The Rising of the Women Is the Rising of Us All

viva sweet love

AURORA CHORUS Joan Szymko, Director

Central Lutheran Church 1820 NE 21st Avenue Portland, Oregon

Sunday, June 8, 2014 4:00 and 7:30 pm Greetings from the Aurora Chorus Board of Directors The Aurora Experience Artistic Director

On behalf of Aurora’s Board of Directors, I want to that strengthened the organization for the future. In Fall/Winter 2014 Joan Szymko has thank you for being here. This concert of love songs particular, she helped us with budget transparency If you’re in the audience at today’s 4:00 concert, you’ll conducted community is for you. Who among us couldn’t use a few more and making better use of our donor software. While see our first group of Aurora Experience singers joining choruses in the Pacific love songs? this might not sound as beguiling as some of the lyrics the full chorus to perform a piece they’ve been working Northwest for over you’ll hear from the stage today, it is a foundation on since April. Could that be you this winter? We invite thirty years. When Soak them up and enjoy the show. Audience members: of support for the singers. Securing strong financial singers with little or no choral experience, those who Joan came to Portland we love you! support and providing good management is the board’s can’t commit to a full Aurora term, and Aurora alums in 1993 to take on the If you have a good time today (I know you will), put way of singing a love song to Aurora’s singers and our who want to stay connected in a singing community to leadership of Aurora our next season’s concerts on your calendar and plan amazing artistic director, Joan Szymko. If that is the come sing with the Aurora Experience this fall. Chorus, she brought to bring along a friend or twelve. Share the love and sort of “singing” you like to do, talk to me about an extensive experience Artistic Director Joan Szymko will prepare the group to Aurora’s heart-opening music. audition to join our board. with women’s voices, perform a song on stage with the full chorus at Aurora’s composing and Viva sweet love, in all its forms. December concert, Light Is Returning. Rehearse in As a board, we also offer a love song to our departing arranging skills, and a wide knowledge of peace and Kristan Burkert, Aurora Board President a relaxed, supportive environment, featuring vocal board president, Krista Thomas. Krista led Aurora’s justice repertoire. In subsequent years Joan founded training, easy songs by rote, circle singing, and board for two years and helped it make some changes and directed Viriditas Vocal Ensemble, a select rhythm circles. women’s choir. With Viriditas she collaborated with When: Monday evenings, 7:00–8:30 pm, dates to be Do Jump! Movement Theater. As a resident composer Aurora Chorus Aurora Board of Directors determined. Concert date: December 20 or 21, 2014. with Do Jump! (1995-2012), she had the opportunity to perform her music with the company at their home Where: Rehearsals will be at Portland State University. Since 1992, Aurora Chorus has honored the strength Kristan Burkert, President theater in Portland and on tour from Broadway to Los Fee: $95, includes a ticket to the December Light Is and beauty of women’s lives through the fine art of Krista Thomas, Treasurer Angeles. Joan recently joined the choral faculty at the Returning concert ($20 value). choral singing. Aurora was founded on the belief Rebecca Pepper, Secretary Portland State University School of Music as director of the Vox Femina women’s choir. that music can be a powerful instrument of peace Dorothy LaDouceur Please contact [email protected] for more locally, globally, and in the hearts of all who listen Judi Ranton information or to reserve a place. Composing for choir is a natural outgrowth of and all who sing. In an atmosphere of personal growth Marilyn Lindberg Joan's creativity as a conductor. As with her choral and cooperation, Aurora is proud to provide both Bob Hall directing, Joan’s dedication to craft and artistry and novice and experienced singers with an unparalleled Maria Peyer, Chorus Coordinator her insistence on quality texts are reflected in her opportunity to expand and transform a love of Save the Date... Joan Szymko, Ex-officio choral writing. She is a renowned composer with over singing into an understanding and appreciation of Lisa Fithian-Barrett, Scribe 100 choral titles in print publication, and her music healthy vocal production, choral technique, and This December, set aside time in your holiday calendar has been sung by distinguished ensembles across musical expression. Led by nationally renowned choral for Aurora’s winter concert, Light Is Returning. North America and abroad, enjoying performances at composer Joan Szymko (www.joanszymko.com), Staff Aurora takes to the stage on the longest night of the year international competitions and festivals, at state and Aurora Chorus consists of around 100 singers from Joan Szymko, Artistic Director with a program celebrating our ancient connection to regional conferences, and at six consecutive National the Portland/Vancouver area, presents several concerts Michelle Bahr, Assistant Director and the cosmos and our life-affirming connections to one Conferences of the American Choral Directors each year, and performs at community outreach Outreach Ensemble Director another. We'll shine a light in your heart and breathe Association. The ACDA recognized Joan’s lasting events throughout the year. Aurora has produced Signe Lusk, Accompanist some magic into your soul! contribution to the choral arts by selecting her as the three CD recordings: Full Circle, Solstice, and Baby, Bunny Marechal, Interim Administrative Manager recipient of the prestigious 2010 Raymond W. Brock It’s Cold Outside. All are for sale in the lobby and Tentative date: December 20 or 21, 2014. Kathy Hryciw, Bookkeeper Memorial Commission. through the chorus website. Please visit us online at Visit us online at www.AuroraChorus.org for details www.AuroraChorus.org, your source for future events as we get closer to the date. and for information about joining the chorus.

2 3 Assistant Director Accompanist From the Artistic Director Solo Spotlight

Michelle Bahr joined Signe Lusk studied Nothing is mysterious, no human relation. Except love. We are thrilled to present some of our very own Aurora Aurora Chorus as piano accompanying — Susan Sontag sisters as guest artists in today's concert. Assistant Director in at the San Francisco Aurora Chorus quite regularly explores what it means Lisa Kron cannot remember a time when singing the fall of 2011. She Conservatory of Music to truly love in a “big picture” humanitarian sense. We wasn’t an important part of her life. She discovered the holds degrees in music and then continued often sing of awakening the compassionate heart, but joy of choral singing in high school and continued to education and choral her studies in delving into the mysteries of the passionate heart? In an sing in various choral ensembles during her four years conducting from the Stuttgart, Germany. up close and personal way? It has been our delight over at St. Olaf College. In 2008, looking for an opportunity University of Illinois at Upon returning to this spring to do just that. Today you will hear Aurora to sing again after several years’ hiatus, she joined Urbana-Champaign. the United States, sing love songs that are silly and sublime, sensuous and Aurora Chorus and is forever grateful that she did. She directs the Aurora she worked for the downright sexy—the magnificence and vulnerability of Today she is singing ’s The Nearness Outreach Ensemble, Oregon Symphony as the Assistant Publicity intimate human love as expressed through the music of of You, a song she first heard as a young teenager and which brings Aurora's Director. Signe has some truly great composers and . never forgot. message and music to various venues throughout worked as staff pianist for the American Institute the year. Our concert begins with the music of three Patricia Cornman-Wilcox has sung with a number of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. She was contemporary American composers: Leonard of choirs through the years, including Portland State Michelle enjoys working with singers of all ages and given the Outstanding Music Director Award for Bernstein, Eric Whitacre, and Gwyneth Walker. We Community Choir and David York’s Summer Choir. has more than 10 years of experience teaching choral her work on Candide. She made her Carnegie then take a turn as we sing the vibrant mixed dance She’s been singing with Aurora since 1996, and with music in schools as well as leading community, church, Hall debut in 1998. She accompanied soprano Debra meters of Bulgarian song and present my setting of our the Outreach Ensemble since its inception in 2010. She and children's choirs. Besides choral music, she has a Wilke in the National Association of Teachers of concert title work, viva sweet love. Heartbreakingly recently studied at Transformational Voice Institute, passion for musical theater and has experience on both Singing Artists Award Competition, where she was beautiful, the melodies of Franz Schubert and Morten and is now taking private voice lessons. Patricia has sides of the stage, having filled many roles from stage awarded first place. Signe has performed in concerts Lauridsen follow. Dirait-on is one of the most often sung “with” Holly Near for decades; she heard Holly manager to performer to conductor. with Metropolitan Opera stars Jerome Hines, Nico Castel, and John Del Carlo, and she was pianist performed choral pieces in the world today. It is from sing She Just Wants to Dance two years ago and has Currently, Michelle also works as the music teacher at for National Trumpet Association winner Andre Lauridsen's choral song cycle Les Chansons des Roses embodied the song because it spoke to her as both a the German American School of Portland and teaches Dubelston. In addition, Signe has worked for Seattle, (Rose Songs). Portland is now celebrating its annual singer and a dancer. private music lessons in Beaverton, where she resides Portland, and Eugene opera companies. Currently, Rose Festival, and so we join in the celebration with two Gayle Lovejoy has been enthralled with choral singing with her husband, Dan, and baby girl, Abigail. Signe is staff pianist at the First Unitarian Church. pop hits from different eras that I'm sure many of you since kindergarten, when her mother was her music She also teaches privately. will recognize. After intermission, Aurora is especially teacher. She is old enough to have been recorded on excited to feature four individual singers from the vinyl in elementary school. She joined Aurora Chorus chorus. I guarantee that their performances will tug in 1998, a year after her dog learned how to say on your heartstrings and tickle your funny bone. The “Au-ro-ra”! Gayle is delighted to present Solo Love Song full chorus returns to close out our program with some Eileen Spencer Scholarship Fund today, written by her friend Cassandra Sagan when “hot and heavy” material. Sexy choral music? Just wait The Eileen Spencer Scholarship Fund was established in honor of she was “between soul mates.” Eileen Spencer, a devoted chorus member for nearly 15 years. The fund and listen. And as always, there'll be something for you carries on Eileen’s desire to support Aurora and all the women who find to join in on and sing along! Terri Grayum is a Portland area teacher of holistic empowerment through creativity and song. voice (terrigrayum.com). She’s been singing out in the In her autobiography, Katherine Hepburn said, “Love world since she was a young girl, and with Aurora since The Fund assists chorus members with membership fees when financial has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get— 2009. She’s a versatile singer, moving with ease between challenges arise. Eileen would be pleased that women are still able to only with what you are expecting to give—which is Mozart arias, show tunes, folk, and blues. She’s also sing thanks to the generosity of our donors. everything.” Expect a lot of love to fill the air, because written and recorded many songs. Terri wrote Road We invite you to support Aurora singers by making a contribution to the women of Aurora will be giving you all we've got! Aurora Chorus earmarked for the “Eileen Spencer Scholarship Fund.” Trip after a long sabbatical from relationships—it’s the Viva sweet love! title track of her second CD with Gwen Thomas, and Joan Szymko, Artistic Director it’s been featured on the NPR show Car Talk. 4 5 Solo Love Song Cassandra Sagan viva sweet love solo: Gayle Lovejoy Aurora Chorus Road Trip Terri Grayum Joan Szymko, Director solo: Terri Grayum Signe Lusk, Accompanist the poets are right E. M. Forster, from A Room with a View Something’s Coming/Tonight Leonard Bernstein / lyrics by Stephen Sondheim / arr. Ed Lojeski reader: Ruth Friedel

Kalá Kallá Eric Whitacre / poem by Hila Plitmann Fever John Davenport and Eddie Cooley / additional lyric by II. from Five Hebrew Love Songs Kristan Burkert / arr. Kirby Shaw dancers: Amberlynn Lane, Zoe Lehr, Claudia Nadine, I Will Be Earth Gwyneth Walker / poem by May Swenson Judi Ranton, Michele White, Eun Jung Yi

Dilmano, Dilbero trad. Bulgarian from Godetchka region as collected by Ethel Raim Yes, You Bobby McFerrin / arr. J. David Moore solo: Tina Izen viva sweet love Joan Szymko / poem by e.e. cummings Alley Cat Love Song Paul Carey / poem by Dana Gioia you are longing, Friedrich Rückert, "Du Bist die Ruh” and what stills it reader: Wendy Street a fortunate accident Louis de Bernières, from Corelli’s Mandolin reader: Judi Ranton Du Bist die Ruh Franz Schubert / poem by Friedrich Rückert / arr. Joan Szymko Home Jade Castrinos and Alex Ebert / arr. Joan Szymko nothing can match you Rainer Maria Rilke, from Les Roses reader: Barbara Cervantes-Gautschi Instrumentalists

Dirait-on Morten Lauridsen / poem by Rainer Maria Rilke Violin: Janet George Drums, percussion: Dianna Hnatiw Bass: Rebecca Cohen Ukulele: Linda Nichenko

to love at all is to be vulnerable C. S. Lewis, from The Four Loves Translations reader: Patti Harelkin Du Bist die Ruh by Friedrich Rückert The Rose Amanda McBroom / arr: Julie Knowles English translation by Lynn Thompson Du bist die Ruh You are peace, Treib andern Schmerz Drive other pain Honeysuckle Rose Thomas “Fats” Waller / lyrics: Andy Razaf / arr. Kirby Shaw Der Friede mild, The mild peace, Aus dieser Brust! Out of this breast Die Sehnsucht du You are longing Voll sei dies Herz May my heart be full Intermission Und was sie stillt. And what stills it. Von deiner Lust. With your pleasure.

Solo Spotlight Ich weihe dir I consecrate to you Dies Augenzelt The tabernacle of my eyes Voll Lust und Schmerz Full of pleasure and pain Von deinem Glanz by your radiance The Nearness of You Hoagy Carmichael / lyrics: Zur Wohnung hier As a dwelling here Allein erhellt, alone is illumined, solo: Lisa Kron Mein Aug und Herz. My eyes and heart. O füll es ganz! O fill it completely!

She Just Wants to Dance Kevin Moore and Georgia Graper Kehr ein bei mir, Come live with me, solo: Patricia Cornman-Wilcox Und schliesse du And close Still hinter dir quietly behind you Die Pforten zu. the gates. 6 7 Translations (continued) Translations (continued) Dirait-on Kalá Kallá Dilmano, Dilbero by Morten Lauridsen by Hila Plitmann English translation by Barbara and Erica Muhl Dilmano dilbero Beautiful Dilmano, kazhi mi kak se sadi pipero. tell me how you sow green pepper Abandon entouré d’abandon, Abandon surrounding abandon, Kalá kallá Light bride Da tsafti da varzhe da beresh ka sakash To blossom and to become fruit tendresse touchant aux tendresses… Tenderness touching tenderness… Kulá shelí She is all mine, Pomunigo, pobutsigo, pomunigo, pobutsigo To pick as much as you wish. C’est ton intérieur qui sans cesse Your oneness endlessly U’ve kalut And lightly Teta kak se sadi pipero se caresse, dirait-on; Caresses itself, so they say; Tishák hí lí! She will kiss me! You push it and press it into the earth, And that’s how you sow green peppers se caresse en soi-même, Self-caressing To blossom and to become fruit par son propre reflet éclairé. through its own clear reflection. To pick as much as you wish. Ainsi tu inventes le thème Thus you invent the theme du Narcisse exaucé. of Narcissus fulfilled.

Linda Nichenko, Music Librarian Singer Roster Concert Staff & Volunteers Jackie Rose, Harmonizer Chair Micki Barney, Chorus Treasurer Aurora Outreach Nancy Novak Soprano 2 Amberlynn Lane Front of House: Andaesha K’treva Ensemble Margaret Blake and Nancy Otis, Retreat Raya Partenheimer Patricia Cornman-Wilcox Marilyn Lindberg Stage Manager: Jon Plueard Coordinators Michelle Bahr, Director Helen Spector Diane Dickey Gayle Lovejoy** Program: Dianne Foster with Rebecca Pepper, Jennifer Zika and Lisa Fithian-Barrett, Production Sara Baker Heather Stueck Betsy Dowell+** Michelle Lum* Bunny Marechal, Lisa Fithian-Barrett, and Coordinators Margaret Blake Lynn Greenwood Bunny Marechal Terri Grayum Patricia Cornman-Wilcox Soprano 1 Tina Izen Peggy McComb Special Thanks: Regional Arts and Culture Council, Lisa Fithian-Barrett Michele Alderson Lisa Kron ++ Jackie Rose Dianne Foster—paisley arts, Portland State University Patti Harelkin Phyllis Auger Dorothy LaDouceur Judy Soule Aurora Coordinating Team Music Department, Bridgeport United Church of Kirsten Hays Margaret Blake Elizabeth Larsen Jacqui Villalobos Christ, Central Lutheran Church, Congregation Christine Hayward Kristan Burkert Maria Peyer, Chorus Coordinator and Chair Marlena Maestas Sara Wagner Havurah Shalom, Marylhurst College, Dorothy and Tina Izen Terri Grayum, Attendance Manager Sarah Cantor Bonnie McAnnis Carol Walker+ Mike LaDouceur, Clinton Street Theater, Portland Diane Kenedy Chris Hayward, Scholarship Liaison Paulla Dacklin Nanette Niski Art Museum Rental Sales Gallery, Wendy Street, Lois Claudia Nadine Terri Grayum Rebecca Pepper Alto 2 Bunny Marechal and Dianne Foster, Website Orcutt, Rogers Repair Service, Starbucks Jackie Rose Kirsten Hays Amanda Perl* Sara Baker Patti Harelkin and Michele Stemler, Volunteer ++ Michele Stemler Christine Hayward Maria Peyer Colleen Cornman-Wilcox** Coordinators We would also like to thank the many volunteers Carol Walker Frances Hicks Debbie Pinney Lisa Fithian-Barrett Gayle Lovejoy, At Large and E-lists who support our rehearsals, concert production, and Laurel Hortsch Mary Anne Thygesen Harmony Griffith Megan McGladrey, Membership Coordinator fundraising. We couldn’t do this without you. Aurora Experience Wendy Howard Eun Jung Yi Marya Hazilla* Singers Static Kaeder Jeanne Krinsley Anesa Burkic Lori Kovacevic* Alto 1 Terri Lewis Olivia Clark Michele Lavis-White Micki Barney Linda Milone Jan Corwin, D.C., LLC Ursala Garbrecht Zoe Lehr Joey B'Shalom Chiropractic Physician Claudia Nadine+ Jennifer Harper Erin McGarvey Barbara Cervantes-Gautschi Gwen Porus Juliette Macken Megan McGladrey Ruth Friedel Michele Stemler 316 NE 28th Avenue Eileen Marra Nancy Otis** Sacha Gilbert MaryAnne Wakefield Portland, Oregon 97232 Kim Martin Meredith Peake Barbara Gray Phone: (503) 230-0812 Anne Morin Judi Ranton** Patti Harelkin * Section Manager Fax: (503) 233-9151 Gail Murphy Wendy Street Marylyn John ** Music Section Leader [email protected] + Harmonizer Linda Nichenko* Melia Wagner Diane Kenedy ++ Harmonizer Chair

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