Christmas Voices Near and Far: An Alumni Mastersingers Virtual Reunion Concert

Christmas Voices Near and Far

An Alumni Mastersingers Virtual Reunion Concert Sunday, December 20, 2020

Program Director and Accompanist Michael A. Marinelli, Ed.D. ‘76

Artistic Director Mary Ellen Schauber

Producer

Katherine Ball-Weir PP’17

Engineered and Edited by Fionán de Barra

Letter from the Director In the face of a world crisis, we have learned how to gather and celebrate with family and friends in a new way. Thank goodness for the technology that keeps us connected!

The virtual Mastersinger reunion concert has brought many of us together again, including singers from a 35-year span of classes, and coming from as far away as California, Michigan, Texas, and North Carolina, and as close to home as Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. Creating this concert has been a great joy for all of us. Many ambitious alumni signed up for the virtual experience - itself a really cool project. Along the way, life happens… new babies are born, loved ones lost, jobs and responsibilities overwhelm us. Congratulations to all of the singers who contributed their video recordings, and also to those who had great intentions to participate, but could not. We will catch you next time!

A Christmas celebration with music, family and friends is the perfect excuse to have fun and reunite. Still, it is very humbling to record one’s own voice part and submit the strange result to an engineer, privately thinking “Perhaps he can tune my voice down” or “I don’t want to be the one to mess this up.” Tammy Shumaker Golden aptly wrote: “I made the same mistakes now, recording the Hallelujah Chorus, that I made 35 years ago, and you were right there next to me in my mind, pounding out the rhythm while conducting.” I think that’s the spirit of Archmere. We continue to be next to one another, even when we are far apart.

Thanks to the skill of our technical engineer Fionán de Barra, everyone sounds and looks like a million bucks. We are grateful to have had his expertise. Katherine BallWeir assisted him, providing creative and technical feedback, and fielding countless emails from singers to move the process along. Michael Marinelli gave stylistic piano and organ accompaniments to make the season bright. Our very own internationally acclaimed opera diva, Meagan Miller, graciously recorded her solo for us back in the fall while visiting her dad in Chadds Ford. And all the singers gave their best renditions, even if it took numerous tries to get it right. Special shout out to Kate, Jen, Eric, and Brian for creating section leader tracks that guided us through the experience.

The current Mastersingers have adjusted to necessary precautionary practices, and although they are not with us this year, we hope to have them featured in the next reunion. I offer a special welcome back to our newest alumni from the unforgettable class of 2020. We are all connected by our days spent at Archmere, and recognize how these deep roots sustain us through our lives. Thanks for coming back. You are a part of something really special.

May you be richly blessed this Christmas, and always!

Mary Ellen Schauber Artistic Director

Alumni Mastersingers Soprano

Julie Button ‘01 Claire Caverly ‘15 Pia Chatterjee ‘99 Madison Downey ‘20 Alison Paige Newitt Hilley ‘95 Sophia Liston ‘20 Rebecca McBride ‘16 Kate Nasuti ‘87 * Mary Beth Rim ‘95 Samantha Shoemaker ‘95

Alto

Jennifer Green Broomall ‘88 * Shelly Gilbride ‘93 Tammy Shumaker Golden ‘87 Katie O’Donnell ‘01 Alisa Yakovenko ‘18

Tenor

Eric Longo ‘03 * Jacob Meredith ‘20 Keelin Reilly ‘17

Bass

Sangho Byun ‘91 Jim deProphetis ‘01 Brian P. Gilmore ‘88 * Michael Logothetis ‘89 Michael Raffaele ‘94 Christian Ryan ‘87 Antonio Sacre ‘86 Dan Smith ‘94 Ryan Tibbetts ‘00 Alex Weir ‘17

Musicians

Soprano Soloist

Violin

Piano/Organ

Timpani

Meagan Miller ‘92

Michael A. Marinelli, Ed.D. ‘76

Alex Weir ‘17 Christina Lawless ‘12

* Section Leader

Program Welcome & Introduction Dr. Michael A. Marinelli ‘76 & Mary Ellen Schauber Joy to the World!

Lo! How a Rose E’er Blooming

G.F. Handel M. Praetorius

The Gospel according to Luke 2:1-20 Read by Fr. Joseph McLaughlin, O.Praem.

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled. This was the first enrollment when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.

And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she gave birth to her firstborn son. She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David, a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger. When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child. All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds. And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.

Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.

Go Tell It on the Mountain O Come, All Ye Faithful

J.W. Work, Jr. J.F. Wade

A Christmas Blessing Read by Patricia K. Cunningham May there be harmony in all your relationships.

May sharp words, envious thoughts, and hostile feelings be dissolved.

May you give and receive love generously.

May this love echo in your heart like the joy of church bells on a clear December day.

May each person who comes into your life be greeted as another Christ.

May the honor given the Babe of Bethlehem be that which you extend to every guest who enters your presence.

May the hope of this sacred season settle in your soul.

May it be a foundation of courage for you when times of distress occupy your inner land.

May the wonder and awe that fills the eyes of children be awakened within you.

May it lead you to renewed awareness and appreciation of whatever you too easily take for granted.

May the bonds of love for one another be strengthened as you gather with your family and friends around the table of festivity and nourishment.

May you daily open the gift of your life and be grateful for the hidden treasures it contains.

May the coming year be one of good health for you.

May you have energy and vitality.

May you care well for your body, mind and spirit.

May you keep your eye on the Star within you and trust this Luminescent Presence to guide and direct you each day.

May you go often to the Bethlehem of your heart and visit the One who offers you peace.

May you bring this peace into our world.

Taken from “Out of the Ordinary,� by Joyce Rupp, copyright 2000

Silent Night O Holy Night Meagan Miller, soprano

F.X. Gruber A. Adam

Hymn of Winter Read by Marie Parks ‘Tis winter now; the fallen snow has left the heavens all coldly clear; through leafless boughs the sharp winds blow, and all the earth lies dead and drear.

And yet God’s love is not withdrawn; his life within the keen air breathes; his beauty paints the crimson dawn, and clothes each branch with glittering wreaths.

And though abroad the sharp winds blow, and skies are chill, and frosts are keen, home closer draws her circle now, and warmer glows her light within.

O God, you give the winter’s cold, as well as summer’s joyous rays, you warmly in your love enfold, and keep us through life’s wintry days.

Samuel Longfellow (1819-1892) Angels We Have Heard on High

J. Chadwick

Rise Up, Shepherd, and Follow

arr. R. DeBruyn

Hallelujah! “Messiah”

G.F. Handel

Concluding remarks We Wish You A Merry Christmas and an “Auksome” New Year!

Traditional

2020-2021 Friends of The Patio Sponsors FRIENDS OF THE PATIO CHAIRMAN

Dr. Anthony A. Vasile ‘74 with Mrs. Lori A. Vasile

NORBERTINE SPONSORS

Mr. Frank J. Behm ‘74 & Mrs. Andrea M. Behm Mr. William D. Church & Mr. John Washburn Mr. and Mrs. K. Mark Dresden, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. John Ferguson Mrs. Ursula L. Praiss The Raskob Foundation Dr. Robert A. Rosenbaum & Ms. Jean R. Rosenbaum Dr. James A. Stockman, III ‘61 & Mrs. Lee Stockman

PATIO SPONSORS

Mr. and Mrs. Robert T. Kennedy

RASKOB SPONSORS

Dickinson Theatre Organ Society, Inc.

ARCHMERE SPONSORS

Mrs. Katherine Ball-Weir & Dr. Carl Weir Mr. & Mrs. Henry T. Rossi Ms. Mary Ellen Schauber & Mr. Edward Stegemeier

GREEN SPONSORS

Mr. Thomas H. Anderson, III ‘60 & Mrs. Carol J. Anderson Mr. & Mrs. Frank A. Cuoco Mr. Kevin J. & Mrs. Rosemary Gilroy Mrs. Elizabeth Homsey Mr. & Mrs. Robert E. Shields ‘60 Dr. Kenneth & Mrs. Barbara Witterholt

GOLD SPONSORS

Ms. Patricia Capelli Mr. Joseph and Mrs. Kathryn B. Knox Dr. Gerard Kuhn & Dr. Katherine King Mrs. Susan M. Padien ‘84 Mr. Michael F. & Mrs. Elaine C. Reilly ‘83 Mrs. & Mrs. Justin M. Ryan Mr. Gary and Mrs. Lynda Swenson

2020-2021 Friends of The Patio Sponsors WHITE SPONSORS

Mr. Barry Allen Mrs. Peggy W. Brown Dr. & Mrs. Anthony Carbo Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin H. Deeble, Jr. Dr. B. Christopher ’85 & Mrs. Joanne Dougherty Dr. Timothy J. Downey & Dr. Michelle T. Icasiano Ms. Mary Goodrick Mr. Matthew Kennedy ‘97 Mr. Ronald P. ‘61 and Rita Lee Mr. & Mrs. John R. Malloy Rev. Joseph McLaughlin, O.Praem.

Mr. Joseph P. Melloy, Sr. ‘52 Mr. Mark P. Morse ’63 & Dr. Winifred A. Morse Ms. Ulla Nieminen Dr. Robert A. Penna ‘85 & Mrs. Melanie A. Penna Mr. James T. Prendergast ‘77 & Ms. Eleanor Wu Mr. Paul Pringle Mr. Nicholas F. Quercetti, Jr. ‘74 & Mrs. Patricia M. Quercetti Lt. Col. Thomas L. Sack ’62 & Mrs. Patricia A. Sack Mr. & Mrs. John F. Sarro Mr. Gregory W. Shannon ‘64 & Mrs. Barbara C. Shannon Mr. and Mrs. Daniel M. Skedzielewski Mrs. Mary Ann E. Slowik ‘79 & Mr. Jeffrey J. Slowik Ms. Janice R. Tigani Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Uliase Mr. Anthony S. Voell ‘89 & Mrs. Amanda Voell Dr. F. Thomas Witomski ‘54 Mrs. Mary Ann E. Wozniak