The Many Moods of Christmas Program by albanypromusica

The Many Moods of Christmas

DECEMBER 15, 2024 I 3:00PM

TROY SAVINGS BANK MUSIC HALL

Albany Pro Musica Concert Chorus and Orchestra Pro Musica

José Daniel Flores-Caraballo, Opalka Family Artistic Director

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A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE ALBANY PRO MUSICA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

At this exciting moment for Albany Pro Musica, I am honored to welcome you to our performance.

Our 44th season marks the beginning of José Daniel Flores-Caraballo’s second decade of inspired leadership of our ensemble. There is no doubt that the moment is ripe for us to build on the artistic and organizational growth that have marked the past ten years. We are enthusiastically fulfilling the vision of our founder, the late David Griggs-Janower, who set out to create a chorus that could routinely offer extraordinary musical performances to this community. Beyond that, we have embraced both an ambitious educational mission, so that future generations can share the joy that we all feel in these shared concert experiences, and artistic aspirations that envision Albany Pro Musica reaching ever wider and more diverse audiences.

As a singer in the ensemble for 24 seasons and a board member for nine years, I have come to understand that our music truly has impact only when it is heard and appreciated by an audience. So my colleagues and I, who take so much joy from our music-making, must express our deep appreciation to you for being a part of this shared experience – for you, in fact, make it possible.

The vitality of a community is often reflected in its creative output, including the music, theater and visual arts that its citizens produce. By that measure, New York’s Capital Region is a thriving place. Albany Pro Musica is proud to be part of this dynamic artistic scene, and we are profoundly grateful that you have joined us in this expression of the human spirit.

Rex Smith President, Albany Pro Musica Board of Directors

Albany Pro Musica (APM) is the preeminent choral ensemble in New York’s vibrant Capital Region and is renowned for its distinctive artistic style and mastery of a wide range of musical genres. Critically acclaimed for its performances of intimate a cappella pieces and large-scale choral works alike, APM is led by Opalka Family Artistic Director Dr. José Daniel Flores-Caraballo and is Chorus-in-Residence at the historic Troy Savings Bank Music Hall. Now celebrating his 10th season with Albany Pro Musica, Maestro Flores-Caraballo has elevated the ensemble through ambitious programming, prestigious national and international collaborations, a renewed commitment to civic and educational engagement, and a bold vision for the future.

Locally and Internationally Celebrated

Albany Pro Musica’s reputation as a world-class chorus attracts large, diverse audiences who encourage newer, bolder projects to satisfy their growing desire for exposure to a rich choral repertoire. It’s also a draw for distinguished guest conductors, soloists, and composers, including composers-in-residence Bradley Ellingboe (2020-2023 seasons) and Ola Gjeilo (2017-2020 seasons), who partner with APM for concerts, premieres, and commissioned works. In addition to long-standing hometown collaborations with the Albany Symphony Orchestra, the Musicians of Ma’alwyck, the Capital District Youth Chorale, and others, APM has developed exciting new relationships with numerous internationally renowned musicians and ensembles, including Canadian Brass, ACRONYM, the American String Quartet, The Philadelphia Orchestra, New York City Ballet, Vienna Boys Choir, the Escher String Quartet, and the Alturas Duo.

Voices Capturing the Human Spirit at the Intersection of Creativity and Excellence

Albany Pro Musica is now in its fifth decade as a driving musical force in the Capital Region, the Northeast, and beyond. At the heart of Albany Pro Musica is the vital realization that choral music at its best is not merely entertainment but rather a transformational and emotional experience for performers and audiences alike. This perspective is reflected in Opalka Family Artistic Director Dr. Flores-Caraballo’s vision for APM, which balances exceptional technical competency, exquisite artistry, and purposeful programming that is relevant and meaningful in today’s society.

Under the leadership of Dr. Flores-Caraballo, APM is continuing to push the boundaries of choral performance in the area, embracing challenging musical programming and innovative new partnerships that elevate the ensemble to new heights. Dr. Flores-Caraballo has laid out a bold plan for APM’s future that includes the premieres of commissioned works; concerts across the Northeast; new civic events and partnerships; and the Pro Musica International Choral Festival, which was launched in July 2023 in partnership with the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts at Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada.

Our Season

Albany Pro Musica’s Concert Chorus is composed of 70 auditioned volunteer singers from several counties and states. For large choral and orchestral masterworks, the group expands to more than 100 singers as the Albany Pro Musica Masterworks Chorus, and is often joined by the instrumentalists of Orchestra Pro Musica. Albany Pro Musica offers four series concerts each season, including “Artist Series” concerts which bring world-renowned artists and ensembles to share the stage with APM; “Masterworks Series” performances of oratorios and other large-scale choral works with orchestra; and an annual Christmas program, which has become a beloved holiday tradition in the region. Each season is deliberately curated to include classical masterpieces from the choral canon, new compositions from modern and contemporary composers, and popular selections from the worlds of Broadway, traditional and folk music, and more.

Our Commitment to Education

Music education is one of APM’s pillars, and the organization’s educational programs have made a mark on the lives of more than 4,000 young students in the Capital Region and beyond. APM’s annual High School Choral Festival brings together gifted musicians from high schools across the region for an intensive day of rehearsal and performance with Maestro FloresCaraballo and guest clinicians, on campus at the University at Albany. The festival culminates with a fun-filled concert in which all the students join the voices of Albany Pro Musica’s Concert Chorus on stage for a festival chorus performance.

APM partnered with the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts at Queen’s University in Ontario and the University at Albany to offer the inaugural Pro Musica International Choral Festival in July 2023. The festival represented APM’s largest educational offering to-date and allowed students from across the United States and Canada to study and perform with the Festival’s guest clinician and composer Dr. Rollo Dilworth, as well as other distinguished faculty and world-class musicians. Generous funding from Bader Philanthropies, Inc. provided full fellowships to all participating students, allowing the Pro Musica International Choral Festival to waive the tuition and room & board fees for every attending student.

Our History

Albany Pro Musica was founded in 1981 by University at Albany Distinguished Professor Dr. David Griggs-Janower, who created a community chorus capable of performing at a professional level. He remained the group’s Artistic Director until his death in August 2013. After an extensive national search, Dr. José Daniel Flores-Caraballo succeeded Griggs-Janower as Artistic and Executive Director in August 2014. Dr. Flores-Caraballo came to Albany Pro Musica with an ambitious vision to build upon the group’s impressive and cherished legacy and elevate APM to be among the best choirs in the nation.

APM has made numerous recordings, including most recently the first professional recording of Bradley Ellingboe’s Star Song. APM was one of only 16 choruses selected for inclusion on the 2005 National Public Radio (NPR) CD Christmas Around the Country. In 2004 APM collaborated with the Albany Symphony Orchestra and composer Michael Torke to record the opera Strawberry Fields for mass distribution. The group has toured nationally and internationally, including to France in honor of the 60th anniversary of D-Day at Omaha Beach, and to the Czech Republic, Spain, and Ireland.

Albany Pro Musica has commissioned numerous works from American composers and performed local and regional premieres of masterpieces such as Bristow’s Oratorio of Daniel and Handel’s Oratorio of Esther. Under the composer-in-residence program launched by Dr. Flores-Caraballo, APM has expanded the group’s library of commissioned works, sponsoring new compositions by celebrated local, national, and international composers including Steven Murray, Donald McCullough, Ola Gjeilo, and Bradley Ellingboe. APM is frequently invited to sing at high-profile events such as gubernatorial inaugurations, civic celebrations, and on stage with visiting artists, including Judy Collins, Kenny Rogers, Andrea Bocelli, and The King’s

Singers. APM continues to introduce local audiences to challenging and bold choral repertoire, including Frank Martin’s a cappella Mass for Double Choir, the New York State premiere of Requiem by Raymond Torres, entire concerts devoted to musical theater, innovative programs including art forms such as visual arts and dance, and a powerful multimedia presentation of Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace.

The Troy Savings Bank Music Hall has been captivating audiences since 1875. 2025 will mark the 150th anniversary of its inaugural concert which was performed to a full house and glowing reviews. In 1890 the Odell concert organ was installed, which helped contribute to the Music Hall’s legendary acoustics. Throughout its history, the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall has been a hub of community activity, attracting premier musicians including many the world-renowned artists of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries—among them Yo-Yo Ma, Isaac Stern, Ella Fitzgerald, Dizzy Gillespie, Lyle Lovett, Ben Folds, Indigo Girls, the Albany Symphony Orchestra, and Albany Pro Musica. The Troy Savings Music Hall has been associated with The Troy Chromatic Concerts for over 125 years and has played host to over 300 recordings, echoing its significance in the world of music. Today, the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall is one of only a handful of 19th-century concert halls in continuous operation in the United States and is a National Historic Landmark building. It is truly unlike any other inspired by its mission to enrich the community and inspire passion for the creative arts by fostering diverse, engaging, inclusive, and transformative cultural experiences through performances, collaboration, community events, and education.

TROY SAVINGS BANK MUSIC HALL

LETTER FROM THE OPALKA FAMILY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Albany Pro Musica’s 44th season began with a blast, as we performed Carl Orff’s famous Carmina Burana with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center in August, followed by an evocative Northern Lights concert in October, led by my colleague, former APM Composer in Residence Bradley Ellingboe.

Today’s holiday concert, The Many Moods of Christmas, combines a more “classical” first half, filled with contemplative, spiritual selections, with a festive second half that promises to fill our audiences with the holiday spirit. The title of this concert is inspired by the famous four suites with the same name, arranged by Robert Shaw and Robert Russell Bennett. Every year we add a second, substantial piece to anchor the program; this season we are thrilled to present the premiere of a new arrangement—for orchestra, brass quartet, and chorus—of Daniel Pinkham’s stunning Christmas Cantata, which APM commissioned from Steve Murray, APM’s Honorary Composer in Residence.

In March, APM will present the Capital Region premiere of Craig Hella Johnson’s oratorio, Considering Matthew Shepard. This poignant work for chorus, soloists, and chamber orchestra tells the heartbreaking story of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man who was brutally murdered in Wyoming in 1998. It is rooted in our Western choral tradition, framed in a quotation by J.S. Bach, and utilizes a variety of musical styles, including musical theatre, Gregorian chant, country & western, blues/jazz, pop, Southern hymnody, and gospel. An intrinsic message in the composer’s selections is a reminder that, despite our differences, we are still one humanity. In the words of Dr. Daniel Bara, “this work is an invitation to stand for love, forgiveness, understanding, and justice in our communities and the world.” In addition to the semi-staged performance, APM will also convene a series of community engagement opportunities that explore the themes laid out in the oratorio.

Due to ongoing construction at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall this spring, APM will take our last concert of the season to The Egg. Pro Musica on Broadway will feature unique and exhilarating arrangements of some of our favorite classic and modern Broadway tunes, and we are pleased to welcome Jamari Johnson Williams – a rising star of the Broadway stage – to join the

chorus and chamber ensemble as our featured guest artist. Our signature Spring Gala will take place immediately before the concert and honor our long-time partners, the University at Albany and President Havidán Rodríguez, with the Dr. Karen R. Hitchcock Award for Championing the Choral Arts.

APM’s educational programs deliver a truly life-changing experience for students. APM’s 25th annual High School Choral Festival in February will bring together the best young talent from 30 participating local schools for a day of music-making at Russell Sage College, then culminate in a vibrant concert entitled Futuros Ilimitados (Boundless Futures) at the Troy Savings Bank Music Hall. The Pro Musica International Choral Festival will take place in the Capital Region in July 2025, in partnership with the University at Albany. This week-long program provides a transformative musical experience to 150 students from across North America, with renowned faculty and guest ensembles. The festival will feature public concerts by the highly talented festival choir, celebrated professional vocal ensemble Exigence, and Albany Pro Musica.

Last year we celebrated my tenth anniversary with Albany Pro Musica. As I look ahead to APM’s future, I am filled with tremendous optimism about the opportunities for continued excellence and growth in our artistic and educational mission. Albany Pro Musica is committed to expanding and strengthening our programs that make a difference in our community, which tell important stories, and which are inspiring and transformative—in both the concert hall and the classroom.

All of this is dependent on the strong and sustained commitment by our community. I’m so grateful for the continued support, shared vision, trust, and dedication of our patrons, donors, board of directors, council of advisors, staff, and chorus—thank you!

José Daniel Flores-Caraballo Opalka Family Artistic Director

ALBANY PRO MUSICA PRESENTS THE MANY MOODS OF CHRISTMAS

December 15, 2024 at 3:00pm

Troy Savings Bank Music Hall

JOSÉ DANIEL FLORES-CARABALLO

, Opalka Family Artistic Director

NOAH PALMER, Assistant Director & Accompanist

Support for our 2024-2025 season comes from our marquee season underwriters

Christine and George R. Hearst III I Ellen Jabbur

Chet and Karen Opalka I Wayne A. Senitta, Jr. and Daniel Washington

William Tuthill and Gregory Anderson

Additional season support provided by James and Joanne Crum I Richard J. Miller, Jr.

Michael and Margery Whiteman I Michael and Linda Wolff

The Kiwi Foundation, a division of Opalka Philanthropies

Support for this concert provided by John and Joyce Carver I Al De Salvo I Gwen Krause and Ross Bennett

Tom McGuire and Barbara Bradley I John J. Nigro I David and Nancy Wagner

E. Stewart and Kimberly Sanger Jones, in loving memory of Robert C. Sanger

Massry Charitable Foundation

This event is being professionally recorded, photographed, and filmed for archival and promotional purposes.

Please silence all electronic devices.

ALBANY PRO MUSICA CONCERT CHORUS & ORCHESTRA PRO MUSICA

Victor Hely-Hutchinson

PROGRAM

A Carol Symphony (1927) (1901-1947)

I. Allegro energico

Morten Lauridsen

O Magnum Mysterium (1994) (b. 1943)

Henry John Gauntlett

Once in Royal David’s City (1961) (1805-1876)

arr. David Willcocks

Audience is invited to join on 3rd and 4th verse and refrain. Lyrics found on page 14

Daniel Pinkham

Christmas Cantata: Sinfonia Sacra (1958) (1923-2006)

Katherine Kennicott Davis

adapted for orchestra by Steve Murray

i. Maestoso/Allegro molto ritmico

ii. Adagio

iii. Allegro

The Little Drummer Boy (1958) (1892-1980) orchestration by Brant Adams

Harry Simeone (1910-2005)

Herny Onorati (1912-1993)

Gustav Holst

In the Bleak Midwinter (2012) (1874-1934) arr. Ola Gjeilo

Robert Shaw

The Many Moods of Christmas, Suite 1 (1963) (1916-1999)

Robert Russell Bennett

Good Christan Men, Rejoice (1894-1981)

Silent Night

Pat-a-Pan

O Come, All Ye Faithful

Audience is invited to join on ‘Silent Night’ and on the final verse of ‘O Come, All Ye Faithful’

Lyrics and section breakdown is found on page 16

Traditional

A Most Wonderful Christmas (2008) arr. Robert Sheldon

Winter Wonderland

I’ll Be Home for Christmas

Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Traditional Christmas is Coming (2013) arr. Mack Wilberg

James Lord Pierpont

Jingle Bells (2019) (1822-1893) arr. Ryan James Brandau

Audience is invited to join. Lyrics found on page 16

Traditional

Deck The Hall (2020) arr. Ryan James Brandau

Sergei Prokofiev “Troika” from Lieutenant Kije (1934) (1891-1953)

Traditional Auld Lang Syne (2019) arr. Ryan James Brandau

Traditional

Finale: Joy to the World & We Wish You a Merry Christmas (2021) arr. Ryan James Brandau

O

Magnum Mysterium

Gregorian Chant

O magnum mysterium, et admirabile sacramentum, ut animalia viderent Dominum natum, iacentem in praesepio!

Beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt portare Dominum Iesum Christum. Alleluia!

Translation:

O great mystery and wonderful sacrament; That the animals should see the newborn Lord lying in a manger.

O blessed Virgin whose womb was worthy to bear the Lord Christ Jesus. Alleluia.

Once in Royal David’s City

Text by Cecil Frances Alexander

*Audience please join in singing at the conductor’s cue.

Once in royal David’s city Stood a lowly cattle shed, Where a mother laid her Baby In a manger for His bed: Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ her little Child.

He came down to earth from heaven, Who is God and Lord of all, And His shelter was a stable, And His cradle was a stall; With the poor, and mean, and lowly, Lived on earth our Savior holy.

*And our eyes at last shall see Him, Through His own redeeming love; For that Child so dear and gentle Is our Lord in heaven above, And He leads His children on To the place where He is gone.

*Not in that poor lowly stable, With the oxen standing by, We shall see Him; but in heaven, Set at God’s right hand on high; Where like stars His children crowned All in white shall wait around.

Christmas Cantata Latin Mass

Quem vidistis, pastores, dicite, annunciate nobis, in terris quis apparuit? Natum vidimus et choros angelorum collaudantes Dominum. Alleluia.

O magnum mysterium, et admirabile sacramentum, ut animalia viderent Dominum natum, jacentem in praesepio! Beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt portare Dominum Christum.

Gloria in excelsis Deo Et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis. Jubilate Deo, omnis terra; servite Domino in laetitia. Introite in conspectu ejus in exultatione. Scitote quoniam Dominus ipse est Deus; ipse fecit nos, et non ipsi nos. Alleluia.

Translation: Whom do you see? Shepherds, tell us! Proclaim to us: who has appeared on earth? We saw the new-born child and choirs of angels praising the Lord. Alleluia!

O great mystery, and wondrous sacrament, that animals should see the new-born Lord lying in their manger! Blessed is the Virgin whose womb was worthy to bear the Lord Jesus Christ.

Glory to God in the highest. And on earth peace to men of good will. Sing joyfully to God, all ye lands; serve the Lord with gladness. Enter into His presence with great joy. Know that the Lord alone is God; He has made us, and not we ourselves.

The Little Drummer Boy

Text by Katherine Kennicott Davis

Come, they told me, A newborn King to see, Our finest gifts we bring, To lay before the King. So to honor Him, When we come.

Baby Jesu, I am a poor boy too, I have no gift to bring, That’s fit to give our King. Shall I play for you, On my drum?

Mary nodded, The ox and lamb kept time, I played my drum for Him, I played my best for Him. Then He smiled at me, Me and my drum.

In the Bleak Midwinter Text by Christina Rossetti

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan, Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone; Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,

In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold Him nor earth sustain, Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign:

In the bleak mid-winter a stable-place sufficed

The Lord God Almighty Jesus Christ.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; If I were a wise man, I would do my part; Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

The Many Moods of Christmas, Suite 1

*Audience please join in singing at the conductor’s cue.

Good Christian friends, rejoice With heart and soul and voice; Give ye heed to what we say; news! Jesus Christ is born today; Ox and ass before Him bow And He is in the manger now. Christ is born today!

In dulci jubilo

Now sing we all I-O, He, my love, my wonder, Lieth in praesepio Like any sunbeam yonder, Matris in gremio; Alpha es et O.

Good Christmas friends, rejoice With heart and soul and voice; Now ye hear of endless bliss: Joy!

Jesus Christ is born for this! He hath oped the heav’nly door. And we are blessed evermore. Christ is born for this!

* (Sopranos/Altos) Silent Night! Holy Night! All is calm, all is bright; ‘Round yon Virgin Mother and Child, Holy Infant, so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace.

* (Tenors/Basses) Silent Night! Holy Night! Shepherds quake at the sight, Glories stream from heaven afar,

* (All) Heavenly hosts sing alleluia, Christ the Savior is born!

Willie, take your little drum, With your whistle, Robin come, When we hear the fife and drum, Tu-re-lu-re-lu, Pat-a-pat-a-pan, When we hear the fife and drum, Christmas should be frolicsome.

Thus the men of olden days Loved the King of kings to praise; When they hear the fife and drum, Tu-re-lu-re-lu, Pat-a-pat-a-pan, When they hear the fife and drum, Sure our children won’t be dumb!

God and man are now become more at one than fife and drum, When you hear the fife and drum. Dance and make the village hum!

Adeste fideles læti triumphantes, Venite, venite in Bethlehem. Natum videte Regem angelorum: Venite adoremus Dominum.

Sing choirs of angels, Sing in exultation, Sing all ye citizens of heaven above: Glory to God in the highest: O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

* Oh come, all ye faithful

Joyful and triumphant Oh come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem. Come and behold Him

Born the King of Angels; (Chorus only) O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Christmas is Coming Traditional Nursery Rhyme

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat; Please do put a penny in the old man’s hat.

If you haven’t got a penny, a ha’penny will do;

If you haven’t got a ha’penny, then God bless you!

If you haven’t got a ha’penny, don’t wonder what to do.

You are always rich enough to say ‘Yes, God bless you.’

Christmas is coming, and with a jolly band; Please do slip a penny in a lonely hand.

Christmas is coming, the shop is brim with toys;

Please do give a penny to the orphan boys.

If you haven’t got a guinea, or even a half a crown,

If you only have a pence or two, then don’t you fret and frown. Just reflect upon your blessings, and all your kith and kin, And remember that in giving all, you let the season in!

Christmas is coming, the figgy pudding’s here; Please do give a penny with your Christmas cheer!

Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat; Please do give a penny for a fine new hat!

Jingle Bells

Text by James Lord Pierpont

Dashing through the snow

In a one-horse open sleigh O’er the fields we go, Laughing all the way Bells on bobtails ring, making spirits bright What fun it is to laugh and sing A sleighing song tonight

Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells

Jingle all the way

Oh, what fun it is to ride In a one-horse open sleigh!

A day or two ago, I thought I’d take a ride, And soon Miss Fanny Bright Was seated by my side; The horse was lean and lank Misfortune seemed his lot We got into a drifted bank, And then we got upsot.

Deck the Halls

English text by Thomas Oliphant

Deck the halls with boughs of holly, ‘Tis the season to be jolly, Don we now our gay apparel, Troll the ancient Yule-tide carol,

See the blazing Yule before us. Strike the harp and join the chorus. Follow me in merry measure, While I tell of Yule-tide treasure.

Fast away the old year passes. Hail the new year, lads and lasses Sing we joyous, all together. Heedless of the wind and weather.

Auld Lang Syne

Text by Robert Burns

Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind, Should auld acquaintance be forgot, for auld lang syne?

For auld lang syne, ma dear, for auld lang syne, we’ll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup, and surely I’ll buy mine, And we’ll take a cup o’ kindness yet, for auld lang syne.

We two have paddled in the stream, from morning sun till dine; But seas between us broad have roared, since auld lang syne.

And there’s a hand my trusty friend! And give me a hand o’ thine! And we’ll take a right good-will draught, for auld lang syne.

Joy to the World

Text by Isaac Watts

Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare him room, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the world! the Savior reigns; Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains, Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Traditional Carol

We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year! Good tidings we bring, to you and your kin; We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year!

PROGRAM NOTES

Tradition. The famous Jewish philosopher Tevye put it this way: “Because of our traditions, everyone knows who he is and what God expects him to do.”

Traditions: the familiar practices that connect us to our own pasts and recommit us to uncertain futures.

APM’S Many Moods of Christmas has become a tradition, from the shape of the program, to some recurring pieces of repertoire, to the staging, and to the personnel. With this program people of all faiths—or no faith—are reminded of the human values we expect ourselves to live by: joy, humility, kindness, gratitude, hope.

Welcome, once again!

A Carol Symphony was composed in 1927 by Victor Hely-Hutchinson (19011947), a British composer born in South Africa. In this opening movement the lively religious spirit of the season is apparent in the strings that dance over the fragmented presentation by the brass of “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” like the setting of a chorale tune by Bach.

Mary is featured in Morten Lauridsen’s a cappella setting of “O Magnum Mysterium”: “Blessed is the Virgin whose womb was worthy to bear the Lord Jesus Christ.” Here, then, Mary is seen as much a vehicle for bringing the divine Jesus to earth as a “biological” mother. We are thus deep into a holy, dual moment.

“Once in Royal David’s City” (the 1848 poem by Cecil Frances Alexander, with music from 1849 by Henry John Gauntlett) is a narrative, in strophic form, again focusing on the child (after whom we children should model ourselves), who is, at the same time, “our Lord in Heaven above.”

The thrilling Christmas Cantata from 1957 by American composer Daniel Pinkham (1923-2006) is an in-the-moment evocation of the manger scene: what happened and what did it mean? The first section is a dialogue between ordinary citizens who weren’t present and the shepherds who were. The question is plainly stated: what did you see? The answer is fragmented, agitated, and syncopated because these “pastores” have never seen anything like it and can only repeat themselves!

The middle section, “O Magnum Mysterium,” is, indeed, full of mystery, wonder. A sustained pedal point on D keeps us focused on the creche; Mary speaks; a repeated figure in the trumpet—from where? Ives’s unanswered question, answered?—makes us attend; and, portraying priests singing Gregorian chant, the tenors and basses comment. Then, with the lightness of a Renaissance motet, the stillness of the stable scene is shattered as news of its significance spreads: Christianity is born with this child!

Katherine Kennicutt Davis (1892-1980) wrote “The Little Drummer Boy” in 1941, introducing a character not biblically associated with Jesus’s birth but all the more interesting because of that: a poor child connecting to another poor child through music. The drum? Homemade, no doubt. Sticks? Yes, sticks, no doubt. Drumbeat? Like the heart beats of everyone assembled. “Then He smiled at me,” He who would, as adult, make way for children to come to him.

If there is a more beautiful Christmas hymn than Gustav Holst’s setting of Christina Rosetti’s “In the Bleak Midwinter,” I don’t know what it is. Ola Gjeilo’s arrangement takes the full measure of the tune and words, providing an aptly pulsing meditation on the meaning of the long-ago event for contemporary Christians: the meditation culminates in that extraordinary question, “What can I give him?” and then provides the simplest answer: “My heart.”

The Many Moods of Christmas is the first of four suites of traditional carols arranged by Robert Shaw and Robert Russell Bennett. It begins with a rousing orchestral introduction, followed by four songs, the most unfamiliar of which is “Patapan,” referring to the drums (accompanied by flutes) the shepherds used on their sojourn. While these songs are clearly religious, the sacredness of the message feels somewhat muted by the extroverted nature of the arrangement itself.

After intermission, the religious yields fully to the seasonal. A Most Wonderful Christmas features five foundational popular Christmas songs from 20th-century America, arranged by Robert Sheldon (b. 1954). The second and fourth movements are the suite’s heart: “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” a poignant World War II number, and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” (1944), the Judy Garland standard—here a solo violin. You know almost all the words, so don’t be afraid to subvocalize.

Mack Wilberg’s arrangement of the ol’ English carol “Christmas Is Coming” livens up the strophic number with syncopation, modulations, and rounds: festive!

A few words about Ryan James Brandau, arranger of a handful of familiar melodies on this half of the program: this New York City-based conductor has freshened up “Jingle Bells” with a sly reference to “Joy to the World”; intensified “Deck the Halls” with modulations; and properly added a touch of bagpipe to “Auld Lang Syne,” whose tune is made anew.

“Troika” is an orchestral excerpt from Prokofiev’s Lt. Kije Suite, based on film music he wrote in 1934. There is a slow intro, as the three horses start to pull the sleigh: a troika. Shortly, the music and the vehicle are whizzing over the snow, with colorful commentary by the saxophones, the trombones, and the piccolo, to say nothing of the harness bells. At last we arrive…

…at Brandau’s merry setting, “Finale Medley,” a conflation of traditional tunes that make your ears explode! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

— Concert notes by Paul Lamar SPECIAL

THANKS TO:

Marie Bosman

Dan Czernecki

Kelly and Paul Fahey

Dan Foster

Gary Gold

E. Stewart and Kimberly Sanger Jones

Ken Kozak

Paul Lamar

Katie McNally

Steve Murray

Noah Palmer

Katherine Skovira

Michele Susko

Omar Williams

Bethlehem Lutheran Church

Capital CFO+

Hacker Murphy LLP

Lane Press

Primeau Fahey Studios

Sidewalk Warriors Troy

Troy Savings Bank Music Hall

University at Albany

WMHT Educational

Telecommunications

The University at Albany is proud to support Albany Pro Musica in its 44th season!

Considering Matthew Shepard

MARCH 9, 2025 I 3:00PM

TROY

SAVINGS BANK MUSIC HALL

Considering Matthew Shepard is a poignant oratorio for chorus, soloists, and chamber orchestra that tells the heartbreaking story of Matthew Shepard, a young gay man who was brutally murdered in Wyoming in 1998. Matthew’s killing received international attention and spurred a generation of essential activism in the LGBTQIA+ community.

APM is also collaborating with regional partners to offer a series of community events related to Matthew’s legacy. Learn more and register for each of these programs on our website, albanypromusica.org/matthewshepard.

DOCUMENTARY SCREENING AND PANEL DISCUSSION

Learn more about Matthew’s story and the creation of this remarkable oratorio.

FEBRUARY 27 AT 7PM I WMHT Public Media

UNDERSTANDING THROUGH ART: A COMMUNAL ART-MAKING WORKSHOP FOR QUEER YOUTH

With programming for students in grades 8-12 plus a caregiver discussion group. Includes refreshments and student admission to the concert.

MARCH 9 AT 12PM I The Arts Center of the Capital Region

AUDIENCE RECEPTION

Join the artists and members of the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies to share and reflect on the performance and on the impact of Matthew’s life, death, and legacy.

MARCH 9 AT 5PM I Russell Sage College’s Buchman Pavilion

Pro Musica on Broadway

APRIL 26, 2025 I 7:30PM

THE EGG

Albany Pro Musica will close its 2024-25 season with an homage to Broadway! Albany Pro Musica and the Pro Musica Pops will present some of our audience’s all-time favorite showtunes, arranged for chorus, small ensembles, and soloists, and featuring Broadway talent Jamari Johnson Williams. Concert tickets are available now at albanypromusica.org/broadway.

TICKETS ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR APM’S SIGNATURE EVENT OF THE SEASON! 4:30-7:00PM

Join us before the concert for our annual spring gala, where we’ll honor our long-time partner, the University at Albany, with the 2025 Dr. Karen R. Hitchcock Award for Celebrating the Choral Arts.

Honorary Committee and General Admission tickets include entry into the evening’s concert PLUS a delicious dinner, an exclusive performance by Mr. Williams, and a chance to support the music you love.

Learn more and save your spot by visiting albanypromusica.org/gala.

ALBANY PRO MUSICA CONCERT CHORUS

SOPRANO

Martha J. Bond

Tonya Burandt Hansen*

Brianne Conner

Melanie Diaz

Valerie Donovan

Meg Gallien

Paige Griggs

Lauren Jurczynski

Nicole Lash

Heather Lessard

Katie McNally

Rebecca Monaghan

Xinyi Nam

Diane B. Petersen

Emily Peterson

Sandra Schujman

Katherine Skovira^

Teresa Solé

Iris Whalen†

* Section Leader ^ Teaching Artist † Music Intern

ALTO

Maria Bedo-Calhoun

Marie Bosman

Carol Christiana

Abigail Cowan*

Darcy Crum Meadows

Kathryn Farris

Meghan Garrison

Shay Gauthier

Scarlett Gearwar†

Elizabeth Helmer

Sarah Ploof

Meredith Russell Grosshandler

Emily Sturman

Irina Tikhonenko

Julie Weston

Lisa Wloch

TENOR

Augusta Bargeron

Mitch Cohen

John Favreau

Dan Foster^

William Golden

Jonathan Hansen*

Caleb Hood

Jacob James

Mendon Neyerlin

Josh Overrocker

Joel Pattison

Greg Pratt

David Wagner

Lincoln Walton

John Xia

BASS

Philip Allen

Michael Barren

William Crankshaw

Evan DeFilippo

Sean Harrington†

Colin Helie

Jared Hunt

Tom Johnson

Dan Leinung

Christopher Price

John Rodier

Rex Smith

Ryan Snyder†

Daniel Washington*

Michael Wolff

Flute and Piccolo

Norman Thibodeau

Yvonne Hansbrough

Melanie Chirignan

Oboe and English Horn

Susan Kokernak

Kelly Lockwood

Susan Gierthy

Clarinet

Brett Wery

Brian Carlucci

Bassoon

Gerald Lanoue

Sue Daves

French Horn

Victor Sungarian

Victoria Boell

Katy Svatek

Jessica Cunningham

* Concertmaster

ORCHESTRA PRO MUSICA

Trumpet

Allyson Keyser

Eric Latini

John Fatuzzo

Trombone

Tim Solinger

Phil Pandori

Dan Cordell

Tuba

Michael Silvagnoli

Timpani

& Percussion

Andrew Janack

Rob Sanderl

Matt Dickson

Alex Atchley

Harp

Karlinda Caldicott

Violin 1

Ann-Marie B. Schwartz*

Kathryn Aldous

Jamecyn Morey

Jessica Belflower

Hilary Cumming

Violin 2

Mitsuko Suzuki

Julie Signitzer

Barbara Lapidus

Marla Bracca

Viola

Andrew Snow

Dee Dee Fancher

Christine Orio

Brittany Zellman

Cello

Tara Hanish

Anita Balázs

André Laurent O’Neil

Bass

Evan Runyon

Luke Stence

ALBANY PRO MUSICA STAFF

OPALKA FAMILY ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

José Daniel Flores-Caraballo

ARTISTIC STAFF

Noah Palmer, Assistant Music Director and Accompanist

SooYeon Justesen, Manager of Educational Programs

Tonya Burandt Hansen, Abigail Cowan, Jonathan Hansen, Daniel Washington, Section Leaders

Steve Murray, Honorary Composer in Residence

Dan Foster, Teaching Artist

Katherine Skovira, Teaching Artist

ADMINISTRATION

Emily Sturman, Deputy Executive Director

Jared Shortmeier, Director of Operations

Liz Vinciquerra, Development Manager

Rebecca Monaghan, Audition Coordinator

Dharma Sanchez-Flores, Member Connections Liaison

Ann-Marie Barker Schwartz, Orchestra Contractor

Michele Susko, Roya Consulting, LLC, Development Counsel

Primeau-Fahey Studios, Marketing and Public Relations

Capital CFO+, Accounting and Business Management

Troy Savings Bank Music Hall, Box Office Services

ALBANY PRO MUSICA OUR MISSION, VISION, AND CORE VALUES

MISSION I To perform a broad spectrum of quality choral music at the highest levels of artistic excellence that inspires and transforms our audiences and to provide exceptional educational experiences that advance the choral art among new generations of singers.

VISION I Albany Pro Musica will be a leader in the choral arts in New York’s Capital Region, the Northeast and beyond ― bridging cultures, ethnicities, and generations.

CORE VALUES I Perform with excellence — Inspire new generations of singers — Engage expanded and broadly diverse audiences — Operate with integrity — Respect each other and our community

ALBANY PRO MUSICA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Rex W. Smith, President

Marion Terenzio, Vice President

Tom McGuire, Treasurer

Jonathan E. Hansen, Secretary

DIRECTORS

Jeanette Altarriba

Eric Arndt

M. Tracey Brooks

Al De Salvo

James M. Gaughan (emeritus)

Robert T. Hennes

Christine Hoek

Ellen Jabbur (emerita)

Gwen Krause

Steven E. Lobel (emeritus)

Darcy Crum Meadows

Douglas Petersen

Raona Roy (emerita)

Wayne Senitta (emeritus)

Margery Whiteman (honorary)

Michael Whiteman

Russ Wilks

Michael Wolff

Edelgard Wulfert

ALBANY PRO MUSICA COUNCIL OF ADVISORS

George R. Hearst III and Chet Opalka, Co-Chairs

Alan Goldberg

E. Stewart Jones, Jr.

Kimberly Sanger Jones

Richard Miller

Paul Milton

John Nigro

Karen Opalka

Ellen Sax

Marcia White

LEAVE A LEGACY WITH APM’S

LUX AETERNA SOCIETY

Albany Pro Musica has a legacy in the Capital Region and beyond, as a choral group whose music truly captures the human spirit. Our Lux Aeterna Society allows donors to keep the “eternal light” of their own legacy alive through Albany Pro Musica, by including APM in their estate plans.

The Lux Aeterna Society recognizes individuals and their families who have remembered APM in their estate plans through a planned gift. A planned gift to Albany Pro Musica can offer tax advantages, and allows you to designate a contribution – large or small – that will support the music you love, for years to come.

To learn more about how to include Albany Pro Musica in your estate plans, please visit our website or contact us for a confidential consultation.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMITMENT TO ALBANY PRO MUSICA!

BIOGRAPHIES

José Daniel Flores-Caraballo

Opalka Family Artistic Director

José Daniel Flores-Caraballo is a widely acclaimed conductor and musical director recognized for his artistry and integrity in stylistic performance of choral literature, his methodical and uncompromising approach to music learning, and his gifts as a patient and inspiring teacher. Dr. Flores-Caraballo brings that unique combination—along with an ambitious and energizing vision—to Albany Pro Musica (APM) as the Opalka Family Artistic Director, a role he has held since 2014.

As a trained organist as well as a celebrated orchestral and choral conductor, Dr. Flores-Caraballo places strong emphasis on technical precision as the fundamental seed from which musical artistry can grow. Dr. FloresCaraballo joined Albany Pro Musica with the goal of building upon the group’s impressive and cherished legacy and elevating APM to be among the best choirs in the nation. Through Dr. Flores-Caraballo’s leadership, APM is pushing the boundaries of choral performance in the area, embracing challenging musical programming, innovative national and international partnerships, and a renewed commitment to civic and educational initiatives. Dr. Flores-Caraballo also serves as Conductor-In-Residence at the University at Albany (SUNY) and Chorus Director for the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Chorus. He has prepared his choirs for prominent orchestral conductors, including Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Bramwell Tovey, Stéphane Dèneve, and Kensho Watanabe of The Philadelphia Orchestra, Andrews Sill of the New York City Ballet, David Alan Miller of the Albany Symphony Orchestra, and Anthony Princiotti of the Vermont Symphony Orchestra.

Dr. Flores-Caraballo came to the Capital Region from Vero Beach, Florida, where he was a musical force for more than a decade. There, he founded and directed three auditioned, community choral groups that transformed the musical landscape in the Treasure Coast: the Atlantic Symphonic Chorus, the Atlantic Schola Cantorum, and the Atlantic Children’s Chorale. A native of Puerto Rico, Dr. Flores-Caraballo served as Dean of Academic Affairs at the Conservatory of Music in San Juan and has led prize-winning schooland church-based choral programs in Puerto Rico and across the mainland United States. He holds a Doctorate in Sacred Music with an emphasis on Choral and Instrumental Conducting from the Graduate Theological Foundation, a Master’s in Choral Conducting and Organ from the University of Illinois, and a Bachelor’s in Music Education and Instrumental Conducting from the Conservatory of Music in San Juan.

BIOGRAPHIES

Noah Palmer Assistant Music Director and Accompanist

Noah Palmer is one of the Capital Region’s most indemand musical collaborators. Noah was most recently appointed Artistic Director of Saratoga Voices and the Music at Trinity Lenox concert series; he also serves as Assistant Music Director and Accompanist for Albany Pro Musica and the Assistant Conductor of Concerts in the Village, in Kinderhook, NY. In 2018, Noah made his orchestral conducting debuts with both Concerts in the Village and Albany Pro Musica, following his opera debut with the Midwest Institute of Opera in 2015.

As a choral conductor Noah has led, among other groups, Albany Pro Musica, the Battenkill Chorale, the Northern Berkshire Chorale, the Sage Singers, and the Vermont Symphony Orchestra Chorus. In 2016, Noah was the Chorus Master at the prestigious Merola Opera Program with the San Francisco Opera.

In addition to conducting, Noah is an accomplished vocal coach and pianist. He has worked with several regional opera companies, including Sarasota Opera and Opera North. In 2021, Noah was the principal coach and rehearsal pianist for Tom Cipullo’s “Glory Denied” at the Berkshire Opera Festival and was subsequently invited back in 2022 for their production of Jake Heggie’s “Three Decembers.” Noah has performed with some of the Capital Region’s finest singers, including Andrew Boisvert, Vedrana Kalas, Sylvia Stoner, Irina Petrik, and the late Kevin Kees. In 2022, he accompanied violinist Elizabeth Pitcairn in a vibrant program of Russian and Polish music at Troy Savings Bank Music Hall.

As an educator, Noah was the Choral Director at Skidmore College in Spring 2021, where he led the college’s two choral ensembles through a series of innovative virtual performances during the COVID-19 pandemic. In collaboration with soprano Sylvia Stoner, Noah also directs the Skidmore College Opera Workshop.

Noah studied conducting with John Yaffe and Steve Osgood and attended conducting masterclasses with Markand Thakar, Christopher Zimmerman, Mark Gibson, and David Effron. Noah studied piano with the renowned Spanish pianist Jose Ramon Mendez at NYU (BA), and Bulgarian pianist Pavlina Dokovska at the Mannes School of Music (MM). Noah has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in the United States, Europe, and China.

THANK YOU TO OUR 2023-2024 SEASON DONORS!

Listing reflects gifts made between July 1, 2023 and June 30, 2024

CIRCLE OF FRIENDS

GOLD MAESTRO CIRCLE

($50,000 and above)

Christine and George R. Hearst III

Chet and Karen Opalka

The Kiwi Foundation, a division of Opalka Philanthropies

SILVER MAESTRO CIRCLE

($25,000 - $49,999)

Gregory Anderson and William Tuthill

Ellen Jabbur

Wayne A. Senitta, Jr. and Daniel Washington

MAESTRO CIRCLE

($10,000 - $14,999)

James and Joanne Crum

Michael and Linda Wolff

PATRON

($5,000 - $9,999)

Al De Salvo

Alan Goldberg

Gwen Krause and Ross Bennett

John J. Nigro

Douglas and Diane Petersen

Dr. Marion Terenzio and Dr. Patricia O’Connor

Margery and Michael Whiteman

Hannelore Wilfert and Karl Moschner

BENEFACTOR

($2,500 - $4,999)

Dr. Jeanette Altarriba and Dr. Donald F. Graves

John and Joyce Carver

James M. Gaughan and Keith C. Lee

* Denotes individuals who are now deceased

E. Stewart Jones, Jr. and Kimberly Sanger Jones

Steven and Vivian Lobel

Tom McGuire and Barbara Bradley

Vaughn Nevin

Raona Roy and John Roy*

Harriet B. Seeley

Rex Smith and Marion Roach Smith

Edward Swyer

Dr. Edelgard Wulfert and Richard Naylor

SPONSOR

($1,000 - $2,499)

Wendy T. Blair

Michael Boots and Brian Barlow

Anonymous

Tracey Brooks and Michael Trunzo

Marlene and Rob Bryan

Carol Christiana and Thomas Johnson

Mitchell and Susan Cohen

Anonymous

Joseph and Linda Farrell

José Daniel Flores-Caraballo and Dharma Sanchez-Flores

Meg Gallien and Bill Hammond

Katharine Harris

Colin Helie and Julie Weston

Bob and Jane Hennes

The Paul and Alane Hohenberg Fund of The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region

Kenneth Larsen

Dr. and Mrs. Ronald Musto

Primeau Fahey Studios

Havidán Rodríguez and Rosy Lopez

Sharon Roy

Norman and Nancy Tellier

David G. Tieman

David and Nancy Wagner

AFFILIATE

($500 - $999)

Wendy Barcomb and John Sheridan

John and Phyllis Borel

Deborah Byers and Francis Pitts

Judith Ciccio Donor Advised Fund

Mr. and Mrs. John J. Ferguson

Herb and Shirley Gordon

Peter E. Haley and Michael J. Murphy

Jonathan Hansen and Tonya Burandt Hansen

Jill Harbeck

Ellen and Daniel Hogarty

Alice Howard

P. Susan Jordan

Barbara MacLean

Barbara and Chuck Manning

Ralph and Jacqui Marino

David and Martha Musser

George Nisbet and Jennifer Dorsey

Hon. Dustin M. Reidy

Sandra Schujman

Hon. Kathy Sheehan and Mr. Robert Sheehan

Donald Stauffer and Susan Shipherd

Audrie and Larry Sturman

Emily and David Sturman

Tim and Liz Taylor

Hon. Paul D. Tonko

Liz and Joe Vinciquerra

Russell and Carolyn Wilks

Brian K. Wilson

Paul Wing

FRIEND

($100-$499)

Gregory and Judith Aidala

JoAnne Alonge

Wallace Altes

Suzanne Anderson

Elizabeth A. Arden

Judith Arnold

* Denotes individuals who are now deceased

James B. Ayers and Miriam Trementozzi

Michael Barrett and Rebecca Chirolla

John Bassler

Maria Bedo-Calhoun

Rachael Biggs

Carol and Bill Bott

James and Patricia Briglin

Bruce and Crescentia Brynolfson

James Burns

Judith A. Carlson

Sara Carlson

The Clarke Family

Sarah Clinton

Joseph and Jeanne Costello

Anne Marie Couser and Bill Kuchinski

Mary L. Crangle

Dawn and Dick Dana

Evan DeFilippo

John DeFilippo

Harriett DeGraff

Joyce Diwan

Heather W. Drinkwater

JoAnn Duquette

Seth Edelman

Ben and Linda English

Elizabeth and John Favreau

Lorraine Ferguson

Dennis and Carol Fitzgerald

Perry F. Smith and RoseAnne Fogarty

Muriel Gordon Frasher

Stacey and Mark Gallagher

Joanne Gascoyne

Ronald C. Geuther

Gary David Gold and Nancy Pierson

Ben and Claudia Golub

Michael Halloran

Pauline and Henry Hamelin

Philip and Dianne Hansen

Leif and Claudia Hartmark

Anthony Hayes

William Hetzer

John and Susan Hill

Barbara Hoehn

Jon and Christine Hoek

Eric and Priscilla Johnson

Hugh Johnson and Tara Shannon

Anna Kuwabara and Craig Edwards

Maureen Frances Leary

Edward and Heather Lessard

Anonymous

David and Aileen Loy

Allen and Darcy Lyle

Frank and Judy Lyman

Kathleen Lyman

Anonymous

Michael and Susan Moyle Lynch

William M. Lynch

Stephen and Mary Madarasz

Patrick Madden and Amy Williams

Bob and Carleen Marino

Janet and Bryan Marler Charitable Fund

Susan Linda Martin

Sarah May and Douglass Johnston

Anonymous

Robert J. McNamara

Diane Mineau

Mustafa and Elizabeth Mirza

Judith Ann Mysliborski

Sara Oberst

Judith and Richard Palmer

Robert Pape

Bob and Loretta Parsons

Chris and Carol Pfister

Pollitzer Giving Fund

Gregory Pratt

Edward Primeau

Margaret Randall

Marsha and Steve Ras

Cheryl Reeves and Martha Schultz

C. Michael Reger

Dorothy H. Reynolds

Ed Rhubart

Gail and George Richardson

Rosemarie Rosen

* Denotes individuals who are now deceased

Steven Rosenberry and Melanie Shaw

Steve Rosenblum

Anne Rosenfeld

John J. Runfola, Jr. and Sharon Gazin

Joanne Scheibly

Jay Schlesinger and Judy Rader

Dorothy and Ralph Schultz

Robert and Gail Schwartz

Charlotte Senecal

Peggy and Jack Seppi

Cynthia Serbent

Julie and William Shapiro

Laura Shea

Barbara Simoneau and Joseph Caron

Ken and Marggie Skinner

Delanne Stageman

Hildegard Steinmann

Marlayna and Nick Sullivan

Michele Susko and Fardin Sanai

Jan Sweeney

Jill Taylor and Paul Masters

Irina Tikhonenko

Roger Tippy

Doris F. Tomer

Lyle Van Vranken

Jeff Vandeberg

Ann Volpel

Elizabeth M. Voss

Dawn Stuart Weinraub

Ilona Weisman

Dan and Maribeth White

Mary Withington

Lisa J. Wloch

Peter and Lynn Young

Faith Gay and Francesca Zambello

Barbara M. Zavisky

Susan C. Zeltmann

We apologize for any errors or omissions and would be grateful to have them brought to our attention.

THANK YOU TO OUR 2023-2024 CORPORATE

CIRCLE, GALA SPONSORS, AND INSTITUTIONAL DONORS

$100,000+

Bader Philanthropies, Inc.

The Kiwi Foundation, a division of the Opalka Philanthropies

$10,000 - $19,999

Eddy Senior Living

Howard and Bush Foundation

IBM

New York State Council on the Arts

The Arts Center of the Capital Region University at Albany Foundation

$5,000 - $9,999

Amidon & Petersen Financials

CDPHP

Massry Charitable Foundation

MVP Healthcare

Nigro Retail Properties and John J. Nigro

$2,500 - $4,999 Community Bank *

Pioneer Review Foundation

Times Union *

$1,000 - $2,499 architecture+

Courtyard Marriott

Ernest Otho Reaugh Advised Fund for LGBTQIA+ Advocacy of The Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region

Hacker Murphy, LLP

J.M. McDonald Foundation, Inc.

Stewart’s Shops *

WITH SUPPORT FROM:

Capital Bank

Community Care Physicians *

Fenimore Asset Management

GE Aerospace Matching Gift Foundation

Pursuit Foundation

Whiteman Osterman & Hanna *

* Sponsors of the Pro Musica in Paradise Gala

Albany Pro Musica is grateful for the support of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature.

Arts Thrive and Grow has been funded by New York State, Kathy Hochul, Governor. We thank Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins for her extraordinary commitment and leadership, and our elected officials who represent our grantmaking region: Senators Jake Ashby and Neil D. Breslin; Assemblymembers Scott H. Bendett, Patricia Fahy, John T. McDonald III, Angelo Santabarbara, Phil Steck, and Mary Beth Walsh.

SPECIAL THANKS TO APM’S IN-KIND DONORS

Albany Institute of History and Art

Hilton Garden Inn Troy Lane Press

Nicole’s Catering

Saratoga Arts

Troy Savings Bank Music Hall

WMHT Educational Television

WAYS TO SUPPORT ALBANY PRO MUSICA

Did you know? Similar to most arts organizations, APM’s ticket revenue covers only a fraction of the costs to produce our full season. Your support sustains APM’s high level of professional artistry and educational programming, and ensures the continuation of Maestro Flores-Caraballo’s exciting and innovative vision.

Learn about the many ways you can help keep APM singing, this season and for years to come:

ONE-TIME GIFTS

Support APM’s mission with a gift via check or credit card. Contributions can also be made via wire transfer or through Donor Advised Funds.

RECURRING DONATIONS

Setting up a recurring gift is an easy and automatic way to support APM that works for your budget and schedule. You decide how much you would like to give and how often, and the contributions are charged to your credit card on a monthly or quarterly basis.

CORPORATE MATCHING

Double your donation by checking if your employer (or former employer for retirees) will match your contribution! Many companies offer matching gift programs which match charitable contributions made by their employees, retirees, and even spouses.

GIFTS OF STOCK

Contribute appreciated securities, such as stocks and bonds, for potential tax benefits. Please visit our website for detailed instructions for your broker.

RETIREMENT DISTRIBUTION

Make a gift (qualified charitable distribution) directly from your individual retirement account to APM. Talk with your financial advisor to learn more about how to support APM with a qualified charitable distribution, while also deriving a tax benefit.