A
Riddle:
The American Song
MAY 3
AND
4, 2013
A
Riddle:
The American Song
Co n s p i r a r e Yo u t h C h o i rs
Nina Revering
Friday, May 3, 2013, 7:30pm
CYC Artistic Director
St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, Austin, TX
Maimy Fong, Piano
Saturday, May 4, 2013, 7:30pm
Austin Haller, Piano & Organ
St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, Austin, TX
Conspirare Youth Choirs
505 east huntland drive, suite 155
austin, texas 78752
512.476.5775
new web site
conspirare.org/youth-choirs
WELCOME
Dear CYC families, friends, and supporters,
The singers and I welcome you with gratitude
to this evening of American Song!
A bit of insight into the process of programming music: choir directors have to select the
pieces a choir will sing (and a concert title)
8-10 months in advance of a concert, before
we even know who our singers are - a daunting and slightly scary task! Last
summer when the pieces you will hear tonight were chosen, it occurred to me
that the American song is as varied and diverse as the singers’ cultures we have
represented in our Conspirare family.
So what is the American song? Where did our songs come from? We explore
these questions as we present poetry and music from the Appalachian region,
sweet folk music that has endured for generations; deeply moving African-American spirituals, from which came all the music we know to be truly American
(Jazz, Gospel, Rock and Roll); songs from our own Texas soil to the rich volcanic soil of the Hawaiian Islands. Our nation’s musical legacy is truly special and
unique, and has provided our singers with a beautiful sense of connection to our
cultural landscape.
Our singers are all students, accustomed to answering questions daily in their
school life. Answers are demanded of them constantly. To me, the questions
that are the most meaningful and enduring are those that don’t have immediate
answers – the questions that will take a lifetime to answer. So, this concert title
asks a question whose answer we have only begun to discover.
Thank you for your listening presence tonight, for your support of the CYC program, and for another outstanding and beautiful season of song!
Nina Revering
FOuNDING ARTISTIC DIReCTOR, CONSpIRARe YOuTH CHOIRS
KantOrEi
Abigail Stewart
Aditya Sankaran
Ainsley Gamble*
Anabelle Mahadeva
Angela Zhang
Arielle Sher
Caleb Melville
Calista Marquez
Cecilie Larcher
Daryl Hale
David Stansbury
Daniel Shi
Elaina Hilliard
Ellen Gernert
Elizabeth Driggers*
Emma Edkins
Holly Mathews
Jacob Ordaz*
Mary Demas
Maya Borowicz
Maya Lyles
Maya Ravi
Michael Chapa
Nikhil Lyles*
Raiya Myren
Sarah Helmbrecht
Sarah McDonald
Sophie Cazares
Stephen Shearer
Tara Ahuna
Tavia Waldo
Ty Revering
Uvri Alamela*
Veronica Ruth*
William Wallingford*
COnspirarE
ChiLdrEn’s ChOir
Abby Johnson
Aldo Ordonez
Alyssa Wixson*
Anastasia Wegner*
Anna Carey
Anne Marie Stapper
Asha Rao
Audrey Larcher
Avery Davis*
Caitlyn Diehl
Carolyn Neuelle**
Chiara Alvisi
Clare Edgar
Colman Butler
Elizabeth Stapper
Ella Pettichord
Gabriel Martin
Gabrielle Sanchez
Galia Popov
Gracen Pizzitola
Hannah Mitchel-Gevirtz
Isabella Hansen
Isabella Grossling
Jordan Tenpas
Julia McDonald*
Juliana Marshall
Kate Noll*
Katie Stansbury
Lexi Anderson
Libby Smith
Lily Wendt*
Liv Martens*
Lucy Pickens
Lucy Tiblier
Lucas Revering**
Maria Tangarova*/**
Martha Beaty
Mary Barnett
Natalya Ponomareva*
Nolan Bader-Saye
Rachel Rowe
Raina Parsons
Sarah Hollis
Shelby Luikart
Seren Villwock
Sesha McMinn
Simone Heim
Taylor Sims**
Geoff Moskowitz,
Visual engineering
Michael Smith,
Audio Recording
*Soloists
**Percussionists
prOGraM
What We Need Is Here .............................................................................Wendell Berry (b. 1953)
Reader: Anastasia Wegner
...................................................................................arr. Malcolm Dalglish (b. 1952)
Soloists: Kate Noll & Maria Tangarova
Lay Me Low
Combined Choirs
Give us Hope ................................................................................................................ Jim Papoulis
Soloists: Ainsley Gamble, Avery Davis, Nikhil Lyles & Veronica Ruth
Percussionists: Carolyn Nuelle, Maria Tangarova & Taylor Sims
Conspirare Children’s Choir
Deep River ...............................................................................................Donald Patriquin (b. 1938)
Heaven Bound Train ....................................................................... arr. Stephen Hatfield (b. 1956)
Amazing Grace ....................................................................................... John Newton (1725-1807)
arr. Ron Jeffers
Queen Jane ......................................................................................... arr. Stephen Hatfield (b. 1956)
I Got Rhythm ............................................................................................Ira Gershwin (1896-1983)
arr. Ward Swingle
The Hidden Singer (excerpt)
Reader: Urvi Alamela
............................................................... Wendell Berry (b. 1953)
Native Kiowa Lullaby .......................................................................arr. Lois Brownsey (b. 1950)
Soloists: Alyssa Wixson & Natalya Ponomareva
Combined Choirs
Go Down, Moses..................................................................................... arr. Mark Hayes (b. 1953)
Soloists: Elizabeth Driggers, Liv Martens & Julia McDonald
Conspirare Children’s Choir boys
Now Look Away ..................................................................................... arr. Normal L. Merrifield
Soloists: Aldo Ordonez, Gabriel Martin, Lucas Revering, Nolan Bader-Saye & Taylor Sims
Kantorei
Stephen Foster Trilogy ...................................................................... Stephen Foster (1826-1864)
arr. Greg Gilpin
Moon River ............................................ Johnny Mercer (1909-1976), Henry Mancini (1924-1994)
arr. Ed Lojeski
Lullaby ...................................................................................................................Billy Joel (b. 1949)
arr. Roger Emerson
Transformation........................................................................................................Mark Hierholzer
Circle Round the Moon .......................................................................................Mark Hierholzer
arr. Henry Leck
Combined Choirs
The Riddle ....................................................................................................John Ondrasik (b. 1965)
Soloist: William Wallingford, Lily Wendt & Jacob Ordaz
LYriCs
What We Need Is Here........................................................................wendell berry (b. 1953)
Geese appear high over us,
Pass, and the sky closes. Abandon,
As in love or sleep, holds
Them to their way, clear
In the ancient faith: what we need
Is here. And we pray, not
For a new earth or heaven, but to be
Quiet in heart, and in eye,
Clear. What we need is here
Lay me Low (shaker song) ..................................................arr. Malcolm Dalglish (b. 1952)
Lay me low,
Where mother can find me,
Where mother can bless me,
Where mother can own me,
Lay me low
Give Us Hope ............................................................................................................ Jim Papoulis
Listen to the sound of my voice
Can you feel the beat of my heart
listen to the questions I have
Listen to me
It’s all very simple
To see what we need
Give us hope
My voice is calling
Can you see
look in my eyes
can you feel
my hand is reaching
Give us hope and we’ll
Show you the way
We are the future
Help us believe
Take my hands
Now look in my eyes
Tell me what you see
Deep River...........................................................................................Donald Patriquin (b. 1938)
Deep river,
My home is over Jordan;
Deep river, Lord,
I want to cross over into camp ground.
O don’t you want to go
To that gospel feast,
To that promised land,
Where all is peace.
Chorus:
Lord I want to cross over into camp ground,
Deep river,
My home is over Jordan;
Deep river, Lord,
I want to cross over into camp ground.
Don’t you to go
To that gospel feast,
To that promised land,
Where all is peace?
Chorus
Heaven Bound Train ................................................................. arr. Stephen Hatfield (b. 1938)
One day we gonna wake up
I done tole you
Early in a mohnin’
Don’t you hear that
Whistle a blowin’.
Chorus:
I’m gonna break this chain chain
I’m gonna break this chain chain
I’m gonna break this chain chain
I’m gonna break it down.
My mother’s on that train
I see her face bound for glory
Lord my mother’s on that train
Yes my mother’s on that train.
I done tole you
Great God almighty
Early in a mohnin’
Oh Lord have mercy
Chorus
My child is on that train
I see his face bound for glory
I know my child is on that train
Have mercy Lord bound for glory
Yes my child is on that train bound for glory.
I done tole you
Early in a mohnin’
Don’t you hear that whistle blowin’
Oh Lord have mercy
Chorus
Don’t you know how
We gon ride that train
I see my face bound for glory
Now we gon ride that train
Have mercy Lord bound for glory
Yeah, we gon ride that train.
That peaceful train
When you’re bound for glory
Cound for glory children tell me
Don’t you hear that whistle blowin’.
Amazing Grace ........................................................ John newton (1725-1807) /arr. Ron Jeffers
Amazing Grace!
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost,
But now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
‘Twas grace that taught
my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed!
Thru many dangers, toils, ans snares
I have already come;
‘tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
and grace will lead me home.
Amazing grace!
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost,
But now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
Queen Jane .................................................................................... arr. Stephen Hatfield (b. 1956)
Queen Jane was in labour
Six days and some more.
The women grew weary,
And the midwife gave o’er.
Oh women, kind women
I take you to be,
Pierce my right side open,
And save my baby.
Oh no
That never shall be,
King Henry, he will reach you
In the hour of our need.
King Henry came riding,
He knelt by her bed.
What’s the matter with my flower,
Makes her eyes grow so red?
Oh Henry, kind Henry,
Pray listen to me.
Ierce my right side open
And save my baby.
Oh no, said King Henry,
That never shall be.
I should lose my fair flower
For to save my baby.
Queen Jane she turned over.
She fell in a swound.
They pierced her right side open,
And the baby was found.
So black was the morning,
So yellow the bed,
So costly were the white clothes
They wrapped round her head.
Six men went before her,
Six men bore her along
King Henry followed after
With his black mourning on.
King Henry, he wept
Til his hands were wrung sore.
The flower of England
Shall flourish no more.
I Got Rhythm.........................................................Ira Gershwin (1896-1983)/arr. Ward Swingle
I got rhythm,
I got music,
I got my man,
Who could ask for anything more?
I got daisies,
In green pastures,
I got my man,
Who could ask for anything more.
Old Man Trouble
I don’t mind him,
You won’t find him
‘Round my door.
I got starlight,
I got sweet dreams,
I got my man,
Who could ask for anything more?
Who could ask for anything,
Ask for anything, ask for anything,
Ask for anything, ask for anything more?
The Hidden Singer (excerpt) .........................................................wendell berry (b. 1953)
The gods are less for their love of praise.
Above and below them all is a spirit that needs nothing
But its own wholeness, its health and ours.
It will be whole again.
To its joy we come together –
In our joining it knows itself. It is with us then,
Not as the gods whose names crest in unearthly fire,
But as a little bird hidden in the leaves
Who sings quietly and waits, and sings.
Go Down Moses .................................................................................. arr. Mark Hayes (b. 1953)
Go Down, Moses,
Go down, go down to Egypt land!
Let me tell ya ‘bout a story ‘long time ago
Way down in Egypt land.
Seems the Pharaoh had taken control of things,
Had the people in the palm of his hands.
But a certain group of people called the Israelites
Didn’t want to play his game.
So the Pharaoh forced the people into slavery
And he caused them grief and shame.
Well, the Lord in the heavens looked down and saw
His people and their pain,
Called out a man from Midian
And Moses was his name.
Well, Moses was attendin’ his flock one day
When a bush began to burn,
And the Lord spoke to Moses from the burning bush,
Said, “The Pharaoh’s got a lesson to learn!”
Chorus:
Go Down, Moses,
Way down to Egypt land.
Tell ole Pharaoh
Let my people go!
Well, Moses had some doubts about takin’ this job.
He felt a little bit out of his league.
Leading out his people from Pharaoh’s hand
Was quite a job indeed.
“What will I say and tell me how will they know
That I’m the man that’s appointed by you?
A leader I’m not, But I bet for this spot
My brother Aaron will do better for you.”
But the Lord said,
Chorus
Back by the bush the Lord kept on;
He knew He had the right man.
“You need a sign, Well, that’s just fine.
Just look what you have in your hand.”
All it seemed to Moses was a wooden rod
Until he threw it down.
Imagine his surprise when a snake appeared
As soon as it hit the ground.
Well, Moses started runnin’ but the Lord said, ”Stop,
Pick the serpent up by the tail.”
What the Lord commanded seemed crazy to him
And he protested to no avail.
When he fin’ly picked the serpent up
You know what occurred.
The snake became a rod in his hand.
The miracle that happened
Gave old Moses the strength
To lead his people to the Promised Land!
Chorus
Now Look Away...................................................................................arr. Norman L. Merrifield
Chorus:
Now look away into heaven,
Now look away into heaven,
Now look away into heaven, lawd,
Because ah didn’t want to join the band.
One of these mawnin’s
Brigh an’ faih,
Gonna heist mah wings
An cleave the aih
Look a heah, brothuh,
Don’t you think bes’
Carry God’s witness in yo breas’
Chorus
If religion was a thing that money could buy,
The rich would live an’ the po’ would die,
Lawd, God Almighty, has fixed it so,
The rich as well as the po’ must go.
Chorus
When ah get to heaven gonna sing an’ shout,
There’s nobody there to to’n me out,
When ah get to heaven gonna put on mah shoes,
Ah’m gonna walk all around and yell the news.
Chorus
Satan is like a snake in the grass,
Now if you don’t watch out,
He’ll get you at las’.
Satan is a liah an’ a cunjuh too,
If you don’t watch out,
He’ll cunjuh you;
They kicked him out of heaven,
They kicked him out of heaven,
They kicked him out of heaven, Lawd,
Because he didn’t want to join the band.
We’re goin’ home to heaven,
We’re goin’ home to heaven,
We’re goin’ home to heaven, lawd
Because we do want to join the band.
A Stephen Foster Trilogy .................................Stephen Foster (1826-1864)/arr. Greg Gilpin
Way down upon the Swanee river,
Far, far away,
There’s where my heart is turning over,
There’s where the old folks stay.
All the world is sad and weary,
Everywhere I roam,
Oh, fellows, how my heart grows weary,
far from the old folks at home.
The sun shines bright in my old Kentucky home.
‘Tis summer, the people are gay;
The con-top’s ripe and the meadow’s in the bloom,
While the birds make music all the day.
Weep no more, my lady.
Oh weep no more today!
We will sing one song for the old Kentucky home,
For the old Kentucky home far away.
I come from Alabama
with my banjo on my knee.
I’m goin’ to Louisiana,
My true love for to see.
It rained all night the day I left,
The weather, it was dry.
The sun so hot, I froze to death,
Susanna don’t you cry.
Oh, Susanna,
oh don’t you cry for me.
I’ve come from Alabama
with my banjo on my knee.
I’ve come from Alabama
With my banjo on my knee!
Moon River ........................Johnny Mercer (1909-76), Henry Mancini (1924-94)/arr. Ed Lojeski
Chorus:
Moon River,
Wider than a mile;
I’m crossin’ you
In style someday.
Old dream maker,
You heart breaker,
Wherever you’re goin’,
I’m goin’ your way.
Two drifters,
Off to see the world.
There’s such a lot of world
To see.
We’re after the same
Rainbow’s end,
Waitin’ ‘round the bend,
My huckleberry friend,
Moon River and me.
Chorus
Old dream maker,
You heart breaker,
Wherever you’re goin’,
I’m goin’ your way.
Two drifters,
Off to see the world.
There’s sucha lot of world
To see.
We’re after the same
Rainbow’s end,
Waitin’ ‘round the bend,
My huckleberry friend,
Moon River and me.
Lullabye................................................................................ Billy Joel (1949)/arr. Roger Emerson
Goodnight, my angel,
Time to close your eyes,
And save these questions for
Another day.
I think I know
What you’ve been asking me.
I think you know
What I’ve been
Trying to say.
I promised I would
Never leave you,
And you should always know
Wherever you may go,
No matter where you are,
I never will be far away.
Goodnight, my angel,
Now it’s time to sleep,
And still so many things
I want to say.
Remember all the songs
You sang for me
When we went sailing
On an emerald bay.
And like a boat
Out on the ocean,
I’m rocking you to sleep.
The water’s dark and deep
Inside this ancient heart
You’ll always be
A part of me.
Goodnight, my angel,
Now it’s time to dream,
And dream how wonderful
Your life will be.
Someday your child may cry,
And if you sing this lullabye,
Then in your heart
There will always be a part of me.
Someday we’ll all be gone
But lullabyes go on and on.
They never die,
That’s how you and I will be.
Transformation ........................................................................................... Arr. Mark Hierholzer
Sharp as a knife,
The autumn evening blue
Hints of what is to come, and has,
For ages, ages lit
By the stellar heart-bursts!
Cold as the arctic,
The sharpened winter wind
Hints of what is to come, and has,
For ages, ages lit
By the daring wand’rers.
A voice whispers from inside,
“Transform, transform to this image,
that image within you,
so work with all diligence,
then cast off.
Shoot, like a rocket
On the edge of disaster
To the skies!”
Fresh as new birth,
The scented springtime air
Hints of what is to come, and has,
For ages, ages lit
By the milky skyway.
Baking the earth,
The tyrannous summer sun
Hints of what is to come, and has
For ages, ages lit
By the firefly’s astonishing signals.
A voice whispers from inside,
“Transform, transform to this image,
that image within you,
so work with all diligence,
then cast off.
Shoot, like a rocket
On the edge of disaster
To the skies!”
Circle ‘Round the Moon......................................................Mark Hierholzer/arr. Henry Leck
Circle ‘round the moon
Invites me to stay out
In the winter time.
Crystals in the air
Suggest that I prepare
For the cold night air.
High above the trees
You will make me see
That with such a sight, sheer delight
Is hidden everywhere
For those who care to see.
Caverns down below
Invite me to come down
On the slippery rock.
Icicles of stone
And horrid mountain gnomes
Hidden in the dark.
In the ground below
You will make me know
That with such a sight, sheer delight
Is hidden everywhere
For those who care to see.
What great mind behind it
Dreamed it and designed it?
Pale moons, cavern tombs,
Starry, starry sky.
Flurry blizzard snow
Watch it as it blows
In the blue gray skies.
Sandy summer beach
Hear the seagulls screech
In the hot dry air.
What great mind behind it
Dreamed it and designed it?
Snowy night, summer flight,
Painful beauty in my sight
Making me long for you.
The Riddle ................................................................................................John Ondrasik (b. 1965)
There was a man back in ‘95
Whose heart ran out of summers
But before he died, I asked him
Wait, what’s the sense in life
Come over me, Come over me
He said,
Son why you got to sing that tune
Catch a Dylan song or some eclipse of the moon
Let an angel swing and make you swoon
Then you will see... You will see
Then he said,
Here’s a riddle for you
Find the Answer
There’s a reason for the world
You and I...
Picked up my kid from school today
Did you learn anything cause in the world today
You can’t live in a castle far away
Now talk to me, come talk to me
He said,
Dad I’m big but we’re smaller than small
In the scheme of things, well we’re nothing at all
Still every mother’s child sings a lonely song
So play with me, come play with me
And Hey Dad
Here’s a riddle for you
Find the Answer
There’s a reason for the world
You and I...
I said,
Son for all I’ve told you
When you get right down to the
Reason for the world...
Who am I?
There are secrets that we still have left to find
There have been mysteries from the beginning of time
There are answers we’re not wise enough to see
He said... You’re looking for a clue,
I Love You free...
The batter swings and the summer flies
As I look into my angel’s eyes
A song plays on while the moon is high over me
Something comes over me
I guess we’re big and I guess we’re small
If you think about it man you know we got it all
Cause we’re all we got on this bouncing ball
And I love you free
I love you freely
Here’s a riddle for you
Find the Answer
There’s a reason for the world
You and I...
Aloha ‘Oe ................................................. Queen Lili’oukalani
Ha’aheo ka ua i na pali,
Ke nihi a ‘e la i ka nahele,
E hahai ana paha i ka liko,
Pua ‘ahihi lehua o uka.
Aloha ‘oe, aloha ‘oe
E ke onaona noho i ka lipo.
A fond embrace a ho ‘i a ‘e au
Until we meet again.
Translation:
Proud is the rain upon the cliffs,
Gliding silently through the forest,
Following the liko leaf buds,
Of the ‘ahihi lehua flower in the valley.
Farewell to you, farewell to you
Fragrant one dwelling in the dark forest.
A fond embrace then I must depart
Until we meet again.
(1838-1917)/arr. wanda Gereben
aCKnOWLEdGMEnts
Conspirare Youth Choirs gratefully acknowledges the contributions
and generosity of the following individuals and organizations:
Craig Hella Johnson
Bob Karli & the Conspirare Board of Directors
David C. Smith
Ann McNair, Tamara Blanken, Melissa Eddy
Wraven Godsoe, Meri Krueger and Nicki Turman
Robert Harlan and the Conspirare Stage Crew
Lois Vanlaningham
Hornaday Design
Christopher Novosad
Rev. Merrill Wade, St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church
Jean Fuller, St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church
Thomas Pavlechko, St. Martin’s Lutheran Church
The Tatzlaff-Tiblier Family
The Sankaran Family
Michael & Virginia Smith
Kathy Hatch
Singers, Parents, Volunteer Ushers and other supporters of CYC.
COnspirarE YOuth ChOirs staff
Nina Revering’s choral music experience began at an
early age. While growing u in Brazil, she performed
in the Coro Infantil do Teatro Municipal under
the direction of Elsa Lakschevitz. After moving to
Canada, she joined the Toronto Children’s Chorus,
directed by Jean Ashworth-Bartle, and performed
with noted directors Andrew Davis and Sir David
Willcocks. Ms. Revering’s musical training includes
six years of study in Toronto’s Royal Conservatory of
Music in baroque recorder as well as piano. Her education background also
includes work at the Youth Performing Arts School in Louisville Kentucky
and Boston University. She studied baroque recorder with John Tyson of
the New England Conservatory and performed with the Tanglewood Festival Chorus under conductors Seiji Ozawa, John Williams, and John Oliver.
Nina Revering has performed widely as a soloist and chorister throughout
the region and around the country. Soloist at St. Cathedral from 1994-1997,
she was also Victoria Bach Festival’s New young Artist in 1994. Ms. Revering has been a member of the Conspirare Chamber Choir since 1995 and
was a soloist in the Grammy®-nominated CDs Requiem and Threshold of
Night, both released under the harmonia mundi label.
Ms. Revering has taught music in Eanes schools since 1996. She was one of
eight conductors selected for participation in the International Symposium
for Children’s Choir Directors held in Toronto, Canada in May 2005. Professional affiliations include ACDA and TMEA. Last season Ms. Revering
was clinician for the Elementary Honor Choir of the Georgia Music Educators Association and was invited to present workshops at the Dallas Chapter
Choristers Guild Festival.
aCCOMpanists
Dr. Maimy Fong earned a Bachelor’s degree in piano
with a concentration in vocal accompanying from the
University of the Pacific in Stockton, California. She also
completed Master’s and Doctoral degrees in piano performance at the University of Texas at Austin School of
Music. She has worked for the Des Moines Metro Opera, Austin Lyric Opera, and was the first pianist-coach in
El Paso Opera’s Artist-in-Residence Program. She has
been with CYC since its inception in 2005. In 2009, she helped co-found and now
assists in administering the “Feed Your Soul” Music Series at Dell Children’s Medical
Center. For more information or to be added to the e-mail list, please send an inquiry to [email protected]. In Austin, she maintains an active schedule of
playing chamber music, instrumental and voice recitals, teaching, and vocal coaching
Austin Haller is active as an organist, accompanist, vocal
coach, and conductor in Texas and beyond. He serves as
Organist and Associate Director of Music at St. David’s
Episcopal Church (in Austin), where he plays for over
125 services and concerts annually and conducts the St.
David’s Singers, one of the parish’s adult choirs. As a recitalist and accompanist, he has performed throughout
the United States; and he has played with many local ensembles, including the Austin Symphony, Austin Children’s Choir, Texas Choral
Consort, Amphion Youth Choir, University of Texas Concert Chorale, and St.
Edward’s University choruses. Austin also serves as music director of regional
theatre productions – favorite shows include TexArts’ Ain’t Misbehavin’, Golf, the
Musical, & [title of show] (Austin Critics’ Table nomination for Music Direction); Zilker Theatre Productions’ The Music Man & My Favorite Year; and Zach
Theatre’s Rockin’ Christmas Party & Present Laughter (B. Iden Payne nomination
for Music Direction). In addition, his jazz performances with singer Kara Bliss
and band have been described as “a touch of old school with a modern insouciance” and are featured at a variety of Central Texas venues.
BOard MEMBErs
dirECtOrs
staff
Year indicates beginning of board service
Robert J. Karli, Chair
1999
Mary Anne Connolly, Secretary 2011
Larry Collmann, Treasurer
2006
Doug Bain
2011
Ken Beck
2011
William C. Bednar
2010
Fran Collmann
1997
Patrick DeLaune
2009
Toya Cirica Haley
2011
Robert Harlan
2001
Richard Hartgrove
2012
Eric Leibrock
2010
Hope Morgan
1993
E. Stuart Phillips
2007
Marion Lear Swaybill
2010
Sheila Wojcik
2011
Sheila Youngblood
2010
advisOrs
Stephen Aechternacht
John Aielli
Sue Barnes
Mark Bierner
Ray Brimble
David Burger
David Claflin
Virginia Dupuy
Maydelle Fason
JoLynn Free
Billy Gammon
Vance George
Helen Hays
Dan Herd
William B. Hilgers
Wayne Holtzman
Judith Jellison
Bob Murphy
Lynn Murphy
Gayle Glass Roche
Nancy Scanlan
Angela Smith
Bernadette Tasher
Louann Temple
Eva Womack
Craig Hella Johnson
Artistic Director
David C. Smith
Interim Managing Director
Tamara Blanken
Online Services Manager
Melissa J. Eddy
Publications & Grants Manager
Rick Gabrillo
Associate Conductor, Production Manager
Wravan Godsoe
Office Manager
Robert Harlan
Production Coordinator
Ben King
Production Assistant
Meri Krueger
Artist Relations
Ann McNair
Executive Assistant to the Artistic Director
Director of Artistic Operations
Nina Revering
Director, Conspirare Youth Choirs
Jennifer Tynan
Manager, Conspirare Youth Choirs
Nicki Turman
House Manager
suppOrtErs
Season Sustaining Underwriter
Business & Foundation Supporters
Bain Consulting The Aaron Copland Fund for
Music
The Ann & Gordon
Getty Foundation
The Kodosky Foundation
The Mattsson McHale Foundation
The Still Water Foundation
Public Funding Agencies
This project is funded and supported in part by a grant from the Texas
Commission on the Arts and the City of Austin through the Cultural Arts
Division, believing an investment in the arts is an investment in Austin’s future. Visit Austin at NowPlayingAustin.com. This project is also supported
in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts. Art Works.
Media Sponsors
The Keating Family
Foundation
Russell Hill Rogers Fund
for the Arts
The Rachael &
Ben F. Vaughan Foundation
aBOut COnspirarE
The word “conspirare” derives from the Latin “con” and “spirare”
translated as “to breathe together.”
Founded in 1991 to present a summer classical music festival in Austin, Texas,
Conspirare has grown to become an internationally recognized, professional choral
organization now celebrating its twentieth season. Led by founder and artistic
director Craig Hella Johnson, Conspirare is comprised of two performing ensembles
and an educational program. A professional chamber choir (“Company of Voices”)
of extraordinarily talented singers from around the country is presented in an annual
concert series in Austin, other Texas communities, and locations in the U.S. and
abroad. The Conspirare Symphonic Choir of both professional and volunteer singers
performs large choral/orchestral works, often in collaboration with other organizations such as the Austin Symphony. The Conspirare Youth Choirs is an educational
program for singers ages 8-17, who learn and perform in two separate ensembles,
Kantorei and the Conspirare Children’s Choir.
Conspirare made its first commercial recording, through the green fuse, in 2004 on
the Clarion Records label. A second CD, Requiem, also on Clarion and since reissued by Harmonia Mundi, was released in 2006 and received two Grammy® nominations. Harmonia Mundi released Requiem internationally in 2009, and it received
the Netherlands’ prestigious 2010 Edison Award in the choral music category. The
Edison is the Dutch equivalent of the U.S. Grammy.
A third recording, Threshold of Night, was released worldwide in September 2008
on the Harmonia Mundi label, Conspirare’s first title for the distinguished recording
company. Threshold of Night received two Grammy nominations. In October 2008,
in cooperation with Austin’s public television station KLRU, Conspirare filmed
a PBS television special, “A Company of Voices: Conspirare in Concert.” The
program was broadcast nationally in March 2009, is available on both DVD
and CD, and received a Grammy nomination. Conspirare’s latest recordings,
Sing Freedom! African American Spirituals and Samuel Barber: An American
Romantic were released in September 2011 and September 2012 respectively,
both on Harmonia Mundi.
In 2005 Conspirare received the Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence from
national service organization Chorus America. In 2007, as one of the select choruses to receive a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts under its American
Masterpieces initiative, Conspirare presented a four-day festival with a distinguished
gathering of composers and conductors, performances of three world premieres, and
a gala closing concert with a 600-voice choir.
In July 2008 Conspirare represented the U.S. at the Eighth World Symposium on
Choral Music in Copenhagen, joining invited choirs from nearly forty countries. The
choir has performed at the American Choral Directors Association annual convention
and for several regional ACDA conventions. Conspirare received the 2010 Dale
Warland Singers Commission Award from Chorus America to support the commission of a new work by Seattle composer Eric Banks. In February 2011 Conspirare
gave three invited performances in New York City under auspices of the Weill Music
Institute of Carnegie Hall. In March 2012 the ensemble toured several Midwestern
states, and in fall 2012 traveled to France for six invited performances at the Polyfollia Festival and a public concert in Paris.
We love to
hear you Sing,
anna!
Calista – “A bird doesn't sing because it has an answer, it
sings because it has a song”. And, you, sweet girl, are quite
the marvelous bird! Love you and so proud of you!
Mom, Dad, Lily and all your family & friends!
love, mom,
DaD, mileS anD
maggie
Dear Sarah,
We are So prouD of you anD
all of your accompliShmentS.
much love, mom anD DaD
Congratulations
to our songbird
Hannah Mitchel-Gevirtz!
Sinda, Jesse
& Hazel
it iS Such a
Delight to live
in a home
With muSic.
Sarah,
You have been dazzling us with that
beautiful smile for 12 years!
Congratulations on your 3rd year in
Kantorei! We are so proud of you!
thank you Sarah!
love, mom
Love,
Your Whole Family
BIG SING
May 16th at 6pM
Northwest hills
UNited Methodist ChUrCh
7050 Village CeNter driVe, aUstiN 78731
MichAel,
You Are DYNAMic
AND Your TAleNTS
coNTiNue To AMAze
uS. We Are So verY
prouD of You.
love,
DAD, MoM, AND chriSTopher
“You Are The MuSic
While The MuSic lASTS.”
~T.S. elioT
We Are prouD of You,
lucY, AND love You So
Much!
love, MoM, DAD, AND liNA
Singer, Missionary, Camp
Counselor, Assistant Director for
Children’s Church Music, guitar
player... Extraordinary Lady and
we couldn’t be more proud. Congrats
on Season #7 with CCC!
Love, Your Whole Family!
DVD Order Form
A Riddle: The American Song, Spring 2013
$25 per DVD + $3.00 S&H
$35 per Blue Ray + $3.00 S&H
Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery
Singer Name: .......................................................
❑ Kantorei ❑ CCC
Parent Name: ..................................................................................................
MAILING ADDRESS: DVDs wiLL be MAiLeD tO tHis ADDRess.
Street: .............................................................................................................
City:....................................... State .............................. Zip:........................
Phone: ................................. Email ...............................................................
DVDs # of Copies ...............x $25 + $3 S&H
Subtotal .........................
Blue Ray # of Copies ........... x $35 + $3 S&H
Subtotal .........................
(ADDitiOnAL $1.00 s&H fOR MuLtiPLe DVDs OR bLue RAY)
TOTAL .......................................
❑ Cash ❑ Check: (Payable to Conspirare/CYC)
❑ Credit Card No........................................................................................
Exp. .........................................................Security Code.........................
Signature. ................................................................................................
Order Received by: .......................................................................................
Thank you for your order and enjoy!
For any questions, please call the office at 512-476-5775.
Conspirare Youth Choirs, 505 East Huntland Drive, Suite 155, Austin, TX 78752
TO ADITYA SANKARAN WE ARE SO PROUD OF YOUR TALENTS AND YOUR COMMITMENT TO MUSIC WITH LOVE FROM MOM, DAD, LAVANYA, GRANDPARENTS conspirare.org/youth-choirs
We specialize in telling
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call 512 554 8712
or w w w.tiki2.com
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