| 2021-2022 SEASON
HOPE LIVES HERE
Reflect and be reassured in the promise of hope for the future
CONTENTS DIGITAL CONCERT: Hope Lives Here. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 ABOUT VOCALESSENCE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 THANK YOU, VOCALESSENCE SUPPORTERS. . . . . . . . . . 14
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
LIFETIME DIRECTORS
Nancy F. Nelson Treasurer
Ann Barkelew Ann Buran Art Kaemmer Nikki Lewis Mike McCarthy Dave Mona Dorene Wernke
Daniel Fernelius Secretary
HONORARY DIRECTORS
David Myers President Torrie Allen Vice President
Mary Ann Aufderheide Philip Brunelle Cassidy McCrea Burns Barbara Burwell Margaret Chutich Martha Driessen Cassie Garnett Carolina Gustafson R.J. Heckman Valton Henderson Daniel Kantor Lisa Lewis Paul McDonough Rhoda Mhiripiri-Reed Fred Moore Richard Neuner Kristen Hoeschler O’Brien Jim Odland Joanne Reeck Don Shelby Jeff Smith Kristina Rodel Sorum Tim Takach Rabindra Tambyraja
Cover Photo of dancer © HoldenPhotos / with photo collage design by Lora Joshi
Dominick Argento* William Bolcom Dave Brubeck* Aaron Copland* Håkan Hagegård Louise Heffelfinger* Eskil Hemberg* Betty Hulings* Sigrid Johnson James Earl Jones Garrison Keillor Donald Mitchell* Helmuth Rilling John Rutter Peter Schickele Dr. André J. Thomas Eric Whitacre *In remembrance
ARTISTIC STAFF Philip Brunelle
Artistic Director and Founder G. Phillip Shoultz, III Associate Artistic Director Mary Jo Gothmann Accompanist
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Mary Ann Aufderheide Executive Director Jeff Bina Director of Finance and Operations Rhiannon Fiskradatz Learning and Engagement Manager | Social Media Storyteller Robert Graham Learning and Engagement Manager | Conductor, Vintage Voices Laura Holst Development and Marketing Associate Ethan Johnson Director of Artistic Operations Amanda Timmer Director of Marketing and Communications Elissa Weller Director of Development
VOCALESSENCE 1900 Nicollet Avenue Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403 612-547-1451 vocalessence.org VocalEssence is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
facebook.com/vocalessence twitter.com/vocalessencemn linkedin.com/company/vocalessence youtube.com/vocalessence instagram.com/vocalessencemn 2021-2022 Season
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WELCOME
more.
What a joy it is for all of us at VocalEssence to welcome you—to our 2021-2022 Digital Concert Season! As we come together with gratitude for this opportunity, we also acknowledge the loss of lives due to COVID-19 during these months as well as lives lost to senseless shootings and police brutality; but we live in hope— which is our concert theme: Hope Lives Here—and so we move forward with a desire to do better and love
We are delighted to welcome, for the first time, Lise Houlton and dancers from the Minnesota Dance Theatre joining us on the Orchestra Hall stage in the music of Bernsein, a composer that has been heard before with VocalEssence but is always welcome! Composers are a very important part of our makeup—where would we be without their music?! It is also an honor to have a world premiere on the program—“The Other Side” by Kyle Pederson. The program is rounded out with the music of Andrea Ramsey, Julio César Morales, and Aaron Copland. A marvelous array of music! We want to thank all of you for being with us during this challening time— tuning in to our virtual broadcasts, continuing to support us financially, listening to the programs that Phillip Shoultz and I have offered daily, and continuing to keep us in your thoughts and prayers. On behalf of all of today’s vocal performers—the Ensemble Singers, the Chorus, and Singers Of This Age, we give you our heartfelt thanks!! —Philip Brunelle, Artistic Director and Founder
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2021-2022 SEASON SPECIAL THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT OF THIS CONCERT Anonymous Susan Boren Jay and Page Cowles Jack and Linda Hoeschler Craig Ingalls, Professional Plating, Inc.
HOPE LIVES HERE FEATURING: VocalEssence Chorus VocalEssence Ensemble Singers VocalEssence Singers Of This Age Minnesota Dance Theatre, Lise Houlton, artistic director Philip Brunelle, conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III, conductor Orchestra
SPECIAL THANKS Karl Benson Lise Houlton Art Kaemmer LeRoy Lehr, in memory of Veronica Reed Anna Meek Alex Roberts Rodgers Classic Organs, Minneapolis
2021-2022 SEASON SPONSORS
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
2021-2022 Season
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ARTISTIC VISION STATEMENT Our lives are all marked by significant events, moments that test our resolve and shape us for the future. Society has experienced an unimaginable disruption over the last nineteen months that has changed many of our ways of being, leaving us clinging to memories of days gone by while simultaneously leaning into a future filled with hope. Hope Lives Here provides artists and audience members alike with an opportunity to traverse the “seasons” of this ongoing pandemic. Using Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, the concert will provide a much needed space for contemplation and reflection as we embrace the emotions and experiences that many of us faced during this time. As you experience the concert, we invite you to consider the following questions that guided curatorial aspect of the content: •
Where do you hear gratitude, praise, and thanksgiving in the music?
•
Where do feelings of lament and loss, anxiety and worry, or loneliness and isolation show up in the music and movement?
• Are you reminded of political divisiveness? If so, where and when? •
Do you hear and see images of the racial reckoning?
• Are there moments that remind you of being surprised by joy? Are you reminded about new discoveries and silver linings that you discovered as we engaged with each other and the world in new and different ways? It is our hope that your reflection on these things, and so much more, will not only provide space for deep exhalation and catharsis, but that it might also inspire you to join us on our quest to listen louder, love more deeply, and lean into to the hope that lives here as we strive to create a world where people dwell together in unity. —G. Phillip Shoultz, III, Associate Artistic Director
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PROGRAM Hope Lingers On Lissa Schneckenburger, arr. Andrea Ramsey (2017) Chichester Psalms, Movement I* Leonard Bernstein (1965) Carey Shunskis, Patricia Kramer, Robert Graham, Timothy Takach, solo quartet The Other Side World Premiere Kyle Pederson with additional lyrics and music by VESOTA (2021) Ella Wright, Ricquelle Miles, Stephon Marcus, soloists Zaya Bates, spoken word artist Chichester Psalms, Movement II* Leonard Bernstein (1965) Erin Tetter, Sylvia Morris, soloists
Dame Tu Mano World Premiere Julio Morales (2019) Anna Olivarez, Isa Benegas, soloists Chichester Psalms, Movement III* Leonard Bernstein (1965) Carey Shunskis, Patricia Kramer, Robert Graham, Timothy Takach, solo quartet The Promise of Living, from The Tender Land
Aaron Copland (1954)
Choreography for Chichester Psalms by Alexandar Hille. Choreography for Las Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas (Four Seasons of Buenos Aires) by Elayna Waxse. *By arrangement with Boosey & Hawkes, Inc., Sole Agent for Leonard Bernstein Music Publishing Company LLC, publisher and copyright owner.
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TEXTS HOPE LINGERS ON Lissa Schneckenburger, arr. Andrea Ramsey
My mother, when love is gone, in our darkest hour, hope lingers on, My father, when peace is gone, in our darkest hour, hope lingers on, Refrain I will not hate, and I will not fear, In our darkest hour, hope lingers here, My sister, when equality’s gone, in our darkest hour, hope lingers on, My brother, with tolerance gone, in our darkest hour, hope lingers on, Refrain My love, when honor is gone, in our darkest hour, hope lingers on, My country, when justice is gone, in our darkest hour, hope lingers on, Refrain
CHICHESTER PSALMS, MOVEMENT I Leonard Bernstein Sung in Hebrew
I. Awake harps, great and small! I will rouse the dawn. Raise a shout for the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness and come before God’s presence with singing. Know that the Lord is God who has made us, and not we ourselves. We are God’s people and the sheep of God’s pasture. Come unto these gates with thanksgiving, and into God’s courts with praise. Be thankful unto God and bless that name, for the Lord is good. God’s mercy is everlasting, whose truth endures to all generations. —Psalm 108, verse 2; Psalm 100, entire Page 8
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THE OTHER SIDE Kyle Pederson and VESOTA I am here. Can you hear me calling out? For I’m weary now. I need help now. Can you hear me calling out? For I’m weary now. On the other side, will we be the same on the other side? Or will you and I grow up through the pain? What have we heard? What have we seen? What have we learned? What does it mean? On the other side of fear is when our dreams finally appear. On the other side of pain, we make sure they aren’t gone in vain. When disease took over, we became mundane from day to day. I’m breaking the chain, ‘cause no matter what you say, we won’t let Corona get in our way. (Rise up) Come on, get up on your feet and (Rise up) We’ll be shooting through the breeze, you’ll (Find us). With an eye to victory, ‘cause together we’re better than any powerful disease. No matter the weather, we won’t be admitting defeat. Birds of a feather, whenever we fall down on our knees. Guaranteed, it’s our reality, please believe, that soon, we are gonna be! This is a message to the people that we’re all standing equal. Ain’t no take back, ‘less you can give back the lives that you took, but you can’t, no retract Ain’t no retract, ‘specially not a kneecap. Bust into her house and everybody oversees that. Tired of the cop slack, tired of the talk back. All black lives matter, three states, all facts. (Rise up) Time to stop the bigotry, we’ll (Rise up) Ain’t no cage, we got the key, you’ll (Find us). With our fists up, feet down stomping out a melody that will create surround sound. Waves going everywhere, message going from here to there I’ll see you there, but you better make sure that your voice is up. Everybody screaming “Black Lives Matter!” so that they know it’s us! I will find you, stand beside you. I will meet you, see you be there—on the other side! —Kyle Pederson and VESOTA
CHICHESTER PSALMS, MOVEMENT II Leonard Bernstein
Sung in Hebrew II. The Lord is my shepherd, I will lack nothing. He will make me lie down in green pastures, He will lead me to calm waters. My soul will frolic. He will guide me among righteous circles To honor His name. Even if I walk Through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no harm, For You are with me. Your rod and Your staff— They comfort me. Why do the heathens assemble and the peoples plot vain things? The kings of the earth take their stand and the regents intrigue together Against the Lord and against the Lord’s anointed: Saying, let us break the cords of their yoke, and shake off their ropes from us. God that sits in the heavens will laugh. The Lord mocks us! You will set a table for me in full view of my enemies, You anointed my head with oil. My cup is full. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life. And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord for many years to come. —Psalm 23 entire; Psalm 2, verses 1-4 DAME TU MANO (GIVE ME YOUR HAND) Julio César Morales Pineda Sung in Spanish Give me a voice and fearlessly I will shout, Give me a reason and I will fight for it, Give me eyes to see what you see, For, as you can see, nobody wants to share anymore.
Give me a feeling An inspiration, So I can know that I’m not alone, Give me ears to hear your voice, Tell me that there’s nothing to fear. Give me your hand to place over my heart. —Julio César Morales Pineda, translated by Katie Villaseñor CHICHESTER PSALMS, MOVEMENT III Leonard Bernstein Sung in Hebrew III. O Lord, my heart did not grow tall nor my eyes look with superiority Thinking I am bigger and more important than I am. But I have taught myself to be contented. My soul is like a child weaned from its mother, Like a weaned child am I in my spirit. O Israel, wait for the Lord now and forever. How good and how pleasant it is, That people sit together. Amen. —Psalm 131, entire; Psalm 133, verse 1 THE PROMISE OF LIVING, from The Tender Land Aaron Copland The promise of living with hope and thanksgiving Is born of our loving our friends and our labor. The promise of growing with faith and with knowing Is born of our sharing our love with our neighbor. The promise of living, the promise of growing Is born of our singing in joy and thanksgiving. Give thanks there was sunshine, give thanks there was rain, Give thanks we have hands to deliver the grain. O let us be joyful, O let us be grateful to the Lord for his blessing.
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ABOUT MINNESOTA DANCE THEATRE The promise of ending in right understanding Is peace in our own hearts and piece with our neighbor.
Photo © Bruce Silcox
The promise of living, the promise of growing The promise of ending is labor and sharing and loving. —Horace Everett
The Minnesota Dance Theatre and School has been a leader in performing, teaching and celebrating the art of dance for more than five decades. Since its founding in 1962 by choreographer, teacher and producer Loyce Houlton, it has created legendary and iconic masterworks ranging from classic to contemporary dance. Now under the direction of Lise Houlton, a former member of the American Ballet Theatre and Stuttgart Ballet, Minnesota Dance Theatre and School remains a vital contributor to the development of the next generation of dancers with extensive training curriculum. www.mndance.org MDT COMPANY Brennan Benson Katelyn Boche Kaitlyn Deyo Elissa Fonseca
Sarah Jordan Jared Kelly Jacob Lewis Gates Northrup Adrián Pastén
Solana Temple Zachary Tuazon BALLET MASTER Carlie Clemerson
SAVE THE DATES FOR LIVE HOLIDAY MUSIC!
WELCOME CHRISTMAS
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Sat, Dec 11, 2021, at 4 PM and 7:30 PM Plymouth Congregational Church, MPLS
BACH’S CHRISTMAS ORATORIO
Sun, Dec 12, 2021, at 4 PM Roseville Lutheran Church, Roseville
Fri, Dec 3, 2021, 7:30 PM Basilica of Saint Mary, Minneapolis
2021-2022 Season
CHOREOGRAPHER AND FEATURED COMPOSER ALEXANDER HILLE choreographer
KYLE PEDERSON composer
MUSIC MOVES US {2021–22 SEASON}
Scan QR Code for full biographies
ORCHESTRA ELECTRIC BASS Erik Yates TIMPANI Erik Barsness PERCUSSION Josh Carlson David Hagedorn Paul Hill
HARP Sarah Grudem Min Kim ORGAN Mary Jo Gothmann PIANO Kyle Pederson
DRUM SET Brian Kendrick
VocalEssence welcomes you back to the concert hall SUBSCRIBE TODAY: vocalessence.org 2021-2022 Season
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ABOUT VOCALESSENCE For more than five decades, VocalEssence has provided opportunities for singers from the Twin Cities area to create incredible music together and build connections as part of the vibrant arts community in Minnesota. VocalEssence is known for introducing audiences to music and artists who are not yet known, often welcoming guest artists, composers, and conductors who are emerging, have unknown works, or represent a variety of cultures. Welcoming all members of the greater community, VocalEssence embodies the motto: Together We Sing. PHILIP BRUNELLE Artistic Director and Founder Philip Brunelle, artistic director and founder of VocalEssence 53 years ago, is an internationally-renowned conductor, choral scholar, and visionary. Philip has conducted symphonies, choral festivals, and operas on six continents. He holds five honorary degrees, served 9 years as Vice President of IFCM (International Federation for Choral Music), and has been recognized for his commitment to choral music by the governments of Norway, Hungary, Sweden, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. In 2019, he was awarded the American Prize in Choral Conducting and, in 2020, was given the Honorary Member Award by the Society for American Music. Philip is also Organist-Choirmaster at Plymouth Congregational Church, Minneapolis. During the pandemic Philip recorded almost 300 “Musical Moments” which can be accessed at https://www.vocalessence.org/what-we-do/virtual-projects/musical-moments-with-philip-brunelle/ and his thoughts on music are at RenaissanceManpodcast.com. http://vocalessence.org/ philipbrunelle
G. PHILLIP SHOULTZ, III Associate Artistic Director G. Phillip Shoultz, III, associate artistic director, uses the power of the spoken word and song to foster community and inspire action among people of all ages and abilities. Phillip conducts festival choirs and leads workshops across the United States and beyond. He serves on the faculty of the University of St. Thomas and also guides the ministries of music and worship at Westwood Lutheran Church. The winner of numerous honors, including the ACDA Graduate Conducting Competition and recipient of multiple Teacher of the Year awards, Phillip founded “Table for More” in the summer of 2020 to help organizations address issues related to innovation, equity, and belonging in the arts. https://www.vocalessence.org/who-we-are/ staff/g-phillip-shoultz-iii/
MARY JO GOTHMANN Accompanist Mary Jo Gothmann joined VocalEssence as staff accompanist in 2015. She enjoys a varied career as a chamber musician, soloist, opera coach, and organist. Mary Jo performs frequently with the Minnesota Orchestra and Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and is a graduate of Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Program, University of Minnesota, New England Conservatory, and St. Olaf College. Mary Jo is the founder and Artistic Director of the Joya Chamber Music Series at Zion Lutheran Church in Anoka.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US! What did you think? Share your voice—scan the QR code to take our survey. Page 12
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Photo © Bruce Silcox
VOCALESSENCE ENSEMBLE SINGERS
Photo © Bruce Silcox
VOCALESSENCE CHORUS
The VocalEssence Chorus is a group of talented and enthusiastic singers from many different walks of life, united by their love of singing and community. Performing a wide variety of musical styles, premiering new works, and sharing the stage with a diverse array of guest artists, the Chorus is a welcome home for singers who wish to continue making music throughout their adult lives.
The VocalEssence Ensemble Singers have established an international reputation because of their extensive catalog of recordings and broad range of unique repertoire. This chamber choir, whose members hail from a wide variety of professions, is bound together by their skilled artistry to create what The Times of London has described as a “flawless” sound.
SOPRANO AnnaLisa Anderson Madison Asher Jessica Belt Corey Cellurale Lorinda Chagnon Cassidy Coats Jennica Date Judy Drobeck Kristina Guiffre Becca Hovsepian Sally Jaffray Sara Jane Koste Joy MacArthur Lisa Moncur Ashley Nicksic Christina Pederson Sigrid Redpath Alexa Rosenbaum Cheryl Saunders Emma Schlabach Susan Scofield LeAnn Stein Abbie Sulik Dana Terres Melanie Tlusty Amanda Troolin Jen Vickerman Laura Walket Jacobsen Carole Whitney Laura Williams Dannika Wright
SOPRANO Jennifer Bevington JoAnna Johnson Chloe Johnson Emi Kaliski Natalia Romero Arbeláez Maggie Sabin Mari Scott Carey Shunskis
ALTO Akosua Addo Johanna Beaupre
Jo Beld Katelyn Belden Marjorie Hakala Johanna Hamilton Meg Hanna Dee Hein Grace Herbertz Jessica Laven Johnson Jeenee Lee Kristi Mueller Elizabeth Neuenfeldt Ana Lucía Piedrahita Fernandez Marty Raymond Miriam Sahouani Katie Sandsmark Erin Sandsmark Lisa Schalla Sydney Schoeberle Forrest Schrader Sandra Swami Cassidy Sykes Laura Tanner Cat Terres Allie Wigley TENOR Steve Aggergaard Jason Bendezu Larry Brandts Justin Clark Ryan Coopergard Ben Demaree Charlie Hill Luke Holifield Reagan Lee
Owen Metzger Kurtis Parlin Thomas Sasdi Rabindra Tambyraja† Barry Tikalsky Justin Vanni BASS Robert Atendido Haskel Black David Erickson Evan Kelly Jordan Kiffmeyer Jacob Koshiol Ben Kucera Mike LaFleur Daniel Lightfoot Noah Lucas William Marrujo Ken McGurran Nick Mroczek Declan O’Higgins Milo Oien-Rochat David Olson Ron Pearson Brian Ruhl Anthony Sims Trent Stenoien Matthew Terhaar Dave Toht Will Wiedenhoeft
ALTO Robin Helgen Patty Kramer
Marita Link Judith McClain Melander Anna Meek Sadie Nelson Erin Peters Kristina Rodel Sorum† TENOR Peter Aldrich David Beccue Ben Brunnette Anders Eckman Rob Graham
Nick Mattsson Kjell Redpath BASS Joshua Conroy Jimmy Deignan Joe Ellickson David Gindra Joe Kastner Erik Krohg Mike Schmidt Timothy Takach †Board liaison
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Photo © Adja Gildersleve
VOCALESSENCE SINGERS OF THIS AGE
The VocalEssence Singers Of This Age (VESOTA) is a community of Twin Cities high schoolers engaged in expanding what it means to be a choir and encouraging a wider circle of participation in the artform. Presenting music ranging from classical to hip-hop, they use creativity and collaboration to build an accepting community, equipped with the skills to lead social change in our society. Acacia Johnstone Ally Swanson Anna Olivarez Drew Fischer Ella Wright Emilia Sisson Erin Tetter Isa Benegas
Jadesola “Ghost” Olatunde Jerilyn Moya-Hypolite Joshua Hoffman Josh Sabin Juan Cabrera Kayla Gibson Kim Parkinson Krista Hines
Lamawn Saul Lela Sabin Liana Whitlock Lotus Deuel Maree Lasala Molly Sabin Ricquelle Miles Skylar Bandelin
Soliyana Woldu Stephon Marcus Sylvia Morris Tatiana Dickerson Yee Choua Thao Zaya Bates
VOCALESSENCE VINTAGE VOICES VocalEssence Vintage Voices is an exciting choral program that integrates the arts into the everyday lives of older adults. Guided by a desire to create a welcoming atmosphere and remove barriers for participation, these choirs sing to build community, combat loneliness and isolation, and improve physical and emotional wellbeing.
THANK YOU, VOCALESSENCE SUPPORTERS VocalEssence has a large group of committed supporters and is honored by the many gifts received in memory, appreciation, and celebration of friends and family that are too many to list in this concert program. Please visit our website to see a full list of supporters and special tributes.
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