Schola Sings Solo presents. Group Therapy. Saturday, January 21 8:00 pm St. John s in the Village New York City

Transcription

1 Schola Sings Solo presents Group Therapy Saturday, January 21 8:00 pm St. John s in the Village New York City

2 This program is made possible in part by funds from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Please silence all electronic devices. Please do not take flash photographs of the singers during the performance. Thank you! The New World, Songs for a New World Program Full Cast Jason Robert Brown I have dreamt, Wuthering Heights Bernard Hermann Jennifer Gaskins, mezzo soprano Grateful Deborah King, mezzo soprano John Bucchino I Bought Me a Cat, Old American Songs, I Aaron Copland Dorian Lake, baritone Il est doux, il est bon, Hérodiade Phanuel, I search without cease for my mother! A voice cried to me: Have hope, hasten to Jerusalem! I did not find her, alas! And I remain alone here below. He whose word effaces all sorrow, the Prophet is here! It is to him that I go! He is kind, he is good; his speech is serene, he speaks, all is silent! Lighter on the palm the attentive breeze passes noiselessly. Barbara Nowicki, soprano arr. Undine Smith Moore He speaks! Ah! When will he return! When shall I hear him? I suffered, I was alone, and my heart was calmed listening to his voice melodious and tender! Can I live without you, beloved Prophet! It was there, in that desert, to which the astounded crowd had followed his steps, that he received me one day, abandoned child, and that he opened to me his arms!. What a Wonderful World You raise me up Brendan Graham and Rolf Lovland Betsy Mackenzie-Stubbs, soprano; Kerry Stubbs, baritone Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In Full Cast Galt MacDermot words by James Rado and Gerome Ragni 2

3 Vedrai, carino, Don Giovanni You will see, my dear if you ll be good the cure I have for you! It s natural It won t give you disgust though no apothecary can prescribe it. Being Alive, Company Intermission Mary Ellen Assue, soprano It s a certain balm I carry within me which I can give you, if you ll try it. You want to know where I keep it? Then feel it beating, put your hand here. Deborah King, mezzo-soprano Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Stephen Sondheim Bess, You is My Woman, Porgy and Bess Mary Ellen Assue, soprano; Dorian Lake, baritone George Gershwin I Whistle a Happy Tune, The King and I Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein Barbara Nowicki, soprano Where the Music Comes How Can I Keep From Singing Laura Greenwald-Strom, soprano; Full Cast Lee Hoiby Robert I. Hugh, arr. A Simple Song, Mass Leonard Bernstein Laura Greenwald-Strom, soprano; Dorian Lake, baritone Alleluia Jennifer Gaskins, mezzo-soprano Ned Rorem Over the Rainbow, The Wizard of Oz Betsy Mackenzie-Stubbs, mezzo-soprano Harold Arlen Will there really be a morning Craig Hella-Johnson Laura Greenwald-Strom, soprano; Deborah King, mezzo-soprano You ll Never Walk Alone, Carousel Full Cast Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein 3

4 Mary Ellen Assue, soprano, is a Silver Spring, Maryland native whose experience has led her to travels abroad where she gained her first professional music contract singing in Otsu, Japan. Since returning to the United States, she has worked as a teacher of piano and voice, and a singer of various styles of music, including commercial, jazz, concert, and opera. Ms. Assue has performed with various arts organizations such as the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Opera Colorado, Florida Grand Opera, and others. She has most recently portrayed the roles of Clara in Porgy and Bess with Fresno Grand Opera and Despina in Così fan tutte with Commonwealth Opera. Jennifer Gaskins, mezzo-soprano, holds degrees in voice performance from Westminster choir College of Rider University in Princeton, New Jersey and Concordia University in River Forest, Illinois. While at Westminster, Jennifer was a member of the Westminster Symphonic Choir. She sang the role of Meg Page in Verdi s Falstaff with the Westminster Opera Workshop and acted as a supernumerary in Handel s Oreste with the Westminster Opera Theater. At Concordia, Jennifer participated in the Kapelle Choir and in honors recitals, toured nationally and internationally, appeared as a soloist in daily chapel services, and was a two-time winner of the annual solo and concerto competition. A native of the Chicago suburbs, Jennifer was a member of the New Classic Singers, a professional choral ensemble, and appeared in the chorus of the DuPage Opera Theater s production of Gounod s Faust. Jennifer has performed with many of the world s major orchestras, including the Berlin Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony, Lucerne Festival, New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, and the Ravinia Festival. She has sung for such conductors as Pierre Boulez, Christoph Eschenbach, Neeme Järvi, Leif Segerstam, and Sir Georg Solti. Most recently Jennifer performed the mezzo-sopano solo of Haydn s Missa in Angustiis with the Westminster Community Chorus and orchestra, and was an Associate Artist with the Princeton Festival s production of Puccini s La Bohéme. Jennifer is an active church musician and has been a soloist in Chicago, About the Artists Jennifer teaches music at DePaul Catholic High School in Wayne, New Jersey, directs the youth choirs at Calvary Lutheran Church in Cranford, New Jersey, and is a member of Schola Cantorum on Hudson. Laura Greenwald-Strom, soprano, is a Professor in the Caldwell College Music Department where she serves as Director of the College Choir, the Opera Workshop and the Concert Series. Dr. Greenwald has taught voice at Caldwell College, Drew University and privately for over 20 years in NJ. She received her DMA from Manhattan School of Music, and her MM in Voice Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College. She was awarded the 2011 Caldwell College Excellence in Teaching Award. Dr. Greenwald has specialized in music by women composers, many of whose compositions she has performed in recital at Caldwell College, Drew University, the Festival of Women Composers at IUP and Ohio University s Conference on Women in Music. Dr. Greenwald has performed as a member of the professional vocal quartet Chantez! and is now a member of the highly acclaimed ensembles of Schola Cantorum on Hudson. She resides in West Orange with her son, Andrew and husband, David Strom. Deborah King, mezzo-soprano, is a conductor, singer, and educator, active most prominently in the northern New Jersey and Manhattan areas. As a mezzo soloist, she has done recital, oratorio, and small-ensemble work primarily; and her voice studio is active with adult singers, and high school singers preparing for conservatory auditions. She is Artistic Director and Founder of the choral ensemble Schola Cantorum on Hudson, and of its international initiative in support of new choral music, Project : Encore. She serves frequently as an adjudicator, workshop clinician, and guest conductor. Dr. King has served on the faculties of several colleges and universities, and is known for building church music programs recognized for their excellence and passion in worship leadership. Locally, she has coordinated the Annual High School Choral Festival Philadelphia, and New York area churches. Currently, for the New Jersey Chapter of the American Choral 4 For more information about tonight s performers, call (888) , ext. 4, or ArtisticDirector@ScholaOnHudson.org

5 Directors Association since 1995, and is Coordinator of the Repertoire Committee for the New York Choral Consortium. Dr. King s experiences as a vocal performer, writer and editor add to her understanding of the demands on choral singers. Dr. King holds a Ph.D. in Musicology from the University of North Texas as well as a Master of Music in Music Education from North Texas State University, and a Bachelor s degreee in vocal performance from Texas Christian University. Dorian Lake, baritone, is an active vocalist, percussionist, and composer/ arranger within the NYC Tri-state area. He graduated with a B.A. in Music from Wagner College, Staten Island, NY. Recruited by fellow alumni of his alma mater, he became a member of Schola Cantorum on Hudson in Mr. Lake has an eclectic array of musical background and experience, working with choirs of all sizes, concert bands, orchestras, operas (he recently premiered the lead role of Sor Giuseppe in the new opera Il Negozio di Campagna), plays and musicals, as well as smaller bands playing everything from Jazz to Pop and Rock. His band, Heavy Weather, has released two CDs, Miles of Mud and Fire. As a composer, he has numerous premieres to his credit, including pieces for concert band, choir (jazz and legit) and jazz band. Mr. Lake s numerous musical endeavors have led to performances in venues as varied as CBGB s, B.B. King s, and Carnegie Hall. He is currently the Head Cantor at St. Paul s Episcopal Church in Staten Island. Betsy Mackenzie-Stubbs, mezzo-soprano, holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Applied Voice from Westminster College and a Master of Music degree in Vocal Pedagogy/Performance, with Distinction, from Westminster Choir College. Ms. Mackenzie-Stubbs teaches on the voice faculties of Caldwell College and Kean University. She is a former faculty member at Drew University, The Westminster Conservatory of Music, and The New Jersey Workshop for the Arts. About the Artists competitions. She performs in opera, recital, and oratorio; and has performed as soloist with the Choral Arts Society of New Jersey; the Oratorio Singers of Westfield, New Jersey; the Morris Choral Society; the Hunterdon Choral Union; and with Voice s, Inc., an ensemble of professional soloists, where she appeared as Mary in Laud to the Nativity. Ms. Mackenzie-Stubbs has performed with the Trenton Civic Opera as Suzuki in Madame Butterfly; and most recently with the Little Opera Company of New Jersey, where she appeared as Flora in La Traviata. Other operatic roles with the Little Opera Company of NJ include: Dorabella in Cosi fan tutte; Marcellina in Le Nozze de Figaro; and Mama Lucia in Cavalleria Rusticana. Other roles include: Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors; Mrs. Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor; and Hansel in Hansel and Gretel. Ms. Mackenzie-Stubbs and her husband, tenor Kerry Stubbs, maintain a private voice studio in Kenilworth, NJ. Select students are members of the NJ All State Chorus and Women s Ensemble and can be seen performing leading roles in their school musicals and summer theater programs and as soloists in school concerts. Ms. Mackenzie-Stubbs is a member of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. Barbara Nowicki, soprano, has performed abroad and throughout the tri-state area in opera, concert, and recital. Her credits include appearances with the Grande Theatre of Geneva, Switzerland in Parsifal, Albert Herring, La Bohéme, and a production of Boris Gudunov which was televised throughout Europe. She has been a soloist with the Pittsburgh Symphony, the Pittsburgh Opera, the New York Lyric Opera, Mostly Opera, the Ossining Chorale, the Pittsburgh Chamber Opera Theater, the Ridge Light Opera, Stony Hill Players, the New Jersey Concert Opera, and the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey, among others. Ms. Nowicki earned a Doctorate of Education in College Teaching and Vocal Pedagogy from Columbia University Teachers College.The topic of her doctoral research is the history of Polish music leading to the Polish art song of the 19th century. She is devoted to bringing this virtually unknown song repertoire to wider audiences. Recital venues have included New Jersey City In 1994, Ms. Mackenzie-Stubbs took third place in the Advanced Division of the NATS state and regional University, the University of Pittsburgh, the Northeast To inquire about hiring Schola Sings Solo for your event, call (888) , ext. 4, or ArtisticDirector@ScholaOnHudson.org 5

6 Theater of Scranton, and the Kosciuszko Foundation in New York City among others. She was featured on WQED-FM radio in Pittsburgh in a program entitled Oginski to Szymanowski: The Polish Art Song of the 19th Century. Ms. Nowicki holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from Wilkes University and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Vocal Performance from Carnegie-Mellon University. As a music educator, Ms. Nowicki has taught chorus and voice at Washington and Jefferson College, Teachers College Columbia University, Carnegie-Mellon University and music in several public schools, including those in Madison and Millburn, New Jersey. Ms. Nowicki resides in Bayonne, New Jersey, where she maintains a private voice studio. Kerry Stubbs, tenor, native of Jamaica, West Indies, currently resides in Kenilworth, NJ. His classically trained but very versatile voice has placed him in a variety of musical settings, from the Apollo Theater to Carnegie Hall. Mr. Stubbs received his Bachelor of Music degree in voice performance from Westminster Choir College, Princeton, NJ. He teaches voice privately and is a certified music educator in the Elizaabeth public school system. He is also a member of the voice faculty at the New Jersey Workshop for the Arts in Westfield, New Jersey. Mr. Stubbs operatic roles include Aeneas, in Dido and Aeneas; Jailer, in Dialogue of the Carmelites; the Brave in The Sunset Trail performed at the Opera House in Geneva, New York; and Casper, in Amahl and the Night Visitors. Other credits include: the Off Broadway production of The Haggadah, at the Public Theatre, produced by Joseph Papp, and directed by Elizabeth Swados; Frederick, in Pirates of Penzance; and most recently as Father, in Children of Eden. About the Artists Warren Helms, accompanist, was recently seen on prime time television accompanying the world-famous singer, Susan Boyle, in an NBC special. He recently collaborated with Bill Whelan, the composer of Riverdance with the Atelier project at Princeton University. Warren is a faculty member of The Juilliard School at Lincoln Center, NYC and William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey as well as Caldwell College. Warren was a faculty member of The Manhattan School of Music where he was musical director for the American Musical Theatre Ensemble. At MSM he was a member of the opera department where he was a coach/accompanist, assisting in the preparation of opera productions. Mr. Helms was assistant conductor/ pianist for the Broadway production of Showboat at the Gershwin Theater. He recently performed with The Irish Tenors, Aretha Franklin, and Clay Aiken. Warren is also the Director of Music at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Wayne, New Jersey. Dan Yates, stage director and master teacher, is pleased to be working with Schola Cantorum on Hudson. Dan has worked with the Prospect Theater Company in NYC, Rainbow Theatricals in NJ, White River Theatre Festival in Vermont, Starlight Musical Theatre in Indianapolis, the Roundhouse Theater in Maryland, and the Forum Theatre in Metuchen, NJ. Dan directs and performs with the Yates Musical Theatre for Children, which has toured to venues such as the Paper Mill Playhouse, Westbury Music Fair, North Shore Music Theatre, PNC Arts Center, Oakdale Music Theater, Cape Playhouse, and many more. Dan teaches Speech and Theater courses at Seton Hall University, Kean University and Caldwell College. He lives in West Orange with his wife Deirdre and children Alexandra and Emily. Mr. Stubbs has been recognized by New York Magazine, New York Times, Princeton Packet, Home News Tribune, WOR Radio, Montreal Radio, Fox, NBC, CNN, Channel 9, PBS and the Chocolate Cat Foundation of Princeton, NJ for his work as a troubadour. In 2005, Mr. Stubbs appeared with the professional gospel choir, the Tribe of Levi, at Alice Tully Hall, NY. 6 For more information about tonight s performers, call (888) , ext. 4, or ArtisticDirector@ScholaOnHudson.org

7 Acknowledgements Board of Directors Andrew P. Jones, Chairman Alexander Wentworth, Vice-Chair Daniel P. Weick, Secretary; Fred Harrity, Treasurer Tim Carpenter, Scott Pollack, Deborah Spinella, Alison Self Staff Bridget Hogan, Executive Director Jack Whyte, Director of Marketing and Communications Dan Yates, Schola Sings Solo (SSS) Director Warren Helms, SSS Music Director and Accompanist Arterial Staff Ryan LaBoy, Coordinator of Community Engagement and Conducting Scholar Deborah Spinella, Audition Coordinator Karen Lea Siegel, Publications Manager Gordon King, Sectionals Director Sara Livolsi, Schola Sings Solo Manager Wayne Eastwood, New Music Initiative Coordinator Joyce Nestle, Member Care Coordinator Frances Marsh, Choral Scholar Coordinator Roger West, Personnel Records Coordinator Grateful appreciation to all who assisted with the performance this evening. 7

8 Celebrating Our Seventeenth Season Schola Sings Solo Saturday, January 21, pm St. John s in the Village 218 West 11th Street, New York, NY Estonian Independence Day Concert By invitation of the Estonian Consulate Saturday, February 25, 2012 Manhattan Concert Productions Debut Ensembles Concert Performing by invitation Tickets can be purchased at Alice Tully Hall Box Office online Saturday, February 25, :30 pm Lincoln Center: Alice Tully Hall, Starr Theater 1941 Broadway, New York, NY Rebirth Saturday, March 10, pm St. Paul the Apostle RC Church 60th St. & Columbus Ave., NY, NY Sunday, March 11, pm St. Luke s Episcopal Church 73 S. Fullerton Avenue, Montclair, NJ Gala: Evening of Appreciation Further information to be announced Wednesday, April 18, 2012 Thresholds! The Big Sing Featuring a premiere by a composer selected from PROJECT : ENCORE Saturday, May 19, pm St. Paul the Apostle RC Church 60th St. & Columbus Ave., NY, NY Sunday, May 20, pm St. Luke s Episcopal Church 73 S. Fullerton Avenue, Montclair, NJ Monday, June 11, pm Venue: TBD All tickets are $15 in advance, and $20 at the door. Visit or call (888) , ext. 1 for more information or to reserve tickets.