Celebrates Women Composers

Transcription

1 Celebrates Women Composers First Inversion with Kearstin Piper Brown, soprano, Andrea McGaugh, mezzo-soprano, Nick Huff, tenor, David Hahn, baritone, Cody Müller, bass Malcolm Matthews and Orlando Diaz, pianists Lee Wright, conductor Saturday, April 23, 8:00PM Sunday, April 24, 4:00PM Downtown Presbyterian Church 121 N. Fitzhugh St. Rochester, NY

2 Welcome! It is with gratitude and joy that I welcome you into collaboration today with these amazing artists, this delightful music, and this sacred space. Your presence not only supports the work and play of the people on stage, but creates part of this unique performance that will never happen again in the same way. You change us, we change you, and the music engages everyone. The sharing of collective wisdom, experience, and joy among the performers over the past two weeks has been a tremendous gift. It is my hope that today s experience changes you in a way that enriches our community for the better. I want to thank all of our season ticket holders, especially our donors and supporting subscribers, who have helped to make this performance possible. When you commit to First Inversion with your presence, you give a gift with implications far beyond your own imagining. Thank you for joining us! In gratitude, Lee Wright Founder and Artistic Director First Inversion, Rochester, NY Leewright@firstinversion.org Our Mission Statement First Inversion seeks to empower Rochester s finest avocational singers, engage professional singers with fresh ideas, and to inspire our audiences through honest connection with a rich and varied repertoire. First Inversion welcomes singers who love choral music, have significant choral experience, and who wish to use each rehearsal and performance as an opportunity to improve their own musicianship and choral artistry.

3 Program Abbie Betinis (b. 1980)... Be Like the Bird (2009) Megan Lighthouse, soloist Abbie Betinis... Envoi, from Songs of Smaller Creatures (2006) Undine Smith Moore ( )... Love, Let the Wind Cry(1961) Kearstin Piper Brown, soprano, Orlando Diaz, piano Gwyneth Walker (b. 1947))... Every Night When the Sun Goes Down (1999) David Hahn, soloist Clara Schumann ( )... Gondoliera from Drei Gemischte Chöre (1848) Clara Schumann... Er ist gekommen in Sturm und Regen, Op. 12 No. 2 Liebst du um Schönheit, Op. 12 No. 4 Andrea McGaugh, mezzo-soprano, Orlando Diaz, piano Rosephanye Powell (b. 1962)... To Sit and Dream (1994) Bernice Johnson Reagon (b. 1942)... Ella s Song (1991) Andrea McGaugh, Debra McCullough, Megan Lighthouse, Pati Piper, Barbara Consler, and Kristin Jarvis, soloists Intermission Raphaela Aleotta ( )... Ego flos campi Fanny (Mendelssohn) Hensel ( )... Zum Fest der heiligen Cäcilia (1833) Kearstin Piper Brown, soprano; Andrea McGaugh, mezzo-soprano Nick Huff, tenor; Cody Müller, bass Alice Parker, Arr. (b. 1925)... I Want Two Wings (1991) Mae Nightingale, Arr. ( )... My Child Is Gone (1969) Undine Smith Moore, Arr.... Daniel, Daniel, Servant of the Lord (1953) Nick Huff and Cody Müller, soloists Mari Esabel Valverde (b. 1987)... Prayer of St. Francis (2011) Joan Szymko (1957)... It Takes a Village (2000) Kristin Jarvis, Marrlee Burgess, Juli Elliot, David Hahn, and Nick Huff, soloists Please join us for a reception following our performance in the Hallock Lounge. For pictures and biographies of every performer, please visit firstinversion.org/singers/

4 First Inversion seeks to empower Rochester s finest avocational singers, engage professional singers with fresh ideas, and to inspire our audiences through honest connection with a rich and varied repertoire. First Inversion welcomes singers who love choral music, have significant choral experience, and who wish to use each rehearsal and performance as an opportunity to improve their own musicianship and choral artistry. Our rehearsal process encourages the letting go of old or unhelpful styles of learning, thinking, and singing in order to allow each individual's artistry to become more fearless and selfless every step of the way. A "connection-first" approach facilitates fast-paced learning. Ultimately, the ensemble provides a safe place where singers can continually hone and transform their choral musicianship for the better through a mindful, self-aware approach to communal music creation. For pictures and biographies of each performer, please visit firstinversion.org/singers/ First Inversion is a member of the Arts and Cultural Council of Greater Rochester and the Greater Rochester Choral Consortium. Interested in Singing or Volunteering with First Inversion? Auditions are heard upon request. Visit firstinversion.org/sing-with-us/ to fill out a new singer survey today. Regular auditions for next season will be held in August and September. info@firstinversion.org with any questions, to schedule an individual audition, or to get on our volunteer mailing list.

5 The Choir Sopranos Glenda Brayman Marrlee Burgess Juli Elliot Kristin Jarvis Lynn Kinsman Pati Piper Kearstin Piper-Brown Amy Steinberg Joan Sussman Altos Kathryn Borden Barb Consler Elizabeth P. Kinney Megan Lighthouse Emily Lohner Kelley Madden Debra McCullough Andrea McGaugh Becci Miller Tenors Jason Cloen Orlando Diaz Michael Gehl David Henkel Nick Huff Malcolm Matthews Jeffrey Tabor Basses Mark Darling David Hahn Steven Metcalfe Cody Müller Brent Neeley Jason Perfetto Jack Spula Bob Taylor

6 Thank You to our Generous Donors Anonymous (2), Michael Gehl and Jeff Caruso, Helvi McClelland, Priscilla and Rob Brown, Rob Goodling Anonymous (1), Suzanne Bell, Nancy Berlove, Sandra Cain, Alan Curle and Andrew London, Mark Darling, Tansy Deutsch, Juli and Andrew Elliot, William Kelly and Bradley Forth, Elizabeth and Pat Kinney, Debra McCullough, Brent Neeley, Steven Metcalfe, Pati and Steve Piper, Susan Riblett and Dolores Behrouzy-Far, Susan and Bob Richane, Jack Spula, Amy Steinberg, Joan Sussman, Pat Youngdahl and Michal McKenzie Acknowledgements To the staff and congregation of Downtown Presbyterian Church for your generous support To Carl Pultz and Alembic Productions for recording our performance To Steve Piper and Michael Wells, house managers, and To all of our volunteers for your invaluable help To all of the performers for your commitment and artistry To you, our audience, without whom we would create into a vacuum. Thank You!! Download this program to your phone or computer using the link or QR code below. Then leave this program for another patron to use. Thank you for helping us to conserve our natural resources! Program Text Translations

7 Thank you to Hart s Local Grocers for their generous support of our receptions. 10 Winthrop Street Rochester, New York Hartslocalgrocers.com

8 Stay in Touch with First Inversion! Sign up for our mailing list at our website: firstinversion.org Like us on Facebook and share with your friends Visit our concert calendar and purchase tickets for future concerts Firstinversion.org/concerts/ Fill out our volunteer survey Firstinversion.org/volunteers Fill out our new singer survey Firstinversion.org/sing-with-us/ Please take five minutes to provide feedback about today s concert with this simple survey.