UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS
A Cappella Choir 03.02.22 • 11:30 AM • ROBINSON CENTER • LITTLE ROCK, AR
music.unt.edu
A Cappella Choir UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS
CONTENTS
AT SWACDA 2022
10
WELCOME
3
Message from the Dean
4
History of UNT A Cappella Choir
PROGRAM
6
7
Laudate Dominum
Dum transisset Sabbatum
8
9
Love: Then and Still
12
Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf
MEET THE CHOIR
10
About Allen Hightower
12
Choir Members
FACULTY & ADMINISTRATION
14
Choral & Voice Faculty 2
15
UNT Administration
Southwestern American Choral Directors Association
16
WORDS OF WELCOME
by the Dean of the
College of Music
I
am pleased and honored to greet you on behalf of the alumni, faculty, staff, and students of the College of Music at the University of North Texas, and to extend heartfelt best wishes for a spectacular Southwestern ACDA Conference. We are grateful and humbled to be a part of such a distinguished conference devoted, as the ACDA Mission states, “…to inspire excellence and nurture lifelong involvement in choral music for everyone through education, performance, composition and advocacy.” Our UNT College of Music mission, “…to serve our diverse musical culture with excellence, integrity, and imagination” aligns so well with ACDA’s! The Choral Studies program at UNT, led by Director of Choral Studies Professor Allen Hightower, DMA, continues to reach new heights of excellence and achievement. Recent performances and collaborations
of our A Cappella Choir under Dr. Hightower’s direction include their appearance at the National ACDA Virtual Conference last year, and their concert collaborations with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, scheduled to resume next fall. Our faculty in Choral Studies also includes Dr. Kristina Caswell MacMullen (Associate Professor of Choral Studies and conductor of the UNT University Singers and Kalandra), Dr. Jessica Nápoles (Professor of Choral Music Education and conductor of the UNT Concert Choir), Dr. Joshua Habermann (Instructor of Choral Literature), and Dr. Jamey Kelley (Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education). Best wishes for a fabulous conference. Please keep in touch and let us know how we can help you in the future. We are extremely proud of our Choral Studies Program and so grateful for the opportunity to perform for you this year.
Sincerely,
JOHN W. RICHMOND, PH.D.
The UNT College of Music – serving our diverse musical culture with excellence, integrity and imagination.
Professor and Dean of the College of Music | University of North Texas A Cappella Choir | UNT College of Music
3
History of
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS
A Cappella Choir FOUNDED IN 1938 BY WILFRED BAIN
Founded in 1938, the University of North Texas A Cappella Choir has a distinguished history of conductors that include Wilfred Bain, Frank McKinley, Hal Gibbons, Mel Ivey and Jerry McCoy. Allen Hightower assumed leadership of the choir upon his appointment as Director of Choral Studies in the Fall of 2016. His previous choirs have performed for the Southwestern, North Central and national conferences of ACDA. He served previously at Odessa Permian High School, Sam Houston State University and Luther College. This conference appearance marks his fifth ACDA invited choir. The A Cappella Choir is frequently invited to regional, national and international conferences. Most recent engagements include national ACDA in 2021 (livestreamed), 2013 (Dallas), 2005 (Los Angeles), and 1999 (Chicago); NCCO in 2008 (Cincinnati); and the International Choral Festival in 2012 (Daejeon, South Korea) and in 2009 (Taipei). The choir has enjoyed frequent engagements with professional orchestras such as the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and serves as the core ensemble of the UNT Grand Chorus, the collaborative partner of the UNT Symphony Orchestra, one of two university orchestras. The A Cappella Choir is one of ten choral ensembles at UNT which includes the University Singers, Concert Choir, Kalandra, Chorale, Camerata, Vox Aquilae, Grand Chorus, Conductor’s Chorus and UpFront!. The Choral Studies program works closely with the renowned vocal studies and opera programs at UNT, creating an ideal environment for student singers.
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Southwestern American Choral Directors Association
A Cappella Choir | UNT College of Music
5
Program
Laudate Dominum LEVENTE GYÖNGYÖSI (B. 1975)
ABOUT THE COMPOSITION LAUDATE DOMINUM
LATIN TEXT
adapted for mixed choir. Gyöngyösi sets
Laudate dominum de caelis, Laudate eum in excelsis. Laudate omnes angeli eius, Laudate omnes virtutes eius. Laudate eum, sol et luna, Laudate omnes stelae lucentes.
the text from Psalm 148 in a rhythmic
Alleluia, amen!
was composed by Romanian-born Hungarian composer Levente Gyöngyösi in 2016 for treble chorus, and later
and exuberant style. The exciting work serves as an ideal opening for a choral concert, capturing the interest of the audience with its sudden dynamic shifts, crisp articulation, crunchy harmonies, and almost frantic pace. 6
Text from Psalm 148
Southwestern American Choral Directors Association
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Praise the Lord from the heavens, Praise him on the heights. Praise all his angels, Praise all his hosts. Praise him, sun and moon, Praise him, all shining stars Alleluia, amen!
2016
Dum Transisset Sabbatum JOHN TAVERNER (C.1498-1545)
Text from Mark 16:1-2 LATIN TEXT Dum transisset Sabbatum, Maria Magdalene et Maria Jacobi, et Salome emerunt aromata, ut venientes ungerent Jesum. Alleluia. Et valde mane una sabbatorum veniunt ad monumentum orto iam sole. Ut venientes ungerent Jesum. Alleluia. ENGLISH TRANSLATION And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. Alleluia. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun, that they might come and anoint him. Alleluia.
C. 1540
ABOUT THE COMPOSITION DUM TRANSISSET SABBATUM
was composed for Easter Day by the English Renaissance composer, John Taverner. The Biblical text from Mark chapter 16 tells the compelling story of the women Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome who brought spices to anoint the body of the crucified Jesus Christ. A somber and contemplative tone is established by the use of Gregorian chant employed throughout the work. As the women arrive at the tomb very early in the morning, they discover that the body of Jesus is no longer there. The joy of the resurrection erupts in shouts of “Alleluia”. A Cappella Choir | UNT College of Music
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Program
Love: Then & Still SUSAN LABARR (B. 1981)
ABOUT THE COMPOSITION LOVE: THEN & STILL
is the result of an artistic collaboration between poet Charles Anthony Silvestri and composer Susan LaBarr. The work is both a love song and the story of one’s life journey. This journey takes the listener from the euphoria of a new marriage, through the growth of a beautiful family, and ultimately to the tragic loss of a wife and mother. The story is the true-life journey of the poet. Joy, heartbreak, and eventual healing brings this tender choral work to its conclusion. 8
Southwestern American Choral Directors Association
2016
Lyrics by Charles Anthony Silvestri (B. 1965) We were married in late September, Among the changing leaves; Crimson banners in the courtyard Heralding our union, We were so happy, then. The music we shared brought us together, A duet most unlikely. Work and home and son and daughter, Busy in joy and love. How simple it seemed, then. But who could have known what fate awaited Our little family of four? A spectre came and dwelt among us, And robbed us of our joy. And then we were only three. But time has passed and wounds have healed, Leaving scars behind; But scars remind us what was, and what yet may be, That we loved, and love you, still.
ABOUT THE COMPOSITION DER GEIST HILFT UNSER SCHWACHHEIT AUF
ranks among the great motets of J.S. Bach. With text selected from the eighth chapter of the book of Romans, the Apostle Paul assures the listener that the Holy Spirit will indeed help us in our weakness, serving as our advocate before God, praying for us through groans beyond our capacity to comprehend. Set as a double choir, the motet is divided into four sections. The opening section is set in 3/8 meter and in exuberant joy gives the listener the sense of the Spirit’s constant and energized activity on our behalf. In the second section we hear Bach’s depiction of the Spirit groanings before the throne of God. The third section, set in fourpart texture assures the listener that the Spirit is at work to achieve that which pleases God. The motet closes with a reflective chorale with text by the great Reformer, Martin Luther, calling upon the Spirit to deliver us through trials and even through death unto heaven.
Der Geist hilft unser Schwachheit auf JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH (1685-1750) (BWV 226) (1729)
Romans 8:26-27, Martin Luther (1483-1546) GERMAN TEXT
Denn er vertritt die Heiligen nach dem, Das Gott gefället.
Der Geist hilft unsrer Schwachheit auf. Denn wir wissen nicht, Was wir beten sollen, Wie sich’s gebühret; Sondern der Geist selbst vertritt Uns aufs beste mit unaussprechlichem Seufzen.
Du heilige Brunst, süßer Trost Nun hilf uns, fröhlich und getrost In deinem Dienst beständig bleiben, Die Trübsal uns nicht abtreiben. O Herr, durch dein Kraft uns bereit Und stärk des Fleisches Blödigkeit, Dass wir hie ritterlich ringen, Der aber die Herzen forschet, der weiß, Durch Tod und Leben zu dir dringen. Halleluja, halleluja. Was des Geistes Sinn sei,
TRANSLATION
The Spirit comes to help our weakness, For we do not know What we should pray, As we ought to pray; But the Spirit itself pleads For us in the best way with inexpressible groans. But he who searches our hearts knows What the Spirit means
Since he pleads for the saints In the way that pleases God. You sacred warmth, sweet consolation, Now help us joyful and comforted In your service, always to remain Do not let sorrow drive us away! O Lord, through your power make us ready And strengthen the feebleness of our flesh So that we may bravely struggle Through life and death to reach you! Alleluia, alleluia.
A Cappella Choir | UNT College of Music
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Meet the Conductor
Allen Hightower
1010 Southwestern Southwestern American American Choral Choral Directors Directors Association Association
ALLEN HIGHTOWER is a seventh generation Texan, and resides in McKinney, Texas with his wife Dr. Kristin Hightower and their two daughters Caroline and Julianne. As the director of Choral Studies at the University of North Texas, Allen leads the master’s and doctoral programs in choral conducting, and oversees a comprehensive choral program of 10 ensembles. Allen serves as the conductor of the UNT A Cappella Choir, and the UNT Grand Chorus which collaborates annually with the UNT Symphony Orchestra in performances of major choral-orchestral works. As a member of UNT’s Early Music faculty, he leads the vocal ensemble Vox Aquilae, an artistic partner of the UNT Baroque Orchestra. Since arriving at UNT in 2016, the A Cappella Choir has received invitations to perform for the Texas Music Educators Association in 2020, National Conference of the American Choral Directors Association in 2021, and Southwestern Region of ACDA in 2022. Vox Aquilae and the Baroque Orchestra were featured in the 2022 virtual conference of the National Collegiate Choral Organization. As a teacher and conductor, he has visited 30 states, Asia, and Europe. His students hold positions of leadership as choral conductors in public schools, colleges and universities, and churches and community choirs throughout the United States.
Methodist, and Presbyterian churches in Texas, California, and Minnesota. He currently serves on the Music and Worship staff of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas, and is the church music vice-president of the Texas Choral Directors Association. Dr. Hightower has served as an adjunct professor of conducting at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.
Prior to his appointment at UNT, Dr. Hightower held the Weston Noble Endowed Chair in Music at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa, where he served as conductor of the renowned Nordic Choir and artistic director of Christmas at Luther. As Luther’s director of Choral Activities, he gave leadership to a choral program that included four conductors, six choirs, and over 530 singers. Under his direction, the Nordic Choir performed at the 2014 North Central Region of ACDA, As a conducting student of the Texas choral legend Bev Henson, recorded six compact discs, made annual concert tours throughout Allen earned his undergraduate degree in music education and piano from Sam Houston State University. He went on to earn a the United States, and toured Europe on two occasions. master’s degree in choral conducting from the Eastman School of From 2000-2010, he served as professor of music and Director Music where he was a student of Baroque scholar Alfred Mann, and of Choral Studies at Sam Houston State University. During his a master’s degree in orchestral conducting from Baylor University, tenure, the SHSU Chorale toured Europe, performed for the 2007 where he served as assistant conductor to Stephen Heyde and National Convention of the American Choral Directors Association, accompanist to Donald Bailey and the Baylor Chamber Singers. the 2010 Southwestern Region of ACDA, and the 2003, 2006, Allen earned his doctorate in conducting from the University of and 2010 conventions of the Texas Music Educators Association. California, Los Angeles, where he served as assistant conductor to His public school teaching career included tenures at Klein High Donald Neuen. Hightower pursued additional orchestral conducting School in Spring, Texas and at Odessa Permian High School in studies with Jung-Ho Pak at the University of Southern California, Odessa, where he led the PHS Kantorei and Satin Strings in additional choral conducting studies with Joseph Flummerfelt at Westminster Choir College, and choral-orchestral conducting with performance at the 1996 TMEA convention. Helmuth Rilling at the Oregon Bach Festival. After winning first Outside of his work in the academic setting, Allen has served as the prize in the graduate division of the American Choral Directors artistic director of the Houston Masterworks Chorus and Orchestra, Association’s Conducting Competition in 1997, Allen served as leading an annual concert series of choral-orchestral masterworks. assistant to Paul Salamunovich, conductor of the Los Angeles As a church musician, he has served Baptist, Congregational, Master Chorale. A Cappella Choir | UNT College of Music
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UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS
A Cappella Choir MORGAN KATHRYN MINEAR M.M. in Vocal Performance Decorah, Iowa
SOPRANO
DANAH BERRY Junior | B.M. in Music Education Watauga, Texas
RACHEL MOES Senior | B.M. in Vocal Performance, Music Education Centennial, Colorado
HARLI DANIEL Sophomore | B.M. in Vocal Performance Tomball, Texas
SAVANNA SINGLETON Junior | B.M. in Music Education Burleson, Texas
REAGAN DUNN Junior | B.M. in Music Education Coppell, Texas
HANNAH WATKINS Junior | B.M. in Music Education Houston, Texas
MARISSA GUERRERO Junior | B.M. in Vocal Performance, Music Education Carrollton, Texas
TAYLOR FRICK Sophomore | B.M. in Music Education Magnolia, Texas
DANIELLE HARRINGTON Junior | B.A. in Music Fort Worth, Texas
D’ANGELO HAMPTON M.M. in Vocal Performance Chicago, Illinois
JAMIE LAM Senior | B.M. in Music Education Richardson, Texas
SARAH HARVEY M.M. in Vocal Performance Texarkana, Texas
MADISON LANG Sophomore | B.M. in Vocal Performance Frisco, Texas
SAMANTHA HAYDEL Senior | B.M. in Music Education Houston, Texas
KYUYIM LEE D.M.A. in Vocal Performance Seoul, South Korea
MEREDITH HINSHAW Junior | B.M. in Vocal Performance Murphy, Texas
HOUSTON BURNS Junior | B.M., B.S. in Vocal Performance, Psychology Lakeway, Texas
KARA LIBBY M.M. in Vocal Performance St. Louis, Missouri
KATERI LAVACEK M.M. in Choral Conducting Indianapolis, Indiana
HASOO EUN Senior | B.M. in Music Education Suwon, South Korea
ALTO
KASSIDY MONTÁN Sophomore | B.M. in Music Education Flower Mound, Texas MACY REYES Sophomore | B.M. in Vocal Performance McKinney, Texas VERONICA ROAN Senior | B.M. in Vocal Performance Dallas, Texas ANNA RUTH SCHMELTER Junior | B.M. in Music Education San Antonio, Texas CHLOE SPELLMANN Sophomore | B.M. in Music Education Amarillo, Texas
TENOR
SAM ARY Senior | B.M. in Vocal Performance Flower Mound, Texas
Meet our Teaching Fellows JACOB AUGSTEN
Associate Conductor | Vox Aquilae Fundamentals in Music Teaching Fellow 12
JORDAN D. BOYD
Assistant Conductor | Dallas Symphony Chorus Conducting Teaching Fellow
Southwestern American Choral Directors Association
XAVIER M. HOWARD Sophomore | B.M. in Vocal Performance, Music Education Woodbridge, Virginia BENJAMIN JOHNSON Junior | B.M. in Music Education Denver, Colorado MARQUIS XAVIER MCBRIDE Sophomore | B.M. in Vocal Performance, Music Education Princeton, Texas WILL MCLEAN D.M.A. in Choral Conducting Duluth, Minnesota DE’COURTNEYOUS MILLER M.M. in Vocal Performance Camden, Arkansas
THOMAS P. GERBER Associate Conductor | Kalandra Choral Librarian
KATERI LAVACEK
Associate Conductor | A Cappella Choir Graduate Intern | Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas
Meet the Choir
CHASE W. SHAW Senior | B.M. in Music Education Wichita Falls, Texas
JORDAN D. BOYD D.M.A. in Choral Conducting Clover, South Carolina
SPENCER SIMPSON M.M. in Vocal Performance Frederick, Maryland
HAWKINS BURNS Junior | B.M., B.S. in Vocal Performance, Computer Science Austin, Texas
WILLIAM SWINNEY Sophomore | B.M. in Music Education Colleyville, Texas
BASS
JACOB AUGSTEN D.M.A. in Choral Conducting Griffin, Georgia
ISAAC E. CARLIN M.M. in Vocal Performance Omaha, Nebraska MATTHEW DEXTER Sophomore | B.M. in Vocal Performance McKinney, Texas
JOE BOATWRIGHT Junior | B.M. in Music Education Gilbert, Arizona
WILL MCLEAN
Conductor | Chorale Associate Conductor | Concert Choir
MCKENNA STENSON
Conductor | Camerata Associate Conductor | University Singers
SKYLAR DUBOSE Senior | B.M. in Music Education Euless, Texas THOMAS P. GERBER D.M.A. in Choral Conducting Austin, Minnesota
TRES HUNTER Senior | B.M. in Vocal Performance Burkburnett, Texas
ADDISON JAY VINSON Senior | B.M. in Vocal Performance Dallas, Texas
PJ MOONEY Junior | B.M. in Composition Omaha, Nebraska
COLLABORATIVE PIANIST
JUAN P. NAVA Senior | B.M. in Music Education Harker Heights, Texas
DONG HYUN KANG M.M. in Choral Conducting Seoul, South Korea
THOMAS RINN Ph.D. in Music Education Houston, Texas ZACHARY ROHWER Sophomore | B.M. in Vocal Performance, Music Education Flower Mound, Texas
DONG HYUN KANG Pianist | A Cappella & Kalandra
CHIAO-JU HUNG
Pianist | Camerata & Concert Choir
BRENNO LIMA
Pianist | Chorale & University Singers
KI SACCO
Organist | Vox Aquilae
A Cappella Choir | UNT College of Music
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Choral & Vocal Studies Faculty
Choral Studies
VOCAL STUDIES FACULTY MOLLY FILLMORE
Chair, Division of Vocal Studies Professor of Voice soprano
STEPHEN F. AUSTIN Professor of Voice baritone
DANIEL BUBECK Lecturer of Voice countertenor
RICHARD CROFT Distinguished Research Professor of Voice tenor
STEPHEN DUBBERLY
JESSICA NÁPOLES
Professor of Choral Music Education Concert Choir Conductor
KRISTINA CASWELL MACMULLEN Associate Professor of Choral Studies University Singers and Kalandra Conductor
Associate Professor of Vocal Literature and Coaching
WILLIAM JOYNER
Associate Professor of Voice tenor
JENNIFER LANE Professor of Voice mezzo-soprano
JEFF MACMULLEN Adjunct Professor of Voice baritone
STEPHEN MORSCHECK Professor of Voice bass-baritone
ELVIA PUCCINELLI
Professor of Collaborative Piano and Vocal Coaching
JEFFREY SNIDER
JAMEY KELLEY Assistant Professor of Choral Music Education
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JOSHUA HABERMANN Adjunct Lecturer of Choral Literature
Southwestern American Choral Directors Association
Associate Professor of Voice baritone
CAROL WILSON Professor of Voice soprano
Administration UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS SYSTEM MICHAEL R. WILLIAMS Chancellor
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS NEAL SMATRESK President
JENNIFER COWLEY
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
COLLEGE OF MUSIC JOHN W. RICHMOND Professor and Dean
WARREN HENRY ----------------------------------------------------------- Senior Associate Dean, Academic Affairs FELIX OLSCHOFKA ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Associate Dean, Operations EMILITA MARIN ----------------------------------------------------------------- Assistant Dean, Business and Finance RAYMOND ROWELL ------------------------- Assistant Dean, Enrollment Management and External Affairs MARK MONTEMAYOR ---------------------------------------------------- Interim Director, Undergraduate Studies JAYMEE HAEFNER ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Director, Graduate Studies BENJAMIN BRAND --------------------------- Chair, Division of Music History, Theory and Ethnomusicology MOLLY FILLMORE ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Chair, Division of Vocal Studies STEVEN HARLOS ------------------------------------------------------------------ Chair, Division of Keyboard Studies JOSEPH KLEIN ------------------------------------------------------------------ Chair, Division of Composition Studies KIMBERLY COLE LUEVANO ----------------------------------------------- Chair, Division of Instrumental Studies ROB PARTON ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chair, Division of Jazz Studies SEAN POWELL ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Chair, Division of Music Education ANDREW TRACHSEL ----------------------------------------------- Chair, Division of Conducting and Ensembles MATT HARDMAN ---------------------------------- Director, Communications, Marketing and Public Relations AUSTIN MARTINEZ -------------------------------------------------------------- Acting Director, Recording Services CAROL POLLARD -------------------------------------------------------------------- Director, Undergraduate Advising JOEL WILEY ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Director, Admissions DIANA COOLEY -------------------------------------- Administrative Coordinator, Divisions of Conducting and Ensembles, Keyboard Studies and Vocal Studies MATT HELLMAN -------------------------------------------------------- Program Design, Graphic Design Specialist A Cappella Choir | UNT College of Music
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SEE US ON STAGE AT THE
ROBINSON CENTER UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS
A Cappella Choir 03.02.22 • 11:30 AM • LITTLE ROCK, AR
music.unt.edu
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH TEXAS
Choral Conducting
SYMPOSIUM
2022
JULY 10-14, 2022 CHORAL.MUSIC.UNT.EDU
ALLEN HIGHTOWER KRISTINA CASWELL Director of Choral Studies MACMULLEN
Professor of Choral Studies
Associate Professor of Choral Studies
JESSICA NÁPOLES Professor of Choral Music Education
BRIAN C. MURRAY Symposium Coordinator University of Wyoming Assistant Professor of Choral Activities