SONGS OF LAMENT AND PRAISE Works by women composers Sunday, February 28, 2021 5 PM Presented online
MESSAGE FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
W
elcome to “Songs of Lament & Praise: Works by women composers.”
This program was originally envisioned as a choral concert highlighting the work of remarkable contemporary women composers, to be presented at our beautifully renovated All Souls sanctuary. Alas, as with many things during this pandemic, the program had to be modified to make it possible for us to offer it virtually. Despite the necessary adjustments, however, the essence and main purpose of the program remain the same: through deeply meaningful performances we want to bring to your attention the names and compositions of women composers that have been so undeservedly neglected for much of the history of Western classical music. Our focus on this program will be on compositions in the English language, with composers from the United States, Canada, Great Britain, and Australia. I hope that this program will elicit from you a sense of discovery. Although we are still limited by the impact and consequences of centuries-old institutional discrimination, modern technology (YouTube, Apple music, etc.) now enables you to go down the rabbit hole and uncover treasures of your own. I hope, after this program, you will feel inspired to learn more about the music that these and other remarkable women composers have gifted to us. For our part, through imaginative programming, we will continue to explore ways in which we can be more inclusive, so that we can rise together with the community towards a better future. — Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez
FURTHER RESOURCES FOR LEARNING ABOUT WOMEN IN MUSIC: Boulanger Initiative Promotes music composed by women through performance, education, and commissions. International Alliance for Women in Music works for equality for performers, composers, researchers, and educators. Hildegard Publishing publishes compositions by women composers which display the highest level of excellence and musical merit. Kassia Database Database and spreadsheet of art songs by female composers. A Modern Reveal online resource dedicated to promoting the vocal works and stories of historical female composers who have been overlooked for centuries. Pleiades Project creates new performance opportunities for female artists who wish to express the strength, unique vision, and individuality of their art.
—2—
Sunday, February 28, 2021 5 pm Presented online
SONGS OF LAMENT AND PRAISE Works by women composers Musica Viva NY choir Danielle Buonaiuto, soprano Erinn Sensenig, soprano Barbara Fusco-Spera, mezzo-soprano Heather Petrie, contralto Andrew Troup, countertenor Shawn Bartels, tenor Paul D’Arcy, tenor David Baldwin, bass-baritone Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez, Artistic Director, piano & conductor Trent Johnson, organ
Program PART I FRANK FERKO (b. 1950) Hildegard Organ Cycle: IX. Completion of the Cosmos Trent Johnson, organ GILDA LYONS (b. 1975) Songs of Lament & Praise: I. Eve’s Lament, II. Deirdre’s Lament Danielle Buonaiuto, soprano, & Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez, piano THEA MUSGRAVE (b. 1928) A suite o’Bairnsangs: II. Daffodils Paul D’Arcy, tenor & Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez, piano FLORENCE B. PRICE (1887-1953) Night Barbara Fusco-Spera, mezzo soprano & Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez, piano ELIZABETH POSTON (1905-1987) Jesus Christ the Apple Tree Musica Viva NY choir Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez, Artistic Director PART II FRANK FERKO Hildegard Organ Cycle: III. Human Nature Trent Johnson, organ GILDA LYONS Lake Song Heather Petrie, contralto —3—
REBECCA CLARKE (1886-1979) A Dream Paul D’Arcy, tenor & Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez, piano BETTY JACKSON-KING (1928-1994) In the Springtime David Baldwin, bass-baritone & Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez, piano GILDA LYONS Hold On Erinn Sensenig, soprano & Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez, piano JANE MARSHALL (1924-2019) Words from Two Women: II. The Simple Path Musica Viva NY choir Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez, Artistic Director PART III FRANK FERKO Hildegard Organ Cycle: VIII. The Effect of Love Trent Johnson, organ MARY CAROL WARWICK (b. 1939) Hold My Hand Barbara Fusco-Spera, mezzo soprano & Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez, piano LORI LAITMAN (b. 1955) Four Dickinson Songs: IV. If I… Erinn Sensenig, soprano & Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez, piano JENNIFER HIGDON (b. 1962) To Home Andrew Troup, countertenor & Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez, piano UNDINE SMITH MOORE (1904-1989) Love, Let The Wind Cry Shawn Bartels, tenor & Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez, piano SUSAN LABARR (b. 1981) Grace Before Sleep Musica Viva NY choir Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez, Artistic Director This program is presented with the generous support of the Ida and William Rosenthal Foundation. This digital production was assisted by a matching donation led by Shu-Wie Chen and Bill Bechman.
—4—
ABOUT THE PROGRAM SONGS OF LAMENT AND PRAISE
I
t should not be noteworthy in 2021 to offer a program of music the bulk of which was composed by women, and yet, after hundreds of years of canonizing a certain type of composer, it is indeed just that. The work of these composers—these thoughtful, rangy, gifted composers, some celebrated, some still finding their way, some all-too-forgotten—are here, still among us, available to be sung, and it continues to matter a great deal. Another noteworthy aspect of the work is that most of it is American, owing much to the broad complexity and bristling hugger-mugger of life in this most varied and troubled experiment of a nation. This, too, should not be an event, and yet, with what is largely viewed as “the repertoire” almost always imported from Europe (at least for a good long time, especially throughout America’s gnawing pre-adolescence), simply performing works by our composers serves as novelty rather than a staple. And perhaps most notably, not all of these composers are white, which again is not noteworthy unto itself until one takes into context what was either lost or conveniently ignored, and then we are able to take a deeper, larger look at a more compelling and more honest artistic landscape. And as you will hear, so much can come of it. The first part of our program begins with a tribute to composer Hildegard von Bingen made by American composer Frank Ferko, a slice of his tenmovement fascination-cum-obsession with the 12th-century German mystic. After which, aptly, follow two songs from New York composer Gilda Lyons’ cycle on ancient texts Songs of Lament and Praise and one of Thea Musgrave’s A Suite o’Bairnsangs (examining tunes from her own Scottish childhood) and African-American composer Florence Price’s “Night,” a lustrous setting of a text by the little-known poet Louise C. Wallace, closing with British composer Elizabeth Poston’s “Jesus Christ the Apple Tree,” a choral traversal of an anonymous text possibly intended to be a carol. All of these pieces look backward, to antiquity, to centuries past, all made to be proleptic, to be “sung forward.” Immediately following, more from Ferko’s paean to Hildegard, more from Lyons, her unaccompanied “Lake Song” to a text by the recently departed Colette Inez, followed by Rebecca Clarke’s eschatological wrestle with the mysticism of William Butler Yeats’ “A Dream”, and a doleful Shakespeare setting by the late-20th-century, Chicago-based, composer Betty JacksonKing. Closing this portion, “Hold On,” Gilda Lyons’ contribution to the AIDS Quilt Songbook, a baleful rendering of a Puebloan prayer; and Jane M. Marshall’s vibrant choral setting of the words of Theresa of Calcutta, better known as Mother Theresa. —5—
ABOUT THE PROGRAM SONGS OF LAMENT AND PRAISE The final portion commences as the previous - another slab of Ferko’s Hildegard homage, which turns then to Texas-based composer Mary Carol Warwick’s “Hold My Hand”, Lori Laitman’s setting of America’s poet laureate Emily Dickinson (this her most famous yet no less gutting lyric “If I Can Stop One Heart From Breaking”) and Philadelphia-based composer Jennifer Higdon’s “To Home.” After which, we hear a sumptuous rendering of a poem by Sappho by Undine Smith Moore. Both Undine Moore and Betty Jackson King are African-American, and both warrant more attention (as these beautiful offerings from them will no doubt persuade). The program closes with Susan LaBarr’s all-the-more-heartbreaking (given the terms of our meeting) “Grace Before Sleep,” which opens with the query “How can our minds and bodies be / Grateful enough that we have spent / Here in this generous room / This evening of content?” How indeed. —Daniel Felsenfeld
COMPOSER BIOS Click on each composer’s name for more information about their lives and compositions. Frank Ferko Gilda Lyons Thea Musgrave Florence B. Price Elizabeth Poston Rebecca Clarke Betty Jackson-King Jane Marshall Mary Carol Warwick Lori Laitman Jennifer Higdon Undine Smith Moore Susan LaBarr —6—
MEET THE ARTISTS
F
ounded in 1977, Musica Viva NY is a chamber choir of thirty professionals and highly skilled volunteers, based in Manhattan’s historic All Souls Church. Its mission is to bring world-class music to a widening community through its annual concert series, community engagement programs, and an ambitious artistic vision. Under the baton of Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez since 2015, Musica Viva NY has been praised by The New York Times as an “excellent chorus.” Musica Viva NY has toured in France (2004), Germany (2006) and Italy (2012). Esteemed conductor and pianist Dr. Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez was named Artistic Director of Musica Viva NY and Director of Music of the historic Unitarian Church of All Souls in Manhattan in 2015. He is also Co-Founder of the New Orchestra of Washington and Artistic Director of the Victoria Bach Festival. He has earned accolades from The Washington Post as a conductor “with the incisive clarity of someone born to the idiom,” as well as praise from The New York Times for leading “a stirring performance” of Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem. At a concert commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the WWI Armistice (featuring the world premiere of Joseph Turrin’s cantata And Crimson Roses Once Again Be Fair) Oberon’s Grove wrote: “Maestro Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez drew rich, warm sounds from the musicians” in “a beautiful and deeply moving program.” He is featured in El mundo en las manos/Creadores mexicanos en el extranjero (The World in Their Hands/Creative Mexicans Abroad), a book by the Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs honoring Mexican nationals who are leading figures in diverse artistic fields. He is the recipient of a 2016 Shenandoah Conservatory Alumni of Excellence Award for his exemplary contribution to his profession, national level of prominence, and exceptional integrity. He resides in New York City and Washington, D.C. Trent Johnson is an organist, composer, pianist and conductor. He is the Organist and Assistant Director of Music of the Unitarian Church of All Souls in New York City and is the Music Director of the Oratorio Singers of Westfield, New Jersey. An active organ recitalist, Mr. Johnson has performed recitals in many of the major churches, concert halls and cathedrals in the United States, Europe and Asia. Some notable recital venues in New York have included the Riverside Church, St. Thomas’ Church 5th Avenue, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, and the Brick Presbyterian Church. He is an organist at Radio City Music Hall in NYC, where he plays the “Mighty Wurlitzer” organ for the Christmas Spectacular Show. —7—
MEET THE ARTISTS Danielle Buonaiuto’s performances have been praised for their “terrific clarity and color” (Baltimore Sun), her “entrancing and fluid” singing (DC Metro Theatre Arts), and her “ethereal vocals” that reveal “exquisite vocal technique and luscious colors” (OperaWire). Danielle maintains an active freelance schedule, presenting art song, performing chamber music, and appearing as soloist with symphonies and choirs throughout the United States and Canada. Though an accomplished performer of standard repertoire, she primarily focuses on working with contemporary composers, especially in commissioning new pieces and cultivating emerging composers. Her debut album, Marfa Songs, was released on Starkland in August 2020. Danielle is a founding member of ChamberQUEER, a Brooklyn-based chamber music series that highlights the music of LGBTQ+ composers. Canadian-born, she resides in Brooklyn. www.daniellebuonaiuto.com Soprano Erinn Sensenig graduated from Westminster Choir College with a BM in Music Education. As a student at Westminster, she sang with the New York Philharmonic, the Philadelphia Orchestra, and Berlin Philharmonic, and performed with Westminster Choir on tour and in residency at the Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC. She has performed as soprano soloist for Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle with Denton Bach Society, Mozart Requiem with Dallas Chamber Choir (cover). She performs annually as soprano soloist and choir member with the Victoria Bach Festival. She studied with Simon Carrington as a vocal fellow at Yale’s Norfolk Chamber Music Festival. She sings with several professional ensembles such as Vox Humana, Dallas Chamber Choir, Orpheus Chamber Singers, and is a founding member of Verdigris Ensemble, a new Dallas professional choir focused on world premiering unconventional, multidisciplinary performances. In addition to her performance schedule, Erinn maintains a private voice studio out of her home in Brooklyn. Mezzo-soprano Barbara Fusco-Spera is a native of Long Island. She is currently Head of Vocal Studies at LIU Post where she maintains a full studio. She enjoys an active freelance career in and around the Tri-state area and has performed concerts and solo recitals throughout the United States, Canada, South America, Europe, and Africa. Her teaching festival credits include the LIU Post Summer Chamber Music Festival, Midsummer Musique Festival in Québec, Canada, where she co-created the Vocal Program, and Respiro Opera of NYC. Ms. Fusco, a certified yoga —8—
MEET THE ARTISTS teacher, has developed “Yoga For The Creative Heart”. Her yoga program is also taught at these Festivals. She most recently presented her program for the Metropolitan Opera Guild, where she worked with their “Rising Stars” High School singers. a program for singers which is also taught at these festivals. Hailed as “a true contralto, with a big, deep, resonant projection that can fill a hall,” (New London Day) Heather Petrie is thrilled to join Musica Viva’s 2020-2021 season. As soloist she has appeared with the Oratorio Society of New York, the American Symphony Orchestra, Voices of Ascension, Sacred Music in a Sacred Space, and the New Orchestra of Washington, and performs frequently as a choral artist with many professional groups, including the Metropolitan Opera Extra Chorus. She holds degrees from Bard College and SUNY Purchase Conservatory. More information may be found at www.heatherpetriecontralto.com Shawn Bartels, tenor, is a native of Gillette, Wyoming. He has appeared as a soloist with Glimmerglass Opera, Carnegie Hall, the Brooklyn Academy of Music, Broomhill Opera, Skylight Opera, the Ensemble D’Opera European, the Victoria Bach Festival and the Apollo Theatre. He has been a soloist with Musica Viva NY since 1996. He received his Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the University of Northern Colorado and his Master in Music in Vocal Performance from Florida State University. Shawn is a member of the New York guitar-pop band Portraiture. Tenor Paul D’Arcy is in demand nationally as a soloist and chamber musician. Recent oratorio solo appearances include the Austin Symphony, Tucson Symphony, American Classical Orchestra, True Concord, and Ensemble viii. He has performed on numerous recordings for Harmonia Mundi, Reference Recordings, Naxos, and PBS, including the 2015 Grammy winning album, The Sacred Spirit of Russia with Conspirare. His most recent recording, Once Upon a Time (Skylark Ensemble), has been nominated for Best Choral Performance in the upcoming Grammys. Performances include the NY Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, American Classical Orchestra, Musica Sacra, St. John the Divine, Trinity Wall Street, Los Angeles Philharmonic, NYC Ballet, National Sawdust, Worldless Music at BAM, Essential Voices, San Diego Bach Collegium, Ensemble Origo, Seraphic Fire, Santa Fe Desert Chorale, Cape Cod Symphony, and Spire. —9—
MEET THE ARTISTS Andrew J. Troup, countertenor, is a freelance artist in the New York metropolitan area and is a regular soloist with Musica Viva NY in residence at All Souls Unitarian Church in New York. In addition, he has performed with several other local ensembles such as the choir at Middle Collegiate Church and the West Village Chorale, as well as several opera programs including the International Lyric Academy in Rome, Italy, the New York Opera Collaborative, and most recently in the Narnia Arts Festival in Narni, Italy during the 2017, 2018, and 2019 seasons. Bass-baritone David J. Baldwin is an Adjunct Voice Instructor at NYU Steinhardt. He holds an Advanced Certificate in Vocal Pedagogy from NYU, a Master of Music-Performance Studies degree from BGSU, and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Taylor University. David has performed solo roles with local opera companies including Opera on Tap, DiCapo Opera, New York Opera Exchange, Palisades Opera, and Martina Arroyo’s Prelude to Performance. He sang Tiresias in Bard Music Festival’s production of Stravinsky’s Oedipus Rex, and made his NYC Fringe Festival debut as James Otis in The Boston Tea Party Opera. Learn more at davidjbaldwin.com.
SAVE THE DATE FOR THE LAST CONCERT OF THE MUSICA VIVA NY 2020-2021 SEASON
Sunday May 16, 2021 at 5pm
A program of Schubert
— 10 —
TEXTS
Gilda Lyons (b. 1975) Songs of Lament & Praise I. Eve’s Lament There would be no ice in any place, no glistening windy winter, no hell, no sorrow, no fear, if not for me. —Anonymous (10th century)
II. Deirdre’s Lament O man that diggest the tomb, And that puttest my darling from me, Make not the grave too narrowI shall be soon beside my noble one. My time should not be long. —Anonymous (12th century)
Thea Musgrave (b. 1928) A suite o’Bairnsangs: No. 2 Daffodils The wind that blew last night, Made trees rear up their heads, And wrestle as it tried To steal the clothes from off their beds. It must have shaken the sun Whirling around the world For off his flaming fiery ball A few bright sparks it hurled And dropped them round the roots Of every breathless tree. Cool laughing pools of yellow light Daffodils, most fair to see. —Maurice Lindsay
Florence B. Price (1887-1953) Night Night comes, a Madonna clad in scented blue. Rose red her mouth and deep her eyes, She lights her stars, and turns to where, Beneath her silver lamp the moon, Upon a couch of shadow lies A dreamy child, The wearied Day. —Louise C. Wallace — 11 —
TEXTS
Elizabeth Poston (1905-1987) Jesus Christ the Apple Tree The tree of life my soul hath seen, Laden with fruit and always green; The trees of nature fruitless be, Compared with Christ the Apple Tree.
With great delight I’ll make my stay, There’s none shall fright my soul away; Among the sons of men I see There’s none like Christ the Appletree.
His beauty doth all things excel, By faith I know but ne’er can tell The glory which I now can see, In Jesus Christ the Appletree. For happiness I long have sought, And pleasure dearly I have bought; I missed of all but now I see ‘Tis found in Christ the Appletree. I’m weary with my former toil Here I will sit and rest awhile, Under the shadow I will be, Of Jesus Christ the Appletree.
I’ll sit and eat this fruit divine, It cheers my heart like spirit’al wine; And now this fruit is sweet to me, That grows on Christ the Appletree. This fruit doth make my soul to thrive, It keeps my dying faith alive; Which makes my soul in haste to be With Jesus Christ the Appletree.
Gilda Lyons: Lake Song Every day our name is changed, say stones colliding into waves. Go read our names on the shore, say waves colliding into stones. Birds over water call their names to each other again and again to say where they are. Where have you been, my small bird? I know our names will change one day
to stones in a field of anemones and lavender. Before you read the farthest wave, before our shadows disappear in a starry blur, call out your name to say where we are. — Colette Inez
— 12 —
TEXTS
Rebecca Clarke (1886-1979) A Dream I dreamed that one had died in a strange place Near no accustomed hand, And they had nailed the boards above her face, The peasants of that land, Wondering to lay her in that solitude, And raised above her mound A cross they had made out of two
bits of wood, And planted cypress round; And left her to the indifferent stars above Until I carved these words: She was more beautiful than thy first love, But now lies under boards. —W.B. Yeats
Betty Jackson-King (1928-1994) In the Springtime “In the spring time, the only pretty ring time When birds do sing, hey ding a ding a ding; Sweet lovers love the spring.
Gilda Lyons Hold On Hold on to what is good, even if it’s a handful or earth. Hold on to what you believe, even if it’s a tree that stands by itself. Hold on to what you must do, even if it’s a long way from here. Hold on to your life, even if it’s easier to let go. Hold on to my hand, even if I’ve gone away from you. —Pueblo Indian prayer
— 13 —
TEXTS
Jane Marshall (1924-2019) Words from Two Women: II The fruit of silence is prayer. The fruit of prayer is faith. The fruit of faith is love. The fruit of love is service. The fruit of service is peace.
Mary Carol Warwick (b. 1939) Hold My Hand Sing, o sad sweet songs of sorrow There’s time enough for that tomorrow Come instead and hold my hand Speak of pleasure, past and planned For moments few are moments gold For what we give is all we hold —Unattributed
Lori Laitman (b. 1955) Four Dickinson Songs: 4, If I… If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain; If I can ease one life the aching, Or cool one pain, Or help one fainting robin Unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain. —Emily Dickinson
— 14 —
TEXTS
Jennifer Higdon (b. 1962) To Home strings in sweet air the pines do sing under pointed lights of stars my heart has wings for my love has crossed my path ahead of me tonight as we wander through the woods under moon and evening’s light whippoor wills call I hear her voice ahead sweetly call my name to home to crawl in bed text by composer
Undine Smith Moore: (1904-1989) Love let the wind cry On the dark mountain, Bending the ash trees And the tall hemlocks With the great voice of Thunderous legions, How I adore thee. Let the hoarse torrent In the blue canyon, Murmuring mightily Out of the gray mist Of primal chaos Cease not proclaiming How I adore thee. Let the long rhythm Of crunching rollers, Breaking and bursting On the white seaboard Titan and tireless, Tell, while the world stands, How I adore thee.
Green as the young grass, Mark with his trilling Resonant bell-note, How I adore thee. Let the glad lark-song Over the meadow, That melting lyric Of molten silver, Be for a signal To listening mortals, How I adore thee. But, more than all sounds, Surer, serener, Fuller of passion And exultation, Let the hushed whisper In thine own heart say, How I adore thee. —Sappho
Love, let the clear call Of the tree cricket, Frailest of creatures, — 15 —
TEXTS
Susan LaBarr (b 1981) Grace Before Sleep How can our minds and bodies be grateful enough that we have spent, here in this generous room, this evening of content. Each one of us has walked through storm and fled the wolves along the road. Here the hearth is wide and warm, but here the hearth is wide and warm. And for this shelter and this light, accept, O Lord, our thanks tonight. —Sara Teasdale adapted by the composer All texts printed here are covered under Fair Use for educational purposes.
MUSICA VIVA NY Roster of Virtual Choir Performers SOPRANO Shabnam Abedi* Kate Wolfe Johnson Emily Mikesell Reldalee Wagner Sarah Worthington Jianing Zhang* ALTO Barbara Fusco-Spera* Dinah Nissen Andrew Troup*
TENOR Shawn Bartels* Paul D’Arcy* Nathan Siler* BASS Erik Anstine* David Baldwin* James Dargan* Bryan McNamara Harold Norris Augustus Young *Section leader
— 16 —
MUSICA VIVA NY Staff Artistic
Administrative
Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez Conductor and Artistic Director Trent Johnson Assistant Director of Music
Danielle Buonaiuto Executive Director Bryan McNamara Production and Chorus Manager Dinah Nissen, Esq. Marketing Director Barbara de Bellis Librarian Hannah Nacheman Digital Marketing Consultant
Board of Directors Melanie Niemiec President Bill Bechman Vice President Winnie Olsen Secretary
Lisa O’Brien, Esq. Treasurer Constance Beavon Shu-Wie Chen Dinah Nissen, Esq. Harold Norris
Kate Phillips David Rockefeller, Jr. Thomas Simpson
Advisory Board Seymour Bernstein Laurel Blossom Renée Fleming
Galen Guengerich Susan Jolles Walter Klauss Artistic Director Emeritus
Jean-Louis Petit Bruce Saylor
Follow us on Facebook and Instagram for photos, videos, and more facebook.com/musicavivany
— 17 —
@musicavivany
MUSICA VIVA NY PATRON SUPPORT LEVELS FOR OUR 2020-21 SEASON
B
ecome a Patron of Musica Viva NY today! We need your generous contributions to support the outstanding concerts and outreach programming of the Musica Viva NY choir and instrumentalists. There is a level for every budget, and you will enjoy special benefits as a measure of our thanks. Your contribution can be made as a one-time gift, or on a recurring basis.
PATRON LEVELS APPASSIONATO $10,000 and above ⚫ Up to four Musica Viva NY soloists will perform at your private event in the NYC area ⚫ Invitation to a dinner featuring a special performance by the Artistic Director ⚫ Invitation to special Patron reception ⚫ Six complimentary season subscriptions ⚫ Reserved seating CON FUOCO $5,000 to $9,999 ⚫ A Musica Viva NY soloist will perform at your private event in the NYC area ⚫ Invitation to a dinner featuring a special performance by the Artistic Director ⚫ Invitation to special Patron reception ⚫ Five complimentary season subscriptions ⚫ Reserved seating
CON BRIO $3,000 to $4,999 ⚫ Invitation to a dinner featuring a special performance by the Artistic Director ⚫ Invitation to special Patron reception ⚫ Three complimentary season subscriptions ⚫ Reserved seating RISOLUTO $1,000 to $2,999 ⚫ Invitation to special Patron reception ⚫ Three complimentary season subscriptions ⚫ Reserved seating ESPRESSIVO $500 to $999 ⚫ Invitation to special Patron reception ⚫ Two complimentary season subscriptions ⚫ Preferred seating CANTABILE $100 to $499 ⚫ Invitation to special Patron reception ⚫ Preferred seating DOLCE $25 to $99 ⚫ Acknowledgment in program at all levels — 18 —
MUSICA VIVA NY PATRONS 2020-21
W
e are deeply grateful to our Patrons listed below for their support of our 2020-2021 season. Thank you for joining us! Your support for our outstanding Musica Viva NY artists, our high-caliber, innovative choral and chamber music performances, and our educational outreach is vital and essential. Holly Drew George Dorsey Galen Guengerich & Holly Atkinson Patricia T. Hayot & Ricardo A. Mestres Jr. Pamela Healey Cherie Henderson & David Poppe Kell Julliard and Harold Norris Winnie Olsen Christopher Rothko Aracy & Klaus Winter
Corporate and Foundation Support Gunleif Jacobsen and Thomas Simpson Charitable Fund The Ida & William Rosenthal Foundation The Women’s Alliance Appassionato $10,000 and above Susan & David Rockefeller, Jr. Melanie & David Niemiec Con Fuoco $5,000 to $9,999 Don & Georgia Gogel Jennifer Shotwell Tom Simpson Con Brio $3,000 to $4,999 Catherine & Robert Brawer Shu-Wie Chen Dinah Nissen & Elizabeth Apelles Madonna K. Starr, In Memory of Evelynn C. Gioiella Brenda Walker & Peter Swords Susan Witter Risoluto $1,000 - $2,999 Constance Beavon Bill Bechman & Tom Garlock, In Honor of Marilynn Scott Murphy Stillman B. Brown & Meg Raftis Lisa & Richard Cashin Grace Cho & Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez
Espressivo $500 - $999 Lynne & Richard Allen Astrid & John Baumgardner Barbara de Bellis, In Memory of Greta Minsky Christina Bellamy Heli & Tom Blum Robin Bossert Dixie Goss & Dan Cryer Lois Gaeta, In Memory of David Remember Baker Rev. Richard Leonard Carri Lyon, In Honor of Dinah Nissen Suzanne May Marilynn Scott Murphy Kate Phillips Judy Samuelson & Vic Henschel Epp Sonin
— 19 —
MUSICA VIVA NY PATRONS 2020-21 Karen Steele Deborah Taylor Beverly Benz & Philippe Treuille, In Honor of Melanie Niemiec and Musica Viva NY Ned Whitney & Martha Howell Cantabile $100 - $499 Four Anonymous Donors Sylvia Agostini Mark Barth, In Honor of Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez Michelle M. Boston Anne Brewer Teresa Brooks Anne Buonaiuto Judy Chang Miles Chapin Michelle Demko Marye Elmlinger & Eric Lamm Sandra Lotz Fisher Joan Flesch, In Memory of Inez Miller Molly O’Neil Frank Linda Francke, In Honor of Dinah Nissen June Freemanzon Barclay Griffiths Mary Gundermann Bonnie Hetzel Barbara Hosein, In Honor of Alejandro Hernandez-Valdez Nancy Jacobson Michele Rodin Jawin Peggy Kampmeier & Ed Harsh Christie Noelle Krase Carol Kirkman
Susan & Stephen Langley Margaret MacCary Teresa Manzella James Moskin Lisa O’Brien Paul & Randi Olsen Annette Porter Lynne S. Randall Erik Resurreccion & Alice Heminway Gayle S. Sanders Erich Scherer Heather Steans Hanan Watson Jerilyn Watson Richard White Elizabeth Millard Whitman Yeardley Williams, In Honor of Gail & Biddle Worthington Doug Wingo Rachel Ziemba Dolce $25 - $99 Three Anonymous Donors Shellie Bailkin Louise Barbrack Jean & Shawn Bartels Lindsey Blackhurst Barbara Blair Danielle Buonaiuto Muriel Carlson-Simon Elizabeth Clancy, In Memory of Betty Clancy Catherine Corkill Ivana Edwards Christine Foland Christine Goodwin
— 20 —
MUSICA VIVA NY PATRONS 2020-21 Erika Mikkelsen Halford Dana Ivey Carolyn Jackson Allyn Keiser Linda Kvam Amy Legge John Liebmann, Jr. Lila G. McFarlin Bryan McNamara Tara McNamara Judith Moldover Peggy Montgomery John T. Moran Diane Mullman Adrienne Navon Aida Nema George Nissen Ellen Olsen
Pam Ondracek Marci Resnicoff Pam Richardson Audra & Matthew Robb, In Honor of David Robb Nancy Simmons Arelis Torres, In Honor of Abuela Encarnita Phyllis Trager Andrew Troup Paula Viscogliosi
This list reflects gifts received from June 1, 2020 - February 17, 2021.
Virtual Event Matching Campaign Many thanks to the following donors for their generous support for our recording and production of our digital performances this season.
Bill Bechman & Tom Garlock* Christina Bellamy Bob & Cathy Brawer Anne Buonaiuto Shu-Wie Chen* Molly O’Neil Frank Mary Gundermann Miriam Michel Dinah Nissen & Elizabeth Apelles
Lisa O’Brien Winnie Olsen Annette Porter Deborah Taylor Rachel Ziemba Two anonymous donors *Matching donor
— 21 —
SUPPORT MUSICA VIVA NY We are close to achieving our goal to raise $100,000 through our VIVA LA MUSICA campaign to support our programming and our community engagement activities. We need to raise about $3000 to reach our goal - please help us get all the way there by making a donation at musicaviva.org/support-us or clicking here.
To find out more about other ways to support Musica Viva NY (including employer matching, volunteering, and monthly giving) please contact our Executive Director at dbuonaiuto@musicaviva.org.
SPONSOR MUSICA VIVA NY There are many opportunities to play a role in bringing Musica Viva NY’s season to life as a sponsor, including: ⚫ Underwriting a concert ⚫ Underwriting the appearance of a professional singer or orchestra member ⚫ Underwriting an appearance by the Aeolus Quartet ⚫ Underwriting an intimate post-concert reception with the artists
Naming opportunities are available for sponsors. Contact Danielle Buonaiuto, Executive Director at dbuonaiuto@musicaviva.org.
We hope you’ll join us for our post-concert reception! The Zoom link is in your email. — 22 —
Musica Viva NY is extremely grateful for the following help with its 2020-21 season from:
All Souls Unitarian Church (www.AllSoulsNYC.org) for Musica Viva NY’s meeting, rehearsal, performance, and reception spaces as well as for the facilities and events staff who help make all productions run smoothly
Greater than One (www.greaterthanone.com) for Musica Viva NY’s website and publicity design
Heart & Soul Fund, Inc. for its longtime support of our outreach programming
We are deeply grateful to Nathan Siler/pLafond music and David Gradin for editing all digital media files used in this performance.
Musica Viva NY 1157 Lexington Avenue New York, NY 10075
212 794 3646 info@musicaviva.org