THE PHRASE “ALONE TOGETHER,” in the The philosophical, social, and anthropological context of tonight’s program, was coined questions that arise are seemingly endless, in 2010 by MIT professor Sherry Turkle. and we will only be able to explore some of During the 30 or so years prior, she had them in the next 50 minutes. grown concerned with how computers were changing us as people and began to explore But as the second year of the pandemic the ways that scientists, computer owners, looms, it will be even more important and children behaved among their new for us to check in on friends and family “thinking” machines. But as the years passed members. Because while the collective ‘we’ and these devices became smaller, lighter, may present an online persona of happiness and more portable, our detachment and and satisfaction, it’s more likely that each discontent only grew. of us is struggling in some way. This new normal — with its mix of pandemic-induced In 2016, Cantus began developing a show isolation and searching for connection, of that would explore the desire for meaningful doom scrolling and Zoom happy hours — connection in this relatively new Digital Age. gave new urgency to the Alone Together In the United States alone, 96 percent of the theme, prompting us to revisit and recast our population own a cell phone of some kind, program for this complicated moment. and 81 percent own smartphones. How was this changing the way we interacted with Additionally, it isn’t lost on us that we’re people on a day-to-day basis? We could now asking you to watch this concert on a talk with people around the world, follow the computer while hoping you’ll also step lives of friends we hadn’t seen in years, and away from that same device — for a while even find new love matches with the swipe — to reflect on how it might be impeding of a finger. your ability to interact with the physical world. But for now, we’re first and foremost However, it seemed that the connections we thankful that you’re here with us and hope were making were less with the human and that someday very soon, we’ll be back more with the machine. together again to sing for you in person. If I forget my phone at home, my entire day could be disrupted. Emails would go unanswered, text messages missed, and I might even discover that I don’t know where I’m going if I can’t use my GPS to navigate for Jacob Christopher me. Have we become so utterly dependent Artistic Council on these tiny machines that we’ve lost our Tour Manager skills, and perhaps even our sense of self? 2 ALONE TOGETHER | CANTUS ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF ARTISTIC COUNCIL Joseph Heitz Jacob Christopher Executive Director Tour Manager Anne Todey Alberto de la Paz Box Office Coordinator Programming Jacob Christopher Alexander Nishibun Tour Manager Production Samuel Green Education Outreach Coordinator BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jeff Reed, Chair Elizabeth Drotning Hartwell Attorney (retired) Attorney, Best & Flanagan LLP Theresa Gienapp, Vice Chair Paul Johnson Director of Planned Giving Founder & President, Macalester College Creative Fundraising Advisors David Niles, Treasurer Brian Newhouse Vice President, Avant Energy Associate Vice President of Individual Giving, Minnesota Orchestra Beth Anne Thompson, Secretary Associate Director of Alumni and Paul Scholtz Parent Relations, St. Olaf College Tenor, Cantus Alberto de la Paz Craig Shulstad Tenor, Cantus Vice President, General Mills (retired) Bryan Fisher Director of Choral and Vocal Music, Kevin Stocks Minneapolis Southwest High School Executive Director, Twin Cities Gay Mens Chorus PaviElle French Artist; Equity, Youth Outreach Frank Stubbs and Operations Coordinator, AIA Non-Profit Executive (retired) Minnesota Barbara Thomas Nancy Gaschott Senior Program Manager, IT Mergers Consultant to Nonprofit Leaders and Acquisitions, Medtronic Jonathan Guyton Principal, Cornerstone Wealth Advisors, Inc. missionCantus engages audiences in a meaningful music experience and ensures the future of ensemble singing by mentoring young singers and educators. Cantus was founded on the ideals of collaborative music-making: visionCantus gives voice to shared artists and staff work together to reach new levels of artistic human experiences. excellence, innovation and audience engagement. CANTUS | ALONE TOGETHER 3 Now in its 26th season, the “engaging” with other performing arts organizations, (New Yorker) men’s vocal ensemble Cantus including the Minnesota Orchestra, Saint is widely known for its trademark warmth Paul Chamber Orchestra, Boston Pops, and blend, innovative programming and Chanticleer, and Sweet Honey in the Rock. riveting performances of music ranging from the Renaissance to the 21st century. The ensemble is heard frequently on The Washington Post has hailed the Cantus classical public radio nationwide and on sound as having both “exalting finesse” and SiriusXM Satellite Radio. Cantus has released “expressive power” and the Philadelphia 18 recordings on the group’s self-titled Inquirer called the group nothing short of label and has recently signed with British “exquisite.” record label Signum to release the COVID-19 Sessions as a live album. As one of the nation’s few full-time vocal ensembles, Cantus has grown in prominence The ensemble actively commissions new with its distinctive approach to music- music and seeks to unearth rarely performed making. Working without a conductor, the repertoire for men’s voices, having received members of Cantus rehearse and perform as commissioning grants from New Music USA, chamber musicians, each contributing to the the National Endowment for the Arts, Chorus entirety of the artistic process. America, American Composers Forum, and Chamber Music America. In a typical year, Cantus performs more than 60 concerts both in national and Integral to the Cantus mission is its international touring, and in its home of commitment to preserve and deepen music Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. Cantus has education in the schools. In a typical year, performed at the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Cantus works with more than 5,000 students Center, UCLA, San Francisco Performances, each year in master class and workshop and Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival. settings across the country. Cantus has a rich history of collaborations 4 ALONE TOGETHER | CANTUS JACOB CHRISTOPHER, TENOR SAMUEL GREEN, BASS* A native of Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin, Jacob Prior to joining Cantus, Samuel was a sought- Christopher began his career as a chorister after musician in the thriving Kansas City arts with the Lyric Opera of Chicago (2010–2012) scene, lending his voice to several ensembles before moving to New York where he including the GRAMMY Award-winning appeared in Ragtime at Lincoln Center, Disney’s Kansas City Chorale under the direction of The Hunchback of Notre Dame (Paper Mill Charles Bruffy, the Simon Carrington Chamber Playhouse, Studio Cast Recording), and, in Singers, and Kantorei of Kansas City. In 2016, made his Carnegie Hall debut with the addition to chorister experience, Samuel New York City Chamber Orchestra. A graduate of Luther College, Jacob has taken the stage performing jazz, barbershop, southern gospel, has also performed backup vocals for Ben Folds and The Judds. and country music as a soloist and ensemble musician, and is also a voiceover artist. ALBERTO DE LA PAZ, TENOR ALEXANDER NISHIBUN, TENOR Born and raised in Guadalajara, Mexico, Prior to joining Cantus, Alex performed as Alberto’s early choral music experience a soloist and chamber musician with such consisted of arrangements from diverse renowned groups as the Skylark Vocal varieties and styles of Latin American music. Ensemble, Handel & Haydn Society, Blue Heron Alberto graduated with high honors from the Renaissance Choir, and Ensemble Origo. Boston University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Classical Review praised his “smooth-toned then participated in the Young Artist Program voice (of) spring-water clarity.” Alex is from at Illinois Bach Academy. Following graduation Kentucky and is a graduate of New England he served as choral director at Leyden High School in Chicago. When Conservatory of Music and Huntingdon College. Alberto isn’t busy singing, he enjoys reading a good novel or salsa dancing. CHRIS FOSS, BASS PAUL SCHOLTZ, TENOR A graduate of Millikin University and the When not performing with Cantus, Paul University of Nebraska, Chris grew up in enjoys engagements as a concert soloist southwest Iowa. In addition to his experience and appearances with Bach Vespers at The as a soloist and ensemble singer, Chris brings Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity his choral conducting and award-winning in New York City. A recent highlight was a arranging experience to Cantus. When Chris performance of Handel’s Messiah with the late isn’t singing, you might find him playing one J. Reilly Lewis of the Washington Bach Consort. of his favorite guitars or trying to stop his Paul is a native of northeast Iowa and received dogs from jumping out of the canoe. his B.A. in English from Luther College. ADAM REINWALD, BARITONE JEREMY WONG, BARITONE Nationally recognized vocal chamber artist Jeremy enjoys a wonderfully varied career and conductor, Adam is in demand as a coach as a singer, conductor, and voice teacher and strategist for small- to mid-sized arts who has performed on both the international organizations, focusing on new media and virtual/ and U.S. stages with focuses in oratorio, art digital branding. Adam combines artistic and song, and ensemble singing. Born and raised administrative leadership from over two decades in Honolulu, Hawai‘i, past seasons have seen of experience in the nonprofit arts sector. Adam performed with Cantus from 1998-2014, and him premiering solo roles in major choral oversaw programming and Board development compositions that honor the culture and during a 17 year tenure. Adam held the position history of the islands. He is passionate about of Assistant Conductor/Community Engagement Manager with the National collaborative music making, and is thrilled to create music at a high Lutheran Choir, based in Minneapolis, from 2014-2020.