SEattLE PRO MUSICA ABOUT SEATTLE PRO MUSICA karen P. thomas, conductor with Joseph Adam, organ Seattle Pro Musica is a critically acclaimed choral organization whose Karen P. Thomas, Artistic Director and Conduc- mission is to enrich and inspire our audiences, singers, and community tor of Seattle Pro Musica, has conducted at through the experience of choral artistry, and to increase access to and international festivals in Europe and North appreciation of choral music. Though our membership comes from all America, including the Berkshire Choral Festival walks of life and spans generations, we are united by our desire to make and the Bergen International Festival. She has beautiful music together for ourselves and our audiences. lectured for Chorus America, the American Guild chichester psalms of Organists, the American Choral Director’s February 25 & 26, 2017 Seattle Pro Musica is comprised of four performing ensembles: the Association, and the Seattle Symphony, and has 80-voice Seattle Pro Musica choir; Vox, the mixed-voices chamber received awards from the NEA, American The performers kindly ask that you kindly hold your applause until the end of each half of the program. ensemble; Chroma, the select SSAA ensemble; and Orpheon, the select Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, and TTBB ensemble. Recipient of the Margaret Hillis Award for Choral ASCAP among others. She was awarded the 2015 PROGRAM Excellence and the ASCAP/Chorus America Award for Adventurous Dale Warland Singers Commission Award from Chorus America and the Programming, Seattle Pro Musica is ranked by American Record Guide as American Composers Forum. Named the Washington State “Outstanding ORPHEON “among America’s very best choirs.” Choral Director” for 2012, she has been lauded for her “charismatic... Ubi caritas ...................................................................................................................................................................... Ola Gjeilo (Norway, b. 1978) Under the baton of Artistic Director and Conductor Karen P. Thomas, magnetic podium presence.” Lux aeterna ................................................................................................................................................................ Brian A. Schmidt (US, b. 1980) Seattle Pro Musica has received international acclaim for its CD recordings A prize-winning composer, her numerous commissions include works for and live performances. Choir and Organ writes: “Seattle Pro Musica the Grand Jubilee in Rome, the American Guild of Organists, and the CHROMA presents a cappella singing at its best.” Fanfare Record says: “This is truly Association of Anglican Musicians. Her compositions are regularly Laudate pueri, Dominum (world premiere) ...................................................................................Levente Gyöngyösi (Hungary, b. 1975) an extraordinary choir.” Seattle Pro Musica has appeared by invitation for performed internationally by groups such as The Hilliard Ensemble and numerous international and national festivals, and has performed with have been praised as “superb work of the utmost sensitivity and beauty.” Litanies à la Vierge Noire .......................................................................................................................... Francis Poulenc (France, 1899-1963) Jane Eaglen, Andrea Bocelli, Josh Groban, Pacific MusicWorks, and Seattle She currently serves on the Seattle Music Commission and on the boards Joseph Adam, organ Symphony. In 2014, members of Seattle Pro Musica appeared on the of Chorus America, the American Choral Directors Association (NW Offertorium ....................................................................................................................................................James MacMillan (Scotland, b. 1959) GRAMMY Award-winning album Winds of Samsara. Region), and the Greater Seattle Choral Consortium. SEATTLE PRO MUSICA Seattle Pro Musica Soloists Die Onse Vader .................................................................................................................................................Zander Fick (South Africa, b. 1991) SOPRANO I ALTO I TENOR I As water ascends to a cloud – Jenny Spence, soprano Peace, I leave with you...........................................................................................................................................Dominick DiOrio (US, b. 1984) Stephanie Gray Deborah Forrest Chris Burch Chichester Psalms – Jennylynn Vidas, soprano; Liz Reed Hawk, alto; Os justi ............................................................................................................................................................ Anton Bruckner (Austria, 1824-1896) Annie Hudson Allison Freel * Jacob Buys *^ Jacob Buys, tenor; Lee Maneman, bass O Lord, increase my faith ....................................................................................................................Bern H. Herbolsheimer (US, 1948-2016) Heidi Kim *+ Amy Godwin * David Horton *^ Teresa Nemeth Emily Jordan Jim Howeth *^ As water ascends to a cloud .............................................................................................................................................................Herbolsheimer Joy Portella Will Myers ^ Liz Langeland Acknowledgments Deep River ...........................................................................................................................................................Karen P. Thomas, arr. (US, b. 1957) Katie Skovholt *+ Teena Littleton *+ TENOR II Jennifer Newland, Stage Manager Jenny Spence *+ Rose Morrison + INTERMISSION Ben Flynn Gail Broder, Hebrew diction coaching Jennylynn Vidas * Sarah Ruuska *+ Grégoire Lurton ^ Jacob Buys, Afrikaans diction coaching Marit Trelstad VOX SOPRANO II Michael Mendelow Joseph Crnko, Music Director, Northwest Choirs Janelle Walhout Emory Anderson Jonathan Siehl Cantos Sagrados .............................................................................................................................................................................................. MacMillan Lillian Balmforth ALTO II Danny Szydlo *^ Identity Staff Members Tess Brandon Shirley Beresford Fred Williams Virgin of Guadalupe Marilyn Colyar *+ Jacque Deerr-Lord *+ Karen P. Thomas, Artistic Director & Conductor Jonna Farley Mara Forster Smith BASS I Katie Skovholt, Executive Director Sun Stone Will Myers, Administrative Assistant Erin Gabriel * Karen Maneman Jim Bartscher *^ Joseph Adam, organ Dwight Beckmeyer, Accompanist Fiona Hatfield Liz Reed Hawk *+ Peter Hemmen Heidi Kim and Kevin Kralman, Section Leaders Meditation ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... MacMillan Elaine Lee Paoliello Elizabeth Sanders *+ Rick Johnson *^ Jenn Newland Katy Sarff + Wes Kim *^ SEATTLE PRO MUSICA Ada Ng *+ Karen Segar Glenn Nielsen Board of Directors Advisory Board Christa Phillipson Anna Thelen Josh Smith Chichester Psalms ..........................................................................................................................................Leonard Bernstein (US, 1918-1990) Catherine Roberts Hannah Won + Joy Portella, President Dean Arnold Jan Strand *+ BASS II Wes Kim, Vice President Keith Axelsen I. Psalm 108:2; Psalm 100 Judy Williams Mike Engh *^ Josh Smith, Treasurer Mona Dworkin II. Psalm 23; Psalm 2 :1-4 Daniel Froehlich Katy Sarff, Corporate Secretary Sam Dworkin Peter Lifland *^ Beth Alley Mike Evans III. Psalm 131; Psalm 133 : 1 Thomas Lin Jeannine Black Phil Haas Alex Zuniga, alto solo Anne Clamoungou Noreen King *Vox Lee Maneman *^ Rick Johnson Teena Littleton Joseph Adam, organ John Carrington, harp Bonnie Whiting, percussion +Chroma Jon Repp *^ Laura Patton-Ballard Terri Lords ^Orpheon Chris Rule *^ Mary Redman John Schilling Seattle Pro Musica is a resident ensemble of St. James Cathedral. Hannah Won Dale Whitehead These performances are supported in part by ArtsFund, 4Culture, Classical KING FM 98.1, and the City of Seattle, Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs. Please turn off all cell phones and electronic devices. No photography during performances. Thank you. Restrooms including are located off the north vestibule. The performers will be happy to meet with guests in the chapel following the performance. Lux aeterna A message from conductor Karen P. Thomas Lux aeterna luceat eis, Domine, Let perpetual light shine upon them, O Lord, cum sanctis tuis in aeternum, with your saints forever, quia pius es. for you are merciful. Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, Grant them eternal rest, O Lord, “Behold how good, and how pleasant it is, for brethren to dwell together in unity.” et lux perpetua luceat eis. and let perpetual light shine upon them. This closing sentence from Leonard Bernstein’s beloved Chichester Psalms perfectly encapsulates the theme for these concerts—our desire for people of all nations and faiths to live in peace and understanding. The psalm texts which Bernstein chose to set run the gamut from praise to humility, and from comfort in adversity to the recognition that nations continue to fight useless wars. With this important Levente Gyöngyösi is a Romanian-born composer who moved to Hungary as a teenager. He studied at the Bartók Conservatory and the work as the focal point, I chose music for the rest of the program to further explore the