Belmont University School of Music presents
E P H E M E R A
Chamber Singers & Bel Canto
Dr. Deen Entsminger, conductor | Dr. Lesley Mann, conductor
Chamber Singers
Dr. Deen Entsminger, conductor
Belmont University School of Music
Sicut Cervus Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594)
No Mark Cecil Effinger (1914-1990)
Lily Chantler, oboe
My Heart of Gold Traditional English arr. Entsminger*
Aliyah Wenneker, harp
Our Last Goodbye Deen Entsminger* (b. 1950)
Michelle Carr, piano
All Blessings Flow Deen Entsminger* (b. 1950)
Belmont Ringers Handbell Ensemble
Dr. Richard Hoffman, director
Sunday, March 30, 2025
5:00 PM
McAfee Concert hall
Festival te Deum
Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
Dr. Stephen Cook* , organ
In Gratitude Deen Entsminger* (b. 1950)
Faith Cordle, piano
That Lonesome Road James Taylor (b. 1948)
*SchoolofMusicFaculty
Bel Canto
Dr. Lesley Mann, conductor Evan Barrett, piano
Today’s Bel Canto program explores Ephemera - the people, places, ideas, events, and other things that exist in our lives for a brief time, but which leave a profound impact. Exploring this concept has allowed our singers to delve into the concepts of mindfulness, gratitude, and self-actualization. We begin with the brevity of a single day in Rheinberger’ s “Abendlied,” then move into the impermanence of life with “Stardust” and “No Time.” In “There Will Come Soft Rains,” Sara Teasedale’s poetry appears to portray serene, peaceful imagery of nature, until the listener realizes that this peace exists due to the absence of humanity following a war. Kevin Memley’s arrangement is a haunting warning to protect our natural world. We move next to the electrifying “Sing, Wearing the Sky,” which sets the words of Lalla, a fourteenth century Sufi-mystic poet. In this text, our singers have embraced the metaphor of dancing naked as an empowering directive to shed the trappings of internal and external pressures and become their most authentic, vulnerable, beautiful selves. We close with “He Lives in You,” from Broadway’ s The Lion King, as we consider and celebrate all the beautiful souls who remain with us even after passing through our lives.
Program notes by Dr. Lesley Mann, School of Music Faculty
Day
Abendlied
Abendlied Evening Song
Bleib bei uns, den we will Abend warden, und der Tag hat sich geneiget.
Stardust
Josef Rheinberger arr. Nadezhda Averina
Stay with us, for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent.
Life
Carlos Duran, djembe
B.E. Boykin (b. 1989)
In “Stardust,” the singers call for “a home where we can run” in memory of Ahmaud Arbery, “a home where we can pray” in memory of the victims of the Mother Emanuel shooting, “ a home where we can breathe” in memory of George Floyd, and a home “to sleep and dream without fear” in memory of Breonna Taylor. When we sing, we pray twice, and it is my prayer that this piece stirs all who hear it to call for justice for the people of color taken from this world before their time and without concern for their humanity. “If we are only stardust, let your names reach to the sky above us. Like petals wafting on a breeze, we lift you up beyond our reach.”
No Time
There Will Come Soft Rains
Sing, Wearing the Sky
Place
Lily Chantler, oboe
Meditation
Abby Everett, mezzo-soprano
Rocco Greco, violin
Carlos Duran, percussion
Lineage
He Lives in You
Susan Brumfield
Kevin Memley (b. 1971)
Jake Runestad (b. 1986)
Elton John arr. James R. Wigginton*
Kiara Valladares, Gianna Giegerich, Ela Palmer, and Jules Turknett, soloists
Madelyn Duncan, Carlos Duran, George Graefen, Rocco Greco, Kara Schlenk, Mason Sowder, Claire Walker, instrumentalists
*SchoolofMusicFaculty
Upcoming Concerts and Events
Chamber Strings
Monday, March 31, 7:30 p.m. Harton Recital Hall
CMPA Awards Day
Wednesday, April 2, 10:00 a.m. Massey Concert Hall
Commercial Guitar Ensembles I and II
Wednesday, April 2, 7:30 p.m.
Opera Theatre: Pinocchio & Hansel and Gretel
Thursday, April 3, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, April 4, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, April 5, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, April 6, 2:00 p.m. Troutt Theater
Tickets for this event are required and can be reserved through the Belmont Box Office
Join Belmont University’ s College of Music Arts for Sounds of Belmont: The 35th Annual President’ s Concert & Reception on Saturday, April 12th in the Fisher Center at Belmont University. Experience an evening of stories and songs to support our talented students. The concert will begin at 6:30 p.m. followed by a festive dessert reception for all guests and performers. The purchase of a ticket to this concert and reception will benefit endowed music and theatre scholarship funds for students in the college. Premier works from the College of Music and Performing Arts Fall 2024-Spring 2025 performance season will be showcased. This concert and reception is celebrating its thirty-fifth year (formerly the President’ s Concert and Reception).
For more information on upcoming concerts and events, please visit www.belmont.edu/cmpa or “like” Belmont University School of Music on Facebook.
