We acknowledge the land on which we sit and occupy at the University of Portland. "The Portland Metro area rests on traditional village sites of the Multnomah, Wasco, Cowlitz, Kathlamet, Clackamas, Bands of Chinook, Tualatin, Kalapuya, Molalla, and many other tribes who made their homes along the Columbia River creating communities and summer encampments to harvest and use the plentiful natural resources of the area" (PILR, 2018). We take this opportunity to thank the original caretakers of this land.
Prelude
Evan C. Paul, pianist
That’s Entertainment (from The Bandwagon)
Music by Arthur Schwartz
Lyrics by Howard Dietz arr. Greg Gilpin
University of Portland Bel Canto
Megan Elliott, conductor
Paloma Wilson, student collaborative pianist
Once Upon a December (from Anastasia)
Lynn Ahrens & Stephen Flaherty arr. Audrey Snyder
Down in the River to Pray (from O Brother, Where Art Thou?) Traditional
*^#Natasha Adamson Arts Administration Folsom Oregon City, OR
Taylor Andreas Theater Jesuit Portland, OR
Fin Bagshaw Theater Chaparral Scottsdale, AZ.
#Rhyann Butler Music
Rex Putnam Portland, OR
Natalia Duarte Music & Envir. Science Westview Portland, OR
#Sara Jordan Arts Administration Gresham Gresham, OR
Gabriela Mootz Music
#Dela Pelfrey Music
Ashlyn Richards Biology
Inglemoor Bothell, WA
Holy Names Academy Seattle, WA
Christian Brothers Anchorage, AK
Zora Richardson Theater/Arts Admin The Dalles The Dalles, OR
Alto
Morgan Couture Psychology
Chippewa Falls Chippewa Falls, WI
#Avery Feather Nursing Blue Valley Northwest Overland Park, KS
#Eisley Isaacs Biology Centennial Boise, ID
Emma Jeppesen Computer Science Scappoose Scappoose, OR
#Grace Keefe Soc. Work/Spanish San Dieguito Academy Carlsbad, CA
Kayla Matsuoka Psychology & Arts Admin. Woodside Priory School San Jose, CA
Emily Pickett Nursing Prairie Battle Ground, WA
Ly’Le Pullom Music & Theater Gresham Gresham, OR
Aly Romero Elementary Ed Grace Christian Anchorage, AK
*#Jacqulynne Sample Applied Math & Theater Christian Brothers HS Sacramento, CA
Natalie Skyba Music Grant Portland, OR
Tenor
Benjamin Barrero
Psych/Soc Work
Rancho Bernardo HS San Diego, CA
#Casey James Music/Theater Redmond Proficiency Acad. Bend, OR
Raphael Mendies Marketing Homeschool Beaverton, OR
#Isaac Portillo Vazquez Political Science Mountain View Vancouver, WA
Drew Rodriguez Psychology Ontario Ontario, OR
#Tyler Smith Political Science Henrietta Lacks Vancouver, WA
*#Van Tran English Tigard Tigard, OR
Bass
#Luke Bangsund Physics
Paideia Classical Christian Portland, OR
#Matt Cavanagh English Little Canada HS La Cañada, CA
#Noah Delos Reyes Nursing San Mateo San Mateo, CA
Raymond Ross Fernandez Nursing Dougherty Valley San Ramon, CA
Rowan Lowery Arts Admin & Theater Newberg Newberg, OR
#Patrick Lucey Civil Engineering Hillsdale San Mateo, CA
*Brewer Williams Music
Shattuck-St. Mary’s Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
* Denotes Section Leader
# Denotes Chamber Choir member
^ Denotes Singers Manager
TRANSLATIONS
May It Be
Mornië utúlië. (darkness has come)
Mornië alantië. (darkness has fallen)
Nella Fantasia
In my fantasy I see a just world, Where everyone lives in peace and honesty. I dream of souls that are always free Like the clouds that float, Full of humanity in the depths of the soul.
In my fantasy I see a bright world Where each night there is less darkness. I dream of souls that are always free, Like the clouds that float.
In my fantasy exists a warm wind, That blows into the city, like a friend. I dream of souls that are always free, Like the clouds that float, Full of humanity in the depths of the soul.
In Memorium
Lord, have mercy Christ, have mercy Lord, have mercy
Rest eternal grant to them, O Lord And let perpetual light shine upon them. A hymn befits Thee, O God in Zion. And to Thee a vow shall be Fulfilled in Jerusalem.
Choral Selections from Schindler’s List
Oyfn Pripetshok
On the hearth, a fire burns, And in the house it is warm.
And the rabbi is teaching little children, The alphabet.
See, children, remember, dear ones, What you learn here;
Repeat and repeat yet again, "Komets-alef: o!"
Choral Selections from Schindler’s List
Oyfn Pripetshok
On the hearth, a fire burns, And in the house it is warm.
And the rabbi is teaching little children, The alphabet.
See, children, remember, dear ones, What you learn here; Repeat and repeat yet again, "Komets-alef: o!"
Yerushalaim Shel-Zahav
The mountain air is clear as water
The scent of pines around Is carried on the breeze of twilight, And tinkling bells resound.
The trees and stones there softly slumber, A dream enfolds them all. So solitary lies the city, And at its heart -- a wall.
[Chorus]
Oh, Jerusalem of gold, and of light and of bronze, I am the violin for all your songs.
The wells are filled again with water, The square with joyous crowd, On the Temple Mount within the City, The shofar rings out loud.
Within the caverns in the mountains
A thousand suns will glow, We'll take the Dead Sea road together, That runs through Jericho.
[Chorus]
But as I sing to you, my city, And you with crowns adorn, I am the least of all your children, Of all the poets born.
Your name will scorch my lips for ever, Like a seraph's kiss, I'm told, If I forget thee, golden city, Jerusalem of gold.
[Chorus]
Gabriellas sång (Gabriella's Song)
At this moment life is mine I have been given a moment here on earth
And my longing has brought me here
What I have missed and what I have gained
Still, it's the path that I've chosen
My trust far beyond the words
That have shown a little piece Of the heaven I never reached
I want to feel that I live
All the time that I have I will live as I wish I want to feel that I live
Know that I am enough
I have never forgotten who I was I have only let it sleep
Maybe I had no choice
Only the will to remain
I want to live happily for being me
Be strong and free
See how night turns into day
I am here and my life is mine alone
And the heaven I thought existed I will find somewhere out there
I want to feel that I have lived my life
Choral Suite from Frozen
Heimr Arnadalr (Home Valley of Eagles)
Worthy queen of greatness, the heart of gold shines.
We crown you with hope, love and faith. Beautiful stoney land. Home Arendelle. Follow the light, worthy queen of greatness, Our queen, worthy queen of light.
Eatnamen Vuelie (Song of the Earth) (Sámi joik - traditional form of music performed by the Sámi people of Northern Europe)
Na na na heia na
Na hi ja na
Na heia heia na ja no a
Ha na hei o no a na
Biographies
Paloma Wilson is a junior music major at the University of Portland, where she studies solo and collaborative piano with Susan McDaniel. This is Paloma’s second year accompanying choral ensembles at UP, and her first semester with Bel Canto. She is also a member of UP’s Wind Symphony and Percussion Ensemble and serves as a music theory peer tutor.
Natalie Skyba joins the University Singers for the first time this year, having accompanied Bel Canto in the spring of 2024. A junior music major, she studies solo and collaborative piano with Susan McDaniel. In the summer of 2024, Natalie attended the Music in the Marche opera and chamber music training program in Mondavio, Italy, where she accompanied opera scenes and performed chamber music for woodwinds and piano. In addition to performing with the University Singers, Natalie currently accompanies the campus Chapel Choir for Sunday Mass services.
Evan C. Paul is a collaborative pianist and composer active in the Portland area. Originally from New England, he received his Ph.D. in music composition from the University of Oregon in 2014. He is currently the service pianist at Tualatin Presbyterian Church and the rehearsal and performance pianist for Bridging Voices, Portland's LGBTQ+ youth choir. He has worked with various opera programs throughout the state, including Portland Opera, OperaBend, Cascadia Opera, Ping & Woof Opera, and the opera program at Portland State University. He has also served as the pianist for the Portland chapter of the international non-profit organization Opera on Tap since 2015, and he is an active vocal and instrumental coach and pianist at secondary and postsecondary educational institutions throughout the Portland area. Evan’s own compositions focus on art song, works for chorus, and chamber music featuring winds; his most recent commission was e manibus vox for solo percussionist (2022). His six-part choral work The Last Invocation was awarded first prize by the Portland Vocal Consort for "Best of the Northwest" in 2011.
Megan Elliott brings 20 years of experience as a conductor, singer, and music therapist, and has a passion for creating strong choral communities that build each other up while also working hard to perform at the highest artistic level. Megan holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Vocal Performance from Corban University, a Certificate of Music Therapy from Marylhurst University, and Master of Arts in Music Education from the University of Nebraska Kearney. She has been the Assistant Artistic Director and the Assistant Conductor of the Choral Arts Ensemble of Portland for 10 years and also serves as their alto section leader. She taught at Marylhurst
University for 5 years, supervising music therapy practicum students and conducting their treble choir. She is also a board-certified music therapist and has worked with children, people in memory care, adults with special needs, and directed a choir specifically for people with Parkinson’s disease. When she is not singing or conducting, Megan loves to cook, hike, ride horses, and spend time with her family. Her dream is to go horseback riding in the Swiss Alps (while occasionally singing along the way, of course).
Dr. David De Lyser, Director of Choral Activities and Professor of Music, joined the University of Portland faculty in 2010. His conducting duties at the University include the UP Singers, Chamber Choir and Music Director and Pit Orchestra Conductor for campus musical productions. He has previously conducted the UP Orchestra. He teaches composition, orchestration, conducting, music theory and musical theater courses. Outside of the University, he is the Artistic Director of the Choral Arts Ensemble of Portland and maintains a busy schedule of guest conducting and adjudicating. He holds graduate degrees in conducting and composition from the University of Northern Colorado and the University of Portland, and a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Business from Minnesota State University Moorhead. Dr. De Lyser is a published author and award-winning composer whose works have been commissioned, premiered and performed by professional, collegiate, community and high school performing ensembles across the country.
We wish to acknowledge the following departments and offices for their help in making today’s performance possible: UP Printing Services UP Physical Plant and Housekeeping Staff UP Events Office UP Marketing & Communications Office UP Media Services UP Performing & Fine Arts Department
Recording of UP concerts and theater productions without prior permission is prohibited. Performances sponsored by the UP Performing and Fine Arts Department are sometimes video recorded and photographed for a variety of uses, including live simulcast and digital archive on the UP website and social media channels, or for publicity and publications. Images of audience members may be included in these recordings and photos. By attending this event, audience members imply approval for the use of their image by the UP Performing and Fine Arts Department.
Music Patron Fund
The University of Portland’s Performing & Fine Arts Department has established the Music Patron’s Fund as an additional resource for the Music Program’s students and mission. This fund will allocate financial support for the many needs of the program that are not always able to be met by the University and its yearly program budget, including students’ professional development, concert production costs, outreach and facilities. This Fund will also help with the acquisition and maintenance of the program’s music library, and piano and instrument inventory when other resources are not available. These funds will always be directed to the benefit of our students’ growth and training as musicians, which happens both in the classroom, in rehearsal and on the concert stage.
If you have enjoyed what you have seen/heard at this concert, we invite you to help support the efforts and education of our students by making a donation to the Music Patron Fund. You can donate online at giving.up.edu/pfa or by using this QR code.
Please contact the University’s Development Office for more information and questions (503.943.8003), and thank you for your support of the Performing & Fine Arts at the University of Portland!
Study Music at the University of Portland
The University is always seeking bright and talented students who want to study music. Scholarships are offered to incoming majors and minors. One-year performance grants for private lessons are awarded to qualified students who perform in a University Ensemble. For further information, please visit www.up.edu/music or contact Patrick Murphy, murphyp@up.edu.
UP NEXT FOR UP MUSIC...
02/16/2025... UP CHAMBER ORCHESTRA CONCERT (1:00 PM || CHAPEL OF CHRIST THE TEACHER)
