17 18 MUSIC AT EMORY UNIVERSITY STAGEWORKS 2018 SCENES FROM OPERA AND MUSICAL THEATER BRADLEY HOWARD, STAGE DIRECTOR PATRICIA DINKINS-MATTHEWS, VOCAL COACH AND PIANO KATHY SUMMERS, COSTUMES FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2018, 8:00 P.M. PERFORMING ARTS STUDIO 1804 NORTH DECATUR ROAD
PROGRAM Selections from Die Zauberflöte Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Soon speeds the morning light proclaiming (1756 1791) Papagena, Papagena! Pamina: Sylvia Ware Papagena: Val Berenshtein Papageno: Alex Bedenbaugh Spirit 1: Julia Lega, Stephanie Zhang Spirit 2: Madison Evans, Amina Dunn Spirit 3: Chloe Pak, Eliza Paprin Selections from Guys and Dolls Frank Loesser Trio for Tinhorns (1910 1969) I ll Know Adelaide s Lament Luck Be a Lady Nicely: Martin Schreiner Bennie: Jerry Ho Rusty: Remi Levinson Sky Masterson: Tim Jernigan Sarah Brown: Stephanie Zhang Miss Adelaide: Constance Lewis Sky Masterson: Eric Newell Chorus: Jamie Epstein, Ellie Rabinovitz, Vinnie Zhang, Alex Bedenbaugh, Sahrudh Dharanendra, and Sam Kramer Cell Block Tango from Chicago John Kander (b. 1927) Velma: Emma Rollins Liz: Jamie Epstein Annie: Madison Evans June: Diana Vazquez Mona: Ellie Rabinovitz Hunyak: Chloe Pak INTERMISSION 2
PROGRAM Sextet: I Present Miss Despinetta... from Cosi fan tutte, Act 1 Fiordiligi: Akshatha Achar Dorabella: Emma Rollins Despina: Diana Vazquez Ferrando: Martin Schreiner Guglielmo: Vinnie Zhang Don Alfonso: Eric Newell Mozart I ve Decided to Marry You Steven Lutvak from A Gentleman s Guide to Love and Murder (b. 1959) Phoebe: Madison Evans Sibella: Val Berenshtein Monty: Samuel Kramer The Saga of Jenny from Lady in the Dark Liza: Amina Dunn Ensemble: Akshatha Achar, Julia Lega, Eliza Paprin, Vinnie Zhang, and Sahrudh Dharanendra Kurt Weill (1900 1950) Chorus: Chloe Pak, Emma Rollins, Constance Lewis, Stephanie Zhang, Alex Bedenbaugh, Tim Jernigan, Martin Schreiner, Remi Levinson, and Eric Newell For Good from Wicked Elphaba: Ellie Rabinovitz Galinda: Jamie Epstein Stephen Schwartz (b. 1948) O mio babbino caro from Gianni Schicchi Giacomo Puccini (1858 1924) Libiamo! from La Traviata Lauretta: Akshatha Achar Giuseppe Verdi (1813 1901) Violetta: Sylvia Ware Flora: Akshatha Achar Alfredo: Jerry Ho Gaston: Martin Schreiner Baron: Vinnie Zhang Doctor: Alex Bedenbaugh Marquis: Eric Newell Chorus: Stephanie Zhang, Eliza Paprin, Julia Lega, Amina Dunn, Chloe Pak, Eliana Rabinovitz, Constance Lewis, Ari Peluso, Jamie Epstein, Anna Ree, Ramona Li, Diana Vazquez, Emma Rollins, Val Berenshtein, Madison Evans, Layla Tajmir, Annie Cohen, Dom Refuerzo, Remi Levinson, Tim Jernigan, Sahrudh Dharanendra, and Samuel Kramer StageWorks 2018 would like to thank Emory s Department of Theater for the use of its props, set pieces, and costumes; and Tom Hopkin for his time and generosity in building and donating the door props. The periaktoi featuring the Eiffel Tower is courtesy of John Ammerman from the production of No Strings, which will be presented with the Emory Wind Ensemble in Emerson Concert Hall on April 27 at 8:00 p.m. 3
CAST BIOGRAPHIES Akshatha Achar, soprano, is a sophomore from Dubai on the pre law track, pursuing a double major in international studies and music. Recognizing music to be integrally intertwined with her identity, she has dabbled in musical theater; she played the titular role in several local adaptations of musicals like Cats, The Phantom of the Opera, The Wizard of Oz, and others. She is thrilled to be performing today, and would like to thank Maria Clark, Bradley Howard, and her friends and family for their guidance and love. Alex Bedenbaugh is a senior from Lexington, South Carolina, where he began singing in his junior year of high school. He attended South Carolina s All-State Choir in his senior year and decided as a first-year student at Emory to pursue a major in vocal performance at the suggestion of a fellow member of his a cappella group, No Strings Attached. During his time at Emory, he has toured Europe with No Strings Attached and the Emory Concert Choir. He would like to thank his friends and family for their continuing support as well as his voice teacher Wade Thomas and accompanist Elena Cholakova for their guidance and encouragement. Val Berenshtein, soprano, is a first-year student from River Vale, New Jersey, and a double major in psychology and anthropology and human biology at Emory. Training in classical voice for more than five years, Val is the first-place winner of the American Protege International Voice Competition, the recipient of the Madam Paunova Governor s Award at the New Jersey Opera Festival, and a three-time selected performer at Carnegie Hall. She is also a member of the Emory Concert Choir. Annie Cohen is a sophomore pursuing a major in English and creative writing. She has been singing for most of her life. She enjoys doing theater and recent productions include The Tempest for the New Orleans Shakespeare Festival and Romeo and Juliet for Theater Emory. Other roles include Aninka in Brundibar with the New Orleans Opera and the D-Day Museum, Sandy from Grease, Cinderella from Into the Woods, and Lady Macbeth, from Macbeth. 4
Sahrudh Dharanendra, tenor, is a junior from Johns Creek, Georgia, majoring in music and neuroscience. He is a member of Emory Concert Choir and ChaiTunes, Emory s Jewish a cappella group. He studies voice with Abigail Santos, and he is excited to be performing tonight. He would like to thank the entire StageWorks team and cast for making this performance possible. Amina Dunn, soprano, is a senior from Washington, D.C., double majoring in sociology and theater studies. She is the president of Emory s chapter of Alpha Psi Omega, National Theater Honor Society. In addition to her work as a performer, she has conducted research regarding political dynamics on college campuses. Following graduation, she plans to pursue a dual degree in public policy and law while continuing to perform in local theater. Jamie Epstein, mezzo-soprano, is a sophomore majoring in psychology. She is from Rye Brook, New York, where she enthusiastically participated in musical theater and chorus throughout middle school and high school. She is active on the Emory campus, having been selected as an admission office campus tour guide, a first-year student orientation leader, and a member of the student programming council. She is also a member of the Gathering, Emory s only allfemale a cappella group. Past theater credits include Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes, Ellie Greenwich in Leader of the Pack, and Sylvia in All Shook Up. She would like to thank her friends, family, and the StageWorks faculty for their support, and she is thrilled to be appearing in her first StageWorks production. Madison Evans, soprano, is a sophomore majoring in physics and vocal performance. She has studied voice for two years, but she has been involved in vocal ensembles since second grade. She is a member of Emory Concert Choir, and she works for both the Concert Choir and the University Chorus. She would like to thank Bradley Howard and Patricia Dinkins-Matthews for their support of Emory s Department of Music and StageWorks. 5
Jerry Ho, tenor, is a senior from New York majoring in music and computer science. At Emory, he participates actively in the Emory Concert Choir and StageWorks. He began his vocal studies in 2013 under his current voice teacher, Bradley Howard, and during fall 2015, studied voice abroad in Adelaide, Australia, under vocal coaches Patrick Power, Guila Tiver, and Rosalind Martin. During fall 2017, he completed a wide range of repertoire in his senior recital with Patricia Dinkins-Matthews. On April 27, 2018, he will be performing as the lead male actor in the show No Strings by Richard Rodgers in Emerson Hall. In the meantime, he also works as a software developer at Springbot in midtown Atlanta. Tim Jernigan, tenor, is an Atlanta native. He is a sophomore double majoring in business and political science with interests also in marketing and internal politics. He has been performing in musicals including Guys and Dolls as well as recitals since seventh grade. Along with singing, he has played guitar and piano for more than ten years and has performed locally since age thirteen. He is the treasurer of Aural Pleasure, Emory s oldest co-ed a cappella group and has performed in multiple competitions with them. He would like to thank his friends and family as well as his teachers for giving him multiple opportunities to explore the arts and introducing him to one of his biggest passions: performing. Sam Kramer, tenor, is a sophomore from Madison, Connecticut, double majoring in business management and music. He has been performing and practicing music for five years. During his time at Emory, he has been involved in Emory Concert Choir, Mastersingers, and Dooley Noted a cappella. He is incredibly excited to be participating in his first StageWorks performance and is incredibly thankful for all of the people who made this event possible. Julia Lega, soprano, is a sophomore from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, double majoring in neuroscience and behavioral biology and music. During her time at Emory, she has been involved in the Emory Concert Choir, Emory Mastersingers, and Dooley Noted a cappella. She is excited to be participating in her first StageWorks performance and would like to thank everyone involved in making this great production. 6
Remi Levinson, tenor, is a senior from Greenwich, Connecticut, double majoring in music and mathematics. During his time at Emory, he has been musically involved in the Emory Concert Choir and in Aural Pleasure a cappella, and he intends to pursue a career in popular music management and production. He is also the president of ReStart, Emory s Collegiate Recovery Community, which supports students with growth and progress in their recovery from various addictions. Constance Lewis, alto, is ecstatic about being in her second StageWorks production. She is a junior from Lilburn, Georgia, studying playwriting. She has enjoyed music and singing ever since she could talk, and she hopes to continue to cultivate her passion through musical theater, opera, amateur ukulele playing, and beyond. Her favorite performance credits include Mama Noah in Children of Eden and Gertrude McFuzz in Seussical. She would like to extend her thanks to the instructors and cast for making the entire show possible. Ramona Li is a sophomore at Emory, majoring in theater studies and philosophy. Her previous musical theater experience includes Fiddler on the Roof Jr., Beauty and the Beast Jr., and Hello, Dolly! Her work at Emory includes The Investigation by Dooley s Players, and The Anointing of Dracula with Theater Emory. She currently serves as codirector of Emory Dark Arts, a student arts initiative. She is a member of Alpha Psi Omega, National Theatre Honor Society. Eric Newell, bass-baritone, is a senior from Nashville, Tennessee, double majoring in business and music. During his time at Emory, he has been musically involved in Ad Hoc student theater, the Emory Concert Choir, the Emory Mastersingers, and Dooley Noted a cappella, and he is planning to pursue an MM in choral conducting next fall. He would like to thank Bradley Howard and Patricia Dinkins-Matthews for their generosity in giving their time to this evening s production and to his talented peers for sharing in the love of music making. 7
Chloe Pak, mezzo-soprano, is a junior from Charlotte, North Carolina, pursuing a double major in business administration and theater studies. She has ardently participated in music and theater for most of her life and is grateful to include Emory StageWorks and Emory Concert Choir into her college experience. She would like to thank Bradley Howard and Patricia Dinkins-Matthews for their direction and teaching. Eliza Paprin, soprano, is a first-year student at Emory, planning to double major in theater studies and creative writing. Her main passions are acting and screenwriting, and she hopes to make a career out of both. She fell in love with theater after seeing The Addams Family on Broadway, and she has been in love with it ever since, spending several paychecks to see Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway this past summer. During her time at Riverwood High School, she performed in productions of Leading Ladies, Lend Me a Tenor, Once Upon a Mattress, and The Addams Family. She is on the first-year committee for the student musical theater group AdHoc Productions, and she most recently performed in Theater Emory s production of The Anointing of Dracula: A Grand Guignol. Arianna Peluso is a first-year student at Emory. She is originally from New Jersey and went to school at Columbia Prep in Manhattan, New York. She plans to major in music on the vocal performance track and NBB, while she also studies piano in the Department of Music. She is also involved in many student organizations on campus, including Camp Kesem, GlobeMed at Emory, and Best Buddies. Ellie Rabinovitz, mezzo-soprano, is a senior majoring in psychology and minoring in sociology. She is currently interning at the Marcus Autism Center in their research department and plans on working in a psychology research lab next year before pursuing a doctorate in psychology. She is from Potomac, Maryland, where she participated in musical theater, dance, and choir for many years. She is the musical director of the Gathering, Emory s only all-female a cappella group. Past credits include Brook Wyndham in Legally Blonde the Musical, Wendy in Peter Pan, and Titania in A Midsummer Night s Dream. She would like to thank the StageWorks faculty and her peers for making such a great show possible. 8
Anna Ree, soprano, is a first-year student from Duluth, Georgia, majoring in music and psychology. She performs in the Emory Concert Choir. Previous roles include Lilli Vanessi in Kiss Me, Kate and Pitti-Sing in Hot Mikado. She sings with the Gathering a cappella group. She would like to thank her Lord, Bradley Howard, Patricia Dinkins- Matthews, and her loving family for all of their support. Emma Rollins, mezzo-soprano, is a sophomore majoring in business and vocal performance. She has studied voice for seven years and spent many summers at New York University s Steinhardt Classical Voice intensive program. She is a member of Emory s Concert Choir and Aural Pleasure, Emory s oldest co-ed a cappella group. She would like to thank Bradley Howard and Patricia Dinkins-Matthews for their unwavering dedication to both StageWorks and Emory s Department of Music. Dom Refuerzo, alto, is a sophomore from Tacoma, Washington, majoring in music composition and mathematics. She is involved in several musical groups on campus, including ChaiTunes a cappella, Emory University Chorus, and the Sound and Color band. She is elated to contribute to the No Strings project, and she would like to thank John Ammerman, Patricia Dinkins-Matthews, Bradley Howard, and Caleb Houck. Martin Schreiner, tenor, is a junior from Niskayuna, New York, majoring in music and computer science. He performs with the Emory Concert Choir. Previous roles include Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast, Balthasar in Boys from Syracuse, Pirelli in Sweeney Todd, and Doc in West Side Story. He has also played violin in the Emory University Symphony Orchestra. He would like to thank Victoria Preisman, Bradley Howard, Patricia Dinkins-Matthews, and his parents for all their support. Layla Tajmir, soprano, is a junior from Alabama studying music and theater. She is an Oxford continuee, where she was involved with Oxford Chorale, Oxford Jazz, Oxford Theater, Oxford Ensemble of Shakespearean Artists, and OxBroadway. Since matriculating to Emory, she has been involved with Theater Emory, student theater, and Emory Concert Choir. She would like to thank John Ammerman, Bradley Howard, Patricia Dinkins-Matthews, and Paul Bhasin for the opportunity to be a part of No Strings and StageWorks this year. 9
Diana Vazquez, soprano, is a sophomore double majoring in music and psychology from St. Louis, Missouri. She has sung with her father in a mariachi band and played violin since she was nine. In addition, she is a member of Emory Concert Choir and Emory Mastersingers, has won second place in the artists-in-training program at Opera Theater, and has been taking voice lessons for seven years. This coming fall semester, she will be studying abroad in Vienna. She is looking forward to performing in StageWorks for the first time and would like to thank her friends, her boyfriend, and especially her vocal teacher, Bradley Howard, for their love and support. Sylvia Ware, soprano, is a sophomore from Williamson, Georgia, double majoring in sociology and music. On campus, she sings in Emory Concert Choir and Emory Mastersingers, and she is the assistant music director of Dooley Noted a cappella. She would like to thank all of the faculty and staff who have made the show possible, and looks forward to experiencing her first StageWorks performance. Stephanie Zhang, soprano, is a junior studying information systems and operations management in the business school as well as vocal performance with the Department of Music. She developed a passion for the arts when she was young, and she had the opportunity to explore many forms of art, including dancing, singing, acting, and photography. StageWorks provides the perfect opportunity to further explore her skills and imaginations in these fields. Though she always loved singing, she did not start taking lessons until her high school sophomore year and did not begin studying classical music until college. She is proud that her experiences in the vocal department as well as choirs helped to shape her college experience. Yuchen (Vinnie) Zhang, baritone, is a junior at Emory double majoring in music and business. Originally from Hefei, Anhui, China, and now a member of Emory s University Chorus, he has been playing the piano since age eight and only started vocal training after arriving at Emory. He feels fortunate to be part of StageWorks and would like to thank his teacher Abigail Santos, Patricia Dinkins- Matthews, Bradley Howard, and all his friends for being supportive in both his study and his life. 10
FACULTY BIOGRAPHIES Patricia Dinkins-Matthews joined the faculty of Emory in 1998, where she is a lecturer in piano, vocal coaching, piano skills, and collaborative piano. She has been a member of the piano faculties at the University of Florida, Baylor University, the American Institute of Music Studies (Graz, Austria), and McLennan College. Dinkins-Matthews has an undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee and both a master of music degree in piano performance and a doctor of musical arts degree in piano pedagogy and performance from the University of Colorado. Dinkins-Matthews is an active solo and chamber music recitalist, and she has performed both in the United States and in Europe, including recitals in England, France, Austria, Belgium, and Germany. Among others, Dinkins-Matthews has been the pianist for the Florida Arts Trio and the American Chamber Winds, and she has appeared as soloist with the Colorado Symphony, the University of Tennessee Orchestra, and the Florida Symphony Orchestra. Dinkins-Matthews is the pianist for the Aevia Trio and is the associate pianist for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus. She is an approved adjudicator for the National Federation of Music Clubs and the Music Teachers National Association. Bradley Howard, director of vocal studies at Emory University, enjoys a career spanning the classical and modern vocal works, solo recitals, and operatic roles. Howard has developed a repertoire of some of opera s most classic roles, including Mozart s Tamino in The Magic Flute and Ferrando in Cosi fan tutte, Puccini s Rodolfo in La Boheme, Leoncavallo s Beppe in I Pagliacci, Britten s Peter Quint in The Turn of the Screw, and the title roles of Albert Herring and Candide. His solo recitals have been heard across the United States and most recently at Emory. Howard teaches performance techniques and directs the annual opera and musical theater workshop production StageWorks at Emory. Kathy Summers joined the Department of Music at Emory in 1989. Her responsibilities in the department include financial and administrative staff operations. An accomplished costume designer and seamstress, her costumes have been seen in numerous DragonCon costume parades, Conversations with Galileo at the Atlanta Renaissance Festival, and MoMoCon s 2017 Crystal Ball at the Georgia Aquarium. She spent five years on staff as wardrobe wench at the Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament Atlanta Castle. This year she joins StageWorks, creating costumes and working in wardrobe during the show. Summers has always preferred backstage to onstage, because that s where there s so much more fun and drama. 11
UPCOMING MUSIC EVENTS Go to music.emory.edu to view the complete list of upcoming music events. Ticket prices are listed in the following order: Full price/discount category member price/emory student price (unless otherwise noted as the price for all students). For more information contact the Arts at Emory Box Office at 404.727.5050, or visit arts.emory.edu. Saturday, April 14, 8:00 p.m., The Rites of Spring, ECMSA: Emerson Series, Schwartz Center, Emerson Concert Hall, free Sunday, April 15, 7:00 p.m., Murray Perahia, piano, Candler Concert Series, Schwartz Center, Emerson Concert Hall, $70/$56/$10 Friday, April 20, noon, The Kreutzer Sonata, ECMSA: Cooke Noontime Series, Michael C. Carlos Museum, free Friday, April 20, 8:00 p.m., and Saturday, April 21, 8:00 p.m., An American Celebration, Emory University Symphony Orchestra and Emory University Chorus, Schwartz Center, Emerson Concert Hall, free Sunday, April 22, 7:00 p.m., Emory Chamber Ensembles, Schwartz Center, Emerson Concert Hall, free Tuesday, April 24, 8:00 p.m., Emory Big Band, Schwartz Center, Emerson Concert Hall, free Thursday, April 26, 6:00 p.m., Jazz on the Green, Patterson Green, free Friday, April 27, 8:00 p.m., Broadway Concert, Emory Wind Ensemble, Schwartz Center, Emerson Concert Hall, free Saturday, April 28, 2:00 p.m., Mallory Carnes, viola, undergraduate recital, Schwartz Center, Emerson Concert Hall, free Sunday, April 29, 7:00 p.m., Come to the Woods, Emory Concert Choir, Schwartz Center, Emerson Concert Hall, free Friday, May 4, noon, Liederabend, ECMSA: Cooke noontime Series, Michael C. Carlos Museum, free Saturday, May 5, 8:00 p.m., Music and the Civil War, Atlanta Master Chorale, Schwartz Center, Emerson Concert Hall, $30/$25/$10 Wednesday, May 9, 8:00 p.m., Emory Youth Symphony Orchestra, Schwartz Center, Emerson Concert Hall, free Sunday, May 13, 1:30 p.m., Cherry Emerson Memorial Alumni Concert, ECMSA: Emerson Series, Miller-Ward Alumni House, 815 Houston Mill Rd., free 12
MUSIC AT EMORY The Department of Music at Emory University provides an exciting and innovative environment for developing knowledge and skills as a performer, composer, and scholar. Led by a faculty of more than sixty nationally and internationally recognized artists and researchers, our undergraduate and graduate students experience a rich diversity of performance and academic opportunities. Undergraduate students in our department earn a BA in music with a specialization in performance, composition, or research, many of whom simultaneously earn a second degree in another department. True to the spirit of Emory, a liberal arts college in the heart of a research university, our faculty and ensembles also welcome the participation of non-major students from across the Emory campus. Become a part of Music at Emory by giving to the Friends of Music. Your gift provides crucial support to all of our activities. To learn more, visit our website at music.emory.edu or call 404.727.6280. Arts at Emory Box Office/Audience Information 404.727.5050 arts.emory.edu IN CONSIDERATION Please turn off all electronic devices. PHOTOGRAPHS AND RECORDINGS Not permitted without advance permission. COUGH DROPS Available in the lobby. USHERS Members of Music at Emory Volunteers and Alpha Phi Omega, a national service and social fraternity. Call 404.727.6640 for ushering opportunities. EVENT AND PROGRAM INFORMATION Available online at arts.emory.edu. BACK COVER PHOTOS Courtesy of Emory Photo/Video. TREE LIGHTS AND EXTERIOR IN-GROUND BUILDING LIGHTS Made possible by a generous gift from Donna and Marvin Schwartz. 13