The Peacemakers The Peacemakers
WinterReverie WinterReverie
VoicesRising VoicesRising
MissaSolemnis MissaSolemnis
JENKINS’ JENKINS’
BEETHOVEN’S BEETHOVEN’S
CONCERT SERIES
SIR KARL JENKINS’ THE PEACEMAKERS
Featuring: Boulder Concert and Chamber Chorales
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2024 | 4PM
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, BOULDER
WINTER REVERIE
Featuring: Boulder Children’s, Concert, and Chamber Chorales
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2024 | 3PM TBD
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 15, 2024 | 5PM
FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, BOULDER
BOULDER
CHILDREN’S CHORALE’S
15TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
A family-friendly festival and fundraiser!
SPRING, 2025
LOCATION TBD
VOICES RISING
Featuring: Boulder Children’s Chorale in collaboration with Greater Boulder Youth Orchestra
SATURDAY, APRIL 26, 2025 | 3PM
CENTAURUS HIGH SCHOOL, LAFAYETTE
SUNDAY, APRIL 27, 2025 | 12PM
MACKY AUDITORIUM, BOULDER
BEETHOVEN’S MAGNUM OPUS: MISSA SOLEMNIS
Featuring: Boulder Concert Chorale in collaboration with Boulder Philharmonic Orchestra
SUNDAY, MAY 4, 2025 | 4:30PM
MACKY AUDITORIUM, BOULDER
APR 12, 2025 @ TBD | Vance Brand Civic Auditorium, Longmont Featuring: Boulder Chamber Chorale in collaboration with Longmont Symphony 2024-2025
ADDITIONAL CONCERTS & COLLABORATIONS
AMAZING
OCT 5, 2024 @ 4:30 PM | Atonement Lutheran Church, Boulder Featuring: Boulder Children’s Chorale
A VISION UNFOLDING
OCT 20, 2024 @ 3 PM | Niwot High School Featuring: Boulder Children’s Chorale Volante and Bel Canto choirs in collaboration with the Longmont Chorale
BOULDER’S SWITCH ON THE HOLIDAYS NOV 24, 2024 @ 5 PM | Downtown Boulder Featuring: Boulder Children’s Chorale and Boulder Concert Chorale
J.S. BACH’S MASS IN B MINOR
Program Notes
From Dr. Vicki Burrichter, Artistic Director - Concert Chorale and Chamber Chorale:
First,IwanttothankmycolleagueLarisaDregerforsteppinginformefortheseholidayconcertswhileIamonleave.Iwillreturnfor rehearsalsinJanuary.Thankyou,Larisa!
ThishasbeenawonderfulyearfortheBoulderConcertandChamberChoralessofar!ThePeacemakersconcert,bySirKarlJenkins, withorchestra,wasacomforttoouraudienceindifficulttimes.SirJenkins’musicisfilledwithbeautifulmelodies,powerfulrhythms, andthetextschosenwerebysomeoftheworld’smostimportantpeacemakers - audiencememberssaidtheywereinspiredand deeplymoved.
Achorusof20sopranosandaltosfromourtwoadultchoirsperformedGustavHolst’sThePlanetswiththeBoulderPhilharmonic as alead-uptoourperformanceofBeethoven’sMissaSolemniswiththePhilontheirseasonfinaleinMay.(Highly-skilledand experiencedsingersmayauditiontojoinusfortheBeethoven.)TheHolstwasparticularlyspecialbecauseofthepresenceof AstronautandBouldernativeSarahGillis,alsoabrilliantviolinist.YoucanfindhervideoofaJohnWilliams’pieceplayedfromtheU.S. SpaceStationonYouTube.
AsifBeethovenwerenotenoughforchoralmasterpiecesthisspring,theChamberChoraleistakingonBach’smonumentalMassinB MinorwiththeLongmontSymphonyfortheirseasonfinaleinmid-April.Weareproudthatouradultchoirsaresomeofthefinestin thestate,sopleasejoinusthisspring!
From Nathan Wubbena, Artistic Director - Boulder Children’s Chorale:
TheBoulderChildren’sChoraleisthrivingaswecelebrateour15thseasonofmakingmusictogether.Thismilestoneisatestamentto thededicationofourincrediblestudents,talentedstaff,andsupportivecommunity.Ourstaff,skilledmusiciansandcollaborative educators,continuetoinspireourfantasticyoungsingers,whobringjoyandhardworktoeverythingtheydo.
Onapersonalnote,thisconcertmarksaspecialmilestoneformeaswell:7½yearswiththisamazingorganization,exactlyhalfofthe Children’sChorale’sjourney.Iamdeeplygratefulforthejoyandinspirationeveryoneinvolvedhasbroughttomylife
Lookingahead,IamparticularlyexcitedaboutourgrandfinaleperformancethisApril.We’vecommissionedalumnaandprofessional composerLeighaAmicktocreateaseven-movementpieceforourchoirsandPhilharmonic,anensemblefromtheGreaterBoulder YouthOrchestras.Thisworkdrawsitstextfromstudents’responsestoquestionsLeighaposed,aswellasfromconversationsduring hervisittoourrehearsalslastMarch.Theseyoungvoicessharemessagesthatarepowerfulandpoignant,remindingusallofthe depthandinsightourstudentsbringtotheworld.
Wearethrilledtopartnerwithlocalnonprofitsthatupliftouryouthandaddressvitalneedsinourcommunity:BoulderMUSE,Colorado FriendShip,OutBoulderCounty,RISEAgainstSuicide,andSt.VrainValleySchoolsEducationFoundation.Together,weaimtoamplify theirmissionsandcelebratetheimportantworktheydo.
Thisprojectistrulyaonce-in-a-lifetimeexperience.Singingwithafullorchestraisamountaintopmomentforanymusician,andIam overjoyedtoofferthisextraordinaryopportunitytoouryoungsingers.Don’tmissVoicesRisingonApril26thand27th come celebratethevoices,dreams,andmessagesoftheseremarkablestudents.
Thankyouforbeingapartofourjourney.Here’sto15yearsofmusic-makingandmanymoretocome!
Carn
“Winter Reverie”
Boulder Chorale & Boulder Children’s Chorale
Sleigh Ride ...............................................................................................................................................
Volante
Maoz Tzur
Winter’s Beauty ......................................................................................................................................
Bel Canto
Leroy Anderson, arr. Hawley Ades
Jewish Traditional, arr. Matt Podd
Mary Donnelly & George L.O. Strid
Snow Song ............................................................................................................................................................... Christina Witten Thomas
Winter Dreams PINKZEBRA
Chamber Chorale
Sure on This Shining Night .................................................................................................................
Morten Lauridsen, Text: James Agee
Magnificat ......................................................................................................................................... Ēriks Ešenvalds, Text: Latin Traditional MariePatrick,soprano
Intermission
Piccolini
Chrissimas Day .............................................................................................................................
English Traditional, arr. Shirley W. McRae
Auxiliary Percussion: AtticusBeard,CorinneChenault,LindenChenault, SanjayPrince,CressidaStricklan,TysonYoung,MelodyZhang
Frosty Weather
Irish Traditional, arr. Margaret Scharff
Piccolini & Prima Voce
Pat-a-Pan ................................................................................................................................................
French Traditional arr. Andy Beck
Prima Voce
Winter’s Stillness ....................................................................................................................................................................... Andrew Parr
Hanerot Halalu ............................................................................................................................. Jewish Traditional, arr. Becky Slage Mayo
Concert Chorale
Sim Shalom .........................................................................................................................................
Daniel Kellog, Text: Jewish Traditional
Ecce Novum .................................................................................................................................................................................... Ola Gjeilo
Concert Chorale, Bel Canto, & Volante
Tundra ....................................................................................................................................................
Soprano Trio: DianaRamzinski,KathrynRatko,AbbyRollins Bel Canto Soprano Septet: CorinneChenault,LindenChenault,EllenHildreth, EvelynMacQuarrie,SanjayPrince,LizRush,MelodyZhang
Boulder Chorale & Boulder Children’s Chorale
Ola Gjeilo, Text: Charles A. Silvestri
Night of Silence
David Kantor, arr. Nathan Wubbena
Please join us in singing “Night of Silence”
1. ThechoirwillsingtheEnglishversionof“NightofSilence.”
2. ThechoirwillsingtheSpanishtranslationof“NightofSilence.”
3. We then invite our audience to join us in “Night of Silence” in either language.
4. Thechoirwillsing“SilentNight.”
5. We then invite our audience to join us in singing either “Night of Silence” or “Silent Night.”
Night of Silence (English)
Cold are the people, winter of life
We tremble in shadows this cold endless night
Frozen in the snow lie roses sleeping
Flowers that will echo the sunrise
Fire of hope is our only warmth
Soon will we know of the morning.
Silent Night (English)
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, Sleep in heavenly peace.
Noche de Silencio (Español)
Frias son las personas, invierno de vida
Nos asustamos en la oscuridad
Durmiendo estan las rosas
Congeladas en la noche
Fuego de fé es la unica vez
Pronto sabremos de la mañana
Noche de paz (Español)
Noche de paz, noche de amor, Todo duerme en derredor.
Entre sus astros que esparcen su luz
Bella anunciando al niñito Jesús
Brilla la estrella de paz
Brilla la estrella de paz
Boulder Chorale Artistic Staff
Dr. Vicki Burrichter
Artistic Director & Conductor
Boulder Concert and Chamber Chorale
Susan Olenwine
Pianist
Boulder Concert and Chamber Chorale
Larisa Dreger
Boulder Children’s Chorale
Volante Director
Matthew Sebald
Collaborative Pianist
Volante
Anna Robinson
Boulder Children’s Chorale
Prima Voce Director
Margaret Schraff
Collaborative Pianist
Prima Voce & Piccolini
Boulder
Nathan Wubbena
Artistic Director Boulder Children’s Chorale & Director Bel Canto
Caitlin Strickland
Collaborative Pianist
Boulder Children’s Chorale Bel Canto
Melody Sebald
Boulder Children’s Chorale
Piccolini Director
Joanna Lynden
Collaborative Pianist
Prima Voce & Piccolini
Longmont
Lyrics
Maoz Tzur
Maoz tzur y’shuati
l’cha naeh l’shabeach
Tikon beit t’filati
v’sham todah n’zabeach.
L’eit tachin matbeach
mitzar hamnabeach
Az egmor b’shir mizmor chanukat hamizbeach
Magnificat
Magníficat ánima mea Dóminum.
Et exultávit spíritus meus: in Deo salutári meo.
Quia respéxit humilitátem ancíllae suae:
Ecce enim ex hoc beátam me dicent omnes generatiónes.
Quia fécit mihi mágna qui pótens est: et sánctum nómen eius.
Et misericórdia eius in progénies et progénies timéntibus eum.
Fécit poténtiam in bráchio suo: dispérsit supérbos mente cordis sui.
Depósuit poténtes de sede: et exaltávit húmiles.
Esuriéntes implévit bonis: et dívites dimísit inánes.
Suscépit Ísrael púerum suum: recordátus misericórdiae suae.
Sicut locútus est ad patres nostros: Ábraham, et sémini eius in saecula.
Glória Patri, et Fílio, et Spirítui Sancto,
Sicut erat in princípio, et nunc, et semper, et in sæcula sæculórum. Amen.
Rock of ages let our song, Praise your saving power. You amid the raging foes, Were our sheltering tower. Furious they assailed us, but your arm availed us, and your word broke their sword when our own strength failed us.
My soul doth magnify the Lord.
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.
Because He hath regarded the humility of His slave:
For behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
Because He that is mighty hath done great things to me; and holy is His name.
And His mercy is from generation unto generations, to them that fear Him.
He hath shewed might in His arm: He hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, and hath exalted the humble.
He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich He hath sent empty away.
He hath received Israel His servant, being mindful of His mercy:
As He spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his seed forever.
Glory be the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, forever and ever, Amen.
Hanerot Halalu
Hanerot Halalu
Sim Shalom
Sim shalom tovah uvrachah, Chen vachesed verachamim, Aleinu veal kol Yisreal, Aleinu veal kol haolam kulo, Barcheinu Avinu Kulanu Keechad Beor paneicha, Sim shalom.
These Chanukah lights we kindle
Establishpeace,well-beingandblessing,grace,loving-kindnessandcompassionuponusanduponallofIsrael,andupontheentire world.
Blessus,ourFather,allofusasonewiththelightofYourcountenance.
Notes from the composer:
“Sim Shalom” is a traditional Hebrew prayer for peace. The title literally means to “grant peace.” I was moved by this beautiful prayer and found it an inspiring text for a holiday concert and certainly an appropriate text for these volatile times. The music moved from quiet pleas for peace to a dramatic outpouring of emotion demanding for peace. My favorite moment is the very quiet music towards the end which prays, “Father, in the light of Your presence we are all as one, grant peace.” ~Daniel Kellogg
Ecce Novum
Ecce, novum gaudium,, Ecce, novum mirum!
Virgo parit filium, Quae non novit virum. Sed ut pirus prium, Gleba fert papyrum, Florens lilium, Ecce, quod natura Mutat sua iura!
Virgo parit pura Dei filium.
Tundra
Wide, worn and weathered, Sacred expanse
Of green and white and granite grey; Snowy patches strewn, Anchored to the craggy earth, Unmoving;
While clouds dance
Across the vast, eternal sky.
Behold, a new joy
Behold, a new wonder!
A Virgin, who knew not a man, Bears a son.
She knew now a man, but as the pear-tree bears the pear, The flourishing papyrus brings The lily from the soil.
See how nature
Changes her laws!
A pure virgin bears The son of God.
Sopranos
Susan Arends*
Karen Bell
Marian Bussey
Alexandra Chapman*
Kathleen Dawson
Tila Duhaime
Sally Elliott
Valerie Epstein-Johnson*
Jill Fender
Dominique Fratkin
Altos
Jamie Albin*
Sharon Alkalay
Dorothea Altgelt
Cynthia Burr Anderson*
Ruth Arnold
Lilli Bailey-Duran*
Anja Brokaw*
Laura Buzek-Underwood*
Caroline Carlson*
Edie Cheng
Hannah Cuviello*
Elizabeth Ellis
Stacie Finucan*
Tenors
Dede Beardsley#
Kevin Duran
Ping He
Baritones & Basses
Vijay Bangaru*
Miguel Ángel Bartolomé*
Speed Franklin*
Jeffrey Hay
*=Chamber Chorale
#=Section Steward
Boulder Concert Chorale
Dr. Vicki Burrichter, Director; Larisa Dreger, Guest Director
Susan Olenwine, Pianist; Caitlin Strickland, Guest Collaborative Pianist
Kathy Frebel
Beverly Gourley
Stacey Green
Jeannette Hillery
Becca Hitchman
Lauren Hogan
Funda Kus
Baiba Lennard*#
Nancy Tynan Lillie
Anne Lowy
Kathi Fry*
Marcia Ginley
Cindie Goldin
Peg Gorce
Kristen Hanslik
Louise Harris
Lauren Karcher
Tess Keefer
Mary Lou Kizer
Katrena Laney*
AJ Lauer
Hong Li
Hollis Correro Markels
Greg Herring*
Peter Job
Michael Lenselink
Ross Holland
Brad Huntting*
Bryce Knutson*
Kevin Lambert
Aislinn McLaughlin*
Sarah Myers
Phoebe Norton
Natalya Paramonova
Marie Patrick*
Sherry Potter
Diana Ramzinski*
Kathryn Ratko*
Paula Ray
Danya River
Lynda Mathis
Robin Mayfield
Vickey Moler*#
Calista Morrill
Judy Newton
Susan Oupadia
Zena Owens
Stacey Pollard*
Patricia Read
Julia Reyburn
Andrea Salazar
Elaine Schnabel
Judy Snook
Dan Mangan*
Myles Mayfield
Herb Rodriguez*
Yan Lin*
Jorge Martins*#
Kelly McKee
Sam Richman
Boulder Philharmonic String Quartet
Yenlik Weiss, violin
Regan Kane, violin
Lee Anderson, viola
Kimberlee Hanto, cello
Abby Rollins*
Julia Rossigno
Liz Rowland
Laurel Seppala-Etra
Sandra Shedd*
Kristine Stenzel*
Jennifer Sutek*
Brianna Walker*
Susan Wood*
Felicia Snyder
Jackie Stonebraker
Terra Thompson
Sadie Trigg*
Janet Tubito
Marjorie Van Dyke
Molly Wang
Lesley Watson*
Diane Weller
Sharman Wilson
John Scheeler
Ryan Westhoff
Michael Shedd*
Colton Sundstrom*
Brad Walters*
Boulder Children’s Chorale
Bel Canto – Nathan Wubbena, Director; Caitlin Strickland, Collaborative Pianist
Clara Bangaru
Atticus Beard
Corinne Chenault
Linden Chenault
Lucia de Alwis
Isla Garcia
Ellen Hildreth
Elsa Hollenbach
Kalina Lambert
Margaret Luján
Evelyn MacQuarrie
Jeffrey Moore
Jamie Pierson
Sanjay Prince
AJ Rojas
Liz Rush
Anika Lucy Smith-Sanny
Cressida Stricklan
Volante – Larisa Dreger, Director; Matthew Sebald, Collaborative Pianist
Alina Beard
Elias Bond
Maggie Cao
Allie Davis
Vivian Edwards
Alden Fitzgerald
Adi Harper
Grayson Inman
Gwendolyn Karcher
Marlowe Kelman-Cantu
Natalia Lucani
Iris Mason
Alexandra Nicolella
Carys Ramzinski
Mia Rogart
Eleanor Rupp
Aria Schultz
Julia Selby
Prima Voce – Anna Robinson, Director; Joanna Lynden, Collaborative Pianist
Aly Abarca
Corinne Acar
Reagan Belleau
Kai Chan
Mason Coppage
Boden Dallaire
Sofia de Alwis
Eleanor Everberg
Elora Fitzgerald
Claudia Held
Julian Inman
Josephine Joyce
Jaxon Kim
Jonas Madsen
Clara Madsen
Madeline Martin
Jack Moore
Olive Nagy
Johannes Lunk Nielsen
Shalini Prince
Madeline Reichert
Peter Reichert
Juniper Ross
Asher Schultz
Piccolini – Melody Sebald, Director; Margaret Schraff, Collaborative Pianist
Edith Connell
Fiona Dinstell
Leo Lopez Donovan
Sophia Emmerich
Veronica Emmerich
Lucas Garcia
Susan Arends,President
Kathy Czerny, PastPresident
Lillian Diane Guiles
Gresham Long
Kai Matje
Gabriel Mitzner
Louisa Mulcahy
Margaret Nzuonkwelle
Keela Quitmeyer
Leora Quitmeyer
Lucy Quitmeyer
Theodore Screpanti
Alexander Screpanti
Jackson Stone
Board & Staff
Greg Herring, Treasurer
Laurel Seppala-Etra, Secretary
Colin Crake
Manager, Concert & Chamber Chorale
Alexandra Chapman, Director
Markisha Key-Hagan, Director
Milo Tromey
Tyson Young
Melody Zhang
Oliver Stockton
Raina Warren
Cecilia Westhoff
Claire Siohan
Marleigh Taylor
Soleil Thompson
Easton Warren
Irene Wildenberg
Jordan Woods
Eliya Woody
Olivia Zhang
Mimi Weiss-Requiro
Charlotte Wisniewski
James Wubbena
Corinne Austin Yeldell
Addison Graves BlackClemons
Michael Moore, Director
Jackie Stone, Director
Eileen Krenzel Rojas
Manager, Boulder Children’s Chorale
Concert & Chamber Artistic Director
Dr. Vicki Burrichter has been called “one of the most innovative choral programmers in the country.” Highlights include Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concerts (which the chorus took to the Netherlands in the summer of 2019 with three Grammy-nominated musicians); Carnival Brazil with the Boulder Samba School and Ginga; the Tangos of Argentina with the Austin Piazzolla Quintet; Between Heaven and Earth – Hindustani classical music with JamKeyJam; Cherubini’s Requiem with the Boulder Chamber Orchestra; Brahms’ Shicksalslied with the Boulder Philharmonic; and Dvořák’s Stabat Mater with the Boulder Symphony Orchestra. Previous work includes Voices of Light, set to the 1927 Carl Dreyer’s film, The Passion of Joan of Arc; Sing for the Cure with the Colorado Symphony and 200 singers; Mary Lou Williams’ Mary Lou’s Mass at the DCPA with the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble; founding the SOAR! Youth and Adult Choir, which mentored foster/adopted children in choral music and life skills and winning a Gold Medal at the New York Choral Festival with her chamber choir of ten years, Canto Spiritus. Dr. Burrichter is on the Humanities faculty at Western Governors University. Her mentors and teachers include conductors Marin Alsop, Vance George, Pierre Boulez, and Robert Shaw.
Boulder Children’s Chorale Artistic Director
Nathan Wubbena received his Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Northern Colorado in 2011, and his Master of Music in Music Education with a Conducting Specialization at Colorado State University in 2018. He has extensive experience conducting ensembles and students of all levels; he is also the Artistic Director of the Longmont Chorale, as well as Board President and Founder of Ascent Vocals. In 2015, Nathan received the Outstanding Young Music Educator Award from the Colorado Music Educators Association. He is Chair Emeritus of the Colorado Middle All State Choir board, of which he was a founding board member. Mr. Wubbena has served as a guest clinician and conductor throughout the state of Colorado, directing Honor Choirs in Colorado Springs, Fort Collins, the Western Slope, and Northeastern Colorado, as well as the Directors Choirs for Western State Colorado University and Middle School All State. He also adjudicates at ACDA festivals and Music in the Parks. It is Nathan’s firm belief that music is for everyone; he works tirelessly to make that a reality for young and old alike, and then to create an environment where music and collaboration can bring beauty and joy to all.
Larisa Dreger was with the Boulder Chorale from 2016-2022 and rejoined again in 2024 as the Volante Director. Larisa Dreger received her Bachelor of Music Education and Master of Music in Choral Conducting from the University of Northern Colorado. She has taught a variety of subjects elementary general music, middle school choirs, guitar, orchestra, drama, and coached high school marching band in four school districts along the Front Range. Larisa is in her 15th year of teaching and currently teaches K-5 general music, drama, yoga club, and choir at Meadow Point Elementary School in the Cherry Creek School District.
In addition to teaching in school settings, Larisa has worked for multiple community choir organizations in various capacities Boulder Chorale, Boulder Children’s Chorale, and the Colorado Springs Children’s Chorale. She has a passion for instilling the love of music from a young age and hopes that involvement in music becomes a constant source of joy over the course of her students’ lives to develop lifelong musicians be that as performers, educators, consumers, or music advocates. She also maintains a private lesson studio, and continues to freelance as a flutist, vocalist, and choir clinician along the Front Range. She was a founding member of the Colorado Elementary All-State Choir Board, served on the Colorado Middle All State Choir Board from 2016-2020, and currently serves on the CoACDA Board as the Children’s and Youth R&R Chair. She is extremely honored and grateful to be directing Volante.
Anna Robinson received her Bachelor’s of Music Education from DePauw University in Greencastle, IN and a Master’s Degree in Music from Colorado State University. Anna has taught elementary school general music for 14 years including 10 years in Telluride, CO. She currently teaches general music and after school choir at Padilla Elementary School in Brighton, CO. While living in Telluride, Anna sang with the Telluride Choral Society in the adult Chorale and Chamber Singers. In addition to the large ensembles, Anna performed with a quartet called “The Jeweltones” and another group called “The Renaissance Singers”. She also served as the Vocal and Music Director for the Telluride Theatre company and performed several roles in their musical productions; her favorite being “Audrey” in Little Shop of Horrors. Anna serves on the CMEA general music council and on the board of the Regional Organization of Colorado Kodaly Educators. In her spare time, Anna is somewhat of a gym rat and enjoys reading, theatre, hiking, and watching sports.
Melody Sebald holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from the University of North Dakota. She is currently pursuing her Master of Music Degree with a concentration in Kodály from Colorado State University. During her time at UND, Melody received the coveted undergraduate choral conducting scholarship and worked under the tutelage of Melanie Popejoy. Melody currently teaches elementary music to over 400 students in Jefferson County Public Schools. In 2022, she received Jeffco’s Talented Teacher Award in the category Unsung Hero. She is an active member of ACDA, NAfME, and OAKE. She likes to play board games with her husband, go on walks with her dog, and read in her spare time.
Susan Olenwine has been a collaborative pianist before the term was created. In her years at the Manhattan School of Music, where she earned both BMus and MMus degrees, she was able to develop the skill playing with fellow vocal and instrumental students and professionals. She further mastered her proficiency with an MMus in Collaborative Piano at CU Boulder.
She took a detour and entered the field of music administration and held management positions with orchestras, Connecticut Public Radio, and Yale School of Music, where she was the Director of Finance and Administration. In Connecticut Ms. Olenwine was well known in the Greater New Haven area as a recitalist and ensemble musician. In 2001 she traveled with the Yale Alumni Chorus to Russia, England, and Wales and was the soloist with the Bolshoi Orchestra in Moscow’s Tchaikovsky Hall, and with London’s Royal Philharmonic in St. Paul’s Cathedral. She also concertized in Austria and Denmark, appearing as a soloist with the US Air Forces Band.
Her many affiliations include various choral ensembles, Bridgeport Symphony, Orchestra New England, Reno Philharmonic, Nevada Opera, University of Nevada/Reno, Longmont Symphony, Boulder Bach Festival, and Pro Musica.
Since arriving in Boulder, she has continued to be a partner to singers and instrumentalists and has been a collaborative pianist at CU Boulder and Metro University. She is on the faculty of the Center for Musical Arts and has been the pianist for the Boulder Chorale since 2010.
“. . . pianist Susan Olenwine, whose sensitivity, dynamic control, and idiomatic sympathy make her an ideal partner.” FanfareMagazine
Caitlin Strickland holds a Master of Music in Piano Performance from the University of Colorado-Boulder. During her time there she won numerous regional competitions including MTNA and the Nancy Clark Piano Competition. In 2000, she was a featured performer at the International Piano Festival in Houston, TX. The following year she was accepted as a student at L’École de Musique in Paris, and had the opportunity to study and perform at the International Piano Sessions in Prague. Ms. Strickland has extensive experience as an accompanist and has performed with Opera Colorado, Boulder Opera, Boulder Bach Festival, Boulder Suzuki Strings, Arvada Center Chorale, and Resonance Women’s Chorus. She has performed both solo and collaborative recitals throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. She lives in the mountains outside of Nederland with her husband and 17 year old son.
Known for his bold performance presence and praised as a “dedicated musician”, Matthew Sebald is very active as a collaborative pianist and vocal coach. He recently graduated with a Master of Music degree in Collaborative Piano from CU Boulder and is pursuing his DMA in this field starting this fall. As a collaborative pianist, Matthew has experience playing for both instrumentalists and vocalists, from beginners to professional musicians. His most recent engagement was a trip to the XVIII World Saxophone Congress in Croatia where he collaborated with Dr. Scott Sandberg (UND) in the premiere of Catherine McMichael’s Duality for tenor saxophone and piano. Matthew has also proven himself to be an accomplished soloist; some of his accolades include winner of the 2016 BismarckMandan Symphony Orchestra Concerto competition and UND’s 2015 Mozart Piano Concerto competition, and runner-up for the 2017 Greater Grand Forks Concerto Competition. His experience as a pianist/harpsichordist in small and large ensembles includes the Red River Trio 2016-2017, the UND Chamber Orchestra 2017-2018, CU Boulder’s Symphony Orchestra 2020-2021, and CU Boulder’s Chamber Singers 2021.
Margaret Scharff began the study of piano at age 5. She performed as a soloist with her local youth orchestra at age 11. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Piano Performance from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 1998, and a Master’s degree in Piano Performance in 2002. After her education, Margaret began teaching private students, as well as accompanying choirs and church services, and free-lancing as a pianist. She has worked for three Unitarian Universalist churches, and is currently an accompanist at Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church and Congregation Har HaShem. She has accompanied the Arvada Chorale and the Boulder Messiah Chorale. Besides studying piano, Margaret has also conducted choirs, studied organ, and collaborated in piano trios at the Yellow Barn Chamber Music Festival in Vermont. She currently lives in Boulder with her husband and daughter, and loves to hike and travel.
Joanna Lynden, a graduate of CU Boulder, BMusEd, is a pianist, organist, composer/arranger, choir director, and retired Boulder Valley School District music educator who grew up in the Chicago area and studied piano as a teenager at the American Conservatory of Music. She has had a long career playing organ (teachers include Carole Terry, Everett Hilty, and Elizabeth Farr) and serving as musical director for various churches wherever she has lived in her rather nomadic life: San Francisco, Seattle, southern Oregon, St. Gallen, Switzerland, and the greater Boulder area. She has been accompanist for the Rocky Mountain Chorale, and in the Ashland, Oregon area played for the Rogue Valley Children’s Chorales, Rogue Valley Opera Outreach, Camelot Musical Theater productions (Gigi, Cats, Cinderella, Secret Garden, Les Miserables) and its summer conservatory camps for youth. Joanna directed and wrote for the Boulder-based women’s a cappella group, IRIS, which produced three albums and two multi-media shows. She is currently pianist for the Lyons Community Church and for the last eight years has accompanied eurythmy and choir classes at Shining Mountain Waldorf School in Boulder. When not involved in professional activities, Joanna loves to garden, hike, spend time with family and friends, travel, create herbal medicines, and volunteer with Hospice as a member of the Boulder Threshold Singers.
