PROGRAMNOTES
HymntoSt.Cecilia
BenjaminBritten
Thisworkhadalonggestationas Brittenhadproblemsfindingasuitable text.British-AmericanpoetWystanH. Audenwaseventuallyasked,producing atextin1940.Foralongtime,Britten wantedtowriteapiecededicatedtoSt Ceciliaforvariousreasons;hewasborn onStCecilia'sday;StCeciliaisthe patronsaintofmusic;andbecauseof thelongBritishtraditionofwritingodes andsongstoStCecilia.Britten’smusic respondstoAuden'sextraordinary imagerywithdelight.Dividedintothree sectionsthatarecompletelydifferent fromeachother,thepoemgaveBritten amusicalstructuretofollow,whilethe recurringrefrain“BlessedCecilia, appearinvisionstoallmusicians, appearandinspire”givesapointof referencethatservetodelineatethe endofeachsection,andoftheentire work.
Morirnonpuò from Ilprimolibrode madrigaliaquattrovoci
MadalenaCasulana
MadalenaCasulanatrainedinFlorence andwasthefirstfemalemusicianto havehercompositionspublishedinthe historyofEuropeanmusic.Sheisalso regardedasthefirstfemale professionalcomposer.BythemidXVI century,mostmadrigalswerewrittenfor 4,5or6voices,withfrequentchanges intexturewherehomophony,imitation andfreepolyphonywereemployed freely.Morirnonpuòfrom“Ilprimo librodemadrigaliaquattrovociis”isan exampleofsuchtexturalchange. Alternatingpolyphonicandunison texturespermeatethiswork.Itis worthwhiletoobservethattheunison ofthevoicesinmeasure4,ontheword “cuore”-(hearts)depictstheunityof hearts.
Theclimaxofthepieceisinthethird phrase,heretheheightenedpitch
registerinthecantoandthequickened rhythmicpassageinthebasshelp directtheeartothedrawnout syllablesontheword“fuore”-(out-the pullingoutofhearts),anothereffective deviceoftext-paintingbyCasulana. Followingtheclimax,inthesecond halfofthepieceonwards,thereare directchromaticpassagesineach voiceontheword“morreste”(todie) whichagainaddstoCasulana’stextpaintingintentions.Thisiscarriedon untiltheendofthemadrigal.
Lockung from Gartenliederop.3 FannyHensel
Lockungisanexquisiteacappellapart songfromGartenliederop.3,a miniaturecycleofsixsongsbyFelix Mendelssohn’ssisterFannyHensel.All songsareinterrelatedthroughtonality andmeter.Fannyorganizedanarrayof versesbyvariousauthorsinawaythat theyillustrateanextramusicaljourney fromnighttodayofdreamymemories ofspringtime,providingmusical imitationsofthesoundsofnature.In thefirstsong“Lockung”(Temptation), aspectatoruponabalconyistempted toeavesdroponthewildsongsofthe nocturnalforestsolitudebelow.
Resignation FlorencePrice
FlorencePrice’smusicislyrical, technicallydifficult,andfullofemotion. Eventhoughhertrainingwaspurely European,herworksdisplayan Americanidiomthatrevealsher Southernroots.Herpersonallife experiencesareasignificantpartofher musicdrudgingprocessionofher wordsandmusicof“Resignation,” proclaimingherlife“isapathwayof sorrow”andwelcomingthe camaraderieandliberationthatcomes withdeath.Originallysetasasoloart songforvoiceandpiano, “Resignation”isoneofthefew
4-UTRGVSymphonyOrchestra&Choirs2023-2024ConcertSeason
compositionsinwhichPricecomposed boththewordsandthemusic.Setting thisinthestyleofaspiritual,she recomposeditforunaccompanied SATBchoir.Thetextspeaksofthe injusticeshepersonallyexperienced, andonecansensehowtiredshemust havefeltcontinuallystrivingfor recognitioninaworldthatwouldn’t giveittoher.Inthemidstofher “resignation”tothisworld,shewrites ofthehopeforaworldtocome“where mansionsarebrightandfair.”
TheyareMother
JenniferLucyCook
Whenworkingonthewordsfor“They areMother”,Americancomposer JenniferLucyCookreachedoutfor consultationwithReverendAlex Reegan,whoisatransmanand interfaithminister,inordertocreatea textthattrulyembodiestheenergyof thefemininedivinethatispresentin anygenderwhichareevidentina varietyofmomentsandsituations throughoutlifeandcreateinthisway oneofthemostmemorablemusical celebrations.
RequieminDminor,K.626
WolfgangAmadeusMozart
“GrantThemEternalRest.”Thesolemn wordsthatopentheMassfortheDead pleadforenduringpeace,butasthe 35-year-oldMozartcomposedhis miraculousRequieminthefallof1791, heexperiencednosuchcomfort.With workschedule,declininghealth,and darkmoodscloudedmuchofthelast monthsofhislife.WhenMozart receivedamysteriousrequestto composeaRequiemduringthe summer,twoambitiousoperaswerein theoffing.Hewasalreadycomposing TheMagicFlute,whichhehadto interruptwhenhegotaprestigious commissiontowriteaseriousopera,La clemenzadiTito(TheClemencyof Titus),forthecoronationofLeopoldII
asKingofBohemia.Mozartcomposed thatworkfeverishlyinAugust, travellingtoPragueattheendofthe monthtoconductitspremiereon September6.Hethenreturnedto ViennatofinishTheMagicFlute, writingtwoadditionalnumbersjust beforeconductingitstriumphant premiereonSeptember30.Within weekshecomposedhisgreatClarinet Concertoandasmallcantatato celebratetheopeningofanewtemple ofhisMasoniclodge,“NewCrowned Hope”(ZurNeugekröntenHolfnung), inVienna.Mozart’sFinalProjectAt somepointinSeptemberMozart beganseriousworkontheRequiem, butlegendhasit(andmoreabout otherlegendslater)thatwhenhiswife, Constanze,returnedfromarestcureat aspainBadenshewasdistressedto seehowexhaustedhewasandhow obsessedhehadbecomeinparticular withtheRequiem,whichsheallegedly tookawayfromhim.Mozart nonethelessreturnedtoits compositionsomewhatlaterand workedonthepieceuntilhisdeath earlyinthemorningofDecember5. Thewell-knownmovieAmadeus fictitiouslyhasMozartonhisdeathbed dictatingtheRequiemtohisrival AntonioSalieri,whowaslongrumored tohavepoisonedhim.Althoughthere wasnosuchfinalmeetingbetweenthe twocomposers(oranymurder),Mozart didreportedlygatherConstanzeand variouscolleaguesaroundhimtosing throughpartsoftheRequiemand instructedhisstudentFranzXaver Süssmayronhowtofinishthepiece. ThehauntingopeningoftheRequiem, theonlypartcompletedbyMozart, mayhavebeenperformedathis funeralaweeklater.Constanze enlistedaseriesofMozart’sstudentsto finishtheRequiem;sheaskedJoseph Eybler,whodidonlyminimalwork,as didtwootherswhoorchestratedsome incompletesections.Mostofthetask ofcompletionfelltothe25-year-old Süssmayr,thusearninghimsome limitedfameaswellassomeinfamy.
5-UTRGVSymphonyOrchestra&Choirs2023-2024ConcertSeason
PROGRAMNOTES
Overthecourseofthe19thcentury Mozart’sRequiembecamethemost famousmusicalsettingoftheMassfor theDead,andwassungatmemorial servicesforHaydn,Beethoven,Weber, Chopin,andothercelebrated musicians,aswellasatfuneralsof publicfiguressuchasNapoleon.A LegendaryWorkItishardlysurprising thatsomanylegendssurroundthe work.TheideaofsomeoneofMozart’s gifts,justage35,writingwhathe apparentlycametobelievewashisown musicalmemorialwasimmediately appealingtocontemporariesandeven moresotolaterRomantics.Verysoon afterMozart’sdeathanewspaperinhis hometownofSalzburgreportedthathe composedthepiece“oftenwithtears inhiseyes,constantlysaying:Ifearthat IamwritingaRequiemformyself.”
Therearenumerousuncertaintiesabout theRequiem,mostimportantlyabout whoactuallycomposedmuchofthe music.Themanuscriptshowsthat Mozartcompletedonlytheopening Introit,aswellasmostofthefollowing Kyrie.Thenextsectionstotheopening oftheLacrimosaweredraftedby Mozart,butnotfinished.Forthefinal sectionsnoauthenticmaterialssurvive. Themysteriesaboutthepiecebegin withthecircumstancesofitsgenesis.A legendemergedthata“grey messenger”appearedtoMozartwith theanonymousrequestforhimtowrite aRequiembutthatheshouldnotask whowasinitiatingthecommission.In fact,itcamefromoneCountFranzvon Walsegg,whohirednotedcomposers towritepiecesthathewouldthenpass offashisown.(Itisnotentirelyclear thathisintentwasfraudulent—he seemstohaveenjoyedhavinginvited audiencesguesswhothecomposer actuallywas.)Inanycase,Mozartwas givenhalfthehandsomefeeinadvance andalthoughpressedwithhisopera projectshewashardlyinafinancial positiontorefusethelucrativeoffer. Mozarthadrecentlyreceivedan appointmentasassistantmusicdirector ofSt.Stephen’sCathedral(Vienna’s
mostprominent),whichmeantthat composingsacredmusicwould henceforthplayalargerroleinhis career.Althoughhehadwrittenalarge amountofreligiousmusicduringhis earlyyearsinSalzburg,thisactivity droppedoffaftermovingtoViennain 1781.Hisgreatestsacredwork,the MassinCminor,K.427,hadremained unfinished,andsuch,ofcourse,would bethefateoftheRequiemaswell.The masterlylatemusicfortheRequiem encompassesMozart’sastounding rangeofstyles,beginningwiththe pleadingexpressivenessoftheIntroit evenbeforethefirstwordsaresung. Thecontrapuntalvirtuosityofthe doublefugueintheKyriegives evidenceofhisincreasinginterestin themusicofBachandHandel.Mozart thekeendramatistisalsopresentin thissacredscore—theMagicFlute characterofSarastromaycometo mindwiththebasssolooftheTuba mirum.AfterSüssmayrfinishedthe piece,hewroteoutanewscoresoas toavoidsuspicionofitsmultiple composers;heforgedMozart’s signatureanddatedthemanuscript 1792.TheRequiemwasthen dispatchedtoCountWalseggwhoin turncopieditalloutagaininhisown handandwrote“Requiemcomposta delConteWalsegg”atthetop.He conductedtheworkonDecember14, 1793,ataMassinmemoryofhiswife, whohaddiedtwoyearsearlieratage 20.Theperformanceheardintoday’s concertusestheeditionpreparedby FranzBeyerin1971whichoffers revisionstotheorchestrationwiththe intentionofgettingclosertoMozart's style,introducingminorchangesto someofSüssmayr'ssections.Afterthe openingentirelybyMozart,thereollow partsforwhichheprovidedmostof themusicbutthatrequiredfleshing outoftheorchestration.Forthelast movements—theSanctus,Benedictus, andAgnusDei,andconcluding communion—thereisnothingin Mozart’sautographmanuscript.
Süssmayrassertedinaletterwrittenin
PROGRAMNOTES 6-UTRGVSymphonyOrchestra&Choirs2023-2024ConcertSeason
1800thathewrotethismusichimself (“ganzneuvonmirverfertigt”—wholly composedbyme).Theclaimhas arousedconsiderabledebate.Inthe early1960sasheetofMozart’ssketches foraprojectedfugalendtothe
Lacrimosawasfoundandtherehas longbeenspeculationthatothersuch sketcheswereavailabletoSüssmayr,as wellaswhateverMozartmayhavetold himwhilewritingthepiece.The generalconsensusisthatthemusicfor themissingpartsoftheRequiemisata muchhigherlevelthanSüssmayr’s
Timorettremor
Timorettremorveneruntsupermeet caligoceciditsuperme.Misereremei, Domine,miserere;quoniaminteconfidit animamea.Exaudi,Deus,deprecationem meam,quiarefugiummeumestuet adiutorfortis.Domine,invocavite,non confundar.
Vineameaelecta
Vineameaelecta,egoteplantavi:quomodo conversaesinamaritudinem,ut mecrucifiguresetBarrabbamdimitteres? Sepivite,etlapideselegiexte,etædificavi turrim.
SicutCervus
Sicutcervusdesideratadfontesaquarum, itadesideratanimameaadte,Deus.
I.Introitus
Requiemaeternamdonaeis,Domine. Etluxperpetualuceateis.
Tedecethymnus,Deus,inSion, EttibireddeturvotuminJerusalem Exaudiorationemmeam Adteomniscaroveniet.
II.Kyrie
Kyrie,eleison!
Christe,eleison!
Kyrie,eleison!
othersacredmusicandthereforemust havebeenbasedonauthenticMozart materials.Thus,whensomething awkwardorlesssatisfactoryappearsin thescorepoorSüssmayrisblamed, puttinghimintheunenviablesituation ofgettinglittlecreditandagooddeal ofblame.Inanycase,themusicthat openstheRequiemreturnsforthefinal communion,thusensuringagenuine Mozarteanframetothework.
Fearandtremblinghavecomeuponme anddarknesshasfallenuponme.Have pityonme,Lord,havepity;becausein theemysoultrusts.Hear,OGod,my prayer,becausethouartmyrefugeandmy stronghelper.Lord,Ihavecalledonthee, Iwillnotbeconfounded.
Ovineyard,mychosenone.Iplanted thee.Howisthysweetnessturnedinto bitterness,tocrucifymeandtake Barabbasinmyplace?Iprotectedthee;I tookthehardstonesawayfromthypath, andbuiltatowerinthydefense.
Asadeerlongsfortheflowingstreams, solongsmysoulforthee,OGod.
Eternalrestgiveuntothem,OLord Andletperpetuallightshineuponthem Ahymn,OGod,becomethTheeinZion AndavowshallbepaidtotheeinJerusalem Hearmyprayer Allfleshshallcomebeforeyou.
Lord,havemercyonus. Christ,havemercyonus. Lord,havemercyonus.
—ChristopherH.Gibbs 7-UTRGVSymphonyOrchestra&Choirs2023-2024ConcertSeason PROGRAMNOTES
PROGRAMNOTES
III.Sequenz
1.DiesIrae
Diesirae,diesilla
Solvetsaecluminfavilla, TesteDavidcumSibylla.
Quantustremorestfuturus, Quandojudexestventurus, Cunctastrictediscussurus!
2.Tubamirum
Tubamirumspargenssonum Persepulcraregionum, Cogetomnesantethronum.
Morsstupebitetnatura, Cumresurgetcreatura, Judicantiresponsura.
Liberscriptusproferetur, Inquototumcontinetur, Undemundusjudicetur.
Judexergocumsedebit, Quidquidlatetapparebit. Nilinultumremanebit.
Quidsummisertuncdicturus?
Quempatronumrogaturus, Cumvixjustussitsecurus?
3.Rextremendae
Rextremendaemajestatus quisalvandossalvasgratis saleme,fonspietatis
4.Recordare
Recordare,Jesupie, Quodsumcausatuaeviae:
Nemeperdasilladie.
Quaerensme,sedisti,lassus; Redemisticrucempassus; Tantuslabornonsitcassus.
Thisday,thisdayofwrath shallconsumetheworldinashes, asforetoldbyDavidandtheSibyl.
Whattremblingtherewillbe Whenthejudgeshallcome toweigheverythingstrictly!
Thetrumpet,scatteringitsshrillsound Acrossthegravesofalllands Summonsallbeforethethrone.
Deathandnatureshallbestunned Whenmankindarises
Torenderaccountbeforethejudge.
Thewrittenbookshallbebrought Inwhichalliscontained Wherebytheworldshallbejudged
Whenthejudgetakeshisseat allthatishiddenshallappear Nothingwillremainunavenged.
WhatshallI,awretch,saythen? TowhichprotectorshallIappeal Wheneventhejustmanisbarelysafe?
Kingoftremendousmajesty
Youfreelysavethoseworthyofsalvation Saveme,foundofpity.
Remember,gentleJesus thatIamthereasonforyourtimeonearth, donotcastmeoutonthatday
Seekingme,yousankdownwearily, yousavedmebyenduringthecross, suchtravailmustnotbeinvain.
8-UTRGVSymphonyOrchestra&Choirs2023-2024ConcertSeason
PROGRAMNOTES
JusteJudexultionis, Donumfacremissionis
Antediemrationis.
Ingemiscotanquamreus, Culparubetvultusmeus; Supplicantiparce,Deus.
QuiMariamabsolvisti, Etlatronemexaudisti, Mihiquoquespemdedisti.
Precesmeaenonsuntdignae, Sedtu,bonus,facbenigne, Neperennicremerigne.
Interoveslocumpraesta, Etabhoedismesequestra, Statuensinpartedextra.
5.Confutatis
Confutatismaledictis
Flammisacribusaddictis, Vocamecumbenedictus.
Orosupplexetacclinis, Corcontritumquasicinis, Gerecurammeifinis.
6.Lacrimosa
Lacrimosadiesilla, Quaresurgetexfavilla Judicandushomoreus.
Huicergoparce,Deus: PieJesuDomine: Donaeisrequiem.Amen.
IV.Offertorium
1.DomineJesu
Domine,JesuChriste,Rexgloriae, liberaanimasomniumfidelium
defunctorum
depoenisinferni etdeprofundolacu.
Liberaeasdeoreleonis
Righteousjudgeofvengeance, awardthegiftofforgiveness beforethedayofreckoning.
Igroanasoneguilty, myfaceblusheswithguilt; sparethesuppliant,OGod.
Thouwhodidsn'tabsolveMary[Magdalen] andheartheprayerofthethied hastgivenmehope,too.
Myprayersarenotworthy, butThou,Ogoodone,showmercy, lestIburnineverlastingfire,
Givemeaplaceamongthesheep, andseparatemefromthegoats, placingmeonThyrighthand.
Whenthedamnedareconfounded andconsignedtokeenflames, callmewiththeblessed.
Ipray,suppliantandkneeling, aheartascontriteasashes; takeThoumyendingintoThycare.
Thatdayisoneofweeping, onwhichshallriseagainfromtheashes theguiltyman,tobejudged.
Thereforesparethisone,OGod, mercifulLordJesus: Givethemrest.Amen.
LordJesusChrist,kingofglory, deliverthesoulsofallthefaithful departed fromthepainsofHell andthebottomlesspit.
Deliverthemfromthejawsofthelion,
9-UTRGVSymphonyOrchestra&Choirs2023-2024ConcertSeason
PROGRAMNOTES
neabsorbeateastartarus, necadantinobscurum;
SedsignifersanctusMichael repraesenteteasinlucemsanctam, QuamolimAbrahaepromisisti etseminieius.
2.Hostias
Hostiasetprecestibi,Domine laudisofferimus
tususcipeproanimabusillis, quarumhodiememoriamfacimus. Faceas,Domine,demorte transireadvitam.
QuamolimAbrahaepromisisti etsemineeius.
V.Sanctus
Sanctus,sanctus,sanctus DominusDeusSabaoth!
Plenisuntcoelietterragloriatua. Hosannainexcelsis!
VI.Benedictus
BenedictusquivenitinnomineDomine. Hosannainexcelsis!
VII.AgnusDei
AgnusDei,quitollispecattamundi donaeisrequiem.
AgnusDei,quitollispeccatamundi, donaeisrequiemsempitername.
VIII.Communio
Luxaeternaluceateis,Domine, cumsanctistuisinaeternum, quiapiuses.
lesthellengulfthem, lesttheybeplungedintodarkness; butlettheholystandard-bearerMichael leadthemintotheholylight, asonceyoupromisedtoAbraham andtohisseed.
Lord,inpraiseweofferyou Sacrificesandprayers, acceptthemonbehalfofthose whowerememberthisday: Lord,makethempass fromdeathtolife, asonceyoupromisedtoAbraham andtohisseed. Holy,holy,holy LordGodofhosts!
Heavenandeartharefullofyourglory. Hosannainthehighest!
Blessedishewhocomesinthenameof theLord.Hosannainthehighest!
LambofGod,thattakesawaythesinsof theworld,Grantthemrest.
OLambofGod,thattakesawaythesinsof theworld,Grantthemeternalrest.
Leteverlastinglightshineuponthem,Lord, withThysaintsforever, forThouartmerciful.
Grantthemeternalrest,Lord, andletperpetuallightshineuponthem, forThouartmerciful.
RequiemaeternamdonaeisDomine, etluxperpetualuceateis, quiapiuses. 10-UTRGVSymphonyOrchestra&Choirs2023-2024ConcertSeason
Dr.SHAYNAISAACS Soprano
Dr.Shayna
Isaacs[they/ them]serves asAssistant Professorof Voiceatthe Universityof TexasRio Grande Valley.Recent roles performed include LaureyWilliamsinOklahoma!,Amahlin AmahlandtheNightVisitors,LucyinThe BillyGoat’sGruff,PapagenainDie Zauberflöte,MonicainTheMedium, ValencienneinTheMerryWidow,Florain TheTurnoftheScrew,andMarianParoo inTheMusicMan.Theyhaveappeared asasoloistwiththeGrandJunction SymphonyOrchestra,theHuxford SymphonyOrchestra,andtheTexasTech UniversitySymphonyOrchestra.Recent MusicDirector/Conductorengagements
ILIANAGUERRERO
Mezzo-soprano
IlianaGuerrerograduatedfromthe UniversityofTexas-RioGrandeValley withanundergraduatedegreeinMusic Educationin2018andbegangraduate studiesinVocalPerformancein2019. WhileatUTRGV,shestudiedvoiceunder thetutelageofDr.NicoleAsel,Dr. StephanieBeinlich,Dr.DanielHunterHolly,aswellasconductingwithDr.Sean Taylor.Sheisnowinhersixthyearof teaching,herfifthatVeteransMemorial EarlyCollegeHighSchoolwhereshe directsthebeginnertrebleandtenor bassgroups,varsitytreble,showchoir, andco-directsthechamberensemble.
WhileatVeterans,thechoirprogramhas consistentlybrokenandsetnewrecords forsuccessintheTMEAAll-Stateprocess andinUILSolo&Ensemble.AtUIL Concert&SightReadingevaluationshe hasexclusivelyreceivedsweepstakes withhergroups.In2023shewashonored
topresentat theTMEA/ TI:ME convention withher session“Yes, YouCan(va): Levelupyour programs, posters,and more!”
Additionally, overthe summershereceivedtheTexasChoral Director’sAssosication(TCDA)“Young DirectorofDistinctionAward.”Outside ofteaching,sheperformsintheRio GrandeValley’sprofessionalchorus, Pasión,singsasaprincipalchorus memberwiththeValleySymphony Orchestra,andperformsasasoloistwith variousensembles.
includetheOff-Broadwaypremiereof HereThereBeDragonsatThePlayers TheatreinNYC,Hello,Dolly!andInto theWoodsatMoonlightMusicals,and AnythingGoesattheCamillePlayhouse. Apassionateresearcherandpedagogue, theyhavepresentedtheirresearchfor theMusicTheatreEducator’sAlliance, theNationalAssociationofTeachersof Singing,TheNationalOperaAssociation, theCollegeMusicSociety,andthe KennedyCenterAmericanCollege TheatreFestival.IntheSummerof2022, theyattendedtheprestigiousNational AssociationofTeachersofSingingVoice Internprogram.Theyreceivedtheir MasterofMusicinVoicePerformance fromtheUniversityofAlabama,their DoctorofMusicalArtsdegreeand CertificateinOperaStudiesfromTexas TechUniversityandwillbepursuingtheir certificationinVocologyattheUniversity ofUtahSummerVocologyInstitute, beginningSummer2024. 11-UTRGVSymphonyOrchestra&Choirs2023-2024ConcertSeason
Dr.DAVIDSADLIER Tenor
Dr.SadliercurrentlyservesasProfessorof VoiceattheUniversityofTexasRio GrandeValleyHehasbeenhailedas "oneofAmerica'sleadingdramatic tenors"(OxfordMail).Hisoperacredits includeappearanceswiththeLyricOpera ofBaltimore,ChicagoOperaTheater, GlimmerglassOpera,OperaTheatreof St.Louis,NewOrleansOpera,Opera CircleofCleveland,OperaNorth,and theBaltimoreConcertOpera.Most recently,Dr.SadlierappearedinCarmen andToscawithTheBaltimoreConcert Opera.Concertappearancesinclude Beethoven’sSymphonyNo.9withthe ConsortiumNovuminOxford’s SheldonianTheater;aworldpremier songcycle,AllyeknowonEarthwiththe St.Anne'sCamerata(Oxford);Haydn's LordNelsonMassandBrahms' LiebesliederWalzeswiththeLafayette BachChorale,VaughanWilliams' SerenadetoMusicwiththeIndianapolis Symphony,andseveralperformances withtheValleySymphony.Hehas performedmajorworksincludingDie schöneMüllerin,Dichterliebe,Andie ferneGeliebte,OnWenlockEdge,and
JOEALVEAR Bass
JoeAlvear, baritone,is afounding memberof Pasion,the Notevole Singers, theUTB/ TSC Master Chorale, andthe UTB/TSC Bravo Opera Company, andhas
Finzi'sOfair toseeand been featuredat major international venues including London’s Churchof St.Martinin theFields; Teatro Principal (Puebla, Mexico); Oxford’s JacquelineduPréMusicRoom;andThe Schumann-HausinZwickau,Germany.Dr. Sadliercollaboratesinrecitalwithhis wife,pianistandcomposer,Dr.Lelia MolthropSadlier.Theyspecializein themespecificrecitalsfeaturing Shakespeare,WorldWarI,Folkand Legend,andothers.TheSadlierslivein McAllen,TXandhavetwodaughters,4 cats,andaridiculousEnglishBullTerrier namedLavender.
performedwithvariousensembles throughoutTexas.Hehasperformed severalrecitalsandhasappearedasa soloistforSchubert’sMassinGMajor, Handel’sMessiah,Vivaldi’sGloria,Orff’s CarminaBurana,Verdi’sRequiem,and Brahm’sRequiem.Hehasalso performedtherolesofTheFatherin Humperdink’sHanselandGretel, HucklebeeinTheFantasticks,and HarryEasterinStreetScene.Joehasa BachelorofArtsDegreeinMusic EducationfromUTB/TSCandis currentlypursuingMaster’sdegreein ChoralConductingatStephenF.Austin UniversityinNacogdoches,Tx.
12-UTRGVSymphonyOrchestra&Choirs2023-2024ConcertSeason
Dr.SEANTAYLOR Bass/Conductor
Dr.SeanTaylorisAssociateProfessorof MusicatUTRGVandconductorofthe MasterChoraleandChamberSingers inBrownsville.Taylorisalsoconductor oftheValleySymphonyOrchestra ChoraleinMcAllen,TX,artisticdirector ofAliumSpiritum,avocalquartet basedinBrownsville,anddirectorof traditionalmusicatFirstMethodist ChurchinHarlingen,TX.Aspecialistin professionalensemblesinging,Sean hassungwithConspirare,Cincinnati's VocalArtsEnsemble,Charleston’s TaylorFestivalChoirandTheOregon BachFestival.HeholdsaD.M.A.in
ChoralConductingfromtheUniversity ofCincinnati,College-Conservatoryof Music,anM.M.inConductingfrom Carnegie Mellon University, wherehe servedas Assistant Conductor toGrammywinner Robert Page,anda B.M.in Music Education from Westminster College (PA).
Dr.MATTHEWCOFFEY Conductor
Dr. MatthewCoffeyisAssistantProfessorof ChoralStudiesattheUniversityofTexas RioGrandeValleywhereheconductsthe ChamberChoirandUniversityChoir.He holdsaDMAfromtheUniversityof CincinnatiCollege-ConservatoryofMusic anddegreesinMusicEducationfrom UniversityofHoustonandSamHouston
StateUniversity.AttheUniversityof Cincinnati,heservedasconductorofthe UniversityofCincinnatiMen’sChorusand servedasassistantconductorofthe undergraduateopera.Healsowasonthe musicstaffofKnoxPresbyterianChurch andsangprofessionallywiththeVocal ArtsEnsembleofCincinnati,.Duringhis tenureashighschoolchoraldirectorin theHoustonarea,manyofhisstudents werenamedtoaTexasAll-StateChoir. WhileatFortBendISD,heoversawan increaseinenrollmentinchoral programs.Dr.Coffeystudiedconducting withJoeMiller,EarlRivers,BrettScott, andAllenHightowerandparticipatedin conductingcourseswithSimon Carrington,DonaldNally,Joshua Habermann,LouisLangrée,andDale Warland.Ingreatdemandasguest conductor,clinician,andpresenter,he hasgivenlecturesandconductedhonor choirsinArkansas,Kentucky,Ohio, Pennsylvania,Texas,andVirginia.When he’snotlearningscores,hecanbefound rootingfortheHoustonAstroswithhis wife,Ashley,andtheirone-year-oldson, Elliott.
13-UTRGVSymphonyOrchestra&Choirs2023-2024ConcertSeason
CombinedChoirs
MatthewCoffeyandSeanTaylor, conductors
JuanPabloAndradeandBrendanKinsella, collaborativepianists
ElijahAdame
GeovaniAragus
AlexisArce
TonyBallesteros
CitlaliBenavides
MarianneBosita
ChristianA.
Briones
DanCapetillo
Valentina
Capistran
IsaacCardenas
MadelyneCardoza
NathanCavazos
YazminCepeda
LarissaChavez
MatthewCoffey
PerlaCortez
ValeriaCruz
RamonCurzio
JuanDeLaTorre
DanielDeLeon
HectorDuran
DelaneyDwyer
CaseyEdge
JoannaEscobedo
CalebFranks
MirandaGamez
AdamGarcia
MoisesGarcia
NariaGarcia
WendyGarcia
AlejandroGarcia
AndreGarcia
LayevskaGolinsky
Jonathan
Gonzales
AlexaGonzalez
ReneGonzalez
GaelGonzalez
JackieGordillo
JasonGoyre
SalGreen
MariahGuel
JesseGuevara
AlekxaGuevara
Rivera
MarianaGutierrez
DanielleHorr
IssaKarr
TristanLandgraf
AngelaLeal
LeoLeal
KayleeLopez
MiaLopez
IsaacMancillas
ManuelMartinez
IvanMelendez
KarenMendoza
MarisolMireles
GemmaMoreno
JulianNino
JoshuaParra
AllysaPerez
TaylorPerez
DominickPietrzak
KatyQuellhorst
MiaRamirez
YaretziRamirez
ZacharyRamsey
ElyssiaRazo
SergioReyna
EricRobledo-Pena
DanielleRocha
JocelynRocha
Melodee
Rodriguez
SamanthaRojas
SarahRowe
CindyRuiz
Zamudio
AlyssaSalinas
KristenA.Salinas
NatasiaSanchez
JenniferSanchez
NestorSilva
GaelValdez
DaciaVilla
ZarahZamora
VictoriaZamora
GregorioZuniga
BrownsvilleFestivalChorus
PabloAlvarez
JereyBaker
TravisBaldwin
JalynBarrera
PreetikaBauskar
Raymundo
Benavides
EvelynCantu
KevinCollins
MelodyEriksen
LuisEscobedo
AbrilEscobedo
JonFlores
NicholasGarcia
joshuaGault
AdrianaGonzalez
AdolfoGonzalez
IaraGonzalez
JamesGuenther
IlianaGuerrero
VianneyGutierrez
ValeriaGuzman
DinahHawkins
KarenHernandez
Jacqueline
Hernandez
JaylynnHernandez
JillianRae
Hernandez
AntonioLambert
JoseLeyva
MarcoLopez
CarolinaLozano
IdaLuera
AntonioLuna
JoannaLyles
RachelMann
FabiolaMartinez
MiguelMartinez
IilianaMata
DanielMazariegos
DiegoMazariegos
KaylaMendiola
HectorMontoya
VictorMoreno
MelindaMunoz
MarkMunoz
BrandiNelson
CindyNunez
ManuelObregon
ValeriaPaz
DanielRamirez
Elidaisabel
Rodriguez
RubenRosas
AnaRuvalcaba
MirandaSalas
SallySandoval
EnriqueSandoval
EllenSnyder
GarySnyder
JoaquinSoto
SophiaTrevino
JoeValdez
JulietVega
RebeccaVega
PamelaVillarreal
AlexisVillarreal
14-UTRGVSymphonyOrchestra&Choirs2023-2024ConcertSeason
