VocalEssence 48th Season Fall Concert Program Book

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CONCERT SEASON A Musical Journey of the Heart season

48 2016 - 2017

FALL CONCERTS

Sponsored by Thrivent Financial

VOCALESSENCE

CONTENTS

1900 Nicollet Avenue Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403 612-547-1451 vocalessence.org

CONCERT: The Voyage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 – 11

VocalEssence is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

facebook.com/vocalessence twitter.com/vocalessencemn linkedin.com/company/vocalessence

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Kathryn Roberts, President Fred Moore, Vice President Jacob Wolkowitz, Treasurer Roma Calatayud-Stocks, Secretary Steve Aggergaard Mary Ann Aufderheide Juile Bader Ann Barkelew Traci V. Bransford Philip Brunelle Julie Henderson Craven Debbie Estes Ann Farrell Richard Ford Wayne Gisslen Art Kaemmer, M.D. Joseph Kalkman David L. Mona David Myers Nancy F. Nelson, F.S.A. James M. Odland Cay Shea Hellervik Robert C. Smith Timothy Takach Jenny L. Wade Dorene Wernke Honorary Directors 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

Community Engagement: VocalEssence Vintage Voices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Community Engagement: VocalEssence Community Sings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 CONCERT: Welcome Christmas. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 – 28 Community Engagement: Carnegie Hall’s Lullaby Project Presented by VocalEssence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30 CONCERT: Star of Wonder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 – 33

*In remembrance

About VocalEssence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34 – 36

ARTISTIC STAFF

Donor Spotlight: Lois Quam. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

Philip Brunelle, Artistic Director G. Phillip Shoultz, III, Associate Conductor and Education Program Director Mary Jo Gothmann, Accompanist

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF Andrew Alness, Artistic Assistant

Mary Ann Aufderheide, Executive Director Robert Graham, Education Manager Laura Holst, Development and Marketing Associate Mary King, Director of Finance and Operations Amanda Timmer, Education Associate Katrina Wallmeyer, Director of Development and Communications Elissa Weller, Grants and Special Events Manager

Thank You, VocalEssence Donors. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 – 42

PLEASE NOTE: • Concerts will be recorded for possible broadcast—please help us keep the performance space quiet. Take a moment now to check that all cell phones, paging devices, wristwatch alarms, and the like are turned off before the concert begins. Thank you for your cooperation.

• Recording devices and cameras are prohibited. No photography, video, or audio recording is allowed in the concert hall. Please abstain from texting, tweeting, or checking your email during the concert.

• Student and group discounts are available for most VocalEssence concerts. Half-price tickets are available to students (ages 6-18 and college) with a student ID. Groups of 10 or more save 15% on tickets. Children under age 6 are not allowed at VocalEssence performances, except for select community and family concerts, including VocalEssence ¡Cantaré! and Star of Wonder.

• Accessible seating is available at all of our concert venues. However, some of our facilities do not have elevator access to the balcony level. Please make your needs known when you order tickets.

• You may return VocalEssence single concert tickets for resale up to 48 hours prior to a performance. No refunds or exchanges can be given; however, you will be sent a receipt for your tax-deductible contribution. (VocalEssence subscribers may call 612-371-5642 to request free ticket exchanges and lost ticket replacement.)

• Latecomers will be seated at appropriate pauses in the concert according to the conductor’s wishes. Please plan plenty of time for locating the concert venue and parking. Or, better yet, allow an extra hour and join us for Concert Conversations with the composers and artists, held one hour before most concerts.

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2016-2017 48TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON SPECIAL THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT OF THIS CONCERT Aaron Copland Fund for Music, Inc. Kay and Mike McCarthy Walt McCarthy and Clara Ueland 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, and a grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation Minnesota.

Alfred P. & Ann M. Moore Philip and Katherine Nason Fund of The Saint Paul Foundation Wenger Foundation

SPECIAL THANKS Patrice Arasim, Minneapolis Youth Chorus Carolyn Brunelle Central Lutheran Church Rev. D. Foy Christopherson Mark Keiffer Rev. Peter Nycklemoe Mark Sedio Catherine Dalton Joseph Haj Mattie Kaiser, G. Schirmer, Inc. Reijo Kekkonen, Sulasol Minnesota Chorale Bob Peskin Kathy Saltzman Romey Presbyterian Homes at Folkestone Georgene Gray Kirsten Lakeman Mark Rosen, Augustana Open Circle of Hopkins Jerry Rubino, Voices of Experience Griselda Sherlaw-Johnson, Oxford University Press Tesfa Wondemagegnehu Page 4

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THE VOYAGE Sunday, October 16, 2016 at 4 PM Central Lutheran Church 333 South 12th Street Minneapolis, MN Concert Conversation with Kay McCarthy and Nick Nash at 3 PM VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers Minneapolis Youth Chorus Sabathani Vintage Voices Voices of Experience Joseph Haj, actor Philip Brunelle, conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III, conductor

2016-2017 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, and a grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation Minnesota.

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WELCOME

THE PROGRAM VocalEssence Ensemble Singers Philip Brunelle, conductor Joseph Haj, readings of William Shakespeare A 400th Anniversary Salute to William Shakespeare

Welcome to the opening concert of the VocalEssence 48th season! This afternoon we honor the seasons of life, validate the wisdom of timeless truths, and celebrate the power of community.

The concert begins with the 400th anniversary salute to William Shakespeare—a man who has inspired thousands of composers down through the centuries. Adding a special lustre to the music we are pleased to welcome Joseph Haj, Artistic Director of the Guthrie Theater, to share his own spoken words from the great bard.

Then, five prominent female composers struck by the creativity of Kay McCarthy’s magnificent quilts were each commissioned to compose an a cappella work based on a poem of their choosing—a poem that spoke to each of them about the quilt they chose. How delightful to bring together the worlds of music, poetry, and fiber art for us to enjoy!

Bob Chilcott’s The Voyage provides the afternoon’s title and brings singers of all ages together to highlight and combat loneliness and other difficulties we all face as we journey through life. This afternoon, the VocalEssence Chorus is joined by members of our very own Sabathani Vintage Voices choir, and our friends from the Minneapolis Youth Chorus and the Voices of Experience, led by Patrice Arasim and Jerry Rubino, respectively.

The texts of the poet Charles Bennett provide the framework for this adventure, guiding us to revisit our personal memories and challenging us to share our hopes and dreams for a better tomorrow.

We are honored to be presenting the North American premiere of this stunning work.

— Philip Brunelle, Artistic Director and G. Phillip Shoultz, III, Associate Conductor and Education Program Director

So Hallow’d Is the Time

Harrison Hintzsche, baritone Blow, blow, thou winter wind

Joseph Haj as Jaques, As You Like It

Stephen Paulus (1981) Thomas Arne (c. 1760)

Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer’s Day? Libby Larsen (2001) Joseph Haj, Sonnet 130, My Mistress’ Eyes Are Nothing Like the Sun Dirge for Fidele Ralph Vaughan Williams (1895) Joseph Haj as Macbeth, Macbeth Devouring Time Josep Vila (2013) Joseph Haj as Richard, Richard II Come Away, Death Jaakko Mäntyjärvi (1984) Joseph Haj as Rosalind, As You Like It It was a lover and his lass John Rutter (1976) Quilt Songs – World Premiere (2016) this is the garden The Children’s Orchard Sun Quilt Nearly Insane

Alice Parker Libby Larsen Gabriela Lena Frank Ysaÿe Barnwell

Most Holy Night Carol Barnett

INTERMISSION VocalEssence Chorus G. Phillip Shoultz, III, conductor Out Beyond Ideas (I’ll Meet You There) Catherine Dalton (2016) VocalEssence Chorus, Minneapolis Youth Chorus, Sabathani Vintage Voices, Voices of Experience, and Instrumental Chamber Ensemble G. Phillip Shoultz, III, conductor The Voyage – United States Premiere Bob Chilcott (2016)

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TEXTS Texts of William Shakespeare SO HALLOW’D IS THE TIME (HAMLET)

Stephen Paulus Some say, that ever ‘gainst that season comes Wherein our Saviour’s birth is celebrated, The bird of dawning singeth all night long; And then, they say, no spirit dare stir abroad, The nights are wholesome, then no planets strike, No fairy takes, nor witch hath pow’r to charm, So hallow’d and so gracious is the time.

BLOW, BLOW THOU WINTER WIND (AS YOU LIKE IT)

Thomas Arne Blow, blow, thou winter wind, Thou art not so unkind As man’s ingratitude; Thy tooth is not so keen, Because thou art not seen, Although thy breath be rude.

Freeze, freeze, thou bitter sky, That dost not bite so nigh As benefits forgot: Though thou the waters warp, Thy sting is not so sharp As friend remembered not.

SHALL I COMPARE THEE TO A SUMMER’S DAY? (SONNET XVIII)

Libby Larsen Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?

Thou art more lovely and more temperate: Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer’s lease hath all too short a date; Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, And often is his gold complexion dimm’d; And every fair from fair sometime declines, By chance or nature’s changing course untrimm’d; But thy eternal summer shall not fade, Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow’st; Nor shall death brag thou wander’st in his shade, When in eternal lines to time thou grow’st: So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

DIRGE FOR FIDELE (CYMBELINE)

Ralph Vaughan Williams Fear no more the heat o’ the sun Nor the furious winter’s rages Thou thy worldly task hast done, Home art gone, and ta’en thy wages; Golden lads and girls all must, As chimney-sweepers, come to dust.

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Fear no more the lightning-flash, Nor the all-dreaded thunder-stone; Fear not slander, censure rash; Thou hast finished joy and moan; All lovers young, all lovers must Consign to thee, and come to dust.

No exorciser harm thee!

Nor no witchcraft charm thee!

Ghost unlaid forbear thee!

Nothing ill come near thee!

Quiet consummation have; And renownèd by thy grave!

DEVOURING TIME (SONNET XIX)

Josep Vila Devouring Time, blunt thou the lion’s paws, And make the earth devour her own sweet brood; Pluck the keen teeth from the fierce tiger’s jaws, And burn the long-liv’d Phoenix in her blood; Make glad and sorry seasons as thou fleets, And do whate’er thou wilt, swift-footed Time, To the wide world and all her fading sweets; But I forbid thee one more heinous crime: O, carve not with the hours my love’s fair brow, Nor draw no lines there with thine antique pen!

Him in thy course untainted do allow For beauty’s pattern to succeeding men.

Yet do thy worst, old Time! Despite thy wrong My love shall in my verse ever live young.

COME AWAY, DEATH (TWELFTH NIGHT)

Jaakko Mäntyjärvi Come away, come away, death, And in sad cypress let me be laid.

Fly away, fly away, breath; I am slain by a fair cruel maid.

My shroud of white, stuck all with yew, O, prepare it!

My part of death, no one so true Did share it.

Not a flower, not a flower sweet, On my black coffin let there be strown.

Not a friend, not a friend greet My poor corpse, where my bones shall be thrown.

A thousand thousand sighs to save, Lay me, O, where Sad true lover never find my grave, To weep there!

MINNEAPOLIS YOUTH CHORUS 10th anniversary season Winter Concert February 10, 2017 Minneapolis 10th Anniversary Concert May 12, 2017 Minneapolis Sing a Mile High Festival June 28 – July 3, 2017 Denver, Colorado mnchorale.org/myc

10 YEARS VOICES OF EXPERIENCE enriching the lives of senior singers since 2010 mnchorale.org/vox MYC and VoX are programs of the Minnesota Chorale.

For more information, visit mnchorale.org

Sept 10 – Oct 29 612.377.2224 / guthrietheater.org

adapted by KATE HAMILL based on the novel by JANE AUSTEN directed by SARAH RASMUSSEN

Sponsored by

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IT WAS A LOVER AND HIS LASS (AS YOU LIKE IT)

John Rutter It was a lover and his lass, With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino, That o’er the green cornfield did pass, In springtime, the only pretty ring time, When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding; Sweet lovers love the spring.

Between the acres of the rye, With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino, Those pretty country folks would lie, In springtime, the only pretty ring time, When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding; Sweet lovers love the spring.

And therefore take the present time, With a hey, and a ho, and a hey nonino, For love is crownèd with the prime In springtime, the only pretty ring time, When birds do sing, hey ding a ding, ding; Sweet lovers love the spring.

QUILT SONGS TEXTS - See Insert OUT BEYOND IDEAS (I’LL MEET YOU THERE)

Catherine Dalton We are the music-makers, And we are the dreamers of dreams, Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, there is a field. I’ll meet you there.

When the soul lies down in that grass, the world is too full to talk about.

Ideas, language, even the phrase each other doesn’t make any sense

Arthur O’Shaughnessy; Rumi, translated by Coleman Barks THE VOYAGE

Bob Chilcott The poet Charles Bennett and I wrote The Voyage in response to a request from Age UK Oxfordshire to imagine a piece that might support their ongoing campaign to end loneliness. A highly emotive subject, and one that we decided to set within the span of a voyage at sea, which ultimately depicts the voyage through life and how we come to terms with the challenges it brings. The major protagonists are three choirs, a mixed choir responsible for the major part of the narrative, a choir of young people, and a community choir of older people made up largely of inexperienced singers.

We looked to depict this journey through a cycle of songs which are interspersed by short soliloquies for the instrumentalists. A good deal of the text views a life lived through memories and I looked to reflect this for the community choir in music made up of tuneful refrains, sung both wordless and with text, refrains that I wanted to feel like songs known for a long time or even from youth.

These refrains punctuate the narrative which takes us through childhood memories, the hopes and dreams, and the storms of Page 8

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life to a sense of resolution through shared experience. The focal point for this resolution is in the song “Cup and Saucer,” sung by the young and the older choirs. It aims to show us that even with the passing of time our feelings, our hopes and most importantly our needs for others remain the same.

1: Setting Sail Alone on the beach at midnight

I found a boat, and wondered what it might take

to make it float.

In the waves at my feet

I could open a door, and cross the sea to where

I’d never been before.

The beat of my heart was a tide

which rose up the beach, and the moon was the pulse of the lighthouse

just out of reach.

In the boat with my blood

for the mast and sail, my hand the rudder, my spine

the wooden keel.

The stars above my head

became an arrow pointing me out from the beach towards tomorrow.

And I knew I would sail that boat

towards the light, to where I wasn’t alone on the beach at midnight.

2:

My Father’s Boat

Now and again I remember the boats we made together, my father and me.

I recall the smell of glue and all the pieces laid out on the table.

Chorus:

Dip your brush and begin with aquamarine for the sea, then paint the sky with night and come and sail with me.

We put them together slowly like steps in a dance we found it hard to learn.

We read the instructions so often I heard them as I went to sleep.

And all I’m asking now is a bit of help to put myself together.

I know it won’t be easy, but if we take things gently we’ll be fine.

All the instructions are gone now and some of the pieces missing but even so,

I think I can still dance over the dark waves with you as my partner.

3: What we did on our holiday

Sometimes at night I felt the floor heave up.

I crouched into a ball, I shuddered as we broke through stubborn ice; I thought the house might sink but it never did.

What we did on our holiday was sit on a bench as the sun melted ice cream down our fingers.

And so when a storm approaches now, I batten down the hatches, except it’s me who steers the house through rain and wind and ice towards the morning.

And what we did on our holiday was fly a kite that grew smaller till it hit a cloud.

Stick with me now, we’ll get through this together, listen to the shipping forecast, pick up the broken pieces and start afresh.

Remember, it’s all plain sailing after a storm.

And what we did on our holiday was build a castle whose walls would never fall till the tide came in.

6:

And what we did on our holiday was splash each other with water tasting like tears till a towel came along.

We fell asleep to the sound of waves in our heads, we dreamt of an ice-cream castle, and that’s what we did on our holiday.

4:

Crossing the Equator

The day you cross the equator for the first time you’re summoned to the Court of Neptune – a series of strange tasks awaits before you become a Shellback or ‘Son of the Deep’.

And whenever I get to the top of the stair and forget what I’m there for, when I lose my keys or become confused, I tell myself: I’m only crossing the equator.

And when I lost my step and fell overboard and saw my life go sailing off without me, I knew in the end it was either sink or swim.

King Neptune remember me now your trusty servant, throw me a lifeline soon O Merciful Majesty, save me from sharks and crabs and the storms of life.

5:

The Shipping Forecast

Chorus:

Dogger, Fisher, German Bight, steer me safely through the night.

Gale Force Nine and Storm Force Ten, let me see dry land again.

As a child I always knew when a storm was coming.

I hid myself away, and watched the cups and saucers flying; plates come smashing down in smithereens.

The Fortunate Isles

I’ve been to the Fortunate Isles, and what I remember most, is a curious thing which takes place once a year.

In clothes that do not fit, clothes that are most unsuitable, old people go to the playgrounds and take them over.

Like swallows they swing through the air, and spin on roundabouts, or slip down sleek slides with a gleeful shriek.

But then a terrible thing, a terrible thing happened: the old went right on playing and would not stop.

And as they laughed and played, their bodies grew small as children, and no one could make them do what they were told.

Their children watched them play, children who looked like adults, and told them: be careful and stop it and don’t touch that!

I’ve been to the Fortunate Isles where the old are young forever and laughter is bright as sunshine after rain.

7: Cup and Saucer Whenever I’m a saucer you’re my cup.

Whenever you are down I’ll lift you up.

If I’m a blunted knife you’ll be my fork.

If you were an empty sky I’d be the lark.

When I’m a dark tunnel you’re the light.

When you’ve been left behind I’ll see you right.

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BIOGRAPHIES If ever I’m too cold you keep me warm.

If ever you are stormy I’ll be calm.

8: Sailing By Chorus: This is a prayer for space. This is a prayer

for ease.

This is a prayer for grace. This is a prayer

for peace.

In a time of calm we rest upon the waves and take our ease, one white cloud in a blue sky is a seagull sailing by.

In a time of calm we watch the moonlight gleam on a millpond sea, hear the desolate cry of a seagull sailing by.

In a time of calm we wait for the wind to blow both hard and cold, then over the waves we fly like a seagull sailing by.

9: Boatsong I am the mast: a tree among the waves, I hold the sail where once I held my leaves.

O mast we promise now we’ll stand like you –

tall and straight and true.

I am the compass: look at me and know the true direction you must surely go.

O compass we promise now to hold on tight

to all that’s true and right.

This is the ship to hold us safe and dry above the waves, beneath the open sky.

O ship our promise meets in you tonight

as we voyage towards the light.

Charles Bennett The Voyage music by Bob Chilcott, words by Charles Bennett.

Text © Charles Bennett. Reproduced by permission of Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.

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Charles Bennett’s writing is widely acclaimed. Evenlode, his ninth collection of poetry, cements his reputation as a writer concerned with place. Celebrated in the 2012 BBC Proms (and featured on the recent double CD Angry Planet) his work with choral composer Bob Chilcott has seen him hailed as a memorable and mesmerising librettist. He is writer-inresidence for the National Trust at Wicken Fen and combines this with his duties as Associate Professor in Poetry at the University of Northampton.

Brimming over with startling voices, arresting images

and an indefatigable joie de vivre.

Poetry Book Society Bob Chilcott (b. 1955), has become one of the most widely performed composers of choral music in the world. His music reflects his wide taste in music styles and his commitment to writing music that is both singable and communicative. Most recently he wrote The King shall rejoice for the service at Westminster Abbey to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second. There are recordings of Bob’s music by the BBC Singers, the King’s Singers, The Sirens, and the NFL Wrocław Philharmonic Choir. Since 2002 he has been Principal Guest Conductor of The BBC Singers. He has been privileged to conduct many choirs in some 30 countries over the last ten years.

Joseph Haj (b. 1964) is the eighth artistic director of the Guthrie Theater, Minneapolis. He is the former artistic director of PlayMakers Repertory Company, the theater in residence at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Joseph has directed at theaters throughout the United States and began his career as an actor, performing with many of the American theater’s foremost directors. He made his Guthrie debut in The Screens and performed in The Skin of Our Teeth, Troilus & Cressida, Richard II, Henry IV and Henry V. Joseph was the recipient of the NEA/White House Council Millennium Grant awarded to 50 of America’s finest artists.

Minneapolis Youth Chorus

Sabathani Vintage Voices

Voices of Experience

Now celebrating its tenth anniversary, the Minneapolis Youth Chorus is an auditioned ensemble open to Minneapolis Public School students in grades 5 through 9. Minneapolis Youth Chorus seeks to enrich the lives of participants by providing them with opportunities to develop their musical gifts in an environment dedicated to the celebration of diversity and the pursuit of artistic excellence. Led by founding conductor Patrice Arasim, the program is offered at no charge to participants: all costs are borne by its parent organization, the Minnesota Chorale. Minneapolis Youth Chorus is a Community Partner of the Minneapolis Public Schools, and a founding member of the Minnesota Youth Choir Consortium.

Sabathani Vintage Voices began in 2015 as a part of the VocalEssence Vintage Voices program. The choir is conducted

by VocalEssence Ensemble Singer and Education Manager Robert Graham. It is based at the Sabathani Senior Center in Minneapolis which is the hub for many programs geared toward those 50 and better, including wellness care opportunities, informative seminars on current topics or events, entertaining field trips to a theater, casino, or museum, as well as a friendly gathering place where seniors can meet friends and neighbors. The many activities and services are designed to help seniors maintain independent lifestyles.

Voices of Experience offers an opportunity for mature singers to achieve vocal excellence, to share their art with others, and to enrich the community through song.

Offered in partnership with the Minnesota Chorale and MacPhail Center for Music, Voices of Experience is an artistically ambitious chorus of Twin Cities seniors, ages 55 and older. Jerry Rubino, conductor, pianist and arranger, leads the ensemble.

ROSTER: Genvieve Anderson Haakon Anderson Maya Atherly-Larsen Mary Bair Anna Benjamin Isabella Benjamin Mackenzie Bergemann Aria Burch-Senser Maya Carlson Owen Crowell Olivia Devaraj Frances Dicus Breen Jace Edington Elizabeth Erickson Drew Fischer Azalea Fustgaard Elias Gaytan Betsy Gebhard Maya Gels Charles Fredrick Graff Elaina Granse Katherine Harich Beatrice Healey Ava Henry Katie Hockenberry Erin Jasperson Zoe Johnson Estella Jones Louise Kelly Mimi Kol Balfour

Ella Kowalczyk Lily LaCombe Olivia Lee Sophie Mach Sarah Meek Aviva Milgrom Nadia Miller Lydia Moen-Walvante Sidney Mussell Ebba Nordstrom Matilda Page Ameya Petsch Madison Pohl Nadia Rakun Shreya Ramraj Aiden Rathmann Ava Rowan Elena Ruch Lulu Skroch Finn Smith Simone St. Aubin Milena Troha Lucy Tschida Hattie Tschida Ana Valencia Amari Williams Walter Zell Tony Zuchora-Walske

Virginia Clark Leola Greene Grace Jaggers Ann Jenson John Jenson Bill Koss Linda Koss

SOPRANO Melanie Broida Vicki Bunker Jean Geissler Judy Gentry Annie Glasgow Anne Hawkins Judy Hipwell Mary Kerres Helen Raleigh Cathy Schmit Mary Seidlitz Marge Senninger Diana Sherry Joyce Winsperger-Rubio ALTO Lynne Ackerberg Joyce Barnes Judie Flahavan Martha Harris Ruth Hiland Mary Hunter Mary Jelinek Marlene Kachelmyer Isabel Karon Kay Koehnen Holly MacDonald Beatrice Magee Betty Lou Nelson Janice Noruk Vicki Olson

Mary Ann Palmer MaryEllen Pugh Linda Rasmussen Doris Rubenstein Kathy Sherwood Emily D. Slowinski Darlene Wakefield Sonja Walker Paige Winebarger TENOR Toni Beitz Mary Lou Doll James Johnson Mary Sue Krueger Deb Laub Mary H. Leary Dick Pugh Peter Schuman Jim Templeton Pete Voth Paul Wartman BASS Irv Crandall Jack Gray Korkut Gurkanlar Phil Kachelmyer Phillip Katzung Loren Kuusinen John Orbison Kevin Seal

INSTRUMENTAL CHAMBER ENSEMBLE Susan Janda, viola Teresa Richardson, cello Christopher Brown, bass Michele Frisch, flute Preston Duncan, saxophone Chuck Hodgson, horn Kory Andry, timpani Mary Jo Gothmann, piano Chris Volpe, contractor

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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Did you know that isolation and loneliness for older adults is a critical issue?

The health risks associated with social isolation are equivalent to smoking a pack of 20 cigarettes each day!

VocalEssence is combatting this with VocalEssence Vintage Voices. Created using best practices, the program’s interactive, ongoing approach aims to elicit proven health benefits of creative arts. It includes: •

Rehearsals: Weekly rehearsals over 12 weeks focus on the process of singing together, incorporate sensory-rich activities, social and reflection time, and are led by a professional conductor and pianist trained to work with older adults.

•

VocalEssence Concert Attendance: Choir participants are invited to attend a VocalEssence concert with a guest.

•

Final Performance: Vintage Voices singers perform for their family, friends, and the site community at a sharing concert.

Please welcome our fall VocalEssence Vintage Voices sites—Presbyterian Homes and Services at Folkstone and Augustana Open Circle of Hopkins—at The Voyage performance this fall.

“My memory is improving! Since I’ve been coming here and singing with you every week, I feel like it’s the first time that I don’t have to check my calendar to see what day of the week it is!”

– VocalEssence Vintage Voices singer

For more information, please contact VocalEssence at info@vocalessence.org or 612-547-1451.

© Stephen Maturen

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American Public Media and Classical Minnesota Public Radio present

WELCOME CHRISTMAS WITH HOST JOHN BIRGE

Monday, Dec. 5 7pm-8pm Friday, Dec. 16 6pm-7pm Nov. 12, 2016 – Jan. 8, 2017

A Nordic Christmas Ce l e b ra t i o n s of Li g ht

Classical Minnesota Public Radio 99.5 FM in the Twin Cities and online at classicalmpr.org This year’s VocalEssence Welcome Christmas broadcast features the music from our 2015 concert, including Nils Lindberg’s jazz-infused A Christmas Cantata, and our carol contest winners: “Go Tell It on the Mountain” by Laura Caviani and “Sleep Softly, Lullaby” by Josh Bauder.

Join the American Swedish Institute and shine a light of discovery on holiday traditions from the Nordic countries of Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Norway. For a full schedule of events and workshops, visit ASImn.org or call 612-871-4907.

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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COME SING WITH US! Together We Sing is our mantra, and we’ve invited the Queens of choral music to use their magical talent for helping everyone discover the gift of their own voice—bringing us all a little closer together, helping reduce the stresses of our lives through the power of song.

Our first community sing on Saturday, October 15, 2016 was powerful and inspiring. Alice Parker and Ysaÿe Barnwell led an unforgettable afternoon of fellowship drawing on their rich, lifelong experiences as dynamic leaders of the choral tradition.

Join us at our second immersive community sing this season to feed your soul and rediscover the power of your own voice. The event is free and no experience is necessary.

COMMUNITY SING WITH MELANIE DEMORE Friday, January 13, 2017 at 7 PM Red Cap Room, Union Depot, Saint Paul Tickets: FREE at vocalessence.org For more information, please contact VocalEssence at info@vocalessence.org or 612-547-1451.

© Bruce Silcox

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2016-2017 48TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON SPECIAL THANKS FOR THE SUPPORT OF THIS CONCERT Albrecht Family Foundation Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation MAHADH Fund of HRK Foundation

Peravid Foundation Piper Family Foundation R C Lilly Foundation

WELCOME CHRISTMAS Saturday, December 3, 2016 at 7:30 PM Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Apple Valley Friday, December 9, 2016 at 7:30 PM Roseville Lutheran Church, Roseville Saturday, December 10, 2016 at 4 PM Plymouth Congregational Church, Minneapolis

Roseville Area Community Foundation

Sunday, December 11, 2016 at 4 PM Plymouth Congregational Church, Minneapolis

The VocalEssence Welcome Christmas Carol Contest is sponsored, in part, by contributions made in memory of long-time VocalEssence patron and friend Ann Cole.

VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers Lynne Aspnes, harp David Hagedorn, vibraphone and marimba Stu Janis, hammered dulcimer Christopher Kachian, guitar Philip Brunelle, conductor G. Phillip Shoultz, III, conductor

SPECIAL THANKS American Composers Forum William J. Lackey John Nuechterlein Angelica Cantanti Judith McClain Melander

2016-2017 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, and a grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation Minnesota.

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WELCOME

THE PROGRAM

Phillip Shoultz and I always look forward to our Welcome Christmas concerts for the joy and warmth that this music brings to each of us. This year the focus is on music from North America—Canada, Mexico and the USA—and what an abundance of lovely music there is to choose from!

VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers Philip Brunelle, conductor

Some of the composers will be old favorites and others will be new to you— and that is one of the joys of programming a Welcome Christmas program! We know you will be delighted with the colorful variety of music our composers offer.

It is wonderful to also celebrate the 19th year of our Welcome Christmas Carol Contest with two new composers and their charming music for V & V—Voices and Vibes! Best wishes to each of you; may this Advent and Christmas season bring you joy and happiness throughout the season.

— Philip Brunelle, Artistic Director and Founder, VocalEssence

Star in the East Malcolm Dalglish

JoAnna Swantek-Johnson, soprano; Samuel Baker, tenor (1991) Little Carol of Hope

World Premiere

Steve Heitzeg (2016)

The Shepherd and the King Brian Holmes (2000) Men of the VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers G. Phillip Shoultz, III, conductor March of the Kings

Alice Parker (1953)

VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers G. Phillip Shoultz, III, conductor The Carol of the Birds

Anna Christofaro, soprano; Anna Mooy, alto

Alice Parker (1953)

I Saw Three Ships

Alice Parker (1953)

Adam Lay Ybounden Sean Sweeden

2016 Welcome Christmas Carol Contest Winner (2016)

SPRING PERFORMANCES CONCERTS

2016-2017

CONCERT SEASON A Musical Journey of the Heart season

48

2016 - 2017

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VOCALESSENCE WITNESS: UNDERGROUND RAILROAD Sun, Feb 19, 2017 MIRACLE MASS Sat, Apr 22, 2017 FAMILY & COMMUNITY EVENTS

COMMUNITY SING WITH MELANIE DEMORE Fri, Jan 13, 2017 VOCALESSENCE ¡CANTARÉ!

COMMUNITY CONCERT 2017 Tues, May 2, 2017

The Three Kings

Healey Willan (1928)

Alleluia

Dominick DiOrio (2013)

INTERMISSION VocalEssence Ensemble Singers Philip Brunelle, conductor Carols and Lullabies (Christmas in the Southwest)

Love Came Down

Conrad Susa (1992)

Jennifer Higdon Sophie Amelkin, soprano (2015)

Lux Nova

Eric Whitacre

(2014) G. Phillip Shoultz, III, conductor A Cradle Song Lee Blaske

2016 Welcome Christmas Carol Contest Winner (2016) Women of the VocalEssence Chorus Reel à Bouche

Malcolm Dalglish (1991)

VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers Thou Shalt Know Him

The First Nowell*

Mark Sirett (1995) arr. Philip Brunelle (2016)

Philip Brunelle, conductor O Holy Night*

Adolphe Adam (1848)

What Month Was Jesus Born In?

David Morrow (2012)

In gratitude for the inspiration that David and Ann Buran provided to VocalEssence for so many years, we are pleased to dedicate the first Welcome Christmas concert at Plymouth Congregational Church each season in their honor. We look forward to celebrating their contributions at these performances for years to come.

*Audience Sing

Add sparkle to your holiday season with original carols alongside outstanding arrangements of your favorite melodies.

Welcome your Christmas with glorious music ranging from “Jingle Bells” to Nordic carols—plus John Rutter’s “Carol of the Magi” for chorus and cello.

Available at the CD table and via vocalessence.org.

At this concert Buy any 3 CDs get one FREE!

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TEXTS AND TRANSLATIONS STAR IN THE EAST

Malcolm Dalglish

LITTLE CAROL OF HOPE Steve Heitzeg

Hail the dawn! See the great mediator.

Down from the regions of glory descend.

Shepherds go look for the babe in the manger.

Follow the star where the angels attend.

When Jesus came to earth it was a holy birth the animals sang His worth, singing balelu

Cold on his cradle the dew drops are shining.

Low lies his head with the beasts of the stall.

Angels surround him in slumber reclining.

While high in the heavens is a lone sentinel.

And Jesus said be kind to all those you will find and keep an open mind, singing friend to all

Brightest and best of the stars of the morning.

Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid.

Star of the east, the horizon adorning, Guide where our infant redeemer is laid.

Love each and ev’ry thing this love will make earth sing no war could ever bring such love

Shall we not yield him in costly devotion.

Odors of Edom and off’rings sublime.

Gems from the mountains and pearls of the ocean.

Myrrh from the forest and gold from the mine.

Remember those in need and put away all greed the hungry we must feed, singing help the poor, love not war

Vainly we offer each ample oblation.

Vainly with gifts would his favor secure.

Richer by far is the hearts adoration.

Dearer to God are the prayers of the poor.

When Jesus died they say Sweet Mary came to pray all spirits fly away, singing weep no more

Brightest and best of the stars of the morning.

Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid.

Star of the east, the horizon adorning, Guide where our infant redeemer is laid.

The message Jesus brings is love above all things and justice now rings across all lands

Peace to all.

Steve Heitzeg

---

There’s a star in the east on Christmas morn.

Rise up shepherd and follow.

It’ll lead to the spot where the Savior’s born.

Rise up shepherd and follow!

Leave your sheep and leave your lambs Rise up shepherd and follow.

Leave your yews and leave your rams.

Rise up shepherd and follow.

If you pay good heed to the angel’s word.

Rise up shepherd and follow.

You’ll forget your flock, you’ll forget your herd.

Rise up shepherd and follow.

Follow. Follow. Rise up shepherd and follow.

Follow the star of Bethlehem.

Rise up shepherd and follow.

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THE SHEPHERD AND THE KING Brian Holmes

THE CAROL OF THE BIRDS Alice Parker

The Shepherd and the King, The Angel and the Ass, They heard Sweet Mary sing When her joy was come to pass; They heard Sweet Mary sing To the Baby on her knee.

Sing again, Sweet Mary, And we will sing with thee!

Earth, bear a berry!

Heaven bear a light!

Man, make you merry

On Christmas Night.

When in the eastern skies The wondrous star did rise And fill the night with splendor, Came birds in joyful throng To sound their dainty song In a carol sweet and tender, Hosanna to the Child And to his Mother mild Full rev’rently to render.

The kingly eagle came To praise His holy name In mighty proclamation;

The Oxen in the stall, The Sheep upon the hill, They are waking all To hear Sweet Mary still.

The Baby is a Child And the Child is running free.

Sing again, Sweet Mary …

The sparrow then replied: “Tonight is Christmastide, Ah, night of jubilation.”

Then robin red-breast sang: “Now death has lost its pang; In Christ is our salvation.”

The People in the land, So many million strong, All silently do stand To hear Sweet Mary’s song.

The Child He is a man, And the Man hangs on a tree.

Sing again, Sweet Mary …

The nightingale sang sweet The Holy Babe to greet In Mary’s arms a-lying.

The cuckoo and the quail Flew over hill and dale In admiration vying.

The Stars that are so old, The Grass that is so young, They listen in the cold To hear Sweet Mary’s tongue.

The Man’s the Son of God, And in heaven walketh He. Sing again, Sweet Mary …

Eleanor Farjeon

The barn-owl’s eyes were dim, Such radiance blinded him, And homeward he went flying.

Traditional Spanish,

Translation by Kurt Schindler

and Deems Taylor

MARCH OF THE KINGS Alice Parker Ce matin, j’ai rencontré le train De trois grands Rois qui allaient en voyage.

Ce matin, j’ai rencontré le train De trois grands Roi dessus le grand chemin.

This morning I met the procession Of three great Kings who were on a journey.

This morning I met the procession Of three great Kings on the highway.

Tout chargés d’or les suivaient d’abord De grands guerriers et les gardes du trésor, Tout chargés d’or les suivaient d’abord De grands guerriers avec leurs boucliers.

Traditional French

All laden with gold there followed first Great warriors, and the guardians of treasure, All laden with gold there followed first Great warriors with their shields.

I SAW THREE SHIPS Alice Parker 1. I saw three ships come sailing in, On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day, 2. And what was in those ships all three…

3. Our Savior Christ and His lady…

4. Pray, whither sailed those ships all three…

5. Oh, they sailed into Bethlehem…

6. And all the bells on earth shall ring…

7. And all the angels in heaven shall sing…

8. And all the souls on earth shall sing…

9. Then let us all rejoice amain On Christmas Day in the morning!

Traditional English

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ADAM LAY YBOUNDEN Sean Sweeden

THE THREE KINGS Healey Willan

One of the earliest carols I remember singing as a young chorister is Adam Lay Ybounden. I have always been fascinated by its poetic beauty. In my composition I have tried to enhance the mystery, warmth, and joy evoked by the Middle English text. In this carol we remember the Garden of Eden and the fall of Adam and Eve. The third verse suggests our subsequent redemption by the birth of Jesus Christ by Mary, who was to become the Queen of Heaven as a result. The text becomes macaronic as we are called to sing “Deo Gratias”!

—Sean Sweeden

“Who knocks tonight so late?”

The weary porter said.

Three Kings stood at the gate, Each with a crown on his head.

Adam lay ybounden, bounden in a bond; four thousand winter, thought he not too long.

And all was for an apple, an apple that he took.

As clerkès finden, written in their book.

The serving man bowed down; The inn was full, he knew.

Said he, “In all this town Is no fit place for you!”

A light the manger lit; There lay the Mother meek.

Said they, “This place is fit: Here is the rest we seek!”

They loosed their latchet strings; So stood they all unshod.

Come in, come in, ye Kings!

And kiss the Feet of God. Laurence Housman

Ne had the apple taken been, the apple taken been, ne had never our ladie a been heav’ne queen.

Blessed be the time that apple taken was, therefore we moun singen, Deo gratias!

Traditional English

CAROLS AND LULLABIES Conrad Susa Many years ago, Philip Brunelle suggested that I write a companion to Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols. To a composer, this tempting offer was another way of asking, “How about writing us a hit?”

After several years of me writhing in doubt, a friend, Gary Holt, showed me a set of traditional Spanish carols he had sung as a boy in Arizona. I noted their many connections with Renaissance music along with their homey yet artful simplicity. Excited, I juggled them around to form a narrative. The overriding image of a Southwestern piñata party for the New Baby led me to add guitar and marimba to Britten’s harp and compose connective music in a totally new conception of the carols.

In an often overlooked detail of the Christmas story, the New Baby bawls loudly as the shepherds leave the stable—you may hear him in your mind as the final bars of “Chiquirriquitín.” His parents now must dandle and soothe him to sleep. Tired themselves, they drift off as the angels hover above them in protective adoration.

—Conrad Susa I.

¡Oh, mi Belén! (Biscayan) ¡Oh, mi Belén!

Llegó tu hora bien amada, La luz que irradias sin cesar Es como un faro que nos guía En nuestra ruta, noche y día.

Oh, my Bethlehem!

Your beloved hour has arrived!

The light you shine unceasingly Like a beacon that guides us On our way, night and day.

¡Oh, mi Belén!

Oh, my Bethlehem!

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II. El Desembre Congelat (Catalonian) El desembre congelat, confús es retira.

Abril de flors coronat, tot el món admira, Quan en un jardí d’amore neix una divina flor; D’una rosa bella, fecunda y poncella.

In frozen December, our confusion vanishes.

April is crowned with flowers, and all the world adores, For in this garden, love bears a divine flower; It’s a beautiful rose, fruitful and fragrant.

El primer Pare causà la nit tenevrosa.

Que a tot el món ofuscà la vista penosa; Mes en una mitja nit, brilla el sol que n’és eixit.

D’una bella aurora que el cel enamora.

The first Father made the dark night So that sleep might calm our troubled eyes.

But on this midnight, a sun shines without end.

With its beautiful light, Heaven itself falls in love.

El més de maig ha florit, sense ser encara, Un lliri blanc y polit, de fragrancia rara, Que per tot el mon se sent, de Llevant fins a Ponent, Tota sa dulcura I olor amb ventura.

May blooms here, though far away.

A lily white and gentle, of rarest fragrance Which all the world will enjoy forever.

All His sweetness! The fragrance!—And our great good fortune.

III. Alegría (Puerto Rican) Robert Smith, baritone; Harrison Hintzsche, baritone; Ryan LaBoy, baritone Hacia Belén se encaminan María con su amante esposo, Llevando en su compañía Un todo Dios poderoso.

Walking slowly toward Bethlehem, Holy Mary and her husband.

Traveling with them, though in secret, Is the Savior of all nations.

¡Alegría y placer!

Que la Virgen va de paso Con su esposo hacia Belén.

Joy and pleasure!

For the Virgin passes by us With her husband unto Bethlehem.

En cuanto Belén llegaron Posada el punto pidieron, Nadie les quiso hospedar, Porque tan pobres les Vieron.

When to Bethlehem they had traveled, They were searching for a haven, All the innkeepers refused them, Dressed so poor and heavy laden.

Los pajarillos del bosque Al ver pasar los esposos, Les cantaban melodías Con sus trinos harmoniosos.

The tiny birds of the forest, On seeing the couple, Sing them melodies With their harmonious trilling.

IV. A la Nanita Nana (Spanish) A la nanita nana, nanita ea, Mi Jesús tiene sueño, bendito sea.

A la nanita nana, nanita ea, Blessed be my child Jesus! Now you must sleep!

Fuentecilla que corres clara y sonora, Ruiseñor que en la selva, cantando lloras, Callad mientras la cuna se balancea.

Crystal fountain resounding clearly and brightly, Nightingale in the forest, weeping so sweetly, Hush! Now the child is sleeping, laid in a cradle.

V. Las posadas (Spanish) Solo quartet: Robert Graham, tenor; Robert Smith, baritone; Harrison Hintzsche, baritone; Josh Conroy, bass ¿Quieres que te quite, mi bien, de las pajas? ¿Quieres que te adoren todos los pastores?

A la rurru, niño chiquito, ya está arrulladito el niño.

Shall I take you from the straw bed, my darling?

Or shall I let the shepherds come in to adore you?

A la rurru, my tiny baby, the boy already slumbers.

Mi querido Padre, mi Dios y señor, Que sufriste alegre del frío su rigor.

A la rurru, niño chiquito, ya està arrulladito el niño.

My beloved Father, my God and Lord, Who so sweetly suffers the harsh cold.

A la rurru, my tiny baby, the boy already slumbers.

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VI. Campana sobre Campana (Andalusian) ¡Campana sobre campana, Y sobre campana una!

Asómate a la ventana, Y verás al Niño en la cuna.

Bell after bell after bell is heard, Gathering all who are able.

Come to the window and hear the word, You’ll see a child in a cradle!

Belén, campanas de Belén Qué los ángeles tocan ¿Que nueva me traéis?

Oh, ring the bells of Bethlehem!

What are the angels singing?

What news do they bring?

Recogido tu rebaño, ¿Adónde vas pastor cito?

Voy a llevar al portal Requesón, manteca y vino.

Now that all your flock is gathered, Tell me, shepherd, what’s the matter?

We shall carry to the manger Cheese and wine and sweetest butter.

Si aún las estrellas alumbran, ¿Pastor dónde quires ir?

Voy al portal por si el Niño Con Él me deja dormir.

Stars in the heavens are shining.

Shepherd, where will you go tonight?

Run, quickly, run to the baby!

Watch him slumber so sweetly.

VII. En Belén Tocan a Fuego (Castillian) Marita Link, alto; Anna Meek, alto; Sadie Nelson, alto En Belén tocan a fuego, Del portal salen las llamas.

Porque dicen que ha nacido El Redentor del las almas.

In Bethlehem a fire has begun; Through the doorway the flames are seen.

For they say that this night The Savior of the world is born.

Brincan y bailan los peces en el río, Brincan y bailan de ver a Dios nacido.

Fish in the river are leaping and dancing.

Dancing and leaping to celebrate his birthday.

En el portal de Belén Nació un clavel encarnado Que por redimir el mundo Se ha vuelto lírio morado.

From Bethelehem’s stable Springs a white carnation, Which will become a purple lily To redeem the world.

La Virgen lava pañales Y los tiende en el romero.

Los pajarillos cantaban Y el auga se iba riendo.

The Virgin is washing swaddling clothes And hangs them on the rosemary tree.

Tiny birds are singing.

And the water flows by, laughing.

VIII. El Noi de la Mare (Catalonian) Solo Quartet: Mari Scott, soprano; Erin Smith Peters, alto; Anders Eckman, tenor; Erik Krohg, bass ¿Qué li darem a n’el Noi de la Mare? ¿Qué li darem que li sápiga bon?

Li darem panses en unes balances, Li darem figues en un paneró.

What shall we give to the child of the Mother?

What can we bring that will give him delight?

Bring to him raisins in kingly abundance, Bring him the offerings he richly deserves.

¿Qué li darem a n’el Noi de la Mare? ¿Qué li darem a l’hermos Infantó?

Panses i figures i nuez i olives, Panses i figures i mel i mató.

What shall we bring to the child of the Mother?

What shall we bring to the beautiful Boy? Raisins and honey and olives and walnuts, Raisins and candy and figs that are ripe.

Tam patantam que les figures son verdes, Tam patantam que ja madurarán.

Si no maduren el día de Pasqua, Madurarán en el día del Ram.

What shall we do if the figs do not ripen?

What shall we do if the figs are still green?

Gifts that we offer the Child should be perfect; Mild for a baby, yet fit for a King.

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IX. Chiquirriquitín (Andalusian) ¡Chiquirriquitín!

Metidito entre pajas; ¡Ay del chiquirritín!

Queridito del alma.

In the stable!

Laid in the straw… in the stable!

Little One, beloved of the soul.

Por debajo del arco del portaliño Se descubre a María, José y el Niño.

For behind this little door We find Mary, Joseph and the baby.

Entre el buey y la mula Dios ha nacido, Y en un pobre pesebre lo han recogido.

Between the ox and ass God is born.

And in a lowly manger he is laid.

X. El Rorro (Mexican) A la rurru, niño chiquito, Duérmase ya mi Jesusito.

A la rurru, baby boy.

Hurry off to sleep, my little Jesus!

Del elefante hasta el mosquito Guarden silencio, no le hagan ruido.

Both the elephant and mosquito Must keep silence—make no sound!

Noche venturosa, noche de alegría, Bendita la dulce divina Maria.

Oh glorious night, joyous night!

Bless the sweet, divine Mary!

Coros celestiales, con su dulce acento, Canten la ventura de este nacimiento.

Heavenly choirs, with their soft voices Sing of the good fortune of this birth!

XI. Fum, Fum, Fum! (Catalonian)

¡Veinticinco de deciembre, ¡Fum, Fum, Fum! Nacido ha por nuestro amor, El Niño Dios, El Niño Dios; Hoy de la Virgen María En esta noche tan fría, ¡Fum, Fum, Fum!

On December five and twenty, Fum, Fum, Fum! For the love of us is given The Holy Infant, son of Heaven.

Of the Virgin, Joseph’s bride, To all the earth good will be tiding.

Fum, Fum, Fum!

¡Pajaritos de los bosques ¡Fum, Fum, Fum! Vuestros hijos de coral abandonad, De cor El Niño Dios, Y formad un muelle nido A Jesús recien nacido, ¡Fum, Fum, Fum!

Little birds from out the forest, Fum, Fum, Fum! All your fledglings leave behind, Go seek the Savior kind, Come and build a lovely nest To warm the lovely Baby blessed.

Fum, Fum, Fum!

¡Estrellitas de los cielos, ¡Fum, Fum, Fum! Que a Jesús mirais llorar Y no lloráis, Alumbrad la noche oscura Con vuestra luz clara y pura, ¡Fum, Fum, Fum!

Little stars up in the heavens, Fum, Fum, Fum! If you see the Baby cry, O, do not answer with a sigh!

Rather lighten up the sky With heaven’s beams of radiant brightness.

Fum, Fum, Fum!

Translations by Conrad Susa and Paul Guttry

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LOVE CAME DOWN Jennifer Higdon

LUX NOVA Eric Whitacre

Love came down at Christmas, Love all lovely, Love Divine, Love was born at Christmas, Star and Angels gave the sign.

Lux, Light, calida gravisque pura velut aurum warm and heavy as pure gold et canunt angeli molliter and the angels sing softly modo natum. to the new born babe.

Traditional Latin

Worship we the Godhead, Love Incarnate, Love Divine, Worship we our Jesus, But wherewith for sacred sign?

Love shall be our token, Love be yours and love be mine, Love to God and all ken, Love for plea and gift and sign.

Christina Rossetti

We welcome you!

Sundays—9:45 First Service especially for families & 10:30 Sanctuary Service Plymouth Congregational Church

Philip Brunelle, Organist and Choirmaster Proud to be the home of VocalEssence 1900 Nicollet Ave., Minneapolis 612/871-7400 www.plymouth.org Find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest

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A CRADLE SONG Lee Blaske

REEL À BOUCHE Malcolm Dalglish

William Blake’s poem, A Cradle Song, was written in 1789 and included in his book Songs of Innocence. I attempted to give it a somewhat contemporary treatment in this composition. Knowing that my old friend, Dave Hagedorn, was going to be the vibraphone accompanist for this year’s contest assignment, I wanted to make sure there would be moments where the vibraphone would shine. So, I built in cascades at the ends of a number of phrases underneath sustained chords held by the choir.

—Lee Blaske

A “reel” is a fast moving repetitive dance tune in a duple meter, found in many western music folk traditions. Reel à Bouche is a French-Canadian lilting/ or mouth music piece. Traditionally performed for dances when the instrumentalists, fiddler, or accordion player were either unavailable, unaffordable or taking a break. This type of mouth music will often imitate the absent instrument and be accompanied by a clogging step, using a heel-toe pattern that is done either standing or sitting. A wonderful piece for a Christmas celebration.

Sweet dreams, form a shade O’er my lovely infant’s head!

Sweet dreams of pleasant streams, By happy, silent, moony beams!

THOU SHALT KNOW HIM Mark Sirett

Sweet Sleep, with soft down, Weave thy brows an infant crown!

Sweet Sleep, angel mild, Hover o’er my happy child!

Sweet smiles, in the night, Hover over my delight!

Sweet smiles, mother’s smiles, All the livelong night beguiles.

Thou shalt know him when he comes, Not by any din of drums, Nor his manners, nor his airs, Nor by any thing he wears.

Thou shalt know him when he comes, Not by his crown or by his gown, But his coming known shall be, By the holy harmony which his coming makes in thee.

Anonymous Text

Sweet moans, dovelike sighs, Chase not slumber from thy eyes!

Sweet moans, sweeter smiles, All the dovelike moans beguiles.

Sleep, sleep, happy child!

All creation slept and smiled.

Sleep, sleep, happy sleep, While over thee thy mother weep.

Sweet babe, in thy face, Holy image I can trace; Sweet babe, once like thee, Thy Maker lay, and wept for me.

Wept for me, for thee, for all, When he was an infant small.

Thou His image ever see, Heavenly face that smiles on thee!

Smiles on thee, on me, on all, Who became an infant small; Infant smiles are His own smiles; Heaven and earth to peace beguiles.

William Blake

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THE FIRST NOWELL French carol, arr. Philip Brunelle

O HOLY NIGHT Adolphe Adam

The First Nowell the angel 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.

O holy night!

The stars are brightly shining It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth!

Long lay the world in sin and error pining Till he appear’d and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope the weary soul rejoices For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Refrain: Nowell, Nowell, Nowell, Nowell,

Born is the King of Israel.

They lookèd 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: Refrain And by the light of that same star, Three Wise Men came from country far, To seek a king was their intent, And to follow the star wheresoever it went: Refrain This star drew nigh to the northwest; O’er Bethlehem it took its rest.

And there it did both stop and stay Right over the place where Jesus lay: Refrain Then did they know assuredly Within that house the King did lie: One entered in them for to see, And found the babe in poverty: Refrain Then entered in those Wise Men three, Full reverently upon their knee And offered there in his presence Their gold and myrrh and frankincense: Refrain Then let us all with one accord Sing praises to our heavenly Lord, That hath made heav’n and earth of nought, And with his death true life hath bought: Refrain Traditional

Refrain Fall on your knees, O hear the angel voices.

O night divine, O night when Christ was born.

O night divine, O night divine.

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.

Refrain Traditional WHAT MONTH WAS JESUS BORN IN? David Morrow What month was Jesus born in?

Last month in the year.

Lord, you got January, February, March, oh Lord!

You got April, May, and June, Lord, You got July, August, September, October and a-November?

It was the twenty-fifth day of December, The last month in the year.

He was born in an ox-stall manger, Last month in the year.

Was it January, February, March, oh Lord?

Was it April, May, or June, Lord, Was it July, August, September, October and a-November?

It was the twenty-fifth day of December, It was the last month in the year.

I’m talkin’ ‘bout Mary’s baby, Born in the last month in the year.

Was it January, February, March, oh Lord!

You got April, May, and June, Lord, Was it July, August, September, October and a-November?

It was the twenty-fifth day of December, It was the last month, yes, In the last month in the year.

Traditional Spiritual

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BIOGRAPHIES Harpist Lynne Aspnes is Professor Emeritus for the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance, Ann Arbor, MI, and a former faculty member in the School of Music at Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ. She has recorded numerous premiere works for chorus and harp with VocalEssence, with the Riverside Church, New York, and with harpist John Wickey as the TrueNorth Harp Duo works for two harps. Lynne began her training in Minnesota with her mother, harpist Frances Miller. Lynne holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Minnesota, a Master of Music degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Manhattan School of Music.

Composer, orchestrator, producer, keyboardist, and multi-instrumentalist Lee Blaske is in continual demand for recording projects and live music performances of all kinds. His orchestrations are found on the albums of many Flyte Tyme artists such as: Janet Jackson, Sounds of Blackness, Mariah Carey, and Boyz II Men as well as those of Beyoncé, Celine Dion, Mary J. Blige, The Steeles, and Amy Grant. Over his career, he has worked on many music packages for major market radio and television stations and scores for video games such as “Snoopy’s Grand Adventure” (2015). His long list of commercial credits includes Coca Cola, Target, Best Buy, United Airlines, Porsche, Tour de France, and many, many others. He can often be seen performing with a variety of musical groups in the Twin Cities area.

Dave Hagedorn is an Artist in Residence at St. Olaf College where he teaches percussion, jazz studies, and world music. He holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music, New England Conservatory, and the University of Minnesota. He has recorded with numerous groups including the George Russell Living Time Orchestra on Blue Note Recordings (nominated for a Grammy award), jazz singer Debbie Duncan on Igmod Recordings, and and the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra on Teldec Recordings. Dave regularly performs in the Twin Cities with groups such as the Phil Hey Quartet, JazzMn, and Chris Bates Good Vibes Trio. On the classical side of music, he also has performed with the Minnesota Orchestra, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Opera, VocalEssence, Cantus, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and the Grand Teton Festival Orchestra.

Stu Janis began playing hammered dulcimer in 1983 during a 3-year stay in Wilmington, North Carolina, having grown up playing piano and flute in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He moved to Minnesota in 1984 and soon became part of the Greenwood Tree duo. Stu also performs with Eisner’s Klezmorim and Neptune’s Keep, along with accompanying area choirs on Malcolm Dalglish’s unique arrangements for choir and hammered dulcimer.

Stu was a front man, musician, and occasional puppeteer with Freshwater Pearls Puppetry, and he accompanied the Vorpal Sword rapper dance troupe for many years. Outside the realm of music, Stu is an industrial statistician and internal business

consultant at 3M, and his claim to the title of “Best Hammered Dulcimist” in the American Society for Quality has yet to be challenged.

Christopher Kachian, guitarist, has performed throughout Europe, Asia, and the Americas as a chamber musician, concerto soloist, orchestral multi-instrumentalist, and recitalist. As a performer he is active in expanding the repertoire for guitar and has commissioned and premiered dozens of new concerti, chamber pieces and solos for guitar.

He has written Composer’s Desk Reference for the Classic Guitar (Mel Bay). As a recording artist, he can be heard on RCA, Clarion, 10,000 Lakes, Innova, Collins Classics and valve-hearts. Since 1984, Dr. Kachian has directed one of the largest guitar programs in the US at the University of St. Thomas.

Composer Conrad Susa’s entire creative life was centered on vocal and dramatic music. As a student he earned a B.F.A. from Carnegie Institute of Technology and an M.S. from The Juilliard School, where he studied with William Bergsma and Vincent Persichetti. Conrad joined the composition department at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in 1988, becoming its Chair in 2000. His musical language is strongly tonal with influence from Baroque counterpoint and polyphony plus many contemporary techniques and idioms drawn from popular music. Conrad composed more than 100 works for theater, documentary films, and television. His first opera, Transformations, commissioned by Minnesota Opera and conducted by Philip Brunelle, has become one of the mostperformed American operas. Conrad also wrote operas commissioned by San Francisco Opera and the American Guild of Organists and composed dozens of choral pieces for numerous choruses including VocalEssence, Chanticleer, St. Thomas Church—New York City, and Plymouth Congregational Church— Minneapolis.

A native Arkansan, Sean Sweeden began studying music at a young age. While his primary focus has always been percussion performance, he also has experience as a choral musician, saxophonist, and composer. His first compositional endeavors were in marching band in which he wrote drum cadences and show music for the drumline and front ensemble. His varied interests led him to compose for a variety of ensembles, but his primary interest is in creating works that combine percussion and chorus. His composition teachers have been Philip Parker, Dr. Robert Mueller, and Dr. Zhou Long. He is currently a candidate for the D.M.A. in Percussion Performance at the University of Kansas City-Missouri Conservatory of Music and Dance where he continues to perform, teach, and study percussion as well as furthering his compositional style.

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AMERICAN COMPOSER’S FORUM Our Mission The American Composers Forum enriches lives by nurturing the creative spirit of composers and communities. We provide new opportunities for composers and their music to flourish, and engage communities in the creation, performance and enjoyment of new music.

The American Composers Forum is committed to supporting composers and developing new markets for their music. Through granting, commissioning, and performance programs, the Forum provides composers at all stages of their careers with valuable resources for professional and artistic development. By linking communities with composers and performers, the Forum fosters a demand for new music, enriches communities, and helps develop the next generation of composers, musicians, and music patrons.

THE 19TH ANNUAL WELCOME CHRISTMAS CAROL CONTEST Every December VocalEssence and the American Composers Forum celebrate the tradition of caroling by championing today’s composers, exploring new works, and rediscovering lesser-known works of the past. Through the Welcome Christmas Carol Contest, VocalEssence and the Forum provide composers with the opportunity to compose a modern-day carol. This year marks the 19th annual carol contest. Each composer receives a $1,000 prize and the performances will be recorded for national broadcast in 2017 via American Public Media.

2016: Carols with vibraphone Lee Blaske (Excelsior, MN) A Cradle Song Sean Sweeden (Kansas City, MO) Adam Lay Ybounden 2015: Carols with trumpet Josh Bauder (Crystal, MN) Sleep Softly, Lullaby Laura Caviani (Minneapolis, MN) Go Tell It on the Mountain 2014: Carols with folk fiddle Justin Merritt (Northfield, MN) Miles and Miles Rachel DeVore Fogarty (Long Island City, NY) The Song of a Shepherd 2013: Carols with piano William V. Malpede (West Hollywood, CA) Sound Over All Waters Dale Trumbore (Los Angeles, CA) Ring Out, Ye Bells!

2012: Carols with concert C flute David Biedenbender (Ann Arbor, MI) This Night Sheena Phillips (Trenton, NJ) The Christmas Bird 2011: Carols for men’s voices (TTBB) with English horn James Kallembach (Chicago, IL) That Yongë Child Robert Sieving (Minnetonka, MN) O Stella de Bethlehem

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2010: Carols with handbells J. David Moore (St. Paul, MN) I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day Mark Shepperd (Woodbury, MN) Come Join Their Song 2009: Carols with viola Michael J. Glasgow (Raleigh, NC) Welcome the King Robert Sieving (Minnetonka, MN) See Amid the Winter’s Snow 2008: Carols with French horn Scott Ethier (Astoria, NY) A Mother’s Carol Peter Hilliard (Roslyn, PA) Christ’s Nativity 2007: Carols with celeste Matthew Brown (Los Angeles, CA) Sweet was the Song Stephen Main (San Francisco, CA) The Darkest Midnight in December 2006: Carols with solo acoustic guitar Diego Luzuriaga (Ardmore, PA) Un Nacimiento (A Nativity Scene) John Rommereim (Grinnell, IA) Calm on the Listening Ear of Night 2005: Carols with cello Paul Gibson (Downey, CA) It Fell Upon the High Midnight Jocelyn Hagen (Minneapolis, MN) See Amid the Winter Snow 2004: Carols with recorder Keith Bradshaw (Lexington, VA) Soft, the Light James Sclater (Clinton, MS) Piping Carol 2003: Carols with solo instrumental accompaniment Thomas Fielding (Bloomington, IN) Behold the Dark and Bitter Night Alan Higbee (Beechwood, OH) In the Bleak Midwinter 2002: Carols with percussion Mary Lynn Place Badarak (Cochiti Lake, NM) Brightest and Best Paul Lohman (Minneapolis, MN) Angels Heard on High 2001: Carols with string orchestra Clive Muncaster (Princeton, NJ) Shepherds, Shake Off Your Drowsy Sleep Sergey Khvoshchinsky (St. Paul, MN) The Christmas Silence 2000: Carols with harp Brian Holmes (San Jose, CA) The Shepherd and the King Emily Maxson Porter (Fridley, MN) I Sing the Birth 1999: Carols with audience participation Robert A.M. Ross (Philadelphia, PA) What Child Is This?

Jonathan Santore (Plymouth, NH) This Holy Christmas Night 1998: Carols for a cappella chorus Joan Griffith (Minneapolis, MN) Sweet Noel Richard Voorhaar (St. Paul, MN) The Virgin’s Cradle Hymn

CELEBRATE OUR COMMUNITY OF VOICES.

Listen at classicalmpr.org/choral

LIVE GE NE ROU SLY For more information about Thrivent and how we help your community, visit Thrivent.com or call 800-847-4836.

Appleton, Wisconsin • Minneapolis, Minnesota Thrivent.com • 800-847-4836 • 28143 R7-15

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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT Carnegie Hall’s Lullaby Project Presented by VocalEssence In partnership with Carnegie Hall, VocalEssence is thrilled to be the first choir in the nation to offer the Lullaby Project, a program that creates musical experiences for women facing pregnancy while enduring other hardships, such as teenage pregnancy, homelessness, or incarceration.

Lullabies are powerful tools for parents. According to research, the experience of writing a lullaby promotes bonding with the baby (a key predictor in the future success of children), boosts development and attachment by encouraging moms to communicate with their children, and builds parents’ confidence by generating a sense of accomplishment in creating a song for their baby.

This season, VocalEssence is pairing African American teen moms at Longfellow Alternative High School in Minneapolis with VocalEssence WITNESS guest artist Melanie DeMore. Together they will each create a lullaby that embodies the hopes and dreams the mother has for her baby. The lullabies will be recorded, and performed for friends and family this winter.

For more information, please contact VocalEssence at info@vocalessence.org or 612-547-1451.

© Stephen Maturen

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2016-2017 48TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON

STAR OF WONDER Saturday, December 10, 2016 at 9:30 AM Guild Hall, Plymouth Congregational Church, Minneapolis Saturday, December 10, 2016 at 11 AM Guild Hall, Plymouth Congregational Church, Minneapolis VocalEssence Ensemble Singers David Hagedorn, vibraphone and marimba Stu Janis, hammered dulcimer Mary Jo Gothmann, piano Philip Brunelle, conductor

2016-2017 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, and a grant from the Wells Fargo Foundation Minnesota.

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THE PROGRAM VocalEssence Ensemble Singers Bell After Bell is Heard (from Carols and Lullabies) Conrad Susa (1992) Hark! The Herald Angels Sing*

Felix Mendelssohn

(1840) A Cradle Song Lee Blaske (2016) Star in the East Malcolm Dalglish

JoAnna Swantek-Johnson, soprano; Samuel Baker, tenor (1991) Eres Mi Sol Ernestina Glenis and Francisco Zúñiga

Lullaby from Carnegie Hall’s (2016)

Lullaby Project produced by VocalEssence

Deck the Hall Traditional Welsh carol Love Came Down

Sophie Amelkin, soprano

Jennifer Higdon (2015)

Rise Up Shepherd and Follow Malcolm Dalglish (1991) What Month Was Jesus Born In? David Morrow (2012) Jingle Bells* James Pierpont

(1857) The Twelve Days of Christmas* *Audience Sing

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Traditional English Carol

TEXTS AND TRANSLATIONS BELL AFTER BELL IS HEARD from Carols and Lullablies Conrad Susa

ERES MI SOL Ernestina Glenis and

Francisco Zúñiga

See page 22 of Welcome Christmas texts and translations

I’ve loved you since the very first day, how happy I was to receive you I love you and I will love you forever, my darling.

You are my sun, my reason to live, you are everything.

Everything is for you and for a better life.

I want you to be strong and gentle Never doubt my love My baby, my baby.

Ernestina Glenis

HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING Felix Mendelssohn Hark! The herald angels sing “Glory to the newborn king; Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled” Joyful all ye nations rise, Join the triumph of the skies With th’angelic host proclaim “Christ is born in Bethlehem.”

Hark! The herald angels sing “Glory to the newborn king.”

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 th’incarnate Deity Pleased as man with us to dwell Jesus, our Emmanuel.

Hark! The herald angels sing “Glory to the newborn king.”

Hail the Heaven-born Prince of Peace!

Hail the Sun of Righteousness!

Light and life to all He brings, Risen with healing in His wings; Mild He lays His glory by Born that we no more may die, Born to raise each child of earth, Born to give them second birth.

Hark! The herald angels sing “Glory to the newborn king.”

Charles Wesley A CRADLE SONG Lee Blaske See page 25 of Welcome Christmas texts and translations STAR IN THE EAST Malcolm Dalglish See page 18 of Welcome Christmas texts and translations

DECK THE HALL Traditional Welsh carol Deck the hall with boughs of holly, Fa la la la la la la la la.

‘Tis the season to be jolly, Fa la la…

Don we now our gay apparel, Fa la la…

Troll the ancient Christmas carol, Fa la la…

See the blazing Yule before us, Fa la la…

Strike the harp and join the chorus. Fa la la…

Follow me in merry measure, Fa la la…

While I sing of beauty’s treasure. Fa la la….

Fast away the old year passes, Fa la la…

Hail the new, ye lads and lasses! Fa la la..

Sing we joyous all together, Fa la la…

Heedless of the wind and weather. Fa la la.

LOVE CAME DOWN Jennifer Higdon See page 24 of Welcome Christmas texts and translations RISE UP SHEPHERD AND FOLLOW Malcolm Dalglish See page 18 of Welcome Christmas texts and translations WHAT MONTH WAS JESUS BORN IN? David Morrow See page 26 of Welcome Christmas texts and translations

JINGLE BELLS James Pierpont Dashing through the snow In a one-horse open sleigh O’er the fields we go, Laughing all the way; Bells on bobtail ring Making spirits bright, What fun it is to ride and sing A sleighing song tonight!

Chorus: Jingle bells! Jingle bells!

Jingle all the way!

Oh, what fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh!

Jingle bells! Jingle bells!

Jingle all the way!

Oh, what fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh!

A day or two ago I thought I’d take a ride, And soon, Miss Fanny Bright Was seated by my side; The horse was lean and lank, Misfortune seemed his lot, He got into a drifted bank And then, we got upsot. Chorus: Now the ground is white, Go it while you’re young, Take the girls tonight And sing this sleighing song; Just get a bobtailed nag, Two-forty for his speed, Then hitch him to an open sleigh And crack! You’ll take the lead. Chorus:

James Pierpont THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

Traditional English Carol 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

A partridge in a pear tree Two turtle doves Three French hens Four calling birds Five gold rings Six geese a-laying Seven swans a-swimming Eight maids a-milking Nine ladies dancing Ten lords a-leaping Eleven pipers piping Twelve drummers drumming

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ABOUT VOCALESSENCE The Mission of VocalEssence As a leading Minnesota arts organization, VocalEssence uses the power of choral music to enhance our community by producing innovative vocal music events that stir people’s souls.

Minneapolis-based VocalEssence has decades of history as one of the world’s premier choral music organizations.

Despite its global influence, VocalEssence has kept its focus local—consistently pioneering ways to strengthen Minnesota’s community through thrilling musical experiences. We engage people of all ages and cultures through innovative, enticing choral music programming, such as performing ensembles, school curricula, elder learning initiatives, and advocacy projects.

Called “one of the irreplaceable music ensembles of our time” by Dana Gioia, past chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, our two performing groups—the Ensemble Singers (32 professionals) and the VocalEssence Chorus (115 volunteers)— are made up entirely of local residents.

VocalEssence is renowned for its innovative exploration of music for voices and instruments under the enthusiastic direction of Artistic Director and Founder Philip Brunelle and Associate Conductor and Education Program Director G. Phillip Shoultz, III. Each season, VocalEssence presents an eclectic series of concerts featuring the VocalEssence Chorus & Ensemble Singers and an array of guest soloists and instrumentalists.

VocalEssence was founded in 1969 as the Plymouth Music Series, an arts outreach program of Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis and incorporated as a separate 501(c)(3) non-profit in 1979.

In 2002, the Plymouth Music Series changed its name to VocalEssence, capturing the essence of its mission to explore music for the human voice.

In addition to championing lesser-known works of the past, VocalEssence has an unwavering commitment to today’s composers, which has resulted in more than 250 world premieres to date. The organization has received the ASCAP/ Chorus America Award for Adventurous Programming of Contemporary Music six times and has been honored with more Page 34

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Chorus America awards than any other ensemble nationwide, including the once-in-an-organizational-lifetime Margaret Hillis Achievement Award for Choral Excellence.

VocalEssence reaches into the community with programs that impact thousands of students, singers, and composers every year. VocalEssence WITNESS celebrates the contributions of African Americans and ¡Cantaré! brings the talents of composers from Mexico into Minnesota classrooms. VocalEssence partners with the American Composers Forum to offer the annual Welcome Christmas Carol Contest.

At VocalEssence, we believe when we sing together, we succeed together. We invite you to be a part of it.

Philip Brunelle

Artistic Director and Founder Philip Brunelle, artistic director and founder of VocalEssence, is an internationallyrenowned conductor, choral scholar, and visionary. He has made his lifelong mission the promotion of the choral art in all its forms, especially rarely heard works of the past and outstanding new music.

Under his leadership, VocalEssence has commissioned more than 250 works to date. Philip has conducted symphonies (New York Philharmonic, Seattle Symphony, and Minnesota Orchestra among others) as well as choral festivals and operas on six continents. He is editor of two choral series for Boosey & Hawkes and chairman of the review committee for Walton Music. Philip is also OrganistChoirmaster at Plymouth Congregational Church in Minneapolis. He appeared on the first and last broadcasts of A Prairie Home Companion with Garrison Keillor—42 years apart!

Over the past decade Philip has been deeply involved with the International Federation for Choral Music (IFCM).

He served as president of the Sixth World Symposium on Choral Music, held in Minneapolis in 2002. He is a Vice President of the IFCM Board and served as Executive Director for the 2014 World

Symposium on Choral Music in Seoul, South Korea. For the 2017 Symposium in Barcelona he is serving as Artistic Advisor.

His guest conducting engagements in 2016 include the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London; the professional Korean choir, Anyang Civic Chorale; and performances in Sweden of the Argento song cycle, “The Andrée Expedition.”

He is the recipient of the Weston H. Noble Lifetime Achievement Award, given by the North Central American Choral Directors Association; the F. Melius Christiansen Lifetime Achievement Award, American Choral Directors Association-Minnesota Chapter’s highest honor; and the Michael Korn Founder’s Award for Development of the Professional Choral Art, Chorus America’s highest lifetime achievement award.

Philip holds five honorary doctorates and has been recognized for his commitment to choral music by Norway (Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit), the United Kingdom (Honorary Member of the Order of the British Empire), Hungary (Kodály Medal), Sweden (Royal Order of the Polar Star), and Mexico (Ohtli Recognition Award).

And, listen to the new podcast on Philip: renaissancemanpodcast.com

G. Phillip Shoultz, III

Associate Conductor and Education Program Director Known for his innovative pedagogy and ability to inspire singers of all ages, G. Phillip Shoultz, III, enjoys a multifaceted career as conductor, educator, singer, and speaker. As Associate Conductor of VocalEssence, Phillip shares the podium with founding artistic director and mentor, Philip Brunelle, and serves as the artistic leader for education programs including WITNESS, ¡Cantaré!, and the Carnegie Hall Lullaby Project. In addition to his work with VocalEssence, he serves as director of music, worship, and the arts for Good Samaritan United Methodist Church and frequently appears throughout the U.S. as a guest clinician, adjudicator, and consultant.

The winner of the 2015 American Choral Directors Association Graduate Student Conducting Competition, Phillip appeared as a Conducting Fellow with the Oregon Bach Festival, Chorus America, Choral Music Experience Institute, and several other summer programs. He has prepared choirs for performances in Canada, England, Finland, France, Estonia, Russia, and Germany, where most recently, he worked alongside his doctoral mentor, Kathy Saltzman Romey, to prepare the Weimar Bach Cantata Academy Choir for six performances under the baton of Helmut Rilling.

Phillip completed his doctoral studies in conducting at the University of Minnesota (D.M.A.) and also earned degrees with High Honors from the University of Georgia (B.A. and B.M.) and Georgia State University (M.M.). During his time in Atlanta, he served as Artistic Director to an adult community choir (Gwinnett Choral Guild) and a youth organization (Atlanta Institute for Musicianship and Singing), founding director of the Georgia Young Men’s Ensemble, part of the Grammy Award–winning Gwinnett Young

Singers, and the Assistant Director for the professional chamber choir, Coro Vocati.

His work in public schools garnered school- and county-level Teacher of the Year honors on three separate occasions by different organizations.

Phillip enjoys biking, boxing, and all things related to sports and food. A proud member of the VoiceCare Network, Phillip believes every person can experience great joy through singing and passionately encourages exploration of body, mind, and voice through corporate singing experiences. Phillip lives in St. Louis Park, Minnesota with his wife, Michelle, and their three-year old son, Malachi.

Mary Jo Gothmann Accompanist

Mary Jo Gothmann, pianist, enjoys a varied career as a chamber musician, soloist, opera coach, and organist. She is the

founder and artistic director of the JOYA chamber music series at Zion Lutheran Church in Anoka. She has performed with the Chamber Music Society of Minnesota, Bakken Trio, Hill House Chamber Players, Music at Trinity, Colonial Chamber Music Series, Lakes Area Music Festival, JOYA, and the Taos Chamber Music Group.

Mary Jo performs frequently with The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Minnesota Orchestra, and has appeared with EOS Orchestra in New York City and as piano soloist with the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra and the St. Paul Civic Orchestra. She has worked for some of the most prestigious opera companies in the United States, including the Metropolitan Opera, Santa Fe Opera, and Minnesota Opera and has performed recitals with singers from the Metropolitan Opera as well as with instrumentalists from many of the country’s major symphony orchestras.

Mary Jo is a graduate of the Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Program, the University of Minnesota, New England Conservatory, and St. Olaf College.

AUDITION FOR THE VOCALESSENCE CHORUS & ENSEMBLE SINGERS 2016-2017 SEASON Please visit vocalessence.org/audition to schedule your audition online.

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VOCALESSENCE ENSEMBLE SINGERS Minnesota is home to one of the truly international gems in choral music—the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers.

This 32-voice professional chorus is a beloved national treasure that has been enjoyed by millions in Minnesota, around the country, and around the world. On their August 2014 Asia Pacific Tour, the VocalEssence Ensemble Singers traveled to Seoul, South Korea, to perform at the 10th World Symposium on Choral Music, then continued on to Shanghai and Nanjing, China, for more concerts.

The Ensemble Singers serve as the core of the larger VocalEssence Chorus, and returning members of the Ensemble Singers audition every year. The Ensemble Singers are renowned internationally, nationally and locally. They were featured at the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota and at the National Conference of the American Choral Directors Association in Dallas, Texas, where they received standing ovations for their performances of music by Mexican composers.

They have been featured on A Prairie Home Companion, and performed the Midwest premiere of Jake Heggie’s choral opera, The Radio Hour. They also were the headliner for the Organization of American Kodály Educators National Conference in 2015.

SOPRANO Sophie Amelkin Jennifer Bevington Anna Christofaro Anika Kildegaard Margaret Sabin Mari Scott Carolyn M. Steele JoAnna Swantek-Johnson

TENOR Charlie Baird Samuel Baker Anders Eckman Robert Graham Nicholas Mattsson William Pederson Kyle Schwartz Jacob Watson

ALTO Robin J. Helgen Marita Link Judith McClain Melander Anna George Meek Anna Mooy Sadie Nelson Erin Smith Peters Kristina Rodel Sorum

BASS Joshua Conroy Joseph Ellickson Harrison Hintzsche Erik Krohg Ryan LaBoy AJ Lund Nathan Petersen-Kindem Robert Smith**

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VOCALESSENCE CHORUS

The VocalEssence Chorus is an exceptional group of talented, committed singers from many walks of life: doctors, lawyers, nurses, educators, homemakers, business people, and others. Most have college level or higher training in classical music and voice.

Chorus auditions are held every spring, and returning members of the Chorus re-audition every two years.

SOPRANO Amanda Allen Barbara Anderson AnnaLisa Anderson Libby Anderson Jessica Belt Ali Biatek Judy Drobeck Lisa Fogelman Abigail Goerdt Kristina Guiffre Joy Knoppel Kartra Kohl Joy MacArthur Hannah Miller Leeja Miller Kateryna Nechay Sophia Pechaty Christina Pederson Shira Rabkin Leah Refuerzo Alexa Rosenbaum Cheryl Saunders Susan Scofield LeAnn Stein Karen Toebe Katie Tonn Amanda Troolin Jennifer Vickerman* Dannika Wright Katie Yanike ALTO Akosua Addo Jo Beld Rebecca Bellman Constance Chen Becky Gaunt Rachel Gibbons Yvonne Grover* Autumn Gurgel

Beth Gusenius Marjorie Hakala Abbey Hanson Dee Hein Kristin Howlett Sally Jaffray Kirkja Janson Sydney Johnson Jenny Kisner Eva Klug Elise Larson Jeenee Lee Marta Lewis Anita McColley Rebecca Modert Kristi Mueller Sarah Olson Samantha Phillippe Anna Plaunt Brandee Polson Marty Raymond Alexis Rudenick Coral Sampson Teresa Schier Mary Schultz Marcelyn Smale Johanna Smith Sandra Swami Laura Tanner Ruth Torkelson Sheri Turnquist Cassandra Warn Joanna Zawislak Linda Zelig TENOR Steve Aggergaard** Andrew Alness Scott Berger Benjamin Demaree Blake Downing

Sam Fouts Flynn Franzen Jason Kaiser Reagan Lee Michael Maiorana Andrew Mogendorff Nick Mroczek* Nathan Olson Jonathan Posthuma Spencer Rudolf Rabindra Tambyraja BASS Robert Atendido Tim Graham Alex Halverson John Henrich Thomas Hollenhorst* Ward Jacobson Stephen Kemp Philip Lowry Walker MacSwain Milo Oien-Rochat David Olson Jonathan Pinkerton Brian Ruhl Peter Scholtz Josue Silva William Smale Connor Smith Chris Southard Trent Stenoien Patrick Stephen Zef Tambornino Matthew Terhaar Liam Vance Jeff Zimmerman *Section leader **Board liaison

DONOR SPOTLIGHT Lois Quam Supports VocalEssence in Creating Harmony in Community and On Stage Lois Quam had been an occasional VocalEssence concertgoer, but after getting to know founder and artistic director Philip Brunelle in 2007, she found herself drawn deeper into the organization.

“Philip’s enthusiasm is infectious. I turned to him for advice when I was hosting a series of concerts at my house, and he helped me put together some really creative evenings. I remember him sitting in my living room saying, ‘Let’s not just do the usual Beethoven.’

At one of my concerts, we sang a Lutheran hymn to its original tune, a German drinking song! Another time, we had a soprano interpret paintings by Minnesota artists,” said Quam, who shaped healthcare in Minnesota as a United Health executive, worked for Hillary Clinton at the White House and the State Department, and served as chief operating officer of the Nature Conservancy.

A lifelong “source of beauty”

“VocalEssence is so inspirational: music has a way to empower us, bring us together, and help us see new possibilities. In VocalEssence, I saw a way to make a community come alive. We need that now more than ever.”

“Called to a higher purpose”

Lois particularly treasures her experience at the 2013 VocalEssence WITNESS performance honoring pioneering African-American contralto Marian Anderson. “That concert was a really special event,” remembers Lois. “I grew up hearing my mother talk about attending a Marian Anderson concert in Minnesota in the ’40s, and what an uplifting experience that was for her as a girl. So of course, I had to take my parents. It was a beautiful evening, unique, and so moving. At one point Philip asked all the people who’d been lucky enough to hear Marian Anderson sing in person stand up, and my mom stood beaming.”

Although she herself isn’t a singer, Lois has both familial and artistic appreciation for the choral arts. “My mother was a singer in the St. Olaf College Choir, and growing up, we listened to both classical and choral music. I just loved it.”

Having spent her own life uniting people to solve problems in a way that advances social good, she respects the unifying capacity of choral music. “I enjoy music as a way to bring a community together…. and to experience the feelings of deep beauty art creates within us as individuals.” It’s a value the Quam family has passed down for three generations—her son Will is musical and interned with Philip at VocalEssence.

When asked about the VocalEssence endeavors she finds most inspiring, Lois points to the in-school residencies provided by programs like VocalEssence WITNESS and ¡Cantaré! “Bringing in composers and conductors to work with school choirs provides an amazing opportunity for students. This is work that changes lives, and I’m very enthusiastic to play a part in it.”

In VocalEssence, Lois found an organization that supports both personal creativity and human unity. “This is a group that shows why choral music is special. It gives voice to a community and calls us to a higher purpose. It’s a Minnesota—and a national—treasure.

And right now, when there’s so much disharmony in the world, we need the kind of harmony that VocalEssence brings.”

BACKSTAGE PASS EVENTS Want to hear more about VocalEssence programs or know someone who you’d like to introduce to us?

Redeem a FREE Backstage Pass to hear more about our education programs and get an exclusive behind the scenes look at what we do.

Register by contacting Elissa (elissa@vocalessence.org or 612-547-1452).

Events will be held in Spring 2017, or by appointment.

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DONORS THE ENDOWMENT HONOR ROLL VocalEssence salutes the individuals and corporate and private foundations whose generosity and leadership sparked the creation of the Endowment Fund. This permanent fund was established in 1987 and is now valued at $3 million. Its interest income provides ongoing support to VocalEssence. We welcome new contributions to the Endowment Fund and extend our deepest appreciation to the following for their generous gifts.

Mrs. Fred C. Andersen* Athwin Foundation Carol A. Barnett Alice Baver* Ronald and Joyce Beauchane Warren and Donna Beck Judson Bemis Fund of The Minneapolis Foundation Judy Blaseg and John Engelen Charlie Boone* and Carol Heen William and Margee Bracken David Brink Lucile Brink Wayne and Marilyn* Brock Elise Brunelle and Jeremy Greeff Philip and Carolyn Brunelle Ann and David* Buran Norman R. Carpenter Cole Sewell Corporation Claire Colliander and Greg Steenson Colwell Industries Kip and Kathy Colwell Community Credit Company Dr. Susan and Dick Crockett Thomas Davies* Target Stores, Dayton’s and Mervyn’s by the Dayton Hudson Foundation Ernest and Mary Dorn Dan Dressen Katherine and Kent Eklund Exxon Corporation Jack and Cathy Farrell Robert B. Fering Gloria Freeman General Mills Foundation Robert* and Katherine Goodale Marion Goward Susan and Barry Graceman Shelley Greenwood Jane D. and James L.* Hall Margarette and Charles Hann Terrance* and Ruth* Hanold David and Mim Hanson Ann G. Harding Louise Heffelfinger* Lowell and Cay Shea Hellervik Jack and Linda Hoeschler HRK Foundation A.D. (Bill)* and Betty* Hulings Douglas and Mary Jones William* and Suzanne Joyce Arthur and Martha Kaemmer Katherine B. Andersen Fund of The Saint Paul Foundation

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Garrison Keillor James* and Jane Riley-Koll Daniel and Constance Kunin Libby Larsen and James Reece Helmer* and Christine Larson Laura Jane Musser Fund Mary Sue Lindsay* Jean and Kenneth* Linwick Patricia Lund* Herb and Corrine Lundberg Thomas* and Patti* Maetzold The MAHADH Fund of HRK Foundation Marbrook Foundation Kay and Mike McCarthy Walt McCarthy and Clara Ueland Mancel* and Harriet* Mitchell Peter and Judy Mitchelson William and Julie Moyer Elizabeth Musser* Nash Foundation National Endowment for the Arts Glen* and Marilyn Carlson Nelson Alice Park Newman* Jeanne and Richard Patterson Donald* and Helen* Pellowe The Pine Wood Trust Harry Piper Foundation Jill and Richard Ragatz Burt Ross* Shelly Ross* Thomas and Lois Sando Michael and Shirley Santoro Sandra and Ivan* Schloff Richard and Kit Schmoker Ellen* and George J. Schulte John* and Marion Etzwiler Shepherd Star Tribune/Cowles Media Company Richard* and Vivian Stuck Bill and Bryce* TenBroek Richard and Rosemary Thorsen Lynn and Carol Truesdell Jim Ulland Ruth and David Waterbury Doris A. Welty-Bury* Dorene and Alan Wernke Carl A. Weyerhaeuser Trust Frederick T. Weyerhaeuser Trust John Wheelihan E.M.* and Patricia* Whitacre Mrs. W. A. Wilson Bruce* and JoAnn* Winslow Karen and John Wolff

PHILIP BRUNELLE FOUNDER’S SOCIETY The Philip Brunelle Founder’s Society recognizes those who make a provision for VocalEssence in their will or estate plans. The society is names in honor of our visionary founder, Philip Brunelle, who every day inspires the community to open their ears to new music from diverse cultures.

Philip and Carolyn Brunelle Ann Buran Jon Cranney Louise Heffelfinger* Nicolai Lewis

Mike McCarthy David and Linda Mona Sheridan O’Keefe Vern Sutton Mike and Donna Wolsted

CONTRIBUTOR’S CIRCLE VocalEssence gratefully acknowledges all those who made gifts between July 1, 2015 and August 31, 2016. Although we make every effort to ensure that our Honor Roll list is accurate and complete, we are capable of error. Please let us know if your name does not appear the way you prefer so we may correct it in the next program listing. Please call us at 612-547-1473 to make a correction. Thank you! ± Includes Matching Gift Contributions + Includes In-Kind Donations * In Remembrance

ENSEMBLE CLUB Gifts of $25,000 and more Katherine B. Andersen Fund of The Saint Paul Foundation Best Buy Foundation The Carlson Family Foundation General Mills Foundation ± Louise Heffelfinger* Jerome Foundation Art and Martha Kaemmer Fund of HRK Foundation Kay and Mike McCarthy The McKnight Foundation Minnesota Monthly + Minnesota State Arts Board Judy and Peter Mitchelson National Endowment for the Arts Target Corporation Thrivent Financial ± Virgil Thomson Foundation Ltd. Gifts of $10,000-$24,000 Warren and Donna Beck Philip and Carolyn Brunelle Jerome and Linda Carlson City of Saint Paul Cultural STAR Delta Air Lines, Inc. + Charles M. Denny, Jr. and Carol E. Denny* Fund of The Minneapolis Foundation Grotto Foundation Anna M. Heilmaier Foundation Lucy R. Jones N. Judge* and Reatha Clark King Family Fund of The Minneapolis Foundation MAHADH Fund of HRK Foundation Medtronic Community Foundation ± Alfred P. and Ann M. Moore Glen* and Marilyn Carlson Nelson Piper Jaffray & Co. ± Hervé and Jennifer Sarteau Sit Investment Associates Inc. Sons of Norway +

Wenger Foundation Mike and Donna Wolsted Angus and Margaret Wurtele Xcel Energy ± Gifts of $5,000-$9,999 Barbro Osher Pro Suecia Foundation Greg and Lisa Buck Consulado de Mexico en Saint Paul + John and Cathy Farrell Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation Goodale Family Foundation Hellervik Fund of The Saint Paul Foundation Hognander Family Foundation of The Minneapolis Foundation The Hubbard Broadcasting Foundation The Mauriel Family Foundation Philip and Katherine Nason Fund of The Saint Paul Foundation Piper Family Fund of The Minneapolis Foundation Paul and Abigail Pribbenow RBC Wealth Management Roseville Area Community Foundation Thomson Reuters Travelers Foundation Unisys + The Wallin Foundation Alan and Dorene Wernke Gifts of $2,500-$4,999 Mary Ann Aufderheide John and Sheila Bjorklund Will and Margee Bracken Jon and Susan Campbell Chorus America Dr. Susan and Dick Crockett matched by General Mills Event Lab, LLC + Frey Foundation Wayne and Meg Gisslen Jack and Linda Hoeschler Fund of The Saint Paul Foundation Ossie Brooks James Hubert Joly Barbara Koch John and Nancy Lindahl Leland T. Lynch and Terry Saario Fund of The Minneapolis Foundation Alvin and Mary Agnes McQuinn Minnesota Humanities Center David and Linda Mona David E. and Judy L. Myers James and Sonja Odland matched by Thrivent Financial Ordway Center for the Performing Arts + Douglas and Mary Platt Lois Quam R C Lilly Foundation Tom and Mollie Raih Kathryn Roberts and Jim Hiniker Sue Shepard and Don Helgeson Stinson Leonard Street LLP ± Mary and Greg Sumners Lynn and Carol Truesdell Twin Cities Opera Guild Cody and Jacob Wolkowitz Gifts of $1,000-$2,499 Anonymous Albrecht Family Foundation Quentin and Mary Anderson Arts Midwest Nancy Azzam

Baker Investments LLC + Ann Barkelew and Jim O’Hagan Jane Baxter Goeta Goetz Bird Judy Blaseg and John Engelen David* and Ann Buran John and Joan Colwell Kip and Kathy Colwell Tom and Phyllis Colwell Jay and Page Cowles Douglas and Julie Craven Charles and Kathryn Cunningham Family Foundation Ed and Betsy Cussler Betty Jayne Dahlberg Cy and Paula DeCosse Fund of The Minneapolis Foundation Dan Dressen and Elizabeth Comeaux Glenace Edwall and Joe Peschek ExxonMobil Foundation ± Adriana Alvarez Vlasek and Rick Ford David and Margene Fox Ann Gjelten Susan and Barry Graceman Jane Dayton Hall Charles and Margarette Hann Bill Hodder The John and Ruth Huss Fund of The Saint Paul Foundation Jefferson Lines Inc. + Douglas and Mary Jones Bert and Jane Kasiske Margaret V. and E. Robert* Kinney Glenn and Kartra Kohl Jim and Michele Kolar Daniel and Constance Kunin Don and Joann Leavenworth Charlie and Anne Leck Diana Lewis Ronald and Nicolai Lewis

matched by Xcel Energy

Philip and Madeleine Lowry Judy Lund Walt McCarthy and Clara Ueland Robert and Polly McCrea Patty and David Murphy Family Fund of The Minneapolis Foundation Betty Myers Doug and Jean Parish Peravid Foundation Remele Family Fund of The Minneapolis Foundation John and Barbara Rice Laura and Mike Robinson Rochester Area Foundation Schmitt Music Company + Bill and Trinka Sharpe Don Shelby Robert and Elizabeth Shepley Phillip and Michelle Shoultz Louis and Mary Kay Smith Family Foundation Arturo Steely Thomas and Arlene* Swain Joanne Von Blon Jenny Wade Andy and Katrina Wallmeyer Wells Fargo Foundation Minnesota David K. Whitney Gifts of $500-$999 Anonymous Aajo Design + Accredited Investors Wealth Management Ameriprise Financial ±

Ronald and Joyce Beauchane Madeline Betsch Penny Bond and Chuck Grimsrud Carol Brandenburg Family Fund of The Minneapolis Foundation Traci V. Bransford Marty and Peggy Carlson Oscar and Valerie Carlson Thomas* and Nicky Carpenter Bruce and Ann Christensen Brad Clary Jon Cranney and Katherine Ferrand Bill and Ruth Davini Steve and Judy Drobeck matched by Medtronic Milt and Jana Edgren The Gabriel Foundation, Byron Egeland Eide Bailly LLP Ralph and Debbie Estes Brian and Ann Farrell Barbara Forster Rick and Linda Glasgow David and Rosemary Good Bill and Jan Hale H. Thomas and Mary Heller David O. and Kristine Henderson Walter and Judith Hinck Phil and Laura Holst Robert S. and Patricia A. Hoyt Kohl’s Robert L. Lee and Mary E. Schaffner Jim and Norma Leslie David and Carolyn Levitt Edward and Patricia Lindell The Links, Inc. Malcolm and Patricia McDonald Joyce and Richard McFarland Fund of The Minneapolis Foundation Nick Nash and Karen Lundholm Gerald E. and Andrea Nelson Susan Nicol Lowell and Sonja Noteboom John Nuechterlein Glenn Olsen and Barbara Hager-Olsen Alan Onberg Dr. and Mrs. Ahmad Orandi Joan B. Parsons Richard and Jeanne Patterson Carol Ann Petersen Samantha Phillippe The Richey Family Charitable Fund The Saint Paul Foundation ± Estelle Quinn Sell Fred and Gloria Sewell Gale Sharpe Craig and Mariana Shulstad matched by General Mills Ruth Spiegel and Brad McNaught Roma Calatayud-Stocks and Thomas Stocks Cherie Stofer Frank Stubbs and Tom Lee matched by Blue Cross Blue Shield Vern Sutton Missy Thompson and Gar Hargens John H. Sandbo and D. Jean Thomson Ben and Deb Vander Kooi Phil and Jane Wade Irving and Marjorie Weiser Paul and Elissa Weller Carl* and Barbara White Kent and Missy Wilson Wilson and Gayle Graham Yates

Gifts of $250-$499 Anonymous 3M Foundation ± Steve Aggergaard and Lana Rosario Meredith B. Alden* Steven Anderson and Barbara Randolph-Anderson Woodbury and Cynthia Andrews Nina Archabal Anton E. Armstrong, D.M.A. Baillon Family Foundation, Inc. Carole and Douglas Baker Michael Barone and Lise Schmidt Jo Beld and Tim Delmont Beth Bird Richard and Kris Bjorklund Blue Cross Blue Shield ± David and Cynthia Boden Judy Bond Norlin and Carole Boyum Cheryl Brown Russ Bursch and Lee Mauk Annabelle Bush John and Sonia Cairns Mary Lou Judd Carpenter Mark and Linda Casagrande Ted and Carol Cushmore Family Fund of The Minneapolis Foundation Joseph and Lois West Duffy Jerry and Kathleen Erickson Hope Esparolini Marion Etzwiler Caron and Floyd Farmer Gerald Foley Ryan and Jenny French Judith Garcia Galiana Paul and Mona Gerike Peter and Scotty Gillette Lisa Meyer and Sam Grabarski Hazen and Kathy Graves Yvonne Grover Ken and Suanne Hallberg Tor and Sunny Hansen Wini Hed Dee and Wilfried Hein matched by U.S. Bancorp John and Robin Helgen John and Sarah Henrich Tom and Christine Hermanson Kenneth and Andrea Hjelm Doug and Kerry Hoverson, Saint Thomas Academy matched by Ameriprise Financial Harry and Lila Jacob Robert and Sigrid Johnson Johnson & Johnson Family of Companies ± Joe and Cathy Kalkman Michael Knoll Chuck and Jill Koosmann Eric and Becky Krieger Mark and Susan Larson J. Thomas and Helen Lockhart Hubert and Midge McCloy Eleanor Mears Kimberly D. Meisten Jonathan and Martha Morgan Brian and Joanne Mullen Elizabeth Murray Robert Muschewske and Leaetta Hough Karla and Peter Myers Jim and Merilu Narum Richard and Nancy Nelson Bruce and Diane Nimmer Laura and Pete Oberst

Michael and Kathleen O’Keefe

matched by Medtronic

Nicholas Peter

matched by Pohlad Family Foundation

Richard and Margaret Pfohl Tad and Cindy Piper Marty and David Raymond William and Barbara Read Gary and Pam Reierson Ray and Ruth Rivard Bob and Barbara Ross Brian D. and Barbara Ruhl Randall Sayers and Martha Arneson Paul and Camille Schroeder Bryan and Jennie Smith David and Ann Smith Brent Stahl and Ellen Engstrom LeAnn Stein and Jack Stamp Glenda and Richard Struthers Susan Stuart and David Nelson* Richard* and Vivian Stuck Timothy C. Takach and Jocelyn Hagen Rob Tambyraja Stephen Benson and Sonja Thompson James and Sharon Toscano Gedney* and Emily Anne Tuttle U.S. Bancorp Foundation ± Jim and Mary Ann VanHouten Whitney Foundation Gary and Karen Wilkerson Gifts of $100-$249 Anonymous Mary Adair and Gerald Jorgenson

matched by General Mills

Steven Albaugh and Brady Birk William* and Suzanne Ammerman Joyce L. Anderson Rolan and Muriel* Anderson Kay and Ron Bach Warren Turner and Carla Bailey Dick and Debbie Bancroft Carol Barnett and John Tartaglia Mary K. Baumann and Will Hopkins Bruce W. and Paula M. Becker Carol and Jeff Belz Roy and Nadine Berg Yaroslav Billy Gary Surdel and Karen Bohn James Bohn and Linda Zelig Jane and Gene Borochoff Mary Bowman Brian and Claudia Boysen Tim and Eileen Bradley Paul and Jane Brunelle Dorene J. Bruns Steve and Karen Burger Norman R. and Janet Carpenter Andy Christensen Judith A. Christensen Carolyn Clarke and Kevin Deegan David and Wendy Coggins Jack and Ann* Cole Janet Colliton David Colwell Katryn Conlin and Ben Manning Henry and Stephanie Crosby Charles Crutchfield Carita Dahlberg Kay Dawson Ernest and Mary Dorn Dominick and Nancy Driano Dave Durenberger and Susan Foote

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Anders Eckman

matched by Ameriprise Financial

Linda Eckman Kent and Katherine Eklund Mark and Chelli Esser Jason and Jessica Etten Norma Jean Falink and Henry Smith Bruce Folken Gloria Freeman Roger and Michele Frisch Dr. Stanley M. and Luella G. Goldberg Robert Graham Autumn Gurgel Mike and Jane Hagedorn Richard and Sandra Haines Jim and Elaine Halls James and Dorothy Halverson Abbey Hanson Andrew and Jenny Hardacre Lisa Svac Hawks Amy Hennessey Lee and Liz Hickerson Rachel Hickok Patricia Hill Norton* and Mary Hintz Thomas Hollenhorst Bill and Julie Howard Karen A. and Charles W. Humphrey David Hunter Mandy Inhofer Ted and Amy Johnson

matched by Ameriprise Financial

David and Dede Jorstad Heidi and Mike Jung Ken and Susan Kahn Kevin Bailey and Ken Kieffer Jan and Tom Kilton T. Edward and Sharon Krumme Paul A. Laederach Tom and Karen Laird Richard Langer Libby Larsen and James Reece Diana J. Leland Marta Lewis Cotty Lowry and Laurie Jacobi Diana Lee Lucker Christine Lund Tom and Margie Lundberg Sarah Lutman and Robert Rudolph Charles and Hertha Lutz Joy MacArthur and Sarah Cohn Ray and Elsie Martin Jim and Sally Martineau Jeffrey Masco Jack and Cindy Mayeron Mary Bigelow McMillan David and Karen Minge Michael and Rosanne Monten Susan Moores Nick Mroczek Kristi Mueller Fran and Patti* Neir Donald and Gerda Nightingale Milo Oien-Rochat and Katharine Wood Daniel and Vicki Olson Paul Olson and Mark Baumgartner Joseph and Clara Osowski Michael and Margaret O’Sullivan Sandra Overland Victor and Dinorah Pechaty Dan Pederson Nathan Petersen-Kindem Paul* and Virginia Pfeiffer Josephine Phillippe

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2016-2017 Season

Pohlad Family Foundation ± Brandee Polson Jackie Prince Brad and Linda Quarderer Sharon Radman James and Susan Ramlet Lois Rand John Haugen and Alicia Reeves

matched by Johnson & Johnson

Jerome and Patricia Rice Carolyn Riley Keith Rodli and Katharine Grant Jack and Marilyn Rossmann Paul and Brittany Rudoi David and Patricia Runkle Terry and Mitzi Ryan Coral Sampson Michael and Shirley Santoro Cheryl Saunders Hal and Judy Schneebeck Peter Scholtz Jeff Rabkin and Susan Scofield Jasmine Scott Ken and Katie Searl Ella Slade William and Marcelyn Smale Robert C. Smith Susan Smoluchowski Carol Christine Southward Patricia Starks-Faggétt Judy Orr Stinson Bill and Sara Stout Marilyn J. Sundberg Ward Green and Sandra Swami JoAnna Swantek Judy Takkunen Laura and Matt Tanner Kaye and Craig Thoeny James and Georgia Thompson Parker and Albert Trostel Xiomara Ugarte Martin and Kathryn Urberg Ronald and Carol Vantine Helen Ver Hoeven Jennifer Vickerman and Ramala Shelton Elaine B. Walker Michael Walsh and Maureen Kucera-Walsh Clifton and Bettye Ware David and Ruth Waterbury Jim Waters and Jackie Henning Ellen Wells and George Wright Ted and Nancy Weyerhaeuser Ann Schrooten and Dawn Wieczorek Craig and Linda Wilson John and Theresa Wise RADM and Mrs. Ray C. Witter Zabin Charitable Fund at the Boston Foundation Lewis and Nicki Zeidner Gifts up to $99 Anonymous Sue Adamek Akosua Addo Andrew Alness Richard Alness Amazon Smile AnnaLisa Anderson Christian and Barbara Anderson Richard O. Anderson, MD Rex Andre Linda Aronson Robert Atendido Valeska Bachauer

William B. Baker Alison Balan Thomas Barber Karen Barstad Rebecca Bellman Carline Bengtsson Linda Bergherr Jennifer Bevington Steve Blank James E. Bobb Henry A. Bromelkamp Company Martha Brown Walter and Jennie Brown Christopher Brunelle and Serena Zabin Tim and Haley Brunelle Ginny Buran and Dwayne Cody Terry Burford Robert and Bridget Burke Robert Callahan Uri and Melissa Camarena Nancy and Michael Carr Claudia Carson Camille Carteng Beth Cauwels and Tom Norton Pat and Heidi George Barbara Chase Larry Christiansen

matched by The Saint Paul Foundation

David and Joan Ciminski Lloyd Clausen Foster and Elaine Cole Marion Colliander Thomas Crampton Susan G. Crawford Sean Crimmins David and Sue Crockett Junette Dale Gerald and Frances Davis Annette Dickinson Dr. Stan and Darlene Diesch Elizabeth Dokken Geneva Dorsey Mary Theresa Downing Donald Eddy Richard and Carol Eick Ed* and Judy Eilertsen Susan Eilertsen Joseph Ellickson Kevin and Kaia Ellis Michelle Eng Karen Esbjornson Geneva S. Eschweiler Roger and Roxanne Ezell Frank Fallon Chris Farrell Bruce Feld Myron Ferris Brendan Foote

matched by Ameriprise Financial

Rick and Katie Fournier Sally French Brenda Furlow Becky Gaunt Andrew Gaylord John and Nancy Geertz-Larson Alison Gipp Google Inc. ± Alan and Stephanie Gordon Jerald Graetz Rebecca Groulx Kristina M. Guiffre Curt and Elizabeth Gumbrell James and Laurie Hacking Jack Haddorff and Jeanine DeGriselles

Marjorie Hakala Bonnie Halvorson Ann G. Harding Greg Harding Dob and Janis Hardy Michelle Hayes David and Susan Henry Sandra K. Hirsh Sharon L. Hodge Mark and Ellie Hodkinson Arthur and Donna Hogenson Michael Hollenhorst Theodore and Linda Holsten Susan Holt David and Meredith Homans Jean Howell Kristin Howlett Laura Hoyt and Bob Elhai Mary Hromatka Penny Hunt Ward Jacobson and Stephanie Johnson Sally Jaffray James Jenkins and Dolores Lenore Allison Jensen Dean Jensen Gary Johnson and Joan Hershbell Hannah Johnson JoAnn Johnson and Abby Brogden Josie R. Johnson Lauren Johnson Frederick Kaemmer and Kate Tilney Cindy Kalland Kenneth and Patricia Kangas Richard* and Connie Keller Stephen Kemp Charles Kemper Jean Kennedy Marion Jones Kennon Noi Keothammakhoun John Kightlinger Anika Kildegaard Tim Killeen Bill and Jan Kimes Ted and Jenny Kisner Eva Klug Anna Korinko Ben and Alanna Kucera John Kulstad and Elizabeth Mayotte Marcia Lantto Laurel Lapore John and Laurie Larson Jeenee Lee Reagan Lee Theodore and Kathryn Lee Jon and Lisa Lewis Sheri Lieffring Melanie Lien Marita and Brian Link Jan and Charlie Lloyd Linda Lorenz Allan and Jackie Lotsberg AJ Lund Vernon and Elaine Lund Sharon Lynn Suzanne Mahmoodi Gustavo Mancilla Sharon Marquardt Jan Mattox Pete Mattson Pamela Raquel Mayorga Tellez Thomas and Barbara McClellan Brenda McGuire Anna George Meek and Matt Gladue Thomas and Judith McClain Melander

Velia Melrose Carol J. Miller Marion Dwyer Miller Laurie Misik Arlene Mitchell Rebecca and Keith Modert Mary Moe Christine Moench Judith Morgan Kristine Mortensen Thomas Murray Jane Ann Goltz and Robert Nash Katie Nelsen Nancy Norling DDS Ruth Ann Norrick Donald* and Beverly Norris Susan O. Nyhammer Sue Oliver David Olson James and Judy Olson Marri M. Oskam Katherine Panciera

matched by Google Inc.

Raymond and Judith Pascoe Wendy Paulsen Bill Pederson Eric and Christina Pederson Robert Peskin and Tara Tieso Erin and Kevin Peters David and Susan Plimpton Julie and Leslie Prahl Prudential Financial Inc ± Wayne and Deanna Qualley John and Anne Quincy Siegfried and Ann Rabie Sheila R. Rafert Margaret Erickson Rambo Paul Ramsour Lisa Reed Cherie Reiter Kathleen Richards Jane Riley-Koll John and Barbara Risken Lisa Roehl Laurel Rose Gary and Denise Rudolf Susan Runge Karen Ryss Margaret and Matthew Sabin Mel and Irene Sahyun Kay and Peter Sammond Karen Sandberg Thomas and Lois Sando Stephen and Sharli Schaitberger John Schatzlein Ed and Lois Schlampp Julie Schlueter Rachel Schmidt Sandra Schoenecker Raymond and Leola Schreurs Mary Schultz Mary Schwender Maria Schwingler Craig Seacotte Gary Seim and Lee Pfannmuller Anne Seltz Beth Shogren George and Betty Shoultz Janice Sigmund and Michael Jereczek Luke and Jennifer Slivinski Brett Smith Katherine Sobieck Carolyn J. Steele Jim and Sharon Stoebner

Ann M. Sather and Jeffrey Stone William H. Stump Alan and Irene Suddard Annie Sundberg Evelyn Swanson and Marjorie Ramgren Dale Talley Bob Thacker Dianne A. Thompson Ruth Torkelson Eileen M. Troseth Marcy Vissell Jennifer Wallis Thomas and Dawn Wanous Daniel and Cassandra Warn Sally Waterman Charles Wegner Mary Sue Weir Kenneth and Barbara Weldon Robert Wetzler Carole Whitney and Craig Carlson Rhea Wikstrom Dr. Preston and Sharon Williams Dwight S. Williams Alex* and Marguerite P. Wilson Deb Winge Michael Winikoff Tesfa Wondemagegnehu and Michelle Bendett M. Wycoff Jee woong Yang Katie Yanike Cameron and Ellen Zebrun Reid Mortensen and Sue Zemlin Christian Zepeda Louise Ziegler Donna Zitur

SPECIAL TRIBUTES VocalEssence is honored by the many gifts received in remembrance, appreciation and celebration of friends and family.

The following tributes were made between July 1, 2015 and August 31, 2016. If you wish to make a gift in tribute, please call 612-547-1473.

In remembrance of Meredith Alden Philip and Carolyn Brunelle In honor of Ella and Ruby Anderson Karen Barstad In remembrance of Muriel Anderson Mark and Susan Larson In honor of Mary Ann Aufderheide Bob Peskin In honor of Ann Barkelew Dominick and Nancy Driano Ken and Susan Kahn In honor of Ann Barkelew’s 80th Birthday Dick and Debbie Bancroft Gary Surdel and Karen Bohn Ann Buran Douglas and Julie Craven Dominick and Nancy Driano Judy Eilertsen Susan Eilertsen Sally French

Lisa Hawks Theodore and Linda Holsten Sue and Dave Lee Susan Moores S. Walter and Paula Richey Craig and Mariana Shulstad Susan Stuart Thomas Swain Bob Thacker Dianne Thompson Missy Thompson and Gar Hargens Michael Walsh and Maureen Kucera-Walsh

In remembrance of Cynthia Colwell Connie Keller Donna Zitur In remembrance of Thurston H. Davini Bill and Ruth Davini In honor of Fr. Henry Doyle Kathleen Richards In honor of Mary Moore Easter Sue Shepard and Don Helgeson

In remembrance of Gerald M. Baumann and Catherine E. Baumann Mary K. Baumann and Will Hopkins

In remembrance of Dagny Hofslund Feil Roger and Michele Frisch

In remembrance of Wolodymyr Billy Yaroslav Billy

In remembrance of Gerald B. Fischer Cathie Fischer

In remembrance of Ralph E. Black James Bobb

In honor of Marlene and Tom Frankson Anonymous

In honor of Philip & Carolyn Brunelle’s 50th Wedding Anniversary John and Joan Colwell

In remembrance of Melvin Gay Gerald and Frances Davis

In honor of Philip Brunelle Alan and Stephanie Gordon Peter and Kay Sammond Irv and Marge Weiser In honor of Philip Brunelle’s Birthday John and Joan Colwell Dan Dressen and Beth Comeaux In remembrance of David Buran Ginny Buran and Dwayne Cody Hervé and Jennifer Sarteau Gale Sharpe

In remembrance of Elsie H. Goetz Goeta Goetz Bird In remembrance of Lauretta Graetz Jerald Graetz In honor of Rhianda Gregg Brian and Barbara Ruhl In remembrance of Joyce Gustafson Philip and Carolyn Brunelle Ann Buran John and Joan Colwell Susan Nicol

In remembrance of Ann Cole Mary Adair and Gerald Jorgenson Sue Adamek William Baker Ann Buran Mary Lou Judd Carpenter Foster and Elaine Cole John and Joan Colwell Alan and Stephanie Gordon Ken and Suanne Hallberg Tor and Sunny Hansen Ann Harding James Jenkins and Dolores Lenore T. Edward and Sharon Krumme Paul Laederach Mark and Susan Larson Ron and Nikki Lewis Allan and Jackie Lotsberg Judy Lund Vernon and Elaine Lund Suzanne Mahmoodi Sharon Marquardt Jan Mattox Mary Moe Kristine Mortensen Jane Ann Goltz and Robert Nash Don and Gerda Nightingale Nancy Norling Beverly Norris James and Judy Olson Sheila Rafert Gale Sharpe Vivian Stuck Judy Takkunen Jean Thomson and John Sandbo Tom and Dawn Wanous

In remembrance of Louise Heffelfinger Russ Bursch and Lee Mauk John and Robin Helgen

In remembrance of Jim Colville Dave and Linda Mona

In honor of Vivian and Mary Jones Nancy Azzam

In honor of David and Beverley Heggen John and Robin Helgen In honor of John R. Henrich Sarah Henrich In remembrance of Sue Doran Herber Doug and Mary Jones In honor of Benjamin L. Hooks Tesfa Wondemagegnehu In remembrance of Martha Hughes Karen Ryss Deb Winge In remembrance of Thelma Hunter Philip and Carolyn Brunelle Ann Buran In honor of Sigrid Johnson AnnaLisa Anderson Glenn and Kartra Kohl Philip and Madeleine Lowry David Olson Brian and Barbara Ruhl Ann Schrooten and Dawn Wieczorek LeAnn Stein and Jack Stamp In remembrance of George Jonaitis Rachel Schmidt

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In honor of Art and Martha Kaemmer Bob Lee and Mary Schaffner

In remembrance of Dr. Glen D. Nelson Ann Buran John and Joan Colwell Vivian Stuck

In honor of Helen Klink Glenn and Kartra Kohl In honor of Annaka and Emily Larson John and Laurie Larson

In honor of Dr. Glen Nelson’s friendship with Philip Brunelle Marilyn Carlson Nelson

In remembrance of Margaret Larson John and Joan Colwell

In honor of Edna Mae Niss Abbey Hanson

In remembrance of Claire Leeds Cameron and Ellen Zebrun

In remembrance of Samantha O’Hagan Lisa Hawks

In remembrance of Ken Linwick Beverly Norris

In remembrance of Miriam Lindeman Parsons Janet Colliton

In remembrance of Audrey MacArthur Joy MacArthur and Sarah Cohn

In remembrance of Stephen Paulus Michael Winikoff

In honor of Michael John Mauriel’s 50th John and Mary Anne Mauriel

In honor of Marianne Protzner Pat and Heidi George

In honor of Kimberly Meisten Paul Olson

In remembrance of Violet T. Ramsour Paul Ramsour

In honor of Craig Moen’s 75th Birthday John and Joan Colwell

In remembrance of Joyce Reed, Choral Director William and Barbara Read

In honor of Judy Moen’s Birthday John and Joan Colwell

In remembrance of Ruth Saurwein Ruth Ann Norrick

In honor of Tommy, Ethan, Tyler and Benni Brian and Barbara Ruhl

In remembrance of June Scofield Jeff Rabkin and Susan Scofield

In remembrance of Delephene Troseth Eileen Troseth

In honor of William Seltz Anne E. Seltz In honor of G. Phillip Shoultz, III Brian and Claudia Boysen Jennifer Vickerman and Ramala Shelton In remembrance of Debra Ann Sit Pete and Judy Mitchelson In honor of Gransons Quintin and Corbin Smidzik David and Ann Smith In honor of Henry Charles Smith Norma Jean Falink In honor of LeAnn Stein Jack Stamp

In honor of Sylvia Vaudt Ann Buran In honor of the VocalEssence Staff Kimberly Meisten In remembrance of Clifford Thomas Weir Mary Sue Weir In remembrance of Mary and Doug Wendler Lauren Johnson In remembrance of Carl W. White Barbara White In honor of the Marriage of Tesfa Wondemagegnehu and Michelle Bendett Bob and Sig Johnson

In remembrance of Alta Stoebner Jim and Sharon Stoebner In honor of Helen Jo Taliaferro Frey Foundation

In remembrance of Roy and Shirley Sather Ann Sather and Jeff Stone

In remembrance of Barbara Tiede David and Ruth Waterbury

MAKE A SPECIAL TRIBUTE!

Looking for the perfect birthday/holiday/memorial gift?

Make a donation to VocalEssence in honor of your loved one. We will list your gift in our program book and send a special note to the honoree. Your gift will keep our community singing for years to come!

For more information, contact: info@vocalessence.org 612-547-1451

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