, and ensembles from Boston Children’s Chorus, Boston Arts Academy, and North Quincy High School for the 2012 Young Men’s Choral Festival. Now in its fifth season, festival collaborations have included men’s choirs from Harvard University, Tufts University, MIT, and WPI. The concert is Saturday, February 4, 5.30pm at the Boston University Recital Hall; admission is free.
Collaborative Youth Concerts 2012 marks the 25th anniversary of the Collaborative Youth Concerts, which began in 1987. High school choirs from Belmont, Boston, Brockton, Danvers, Lawrence, Lynn, New Bedford, Newton, and North Quincy have performed choral masterpieces by Bach, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Purcell, Schubert, and Vivaldi with our Period Instrument Orchestra and vocal soloists over the years. Students rehearse the music with their school choral directors for five months, are coached by Associate Conductor John Finney in January, and perform at their schools with H&H musicians in February for peers, teachers, parents, and community members. 300 students from Boston Latin School, O’Bryant School of Math and Science (Roxbury), Brockton, and Lawrence High Schools will perform excerpts from Mozart’s Coronation Mass and the “Dona Nobis Pacem” from Bach’s Mass in B Minor with members of the Society’s Period Instrument Orchestra and Vocal Quartet soloists, conducted by John Finney. The concerts will be on February 14, 11:30am at Lawrence High School and February 16, 8pm at the Boston Latin School. Both performances are open to the public; admission is free.
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Beethoven Eroica at Symphony Hall Fifty choristers from all five Collaborative Youth Concert schools will open H&H’s Beethoven Eroica program at Symphony Hall with the “Gloria” from Mozart’s Coronation Mass on February 17, 8pm and February 19, 3pm. These appearances mark the first time Collaborative Youth Concert choruses have appeared as part of H&H’s Symphony Hall series.
Youth Chorus at ACDA Big Sing East Choral Festival The Youth Chorus will be featured at the ACDA Big Sing East Choral Festival on March 27, 6.30pm at St. Cecilia’s Parish, Boston. Admission is $1.
VAP FACULTY NEWS
VAP ALUMNI NEWS
Michelle Shoemaker (Music Theory I Instructor) attended the 74th Annual Conference for Community Arts Education in Boston on November 9–12.
Elaine Allard (Soloists ’97) is a Visiting Instructor of Educational Studies at Swarthmore College. She is married to Joshua Evans and they have a son, Oliver. Myriam Anderson (YWC ’09) is in her junior year at UMASS Boston, majoring in criminal justice. Meredith Lustig (Soloists ’04, YWC ’05) completed her Master’s degree in vocal performance at The Juilliard School last spring. Meredith will return to New York City Opera as Cephisa in Telemann’s Orpheus in May 2012, and will cover the role of Marie in the US premiere of Rufus Wainright’s Prima Donna in February. She was also selected as one Caramoor’s 2012 Vocal Rising Stars with the New York Festival of Song, and looks forward to performing with both companies in their spring program, New York to Paris, Paris to Paradise.
VOCAL QUARTET AT SYMPHONY HALL FOR WGBH’S CARTOON FESTIVAL Quartet members Sonja Tengblad (soprano), Carrie Cheron (mezzosoprano), Christian Figueroa (tenor), RaShaun Campbell (bass), and David Robbins (piano) have been visiting schools in Boston, Cambridge, Hyannis, Lowell, Lynn, Medford, Quincy, and Woburn since November 7. Their new show, Voices of America, features music premiered by H&H between 1818–1880 and by American composers such as Lowell Mason, William Billings, and Leonard Bernstein. The quartet also presented vocal masterclasses in Boston, Hyannis, and Lynn to help students prepare solos for the MMEA Junior and Senior District festival auditions in the Eastern, Northeastern, and Southeastern districts. Quartet member Carrie Cheron (mezzo-soprano) will sing in the H&H Chorus for a semi-staged performance of Verdi’s Falstaff with the Boston Youth Symphony, led by Federico Cortese on January 22, 3pm at Sanders Theatre. Carrie will also tour with the Yale Choral Artists under the direction of William Christie at Yale University (February 25) and Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall (February 26), and in June with the Mark Morris Dance Group. Carrie is an Assistant Professor of Voice at Berklee College of Music. Quartet member Sonja Tengblad (soprano) was a soloist in “Vessel” by Kati Agócs in the Boston Modern Orchestra Project’s True North program featuring works of Canadian composers, led by Gil Rose at Jordan Hall on November 20. Sonja also appeared as soprano soloist in Cantata V of Bach’s Christmas Oratorio on December 15 and 18 in Jordan Hall for the Society’s A Bach Christmas concert. She is currently a staff musician for Trinity Church in Boston.
Michael Maloney (Soloists ’09) is currently a junior at UMASS Boston, double-majoring in exercise/health services and music and studying voice with David Giessow. Michael was the pianist for Spotlight Productions’ presentation of Annie at Medford High School December 16–17. He released three original Christmas songs, collectively titled Maybe This Christmas EP, at the end of October and donated all proceeds until December 31st to Boston Children’s Hospital. Maybe This Christmas EP is currently the #98 best selling downloaded soft rock album on Amazon and peaked at #21 the week of December 12. Michael’s interview from the Jordan Rich Show, 1030 AM WBZ on December 12 can be found at http://cbsloc.al/ lROJbw. Anna Stromer (Soloists ’09), violist for the Vitamin String Quartet (VSQ), appeared on the television show Gossip Girls playing at a character’s wedding filmed in New York City (the episode will air January 30). VSQ also played acoustic sets for rock star Jared Leto at the end of his two-year world tour in early December. A Wyclef Jean/ Berklee session taped last year that included Anna on viola will soon be released as a video called Zumba, with original music composed by Berklee students. To hear some of Anna’s solos with Jared Leto, go to http://on.mtv. com/t6tGiH.
SPOTLIGHT: DAWSON FRASIER MEMBER, YOUNG MEN’S CHORUS What would you tell your friends if they asked you what VAP is? VAP is a program that helps a lot of kids learn and practice music. The group performs in front of different audiences throughout the year. VAP helps students apply skills and add to everyone’s style of music and life. What is your favorite thing about VAP? My favorite thing about VAP is being able to benefit from and get involved in the music we are performing. I’ve been on stage for many things before, but at H&H it’s a totally different experience. It is fabulous to participate in a chorus that takes learning and performing music to the next level. What do you like about singing? Singing is one of the greatest things to me. It helps me express myself and accentuates certain emotions and lets people connect with the meaning of what is being sung. Why do you want to sing? Singing is one of the best ways I let myself feel more open and really alive. It is so great to be able to sing, as I do almost every day. What do you like about learning music on Saturdays? Some people enjoy spending their Saturdays staying at home or relaxing, but I enjoy being able to participate in music, be with friends, and learn better techniques. VAP lets me do all of those in one day. What is your favorite VAP moment? My favorite moment of VAP was the finale of the whole year in spring 2011. We had a great concert and everyone appreciated what we did. It was a wonderful feeling to know what an awesome year I had with H&H and how much of a privilege it was to be part of it. What do you like to do when you’re not singing? When I’m not singing, I like to play my guitar and piano and I also enjoy swimming.
YOUR SUPPORT MAKES A DIFFERENCE Our educational programming is 90% subsidized and is sustained by the generosity of foundations, corporate sponsors, government entities, and individual donors. Please consider making a tax-deductable gift; it is an investment in our youth and Boston’s arts community. For more information on the benefits of giving or to make a contribution online, visit handelandhaydn.org/support. Thank you for your support. For foundation and corporate giving contact: Trevor Pollack tpollack@handelandhaydn.org or 617 262 1815 x116
For individual giving contact: Emily Yoder eyoder@handelandhaydn.org or 617 262 1815 x117
INSTITUTIONS
INDIVIDUALS
Abbot & Dorothy H. Stevens Foundation Alice Willard Dorr Foundation Amelia Peabody Foundation Analog Devices, Inc. Bessie Pappas Charitable Foundation The Boston Conservatory Boston Cultural Council The Boston Foundation Brockton Cultural Council Charles and Sara Goldberg Charitable Trust Charles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc. Clipper Ship Foundation David Greenewalt Charitable Trust Deborah Munroe Noonan Memorial Fund, Bank of America, N.A., Trustee Eaton Vance Management Esther B. Kahn Charitable Foundation The Harold Whitworth Pierce Charitable Trust John H. and H. Naomi Tomfohrde Foundation John Hancock Financial Services Kingsbury Road Charitable Foundation Lawrence Cultural Council The Ludcke Foundation Lynn Cultural Council Massachusetts Cultural Council Medford Arts Council National Endowment for the Arts Needham Cultural Council New England Conservatory Preparatory School The Parthenon Group Sacerdote & Co., Inc. Schrafft Charitable Trust Stearns Charitable Trust Varian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc. Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation
Allison & William Achtmeyer Carol Airasian Mark & Maura Amrich Rafael & Ana Ardon Eric & Barbara Baatz Ann & Michael Barone Julian & Marion Bullitt Kenneth Lam & Karrie Chan-Lam Annette & Majid Charmchi Derek Clark & Monica Bruno Robert Conners Robert & Marita Coombs Valerie Edith Cowart Matt Coyle Jessica Cross Aurelio & Michelle D’Amico Willma H. Davis Nancie & Paul DeJoie Michael Diener & Barbara Soojian Dan & Joanne Dudka Christine J. Duncan Chris & Karen Erikson Karen & Chris Erikson Edward & Eileen Faulkner Lucinda Ellert Joseph M. Flynn Mark & Polly Fraga Dan & Lois Frasier Paul & Diana Gallo The Gattozzi Family Richard & Beverly Geyer The Glass Family Roger & Val Govaert Paul & Patricia Grella Don Haber & Connie Houck Nancy & Bill Hammer Andrew Hammond Suzanne & Easley Hamner Sissel Hunt Derek & Meghan Jacoby Mary & Eric Johnson
James & Mary Karamourtopoulos Susan Kearns Brenda & Peter Kronberg Michael & Angela Lafontant Waltrud A. Lampe Linda B. Lank David & Hallie Lee Karen S. & George D. Levy Family Foundation Winifred I. Li & William P. Oliver Alfonso & Kathryn Link Alex & Julia Lipman Carol & James Lydon Joseph & Gwynedd Maranzano Margaret Marshall & Anthony Lewis Jose & Barbara Mazzotti Jeff McConnell & Janet Chumley Mary & Sherif Nada Margaret & Carl Nagel Lorrel B. Nichols Nancy Nizel Fernando & Barbara Novaes Elizabeth & David Page Maria Paiewonsky Bob Paine & Beth Fuller Winifred & Leroy Parker Carol Parrish & Paul Clark Guy & Stella Parry Maurice M. Pechet Fund on behalf of Dr. Maurice Pechet Andrew & Patricia Peterson Francesca & Michael Pfrommer Anne & Karl Rookey Michelle Savia Emily F. Schabacker Robert H. Scott & Diane T. Spencer Robert & Rosmarie Scully Alexander & Linda Singer-Berk David & Marla Smith Malcolm & Penelope Sparrow Susan & Andrew Spence
Eric, Susan & Rachel Steinberg in honor of Lisa Graham Ashley & Willis Stinson Joyce Sullivan Norman & Judie Toti Beth & Frank Waldorf Edward & Judith Walk Timothy Watkins & Donna Cuipylo Elizabeth & Robert Wax Kathleen & Walter Weld Ray Williams Kathryn Willmore Wilson Family Foundation Katie & Marshall Wolf Jean & Ron Woodward Anonymous in memory of Barbara Maze Five Anonymous Donors As of January 1, 2012.
A principal leader of Boston’s arts community since 1815, the Handel and Haydn Society is preparing for its Bicentennial in 2015. As part of the celebration, each new season will incorporate works that are significant to the Society’s history as well as those never before played. The 2011–2012 Season includes Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, featuring the Young Men’s and Young Women’s Choruses; a rare US appearance by conductor Rinaldo Alessandrini; and the H&H solo debut of new concertmaster Aisslinn Nosky in Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. See the entire season at handelandhaydn.org/concerts.
HANDEL AND HAYDN SOCIETY
2011–2012 SEASON UPCOMING CONCERTS Vivaldi The Four Seasons January 20 & 22, 2012 Symphony Hall
Beethoven Eroica February 17 & 19, 2012 Symphony Hall
Harry Christophers, conductor Aisslinn Nosky, violin
Jean-Marie Zeitouni, conductor
Classical Salon March 9, 2012 NEC’s Jordan Hall March 11, 2012 Sanders Theatre
Bach St. Matthew Passion March 30 & April 1, 2012 Symphony Hall Harry Christophers, conductor
Robert Nairn, leader and bass The full season, subscription details, and more information are available at handelandhaydn.org.
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Watch online: Education Program videos are available online at handelandhaydn.org/media.