RIDER UNIVERSITY
Westminster Choir College
AN EVE NING O F
Readings Carols AND
December 10 and 11, 2021 Princeton University Chapel
Westminster Choir College of Rider University’s An Evening of Readings and Carols is a fusion of two great Christmas traditions from England and the United States. The Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols from King’s College Cambridge, which began in 1918, has proved to be one of the most influential liturgical events of the 20th century with iterations being mounted in churches, chapels and cathedrals around the world. When James Jordan first established Westminster’s An Evening of Readings and Carols in 1992, it was based on the King’s College service and performed in Bristol Chapel on the Westminster campus. In response to the growing demand for tickets, Westminster’s Readings and Carols moved to the Princeton University Chapel, and the synergy with King’s College grew deeper. When Princeton University’s chapel was completed in the 1920s, it stood as the second largest collegiate chapel in the world, sitting behind only King’s College Chapel in its dimensions. Its choir stalls are hewn from English oak, and its design is set in the Gothic tradition of medieval English architecture. — James Whitbourn
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An Evening of Readings and Carols Vinroy D. Brown, Jr. ’15 Lynnel Joy Jenkins ’94 James Jordan Steven Pilkington Kathleen Ebling Shaw ’85 Tom T. Shelton, Jr. Jason Vodicka ’03, ’09 WESTMINSTER ALUMNI CHOIR WESTMINSTER CHAPEL CHOIR WESTMINSTER CONCERT BELL CHOIR WESTMINSTER JUBILEE SINGERS WESTMINSTER SCHOLA CANTORUM WESTMINSTER SYMPHONIC CHOIR WESTMINSTER WILLIAMSON VOICES TREBLE ENSEMBLE Guest Artists Martha Cook Davidson, ’75, ’81, reader
Laquita Mitchell ’99, soprano
Clara Gerdes, organ
Arcia Stokes ’12, ’15, reader
Sean McCarther, reader
Solid Brass
Please note the unauthorized use of any recording device, either audio or video, and the taking of photographs, either with or without flash, is strictly prohibited by law. Out of courtesy to the performers and everyone in the audience, please refrain from using cell phones and electronic devices.
*We invite all who are willing and able to stand and join in singing. The audience is asked to withhold all applause until after the recessional.
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PRELUDE arr. Elizabeth DiSavino
Medieval Ceremonial Music Solid Brass
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 – 1750)
Wachet Auf, BWV 645 Clara Gerdes, organ Piae Cantiones Gaudete
arr. Michael J. Glasgow Westminster Concert Bell Choir George F. Handel (1685 – 1759) arr. Douglas D. Haislip
Judas Maccabeus Hallelujah, Amen! Solid Brass
Andrew Carter (b. 1939)
Toccata on Veni Emmanuel Clara Gerdes, organ
PROGRAM John Jacob Niles (1892 – 1980) arr. Steven Pilkington
I Wonder as I Wander Sienna Grinwald-Alves, mezzo-soprano Westminster Chapel Choir Westminster Schola Cantorum Missa Carolae Introit Kyrie
James Whitbourn (b. 1963) Westminster Alumni Choir Westminster Symphonic Choir Clara Gerdes, organ Solid Brass Maryrose Canevari, soprano Alexandra Thomas, soprano Olivia Dunleavy, piccolo Andrew Chojnacki, percussion
Bidding
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Steven Pilkington
CAROL: O Come, O Come Emmanuel* All: O come, O come, Emmanuel And ransom captive Israel, That mourns in lonely exile here, Until the Son of God appear:
Veni Emmanuel arr. Carter
Refrain: Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel. Women: O come, thou Dayspring, come and cheer Our spirits by thine advent here; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death’s dark shadows put to flight: Refrain All: O come thou Key of David, come, And open wide our heav’nly home; Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery: Refrain O come, O come, thou Lord of Might, Who to thy tribes on Sinai’s height, In ancient times did give the law In cloud and majesty and awe: Refrain Ariel Ramirez (1921 – 2010)
Gloria from Misa Criolla Westminster Choir Zoe Beaton, alto Charles Ibsen, tenor Ashley Reinhardt, cello Mark Johnstone, guitar Ruihang Zeng, piano Lucas Waitkus, Ben Kirk, percussion
Christmas Eve – Sarajevo 12/24 O’Neill/Kinkel arr. Hart Morris Westminster Concert Bell Choir Ashley Reinhardt, cello
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arr. John Rutter
Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day Westminster Williamson Voices Treble Ensemble Adri Barnett, soprano Jaeyeon Chung, accompanist CAROL: O Come, All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fidelis)* All: O come, all ye faithful, Joyful and triumphant, O Come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem; Come and behold him Born the King of Angels:
J. F. Wade (c. 1711 – 1786) arr. Sir David Willcocks
Refrain: O come, let us adore him, O come let us adore him, O come let us adore him, Christ the Lord! God of God, Light of Light, Lo! He abhors not the Virgin’s womb; Very God, Begotten, not created: Refrain Sing, choirs of angels, Sing in exultation, Sing, all ye citizens of heav’n above; Glory to God in the highest: Refrain Yea, Lord, we greet thee, Born this happy morning, Jesu, to thee be glory giv’n. Word of the Father, Now in flesh appearing: Refrain READING: For So the Children Come
Sophia Lyon Fahs (1876 – 1978)
Sean McCarther, associate professor of Voice Acting Chair, Theatre and Dance
The Ballad of the Brown King III. Sing Alleluia IV. Mary Had a Little Baby Laquita Mitchell ’99, soprano Westminster Jubilee Singers Zackary D. Ross, ’16, accompanist
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Margaret Bonds (1913 – 1972)
English Traditional arr. Phillip M. Young
Sussex Carol Westminster Concert Bell Choir
Mack Wilberg (b. 1955)
Jubilate Deo Westminster Symphonic Choir Clara Gerdes, organ Solid Brass CAROL: Hark The Herald Angels Sing* All: Hark! the herald angels sing Glory to the new-born King! Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled! Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With the angelic host proclaim Christ is born in Bethlehem! Hark! the herald angels sing Glory to the new-born King!
Felix Mendelssohn (1809 – 1947) arr. Willcocks
Christ, by highest heaven adored, Christ, the everlasting Lord, late in time behold him come, offspring of a virgin’s womb. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see; hail, the incarnate deity, pleased as Man with to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel! Hark! the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King. Hail, the heaven-born Prince of peace! Hail the Son of righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, risen with healing in his wings. Mild he lays his glory by, born that man no more may die, born to raise the sons of earth, born to give them second birth. Hark! the herald angels sing, Glory to the newborn King.
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READING: Christmas Eve Martha Cook Davidson ’75, ’81 (December 10) Arcia Stokes ’12,’15 (December 11)
Edward Searl
Dan Forrest (b. 1978)
Festival First Nowell Westminster Alumni Choir Westminster Chapel Choir Westminster Schola Cantorum Westminster Symphonic Choir Solid Brass Clara Gerdes, organ
Adolphe Adam (1803 – 1856) arr. Rutter
O Holy Night Laquita Mitchell, soprano Westminster Alumni Choir Westminster Chapel Choir Westminster Schola Cantorum Westminster Symphonic Choir Clara Gerdes, organ
Polish Carol arr. Roger Ames
W Zlobie Lezy Westminster Chapel Choir Westminster Schola Cantorum Silent Night
Franz Gruber (1787 – 1863) arr. Ryan James Brandau Westminster Alumni Choir Westminster Chapel Choir Westminster Schola Cantorum Westminster Symphonic Choir
Ringing in the Season Westminster Concert Bell Choir CAROL: Joy to the World* All: Joy to the world! the Lord is come: let earth receive her King; let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.
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Antioch arr. Ken Cowan
Joy to the world the Savior reigns; let men their songs employ, while fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains repeat the sounding joy, repeat the sounding joy, repeat, repeat the sounding joy. He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove the glories of his righteousness, and wonders of his love, and wonders of his love, and wonders, and wonders of his love.
RECESSIONAL AND POSTLUDE Joel Phillips (b. 1958)
L’année d’or Clara Gerdes, organ Solid Brass
Postlude on Mendelssohn Willcocks Clara Gerdes, organ
Texts and Translations I Wonder as I Wander I wonder as I wander out under the sky How Jesus the Saviour did come for to die. For poor on’ry people like you and like I; I wonder as I wander out under the sky
John Jacob Niles arr. Steven Pilkington
When Mary birthed Jesus ‘twas in a cow’s stall With wise men and farmers and shepherds and all But high from God’s heaven, a star’s light did fall And the promise of ages it then did recall. If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing A star in the sky or a bird on the wing Or all God’s angels in heaven to sing He surely could have it, ‘cause he was the King.
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Missa Carolae Introit and Kyrie Guillo, play your tambourin, Robin with your flute begin, Play your pipe and play your drum, Tu-re-lu-re-lu, Pa-ta-pa-ta-pan! Play your pipe and play your drum. Sing Nowell to all and some! Man of ancient days, he sings In praise of the King of kings, When you hear the pipe and drum, Tu-re-lu-re-lu, Pa-ta-pa-ta-pan! When you hear the pipe and drum You will know that the Saviour’s come. For unto us a child is born, Unto us a son is given: And the government shall be upon his shoulder: And his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Dance and sing and leap with joy At the birth of the infant boy. Dance with pipe and dance with drum. Tu-re-lu-re-lu, Pa-ta-pa-ta-pan! Dance with pipe and dance with drum For unto us is born a Son. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, Upon them hath the light, the light shined. Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison. Kyrie eleison. Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us.
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James Whitbourn
Ariel Ramirez
Misa Criolla Gloria Gloria a Dios En las alturas Y en la tierra Paz a los hombres Que ama el Señor
Glory to God In the highest, And on earth Peace, among men Who love the Lord.
Te alabamos Te bendecimos Te adoramos Glorificamos Te damos gracias Por tu inmensa gloria Señor Dios, Rey Celestial
We praise you, We bless you, We worship you, We glorify you, We give you thanks For your great glory. Lord, King, God of heaven,
Dios, Padre Todopoderoso Señor, Hijo Único, Jesucristo Señor Dios, cordero de Dios Hijo del Padre Tú que quitas los pecados del mundo Ten piedad de nosotros Tú que quitas los pecados del mundo Atiende nuestras suplicas Tú que reinas con el Padre Ten piedad de nosotros De nosotros
Father almighty: Lord, Lord, only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, You who take away the sin of the world, Have mercy on us; You who take away the sin of the world. Receive our prayer, You who rules with the Father, Have mercy on us. On us.
Gloria a Dios En las alturas Y en la tierra Paz a los hombres Que ama el Señor
Glory to God In the highest, And on earth Peace, among men Who love the Lord.
Porque tú Solo eres santo Solo tú Señor tú solo Tú solo Altísimo Jesucristo Con el Espíritu Santo En la gloria de Dios Padre
For you alone Are holy, You alone Are Lord, Only you high Jesus Christ, With the Holy Spirit In the glory of God the Father.
Amén.
Amen.
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Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day
arr. John Rutter
Tomorrow shall be my dancing day; I would my true love did so chance To see the legend of my play, To call my true love to my dance; Sing, oh! my love, oh! my love, my love, my love, This have I done for my true love. Then was I born of a virgin pure, Of her I took fleshly substance Thus was I knit to man’s nature To call my true love to my dance. Sing, oh! my love, oh! my love, my love, my love, This have I done for my true love. In a manger laid, and wrapped I was So very poor, this was my chance Betwixt an ox and a silly poor ass To call my true love to my dance. Sing, oh! my love, oh! my love, my love, my love, This have I done for my true love. The Ballad of the Brown King (1956, 1960) III. Sing Alleluia Sing Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia to our King! IV. Mary Had a Little Baby Mary Had a Little Baby Jesus, that was his name. All the world became much brighter When little Jesus, the Christ-child came. That was in a lowly manger, Outside the night was cold. But within that lowly manger, Behold how warm is love is; Oh, Behold!
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Margaret Bonds
Mary had a little baby, In the night a bright star shone. I am lost, so lost and lonely, Nevermore shall be alone. Version for Strings, Harp, and Organ (2018) Libretto: Langston Hughes (1901 – 1967) Edition: Malcolm J. Merriweather (b. 1985) Mack Wilberg
Jubilate Deo Jubilate, Jubilate Deo, Omnis terra: Servite Domino in laetitia!
Shout joyfully to the Lord, All the earth; Serve the Lord with gladness!
Introite in conspectu ejus In exultatione. Scitote quoniam Dominus ipse est Deus: Ipse fecit nos, et non ipse nos; Populus ejus, Et oves pascuae ejus. Introite portas ejus in confessione, Atria ejus in hymnis: confitemini illi. Laudate, Laudate nomen ejus. Jubilate, jubilate Deo, omnis terra.
Come before him with joyful song. Know that the Lord is God; It is he that made us, and not us ourselves; His people, And the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, His courts with praise: Give thanks to him. Praise him, praise his name. Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.
O Holy Night O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the night of the dear Saviour’s birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining. Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices! O night divine, O night when Christ was born.
Adolphe Adam arr. Rutter
Led by the light of faith serenely beaming, With glowing hearts by his cradle we stand. So, led by light of a star sweetly gleaming, Here came the wise men from the Orient land. The King of Kings lay thus in lowly manger; In all our trials born to be our friend. He knows our need, to our weakness no stranger, Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
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Truly he taught us to love one another, His law is love and his Gospel is peace. Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother, And in his name all oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we, Let all within us praise his holy name. Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we, His power and glory ever more proclaim! Festival First Nowell
Dan Forrest
The first Nowell the angels did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; In fields where they lay, keeping their sheep, On a cold winter’s night that was so deep: Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Born is the King of Israel. They looked up and saw a star shining in the east beyond them far; And to the earth it gave great light, and so it continued both day and night. Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Born is the King of Israel. Then let us all with one accord Sing praises to our heav’nly Lord That hath made heav’n and earth of nought, And with His blood mankind hath bought Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Born is the King of Israel. W Zlobie Lezy Wzlobie lezy ktoz pobiezy kolodowac malemu? Jezu sowi Chrystuso Dzis donasze slanemu Pastuszkowie przybywajcie jako panu naszemu. My zas sami zpiosneczemi, Zawami pospieszymy. Atak Tego Mallenkiego Niechwszyscy zobaczymy. Jaku bogo narodzony, placze wstajni polozony, Wiecgo dzis ucieszymy.
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Polish Carol arr. Roger Ames
Infant Holy, Infant Lowly Infant holy, Infant lowly, For his bed a cattle stall; Oxen lowing, Little knowing Christ the Babe is Lord of all. Swift are winging Angels singing, Nowells ringing, Tidings bringing, Christ the Babe is Lord of all, Christ the Babe is Lord of all. Silent Night Silent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright round yon virgin, mother and child. Holy infant so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.
Franz Gruber arr. Ryan James Brandau
Silent night, holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight; glories stream from heaven afar; heav’nly hosts sing alleluia! Christ, the Savior, is born, Christ, the Savior, is Born! Silent night, holy night! Son of God, love’s pure light radiant beams from Thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at Thy birth.
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About the Artists WESTMINSTER SYMPHONIC CHOIR James Jordan, conductor Marion Jacob, graduate assistant conductor Ruihang Zeng, graduate assistant conductor Samuel Stephenson, graduate assistant conductor Jocelyn Alam, Mendham, NJ
Summer Rae Kuhns, Anchorage, AK
Hayley Ashe, Quakertown, PA
Michelle Kwok, Hong Kong, China
Manuel Barbará, Princeton, NJ
Robert Lapore Jr, Elizabeth, NJ
Alicia Barry, Huntingdon Valley, PA
Shayna Lee, Brea, CA
Samantha Belinski, Yardley, PA
Robin Lim, Seoul, South Korea
Felicia Betts, Mays Landing, NJ
Jade Lin, Xiamen, China
Azhaneet Blackwell, Trenton, NJ
Natasha McFarland Rhoads, Spring City, PA
Victoria Borrelli, Berlin, NJ
Rachel McNamara, North Attleboro, MA
Karina Bruno, Westfield, MA
Jordan Mongell, North Andover, MA
Terri Brunson, Newark, DE
Gregory Nappa, Newton, NJ
Maryrose Canevari, Pawling, NY
Sophia Obando, Wharton, NJ
Michaela Carey, York, PA
Craig Peters, Palmerton, PA
Andrew Chojnacki, Delran, NJ
Anthony Pinkerton, Orlando, FL
Joseph Cocozziello, Brooklyn, NY
Kyra Pitagno, Stonybrook, NY
Grace Comeau, Bristow, VA
Lydia Reifsnyder, Mount Desert, ME
Samuel Day, Narragansett, RI
Ashley Reinhardt, Stroudsburg, PA
Desireé DeMelfi, Shirley, NY
Joseph Richwine, Dillsburg, PA
Emily DeMerchant, Toronto, Canada
Grace Rykaczewski, Moorestown, NJ
Skylar Derthick, Camas, WA
Isabelle Schelbaum, Princeton, NJ
Tiun Duong, Richmond, VA
Jenna Sims, Reno, NV
Amanda Duspiva, Holbrook, NY
Ellie Smolyaninova, Brooklyn, NY
Danielle Etcheverry, Moorpark, CA
Kyle St. Sauveur, Simsbury, CT
Mary Fetterman, Boyertown, PA
Thomas Stella, Plainsboro, NJ
Abigail Flanagan, Scotch Plains, NJ
Samuel Stephenson, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Debbie-Ann Francis, The Bronx, NY
Cassandra Sutter, Riverdale, NJ
Thaddeus Franzén, Westminster, MD
Alexandra Thomas, State College, PA
Chelsea Holbrook, Quakertown, PA
Destiny Velez, Cherry Hill, NJ
Mary-Kate Hometchko, Doylestown, PA
Olivia Venier, Gardiner, NY
Charles Ibsen, San Jose, CA
Orry Walter, Middleburg, PA
Marion Jacob, Bear, DE
Chelsea Warner, Livermore, CA
Lillie Judge, Charlotte, NC
Katie Willey, Stocktown, NJ
Allyssa Jurgens, Allentown, NJ
Kelly Ye, Hangzhou, China
Anastasia Kantilierakis, Edison, NJ
Ruihang Zeng, Shenzhen, China
Joseph Kelley, Sanatoga, PA
Morgen Zwicharowski, Hagerstown, MD
Rebecca Kirk, Lumberton, NJ
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WESTMINSTER CHAPEL CHOIR WESTMINSTER SCHOLA CANTORUM James Jordan, conductor Gregory Stout, accompanist Michelle Kwok, graduate assistant conductor Robert Lapore, graduate assistant conductor Rosalind Ballow, Warminster, PA
Lauren Mickley, Old Greenwich, CT
Adrianna Barnett, West Grove, PA
Bella Naksam, Belle Mead, NJ
Emilie Beals, Carlisle, PA
Samantha Noble, Jersey City, NJ
Zoe Beaton, Palm City, FL
Christopher Palmer, West Chester, PA
Zoe Bennett, Malvern, PA
Anthony Pinkerton, Orlando, FL
Mackenzie Berry, Frederick, MD
Eleanor Rees, Huntington, NY
Juli Chiriboga, Huntington, NY
Brenna Richard, York, PA
Abigail Culkin, Woodbine, MD
Abbey Ritter, Geneva, NY
Olivia Dixon, Woodbury, NJ
Abigail Rose, Perkasie, PA
Olivia Dunleavy, River Edge, NJ
Elizabeth Rosenberg, Rising Sun, MD
Devin Embrich, West Palm Beach, FL
Christopher Simon, Mendham, NJ
Alli Fama, Babylon, NY
Abbey Spolidoro, Warwick, RI
Claire Fritz, Elizabethtown, PA
Gavin Springer, Belmar, NJ
Sienna Grinwald-Alves, Barnegat, NJ
Jennie Mae Sprouse, Nashville, TN
Jacob Hale, Satellite Beach, FL
Samuel Stephenson, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Lucas Heredia, East Brunswick, NJ
Eddie Tamanini, Langhorne, PA
Emily Huguenin, Howell, NJ
Jasmin Villatoro, Holbrook, NY
Tyler-Minseok Kim, Siheung, South Korea
Julia Wilder, Carmel, NY
Benjamin Kirk, Lumberton, NJ
Tiffany Ye, Fairfax, VA
Jessica Koscak, Tamaqua, PA
Ruihang Zeng, Shenzhen, China
Ashley LiBrizzi, Hillsborough, NJ
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WESTMINSTER CHOIR Lynnel Joy Jenkins, conductor Akiko Hosaki, accompanist Hyungbin Lim, graduate assistant conductor Soprano Jocelyn Alam, Mendham, NJ
Claire Fritz, Elizabethtown, PA
Zoe Bennett, Malvern, PA
Marion Jacob, Bear, DE
Margaret Louise Bergmark, Macon, GA
Michelle Kwok, Hong Kong, China
Katie Blanton, Mansfield, TX
Ashley J. Reinhardt, Stroudsburg, PA
Maryrose Canevari, Pawling, NY Alto Zoe Beaton, Palm City, FL
Chelsea Holbrook, Quakertown, PA
Victoria Borrelli, Berlin, NJ
Leigh Huber (Alto II), Bridgewater, NJ
Joy Brunson, Newark, DE
Emily Huguenin, Howell, NJ
Grace Comeau, Bristow, VA
Morgen Zwicharowski, Hagerstown, MD
Tenor Charlie Ibsen, San Jose, CA
Hyungbin Lim, Seoul, South Korea
Tyler-Minseok Kim, Siheung, South Korea
Robert Lapore, Elizabeth, NJ
Jacob Keleman, Larchmont, NY
Gregory Nappa, Newton, NJ
Joe Kelley, Sanatoga, PA
Orry Walter, Middleburg, PA
Bass Yusef J. Collins-Bryant, Frankford, PA
Kyle St. Sauveur, Simsbury, CT
Jordan Mongell, North Andover, MA
Thomas Stella, Plainsboro, NJ
Christopher Palmer, West Chester, PA
Samuel Stephenson, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Craig Peters, Palmerton, PA
Ruihang Zeng, Shenzhen, China
WESTMINSTER JUBILEE SINGERS Vinroy D. Brown, Jr., conductor Akiko Hosaki, piano Lydia Reifsnyder, graduate assistant conductor Jocelyn Alam, Randolph, NJ
Benjamin Kirk, Lumberton, NJ
Adrianna Barnett, West Grove, PA
Rebecca Kirk, Lumberton, NJ
Samantha Belinski, Yardley, PA
Anna Matone, Bridgewater, NJ
Azhaneet Blackwell, Trenton, NJ
Reecha Nakum, Belle Mead, NJ
Andrew Chojnacki, Delran, NJ
Lydia Reifsnyder, Mount Desert, ME
Yusef Collins-Bryant, Philadelphia, PA
Abbey Ritter, Geneva, NY
Chelsea Holbrook, Quakertown, PA
Jenna Sims, Reno, NV
Emily Huber, East Meadow, NY
Destiny Velez, Cherry Hill, NJ
Leigh Huber, Bridgewater, NJ
Olivia Venier, Gardiner, NY
Allyssa Jurgens, Allentown, NJ
Orry Walter, Middleburg, PA
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Westminster Jubilee Singers Alumni and Friends M. Thaddius Banks
Roy DeMarco ’21
Maxwell Brey ’21
James Kinzel ’18
WESTMINSTER WILLIAMSON VOICES TREBLE ENSEMBLE Tom T. Shelton, Jr., conductor Jaeyeon Chung, accompanist Emily DeMerchant, graduate assistant Lydia Reifsnyder, graduate assistant Hayley Ashe, Quakertown, PA
Kyra Pitagno, Stony Brook, NY
Adrianna Barnett, West Grove, PA
Eleanor Rees, Huntington, NY
Karina Bruno, Westfield, MA
Lydia Reifsnyder, Mount Desert, ME
Juli Chiriboga, Huntington, NY
Abbey Ritter, Geneva, NY
Emily DeMerchant, Toronto, On, Canada
Elizabeth Rosenberg, Rising Sun, MD
Allyssa Jurgens, Allentown, NJ
Cassandra Sutter, Riverdale, NJ
Ashley LiBrizzi, Hillsborough, NJ
Olivia Venier, Gardiner, NY
Scarlett Liput, Whitehouse Station, NJ
Jasmin Villatoro, Holbrook, NY
Samantha Noble, Jersey City, NJ
WESTMINSTER CONCERT BELL CHOIR Kathleen Ebling Shaw, conductor Kelly Ye, student assistant Jordan Allen, Plainsboro, NJ
Shayna Lee, Brea, CA
Liberty Ashe, Quakertown, PA
Rachel McNamara, North Attleboro, MA
Michaela Carey, York, PA
Jordan Mongell, North Andover, MA
Samuel Day, Narragansett, RI
Gregory Nappa, Newton, NJ
Olivia Dunleavy, River Edge, NJ
Samantha Noble, Jersey City, NJ
Devin Embrich, West Palm Beach, FL
David Sherman, Marlboro, NJ
Charlie Ibsen, San Jose, CA
Christopher Simon, Mendham, NJ
Tyler-Minseok Kim, Siheung, South Korea
Kelly Ye, Hangzhou, China
The Westminster Concert Bell Choir is grateful to have on loan the lower eighth and ninth octave bass handbells, the lower seventh octave Choirchime® Instruments, and the C6 to C8 CymBells® from Malmark, Inc. – Bellcraftsmen, Plumsteadville, PA. On the web: malmark.com
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WESTMINSTER CHOIR COLLEGE ALUMNI CHOIR Jason Vodicka ’03, ’09, conductor Alexa Agourides ’15, ’17
Francesca Fioravanti ’21
Michael Martin ’21
Michael Banks ’14
Marie Fosket ’08
Joyce Richardson-Melech ’79, ’81
Louise H. Beard ’71
Kayla Freedman ’21
Brit Montoro ’12
Jade Blocker ’18
Matthew Fritz ’90
Cheryl Sabetta Moya ’80, ’86
Elise Brancheau ’10
Mary Johnson Fuller ’77
Emily Palmer ’11
Suszanne Dozier Briseno ’78
Colleen Gilgan ’21
Gianna Pannullo ’15
Rosemary Boone ’92
Mallory Hagen ’21
Samaad Robins ’08
John Burke ’18
Elaine Harned ’96
Alison Rummel ’20
Bruce Campbell ’68
Janet Obetz Hofmeister ’57
Chrissy Camillone Venezia ’03
Morgan Cerbone ’21
Teresa Hui ’04
Felicia Villa ’20
Martha C. Davidson ’75, ’81
Sunyoung Jee ’18
Caroline Voyack ’21
Christine Dorantes ’14
Sara Johnson ’78
Noel Werner ’90
Dante Doganiero ’19
Kelly Kacerek ’03
Preston Wilson ’21
Patricia Dunkin ’73
Josh Lisner ’21
Randall Woodruff ’02
Richard Farris ’80
Erin MacKenzie ’16
Luke Wroblewski ’21
Jonathon Feinstein ’15, ’16
Deborah White McEniry ’79
Kelly Zuzic ’21
— Roster as of November 22
VINROY D. BROWN, JR. holds credits in conducting, sacred music and music education. He is a member of the sacred music faculty at Westminster Choir College, where he conducts the Westminster Jubilee Singers. He is director of music & worship arts at Elmwood United Presbyterian Church, founder and artistic director of Elmwood Concert Singers and is artistic director of Capital Singers of Trenton. Professor Brown holds membership in the National Association for Music Education, National Alliance of Black School Educators, American Choral Directors Association, International Society for Black Musicians, National Collegiate Choral Organization and the National Association of Negro Musicians, Inc., for which he is eastern region director and chief editor of EMERGENCE: Research & Performance Topics in Black Music, a scholarly publication which will be released in 2022. Brown is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Fraternity, Inc. He holds the Master of Arts in Practical Theology degree from Regent University, and Bachelor of Music degrees in Sacred Music and Music Education from Westminster Choir College. CLARA GERDES, from Davidson, North Carolina is a 2021 graduate of the Yale Institute of Sacred Music. She recently graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music where she studied with Alan Morrison. She received first prizes in the Albert Schweitzer, AGO-Quimby MidAtlantic Regional and UNCSA School of the Arts organ competitions; was the recipient of the 2020 Baker Prize in Organ Performance and the 2021 Julia Sherman Award for Excellence in Organ Playing from Yale; and received the first annual AGO Pogorzelski-Yankee scholarship. She has performed throughout the United States, including at the Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in New York and Washington National Cathedral, the American Guild of Organists 2018 National Convention in Kansas City, and at Spoleto Festival USA, Oregon Bach Festival,
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Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts and the Uncommon Music Festival in Sitka, Alaska. She has served as assistant organist at Saint Bartholomew’s Church in New York City and organ scholar at Saint Mark’s Church in Philadelphia. She now serves as director of music at Most Holy Redeemer and Nativity Parish in Manhattan. LYNNEL JOY JENKINS has varied conducting and teaching experience ranging from the elementary to the collegiate level. She is a choral music educator of international stature, lecturing and conducting in Canada, China, Hong Kong, Iceland, South Africa, and Switzerland. Jenkins has conducted honor choruses at national, divisional, and several state conferences for the American Choral Directors Association and the Organization for American Kodály Teachers and numerous all-state choruses and choral festivals. An active clinician, she presents interest sessions and workshops on fostering human connection and community in the choral rehearsal at professional music association conferences and colleges. She is artistic director of Westrick Music Academy and choral educator in the Hopewell Valley Regional School District, New Jersey. She earned degrees from Westminster Choir College of Rider University (B.M.), Temple University (M.M.), and University of Arizona (D.M.A.), and at the first two institutions she was awarded the Elaine Brown Conducting Award. Grammy® nominated conductor JAMES JORDAN has been praised throughout the musical world as one of America’s pre-eminent conductors, music psychologists, writers and pedagogical innovators in choral music. The most published performing musician in the world, he has written more than 60 books exploring both the philosophical and spiritual basis of musicianship, as well as aspects of choral rehearsal teaching and learning. His book Evoking Sound was praised by the Choral Journal as a “must read.” He is senior conductor and professor of conducting at Westminster Choir College and conductor the Westminster Symphonic Choir, Westminster Chapel Choir and Schola Cantorum and the Westminster Williamson Voices. Dr. Jordan is also director of the Westminster Conducting Institute, co-director of the Choral Institute at Oxford (rider.edu/oxford) and artistic director and conductor of the professional choral ensemble, The Same Stream (thesamestreamchoir.com). A comprehensive listing of his publications and recordings can be found at giamusic.com/jordan. Soprano LAQUITA MITCHELL consistently earns acclaim in eminent opera companies throughout North America and Europe. She has performed with the Los Angeles Opera, San Francisco Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, New York City Opera, Washington National Opera, Opéra Comique in Paris, among many others. Her 2021-2022 season includes appearances at The Metropolitan Museum of Art as the soprano soloist for Margaret Bonds and Langston Hughes’ The Ballad of the Brown King with the Dessoff Choirs. She makes her debut with New Orleans Opera in Tom Cipullo’s Josephine in joint performances with the New Orleans Ballet. Other appearances include Brooklyn Art Song Society’s Beginnings, Middle, And End; Michael Tippett’s A Child of Our Time with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra and Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem with Albany Pro Musica. In the spring of 2022, she will return to Charleston’s Spoleto Festival USA to sing the role of Julie in the world premiere of the opera Omar by Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels.
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Associate professor of Sacred Music at Westminster Choir College, STEVEN PILKINGTON has taught every aspect of the church music curriculum for 25 years. His teaching is known for its breadth, depth and creative attention to the complexities of making sacred music in postmodern times. His lecturing has taken him from Korea to Oxford University, where he lectures annually for Westminster’s Choral Institute. As an active church musician, he has been director of music and organist at Christ Church, United Methodist in New York City for over two decades. Additionally, Dr. Pilkington is a published author and composer of organ and choral music including an arrangement of I Wonder as I Wander, which has been performed around the world hundreds of times. Conductor of the Westminster Concert Bell Choir, KATHLEEN EBLING SHAW is a member of the Sacred Music department at Westminster Choir College of Rider University, where she teaches classes in handbell training and conducts a second handbell choir. She is the director of sales and marketing of Malmark, Inc. and serves as the creative director of ChimeWorks®, an online resource community for educators who use handchimes. She is a graduate of Westminster Choir College. The Westminster Concert Bell Choir under the direction of Mrs. Shaw made its Carnegie Hall debut in December 2001 as the first American handbell ensemble to perform there. They have also been featured on Lifetime Television, QVC, NBC’s Today show, New Jersey Network, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, NPR and NBC’s nationally televised Lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. She has also produced eight recordings with the Westminster Concert Bell Choir. TOM T. SHELTON, JR. is associate professor and chair of the Conducting, Organ, and Sacred Music Department at Westminster Choir College of Rider University. He teaches classes in Sacred Music, Conducting, and serves as the conductor for the Westminster Williamson Voices Treble Ensemble. Shelton serves as the director of music for Children’s and Youth Choirs at Princeton United Methodist Church and as an associate conductor with the Princeton Girlchoir Organization. He has been active with the American Choral Directors Association, serving as national president from 2017 through 2019. Shelton has conducted and adjudicated festivals, workshops and honor choirs throughout the United States as well as Hong Kong; Jakarta, Indonesia; Belarus; and Sri Lanka. He has over 60 compositions published by Choristers Guild, Colla Voce Music, G. Schirmer, Galaxy, GIA Publications, Growing in Grace Curriculum, Heritage Music Press, Hinshaw Music Company, Musicspoke.com, Santa Barbara Music Press, and Walton Music. Learn more at tomsheltonmusic.com. Conductor and educator JASON VODICKA is chair and associate professor of Music Education at Westminster Choir College of Rider University and director of the Westminster Vocal Institute. A graduate of Westminster and the University of Georgia, Dr. Vodicka’s prior appointments include coordinator of Music Education at Susquehanna University, music director of the Harrisburg Choral Society, and vocal music instructor at Pennsbury High School. Dr. Vodicka is in frequent demand as a guest clinician, and he has presented at state and national conferences of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) and the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA), and at the Cultural Diversity in Music
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Education XV Conference, the International Conference on Music Learning Theory, and the International Conference on the Concepts and Practices of Choral Singing. His publications can be found in Update: Applications of Research in Music Education, The Oxford Handbook of Choral Pedagogy, and GIA Publications’ Inside the Choral Rehearsal series. Founded in 1982, SOLID BRASS is recognized by audiences and critics alike as one of the premier brass groups in the country. The members of the ensemble are some of the New York area’s finest musicians who have performed at Lincoln Center with the Metropolitan Opera and New York City Opera orchestras, NY City Ballet orchestra, numerous Broadway shows, and a host of appearances as orchestral and chamber musicians in the metropolitan area. SOLID BRASS has recorded on the Musical Heritage Society label, Dorian Recordings, Joseph Grado Signature Recordings and Craig Dory Recordings; and has appeared on NJN (PBS) TV’s “The State of the Arts”. Musical arrangements are being published in the SOLID BRASS SERIES of Art of Sound Music. SOLID BRASS has been a recipient of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts and performed in Mexico and two tours of Canada. For more information about the ensemble, its music, and recordings, please contact: SOLID BRASS 5 Sunset Drive Chatham, NJ 07928 Phone/Fax: (973) 635-1854 haislip@solidbrass.com solidbrass.com TRUMPETS Douglas Haislip, managing director Chuck Bumcrot Michael Blutman Jason Bitont FRENCH HORNS Judy Lee Ann Mendoker Leeann Newland
TROMBONES Carl Della Peruti Hans Muhler Don Hayward TUBA Kyle Turner PERCUSSION Adrienne Ostrander Phyllis Bitow
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About Us RIDER UNIVERSITY’S WESTMINSTER COLLEGE OF THE ARTS is composed of four divisions: Westminster Choir College; the School of Fine and Performing Arts; Westminster Conservatory, the community music school, and Westminster Continuing Education. Mission Westminster College of the Arts inspires, prepares, and empowers emerging artists through a supportive, immersive, and unique arts community. Our students achieve a high level of artistry and acquire the professional skills to become contemporary leaders who transform local and global communities through humanity, inclusion, and access for all. Vision Westminster College of the Arts aspires to be a flourishing arts destination for creative students, artists, community members, and industry professionals; a center for public-facing artistic projects supported by faculty and student research; and a catalyst for innovation through the arts. Westminster Choir College is a four-year music college and graduate school that prepares musicians for careers as leaders in schools, universities, and churches; on concert stages and in professional and community organizations. Renowned for its tradition of choral excellence, Westminster has become a center of excellence in solo performance as well. The college has three curricular choirs, including the Westminster Symphonic Choir, which has performed and recorded with virtually all of the major orchestras and conductors of our time, and four choirs selected by audition. Celebrating 95 years of music excellence, Westminster Choir College of Rider University has significantly influenced the cultural life of our nation.
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An Evening of Readings and Carols PAT R O N S MAESTRO Robert C. and Leslie L. Doll Jr. CONCERTMASTER David R. and Pat Atkinson Robert E. Hedlund PNC Financial Services Group IMPRESARIO Lizanne Ceconi Jeffrey M. Cornelius ’70 Annmarie Woods BENEFACTOR Anthony M. Celentano ’78, ’80 Kenneth and DonnaJean Fredeen Thomas ’70 and Tina Mulhare Denise Pinney and Anton K. Wolfshorndl Bob Thomson CHORISTER Ronald A. Hemmel ’78 John F. and Pamela S. Kelsey III Howard and Clare T. McMorris II CONTRIBUTOR Walter R. Darr ’78, ’91 P. Randolph Hill FRIEND Wilson Black Diane Dunleavy James Kloss Marlene L. Rathnum James P. ’90 and Stephanie Rindelaub
Support for this concert has come from the Magdalena Houlroyd Concert Endowment. Westminster Choir College of Rider University is grateful to Miss Houlroyd for establishing this fund.
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Receive a 20% discount with coupon code WESTMINSTER Good through January 15, 2022
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A Scattered Light in Winter (CD-1118)
4.875x3.875-AD.indd 1
11/23/21 5:18 PM
An Evening of Readings and Carols will be broadcast on
Friday, December 17 at 8 p.m. Saturday, December 25 at 3 p.m. Listen on the radio or online. Details are at wwfm.org.
Recordings from
Westminster
TH E PE RF EC T HOLIDAY GIF T!
Noël Westminster Choir Joe Miller, conductor Jennifer Larmore, mezzo-soprano Ken Cowan, organ Classic French Christmas music
An English Christmas Westminster Concert Bell Choir Kathleen Ebling Shaw, conductor Holiday favorites performed on the world’s largest range of handbells
Christmas with the Westminster Choir Westminster Choir Joseph Flummerfelt, conductor Traditional holiday favorites
Christmas at Westminster Westminster Concert Bell Choir Kathleen Ebling Shaw, director Arrangements of holiday classics from Silent Night to White Christmas
Christmas Masterpieces and Favorite Carols Westminster Choir Joseph Flummerfelt, conductor Classic Christmas masterworks Stream or download from major digital sites, including Spotify and iTunes. Purchase from Amazon.com.
Westminster College of the Arts 28
2083 Lawrenceville Road Lawrenceville, NJ 08648
R I D E R.E D U/A RT S