Choral Chameleon: 2011 - She Sings Program

presents

3.13.11 5:00 pm Vince Peterson, Artistic Director Fourth Universalist Society 160 Central Park West at 76th Street, New York

Dear Friends, Thanks for coming to “She Sings!” Today we are thrilled to be honoring the phenomenal work of women composers. In the words of Susan B. Anthony: “Forget what the world will say. Whether you are in your place or out of your place, forget conventionalism(s). The influence has gone forth, the great ocean has been moved, and those who watch, even now may see the mighty waves of truth slowly swelling on the shores of time.”

In her eloquent pre-concert talk, Stephanie points out that composers are composers. It doesn’t matter if they are men, women, black, white, gay or straight. What matters is how each of them allows us, if only for a brief time, to look into their heart long enough to understand what they mean. In the words of don Miguel Ruiz, a nagual and teacher of Toltec wisdom: “My teacher opened his chest and took out his heart, and he took a beautiful flame from his heart. Then he opened my chest, opened my heart, and he put that little flame inside it. He put my heart back in my chest, and as soon as my heart was inside me, I felt intense love, because the flame he put in my heart was his own love.”

Is this not what any composer does? Although we may not understand what divides us in society, it’s not difficult to see how these divisions dissolve in the hands of those who carry this “flame” of love. Choral Chameleon was built on love, its foundation created by the coming together of people. It continues to be built in an age when we stand on the precipice of a new society where value is not determined by gender, age, sexual orientation, race or religion. It is so exciting for us to be a musical and “chameleonic” voice during this time. We think, for this reason, that the work we are doing together is some of the most important work that can be done in the music world right now.

Thanks again for being here and being a part of it. Your support means so much to us.

Vince Peterson Artistic Director

She Sings! is made possible in part with public funds from the Fund for Creative Communities, supported by New York State Council on the Arts and administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, and with public funds from the Manhattan Community Arts Fund, supported by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council.

Choral Chameleon welcomes new volunteers: in particular, the board is looking for new members with experience in publicity, marketing, bookkeeping and accounting.

Consider deepening your relationship with us; volunteering your time and skills on our board of directors is a great way to make connections, broaden your horizons and help us to keep the Chameleon going and growing.

ACkNowLeDgeMeNtS

BoArD oF DireCtorS Cathy Solomon, President Vince Peterson, Artistic Director Steven Smith, Director of Education Outreach Mario Dell’Olio Guilford W. Forbes Bebe Landis Karla Robertson Evan Crawford (ex officio) Kelly Baxter Golding (ex officio)

Our thanks to: The Fourth Universalist Society, Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt and Darius Lang Allan Gorman, Owner, Brandspa Janna Taylor, Mindful Tutors Web design: Matthew Brown, muglug.com Art design: Marc Bovino, marcbovino.com Photography: Amanda Peskin, amandapeskin.com Program layout & design: Kelly Baxter Golding and special thanks to all of our volunteers.

SHE SINGS out of Her Place - rebekah Driscoll (b.1980) Erika Lloyd, Soloist

two Cuban Folk Songs - tania León (b.1943) Drume Negrita El Manisero

Southern grace - Jennifer Higdon (b.1962) Fiddlin’ Wildwood Flower Swing My True Love’s Hair The Fox Riddle Song Sourwood Mountain Amazing Grace Julie Waters, Johanna Bronk, Kelly Baxter Golding, Joshua Diamant and Mark Johnson, Soloists

How Can i keep from Singing? - arr. gwyneth walker (b.1947) iNterMiSSioN Mary Lou’s Mass - Mary Lou williams PRELUDE 1: Old Time Spiritual PRELUDE 2: Praise the Lord PRELUDE 3: I Have A Dream - Vince Peterson, Soloist THE MASS BEGINS: The Lord Says - Vince Peterson, Soloist Act of Contrition - Gates Thomas, Soloist Kyrie Eleison (Lord Have Mercy) Gloria - Johanna Bronk, Marshall Bessières, Soloists In His Day - Johanna Bronk, Soloist Lazarus - Gates Thomas, Soloist The Apostles’ Creed - Julie Waters, Soloist Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) - Joshua Diamant, Soloist Our Father - Johanna Bronk, Soloist Lamb of God People in Trouble Praise the Lord (Come Holy Spirit) - Joseph Bellino, Soloist POSTLUDE: “O.W.”

Brad whiteley, Piano Cameron Mizell, guitar Christopher Nolte, Bass kenneth Salters, Drums with Special guest: Salim washington, Flute and Saxophone

TExTS out oF Her PLACe (2010) - reBekAH DriSCoLL (B.1980) Forget conventionalisms; Forget what the world will say, Whether you are in your place or out of your place; Think your best thoughts, Speak your best words, Do your best works, Looking only to your own conscience for approval.

There is so much Amid all that is so hopeful, To discourage and dishearten— And I feel alone...

But I think I am good for a great deal of work yet...

For it is the brave and courageous who dare to strike out alone— And it is they who will not surrender...

The influence has gone forth, The great ocean has been moved, And those who watch, even now may see the mighty waves of truth Slowly swelling on the shores of time.

text: Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906)

two CuBAN FoLk SoNgS (2002) - Arr. tANiA LeóN (B.1943) 1. Drume Negrita (Sleep, Little Black Girl), 1942 Mamá, la negrita Se le salen lo pié la cunita Y la negra Medsé Ya no sabe quea se.

Mama, the little black girl Her feet hanging out the crib And the black woman Medsé At a loss of what to do.

Tu drume negrita Que yo va compra nueva cunita Que va tené capité Que va tené cák-kabé.

Sleep, little black girl Me will buy new little crib That will have headboard That will have little bells.

Si tu drume yo te traigo un mamey muy colorao Y si no drume yo te trae un babalao que da páu páu.

If you sleep, I will bring you a very red mamey fruit.

If you don’t sleep, I will bring you a priest who will spank you.

Ernesto Grenet (1908-1981) 2. El Manisero (The Peanut Vendor), 1928 Maní, maní, maní Que si te quieres por el pico divertir, Comprame un cucurichito de maní.

Peanuts, peanuts, peanuts So if you want to have fun through your mouth, Buy me a little bag of peanuts.

Maní, maní, maní Caserita no te acuestes a dormir, Sin comer un cucurucho de maní.

Peanuts, peanuts, peanuts Little housewife don’t go to sleep tonight Without eating a little bag of peanuts.

Que calentico y rico está Ya no se puede pedir más.

They are so warm and delicious That one can’t ask for more.

Ay caserita no me dejes ir Porque después te vas a arrepentir Y va ser muy tarde ya.

Oh, little housewife, don’t let me go ‘Cause then you’ll be sorry And it will be too late.

Manisero se va Caserita no te acuestes a dormir, Sin comer un cucurucho de maní

Peanut vendor is leaving!

Little housewife don’t go to sleep tonight Without eating a little bag of peanuts

Cuando la calle solo está Casera de mi corazón, El manisero entona su pregón Y si la niña escucha mi cantar Llama desde su balcón.

When the street is deserted Little housewife of my heart, The peanut vendor sings his song And if a little girl hears my singing She beckons from her balcony.

Dame de tu maní Que esta noche no voy a poder dormir Sin comer un cucurucho de maní.

Give me some of your peanuts ‘Cause tonight I won’t be able to sleep Without eating a bag of peanuts.

Moisés Simons (1889-1945)

SoutHerN grACe (1998) - JeNNiFer HigDoN (B.1962) BASeD oN

APPALACHiAN FoLk SoNgS

1. Fiddlin’ 2. Wildwood Flower I’ll twine with my ring, made of raven black hair, A rose so red, and a lily so fair, The myrtle so green, with its emerald hue, And pale ermeta with eyes of dark blue.

He taught me to love him, he called me his flower, A blossom to cheer him through life’s weary hour; I’ll wake from my dream, for my idol is clay, My passion for loving him has vanished away.

He taught me to love him, he promised me to love, To cherish me always all others above, Another has won him, I’m sorry to tell, He left me no warning, no words of farewell.

I’ll dance and I’ll sing and my life shall be gay, I’ll stop this wild weeping and drive my sorrow away, I’ll live yet to see him make right that dark hour When he neglected his frail wildwood flower.

3. Swing Way down low in the cedar swamp, waters deep and muddy, There I met a pretty little miss, there I kissed my honey.

Swing a lady up and down, swing a lady home.

Built my love a big fine house, built it in the garden, Put her in and she jumped out, fare you well, my darlin’.

Black-eyed girl is mad at me, blue-eyed girl won’t have me, If I can’t get the one I love, I guess I’ll never marry.

The older she gets, the prettier she gets, I tell you she’s my honey, Makes me work all through the week and get stove wood on Sunday.

4. My True Love’s Hair Black is the color of my true love’s hair, His face is something wondrous and fair, The prettiest eyes and the neatest hands, I love the ground whereon he stands.

I love my love, and well he knows, I love the ground whereon he goes, If you on earth no more I see, I can’t serve you as you have me.

The winter’s past and the leaves are green, The time is past that we have seen, But still I hope the time will come, When you and I shall be as one.

My own true love, so fare you well, The time has come, but I wish you well, But still I hope the time would come When you and I shall be as one.

I go to Clyde for to weep, But satisfied I never sleep, I’ll write to you a few lines, I’ll suffer death ten thousand times.

5. The Fox The fox started out one moonshiny night, He prayed for the Lord to give him light, For he had a mile to go that night before he reached his den-e-o.

He came at last to the farmer’s yard, Where the ducks and chickens were plenty, “Oh, one of you will grease my beard, I’ll take you to my den-e-o.”

He grabbed an old black duck by the neck, And he threw her across his shoulder, The old black duck said, “Quack! Quack!” and its long legs hung down-e-o.

Old Granny Slipper Slopper jumped out of her bed, And out the window poked her gray head.

“John, John, the black duck’s gone with the fox straight to his den-e-o!”

Old Johnny Slipper Slopper jumped out of bed, He fell against the table and he bumped his head, He fell over the cradle and thought he was dead and the fox got to his den-e-o.

Old Slipper Slopper ran to the top of the hill, And he blew his horn so loud and shrill, But the fox got the best of the music still, safe home inside his den-e-o.

6. Riddle Song

I gave my love a cherry that had no stone, I gave my love a chicken that had no bones, I gave my love a ring that had no end, I gave my love a baby with no cryin’.

How can there be a cherry with no stone? How can there be a chicken with no bones?

How can there be a ring that has no end? How can there be a baby with no cryin’?

A cherry when it’s bloomin’, it has no stone. A chicken when it’s pippin’, it has no bones.

A ring when it’s rollin’, it has no end. A baby when it’s sleepin’ has no cryin’.

7. Sourwood Mountain Chickens a-crowin’ on Sourwood Mountain, Get your dog and we’ll go hunting.

I got a gal in the head of the hollow, She won’t come and I won’t call her.

She sits up there with ol’ Si Hall, Me and him can’t go at all.

One of these days, and it won’t be long, I’ll get that gal, and home I’m gone.

8. Amazing Grace Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind, but now I see.

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved, How precious did that grace appear, the hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come.

It is grace that brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.

How sweet the name of Jesus sounds to a believer’s ear It soothes his sorrow, heals his wounds, and drives away his fear.

When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun, We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we had first begun.

How CAN i keeP FroM SiNgiNg? (C. 1800, 1996) - QuAker HYMN, Arr. gwYNetH wALker (B. 1947) My life flows on in endless song above earth’s lamentation.

I hear the real though distant song that hails a new creation.

Through all the tumult and the strife I hear the music ringing.

It sounds an echo in my soul, how can I keep from singing?

What though the tempest loudly roars, I hear the truth, it’s living!

What though the darkness ‘round me close, songs in the night it’s giving!

No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that rock I’m clinging.

Since I believe that love abides, how can I keep from singing?

When tyrants tremble when they hear the bells of freedom ringing, When friends rejoice both far and near, how can I keep from singing?

In prison cell, in dungeon dark, our thoughts to them are winging.

When friends hold courage in their heart, how can I keep from singing?

MArY Lou’S MASS (1964) - MArY Lou wiLLiAMS (1910-1981) Prelude 1: Old Time Spiritual Prelude 2: Praise the Lord

Praise the Lord from heaven, Praise Him in the heights, Praise Him, all you angels, Praise Him, all you hosts.

Praise Him, sun and moon, Praise Him, all you waters, Praise Him, fire and hail, Praise Him, all you mountains.

Praise Him from the earth, Praise Him, fog and mist, Praise Him, all you creatures, Praise Him, blast of horn.

Prelude 3: I Have a Dream I have a dream, yes, a dream.

Listen, oh Lord, when I pray, My people shall be free.

Here will be love, from north to south, From mountain top, let freedom ring!

1. The Lord Says The Lord says, I think thoughts of peace and not of affliction.

You shall call upon me and I will hear you, And I will bring back your captivity from all places.

Lord, you have favored your land, You have restored the well-being of Jacob. Thank you.

2. Act of Contrition O my God, I detest all the sins of my life Sorry for having offended Thee, Who art all good.

I resolve, with the help of Thy grace, O God, never to sin again.

3. Kyrie Eleison (Lord Have Mercy) For our lack of faith, For our lack of hope, For our failure to care, Lord have mercy.

For lettin’ ourselves be paralyzed with fear, For our division, For our jealousies, Christ have mercy.

For our hatred, For not being peacemakers, For our lies, Lord, have mercy on our souls.

4. Gloria Glory to God above all things Peace on earth to all loved by God. We praise You, we bless You, we thank You Because You are Who You are.

Lord, God, King, Father, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ, Lord God, Lamb of God, Lord, God, Son of God. 5. In His Day In His day justice shall flourish and peace ‘til the moon fails.

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Alleluia.

6. Lazarus There was a selfish rich man who clothed himself in purple and fine linen There also was a beggar man named Lazarus who laid at the gate of the rich man’s door Full of sores and hungry, begging crumbs from the rich man’s table.

Even his dogs came to lick his sores.

The rich man showed no pity to Lazarus’ plea and scorn was Lazarus’ lot.

So God took pity on poor Lazarus and gave him peace.

He sent His angels to carry poor Lazarus into the bosom of Abraham.

The rich man also died and was buried and as he burned in hell, He saw the beggar man, Lazarus, safe in the bosom of Abraham.

He cried, “Father, Father, send Lazarus to cool my parching tongue, ‘Cause I didn’t mean all the misery I’ve caused and all the bad things I have done.

Have mercy on me, Father.”

But the Lord said, “Son, in your time, you received all the good things in life, But poor Lazarus, beggar, received nothing but pain and strife.

Now Lazarus is comforted and you are burning in the halls of flame And there’s no way for you to cleanse your deeds for God never knew your name.”

“Father, Father, send Lazarus to my house That he may warn them about the flames and what it’s all about.”

Then Abraham said, “They have Moses, let them hear his cry, For if they don’t repent their evil ways, they will surely die.”

7. The Apostles’ Creed And I believe in the Father Almighty And in one God who made heaven and earth And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord Conceived by the Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, died, and was buried.

And on the third day He rose again, Ascended into heaven Sitting at the right hand of the Father And He will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit The holy, sanctifying, apostolic Church The communion of saints The forgiveness of sins And the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting, amen.

8. Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) Turn aside from evil and do good Seek and strive after peace.

Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of hosts.

Heaven and earth are filled with Your glory Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

9. Our Father Our Father, Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors.

Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God. Amen.

10. Lamb of God Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world.

Have mercy on us. Grant us peace.

11. People in Trouble Give us peace, O Lord, send us peace, O Lord.

People in trouble, children in pain, too weak to care, too mean to share, Worked so hard tryin’ to find a brother, became impatient. Now we hate each other.

O God, come to our aid, make haste to help us, O God, if you will, you can cure us.

O Jesus Who has loved us so much, have pity on us.

For we believe, increase our faith, you are the resurrection and the life.

Save us, Jesus, before we perish.

12. Praise the Lord (Come Holy Spirit) Come, Holy Spirit, in nature one with both the Father and the Son Shed forth Thy grace within Thy breast and dwell with us a ready guest.

By every power, by heart and tongue, by act and deed, Thy praise be sung Inflame with perfect love each sense that other souls may kindle thence.

In this, most gracious Father, hear through Christ, Thy equal Son, our prayer Who with the Holy Ghost and Thee doth live and reign eternally.

Clap your hands!

Praise the Lord in Heaven, Praise Him in the heights Praise Him, all you angels, Praise Him, all you hosts.

Praise Him, sun and moon, Praise Him, all you shining stars.

Clap your hands!

Praise the Lord from the earth, Praise the Lord with blast of horn Praise the Lord with lyre and harp, Praise the Lord with cymbal and drum Praise the Lord with string and pipe, Praise the Lord with timbrel and dance Praise the Lord with fire and hail, Praise the Lord with sun and mist Sea monsters praise Him, one and all, you creeping things, you winged fowl, Praise Him, you animals tame and wild, all you mountains, all you hills Fruit trees, cedar trees, river and rills, raging storm that fulfills His word.

Postlude: O.W.

Changing the Voice of Choral Music ARTISTIC DIRECTOR Vince Peterson

SOPRANOS

ALTOS

TENORS

BASSES

Evan Crawford Erika Lloyd Julie Waters

Kelly Baxter Golding Johanna Bronk Jacqueline Perez

Marshall Bessières Joshua Diamant Gates Thomas

Joseph Bellino Justin Randolph Mark Johnson

the mission of Choral Chameleon is to engage its listeners in a diverse and innovative musical experience through its integrative concert programming and education outreach.

KELLy BAxTER-GOLDING, mezzo-soprano, has been a choral performer since her teens. She has experience in styles ranging from original notation chant to new music, and has appeared as a soloist with many groups in her native Canada. Kelly was a member of Tokyo’s acclaimed Baroque ensemble Bach Collegium Japan when it launched its cantata recording series on the BIS label. Kelly wears many hats in her life; among them: administrator, Tae Kwon Do blue belt, and mother to sons Jamie and AJ. She is delighted by the energy and diversity of Choral Chameleon.

JOSEPH BELLINO, baritone, a native of eastern Long Island and a resident of Astoria, Queens, graduated SUNY Fredonia with a bachelor’s degree in music with a concentration in classical voice. Joseph was invited to study classical voice abroad in Lucca, Italy, for one summer and has studied acting at HB Studios and TVI Actors Studio in New York City. He has been a professional cantor and pianist for the Catholic Church for over twelve years and is also currently working for Ghirardelli Chocolate Company as an outside sales representative in charge of building the company’s presence in New York City. Joseph has performed in numerous theatrical productions including: J. Pierrepont Finch in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Judge Turpin in Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd, Rapunzel’s Prince in Into the Woods, Barnaby Tucker in Hello, Dolly! and Benny Southstreet in Guys and Dolls. Some of Joseph’s passions and hobbies include: world travel, fine food & wine, martial arts (Aikido) and continuing to hone his craft as a singer and actor. Joseph is delighted to be a part of this incredibly talented group of musicians known as Choral Chameleon.

MARSHALL BESSIèRES, tenor, is a singer, composer, and music educator based in New York City. His works have been performed by Hexnut, Wet Ink Ensemble, Clogs, Aeros Wind Quintet, and the Santa Clara Chamber Singers, among others. Marshall has taught composition and music technology at Santa Clara University. Since 2003 he has been on the faculty of the Walden School’s Young Musicians Program, a 5-week summer school, camp, and festival for young musicians ages 10-18. He recently joined the faculty of Walden’s Teacher Training Institute, working with music educators from around the world to share Walden’s unique approach to music education. Marshall has a degree in composition and piano performance from Santa Clara University, where he studied with Pamela Layman Quist, Pat Plude, and Teresa McCollough. He is thrilled to be joining Choral Chameleon for his first season!

JOHANNA BRONK, alto, has a love for close harmonies, heart-strumming texts, and rhythmic maneuverability. Johanna is overjoyed to join Choral Chameleon, where she can indulge these passions in the intimate setting of 12 nuanced musicians. She currently sings in three vocal groups, including Polyhymnia early music ensemble and St. Bartholomew’s choir. In 2009 Johanna graduated with a degree in vocal performance from Oberlin Conservatory, where she studied with Kendra Colton. Featured performances at Oberlin include “Architecture” in Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s Les Arts Florissants, performed also at the 2009 Boston Early Music Festival, and Osvaldo Golijov’s Ayre, performed in concert with puppets. When not on stage, Johanna can be seen biking across bridges, harvesting kale, or watching yeast ferment.

EVAN CRAWFORD, soprano, is thrilled to be singing with the talented members of Choral Chameleon. A devotee of new opera and musical theater as well as choral music, Evan’s recent roles include Brigid in Susan Stoderl’s The Veil of Forgetfulness and Betty in Christian McLeer’s House. Evan has performed as a soloist at the Bel Canto Institute in Florence, and in 2008 toured with the Beijing Olympics Festival Chorus. Other notable choral work includes the soprano solo in Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms with the Brooklyn College Chorale and the world premiere of Christian McLeer’s Requiem with the Brooklyn-based Remarkable Theater Brigade. A graduate assistant at Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music, Evan teaches a voice production and technique class for music education students and maintains a private voice studio in Brooklyn.

JOSHuA DIAMANT, tenor, is delighted to join Choral Chameleon this season as someone who has always tried to break down artificial genre boundaries in all of his musical activities. A native of Long Island, he holds a B.A. in ethnomusicology from Columbia University, spent the following three years as the managing editor of a local newspaper, and is currently a graduate student in music education at Brooklyn College and a private tutor in numerous subjects for one of the large nationwide test-prep companies.

Deeply involved in the world of Jewish choral music, he also sings with the Zamir Chorale and conducts the Long Island chapter of its teen affiliate, HaZamir: The International Jewish High School Choir. He studies conducting with Vince Peterson. Love to all the good people.

MARK JOHNSON, bass, has worked with a cappella ensembles of every size and a broad range of musical styles. He attended the Eastman School of Music, where he studied oboe and conducting.

His most notable vocal work has been with composer Toby Twining, who writes new music for voices in extended just intonation, employing special vocal techniques from around the world.

He was music director, producer, and singer for Chrysalid Requiem (2002) and Eurydice (to be released on Cantaloupe Music in January, 2011).

He has worked extensively with The Western Wind, as producer for their recordings and ensemble coach at their workshops. Some of his a cappella arrangements can be heard sung by the Western Wind on My Funny Valentine (1997). He has also been a frequent clinician at Studio Arsis vocal workshops in Tokyo. Since 2004 he has sung bass with Marble Collegiate

Church in NYC under the direction of Ken Dake.

Mark is also a music copyist and editor, and piano tuner, all of which he gets to do at Marble.

ERIKA LLOyD, soprano, is a Brooklyn-based singer and painter, most widely known as the lead singer and songwriter for the indie rock band Little Grey Girlfriend. She received her Bachelors of Voice Performance, Early Music, from Indiana University in 2005. Her love of early repertoire is evident in much of the performing she does today. She is the soprano with The Good Pennyworths, a Renaissance vocal quartet with lute; you can also hear her every Sunday as the featured soloist and section leader of the Union Church of Bay Ridge Choir. As one of the original singers of Choral Chameleon, she is thrilled to continue to break boundaries in music! Visit her on the web at www.erikalloydmusic.com.

JACquELINE PEREz, alto, began singing in grade school and has been singing ever since. She received a BA degree from Colgate University with a major in biology/minor in music. She graduated from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency training in the Primary Care Internal Medicine Program at Saint Vincent’s Catholic Medical Center in NYC. She has studied voice and cabaret and performed in musical theatre, cabaret and with various choral groups of all shapes and sizes. She currently sings in Manhattan with The Ignatian Schola (www.ignatianschola.com), the Choir of St. Francis Church and in various church and musical settings in the NYC area. When not singing Jackie is a Spiritual Director, Retreat Director, Speaker/Presentor. She recently became the Jesuit Provincial Assistant for Health Care of the New York Society of Jesus and continues to practice Internal Medicine in the Mount Sinai Community Medicine Program (formerly St. Vincent’s Hospital) Lutheran Family Health Affiliate.

Jackie is privileged and blessed to be part of such an amazing and talented group of “Chameleons” and is deeply grateful to Vince for asking! Peace out…

GATES THOMAS, tenor, is a New York-based composer, conductor, multi-instrumentalist, and recording producer. He has worked with Paula Cole, Bobby McFerrin, Pat Metheny, Gary Burton, Jim Hall, Will Lee, John Scofield, Sadao Watanabe, the New American Orchestra of Chicago, and the Los Angeles-based a cappella group M*PACT. Gates is music director at the Fourth Universalist Society in Manhattan, and associate professor of contemporary writing and production at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Gates grew up in Dav-

enport, Iowa, where he attended public schools and took his first piano lessons at age five — the repertoire was Beatles, Bacharach, and Jobim — then started on violin in the fourth grade. He studied violin and composition and earned a B.A. in American history at Northwestern University and was subsequently a Lawrence and Alma Berk Scholar at Berklee. He has presented master classes throughout North America and at the l’Ottava school in Rome. Hear samples of Gates Thomas’s work at www.myspacemusic.com/ gatesthomas.

JuSTIN RANDOLPH, bass, is a singer and actor with extensive performance experience in opera, musical theatre, theatre, and film. Favorite opera and musical theatre roles include The Magic Flute (Papageno), The Marriage of Figaro (The Count), Die Fledermaus (Falke), Into the Woods (Cinderella’s Prince & The Wolf), Camelot (Mordred), and The Pirates of Penzance (Samuel). Justin has performed internationally with The Centro Italiani Festival di Opera in Urbania, Italy, and with The Neil Semer Vocal Institute in Coesfeld, Germany. He holds an M. M. in vocal performance and a B. M. in voice performance and theatre studies form Bowling Green State University. For more information please visit www.justinrandolph.com.

JuLIE WATERS, soprano, moved to New York City in 2008 from Seattle, where she attended Western Washington University and received a B.A. in secondary choral music education. Currently, Julie teaches elementary general music at two public schools for the nonprofit organization Education Through Music. After a few years of gaining experience, she will eventually pursue her master’s degree in choral conducting.

STEPHANIE JENSEN-MOuLTON, guest lecturer, received her Ph.D. in Musicology at the City University of New York, where she is also active in the Women’s Studies Certificate Program.

Her work has been published in Critical Minded: New Approaches to Hip Hop Studies, edited by Ellie M. Hisama and Evan Rapport, and most recently, inSounding Off: Theorizing Music and Disability, edited by Neil Lerner and Joseph N. Straus. Stephanie’s dissertation focuses on three operas written by women in 1950s New York City, and includes studies of Miriam Gideon, Julia Perry, and Louise Talma.

As a performer, Stephanie specializes in contemporary repertory, and has been hailed by The New York Times as a soprano who sings “brilliantly and confidently.” Her research interests

include American music, women in music, and disability studies.

MICHAEL SALIM WASHINGTON, special guest, holds a Ph.D. from Harvard University and has performed with Billy Sinner DJQ and Fred Ho as well as in festivals in the Americas and Europe.

He has recorded on Accurate, Roulette, Birdology, and Kitty Kat labels and has done extensive research in African-American music.

BRAD WHITELEy is a versatile pianist, organist, and music director based in Brooklyn, NY. He maintains a full performance schedule in New York City and around the globe. As a music director he has worked with The Texas Tenors, Broadway singers Jeri Sager and Darius DeHaas, and cabaret shows with Sylvia McNair and Janice Martin. He serves as music director at Blessed Sacrament Church in The Bronx where he performs weekly on the Odell & Sons 1928 pipe organ.

As a jazz pianist and organist he has performed in many notable clubs in New York City including Smoke, Birdland, The 55 Bar, and The Garage. He has studied piano privately with Fred Hersch and organ with Sam Yahel.

Brad holds a Masters of Music and a Performers Certificate from the Indiana University School of Music. His Major teachers there included David Baker for jazz studies and Edward Auer for classical piano. In addition Brad has studied classical music for a semester in Vienna, and has attended music festivals in Aspen Colorado, Flaine France, the Banff Center in Alberta, and the Henry Mancini Institute in Los Angeles.

Brad currently teaches on faculty with The Piano School of NYC and Ivy Music Studios.

He is very excited to be a part of Choral Chameleon!

VINCE PETERSON is regarded as one of the most versatile musicians of his generation and has lovingly dedicated his musical career to the integration of musical genres, the developing of new concert programming ideas and the education of the next generation of musicians and their listeners. A trained composer, conductor and pianist who is quickly gaining notice, especially in choral music, his work has been profiled in The New York Times, The Brooklyn Eagle and The San Francisco Classical Voice, among other notable publications. In January of 2008, Peterson founded the dynamic vocal ensemble Choral Chameleon, which has rapidly moved to the foreground of the New York City choral music scene. In April of 2010, The New York Concert Review said: “Most importantly, Artistic Director Vince Peterson has the choir shape the lines so they all have forward thrust and an expressive musical profile.” In addition, The Brooklyn Eagle has praised Peterson as a singer-songwriter who performed with “depth and vigor”, “providing a universal context that resonated with his audience...” and called his music programming “a stunning symphony of the spiritual and secular...”

Equally at home working within multiple genres of music, Peterson is becoming known for his affinity for genre-bending in both his compositions and arrangements as well as his concert programming. Meanwhile, as hybrid composer / conductor, he has not only worked diligently to champion the works of many of his composer colleagues, but also actively maintains his own catalogue of work. Performances and commissions of Peterson’s pieces include those from The San Francisco Arts Education Project, The DeLaSalle Institute (Napa, CA), Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory (SF) - his alma mater, The Monmouth Civic Chorus of Red Bank, NJ and the critically acclaimed chorus Cantori New York, among others. His choral arrangement of the song “Cells Planets” (written by Choral Chameleon soprano, Erika Lloyd) was recently commissioned and commercially recorded by the Grammy®-award winning ensemble Chanticleer.

Not limiting his work to choral music, Peterson also actively performs and conducts in cabaret and musical theater in NYC. He currently serves as Music Director / Lead Arranger for the MAC® award-winning performer Cait Doyle in her hit show, Hot Mess In Manhattan, which has been nominated for MAC® awards in multiple categories for two seasons in a row. The show, which Paul Shaffer called “Hilarious Musical Perfection”, is widely noted for its cultivation of new musical theater songs. Other music direction credits include: Into the Woods, The Wiz, Little Shop of Horrors, I Married Wyatt Earp (Showcase), How to Succeed In Business..., Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and the San Francisco premiere of Jason Robert Brown’s The Last Five Years.

Peterson has been honored to have the chance to work and study with some of the foremost composers, conductors and music theorists in the United States including Conrad Susa, David Conte, Eleanor Armer, Joseph Jennings, Mark Shapiro, Philip Lasser, David Loeb, Robert Cuckson and Carl Schachter. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in composition from The San Francisco Conservatory of Music and Mannes College of Music as well as a second master’s degree in choral conducting from Mannes. In 2007, upon receipt of his master’s degrees, he was the sole recipient of The Music Teacher’s League Award (for exemplary musical development while studying at Mannes). To add to his studies, he completed summer programs in both composition and conducting at La Schola Cantorum and L’École Normale de Musique in Paris, France through EAMA, the European-American Musical Alliance.

Vince Peterson currently serves as Interim Director of Choirs and Coordinator of Ear Training studies at Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music. He also serves as Minister of Music / Organist at The Union Church of Bay Ridge. www.vincepeterson.com

2010-2011 FrieNDS oF tHe CHAMeLeoN Choral Chameleon salutes those who help us make the music: CoNDuCtor’S CirCLe ($250+) Mario Dell’Olio Guilford W. Forbes Milton Fullen and Paula Miller Paul Golding and Kelly Baxter Golding Bebe Landis Peter Landis Panny and Mac King Bruce and Mary MacIntyre Jacqueline Perez Lynn Peterson Vince Peterson Karla Robertson Cathy Solomon Michael Wengroff Anonymous SuPPorterS ($100-249) Ellie and Charlie Bagli Steven Crawford Brenda Hebert Glenn and Patricia Newkirk Diane M. Polledri Justin Randolph FrieNDS ($50-99) Susan R. Gillespie Nicholas L. Grimaldi, in honor of Jacqueline Perez Brian McDonough and Rita Burghardt Dr. Mark Shapiro Dale Alan Zurbrick PAtroNS Nancy and James Fernandez Alan and Helene Reiffe Choral Chameleon is grateful for the generous support of: Manhattan Community Arts Fund The Sparkplug Foundation The Fund for Creative Communities Thank you for your attendance today and for your support of Choral Chameleon! We have exciting and ambitious goals including innovative programming, collaborations with other musicians, and an educational outreach project to inspire the next generation of choral artists. But we cannot do it without you. Your tax-deductible donation will help bring us one step closer to our goals.

Choral Chameleon Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. In addition to a check sent by mail, donations to Choral Chameleon may be made using PayPal through the Donate button on our website, www.choralchameleon.com.

StiLL to CoMe tHiS SeASoN: the Choir...electric!

Sunday, May 22, 2011 at 8:00 pm Fourth Universalist Society, 160 Central Park West, New York City Plug into a truly unique musical experience! Choral Chameleon ends its third season with an electric parade of brand new works for choir and electronic sound sources. World premiere music for choir is matched with electric bass, electric guitar, electric cello, accordion and recorded sound, laptop, and more. This edgy sound combined with the great acoustic choral voice that The New York Concert Review called “especially beautiful in soft homophonic passages” will surprise and ignite your imagination!

This concert is presented as part of SING NEW YORK, a city-wide choral music festival sponsored by The New York Choral Consortium.

A SPeCiAL iNVitAtioN: CHANtiCLeer iN CoNCert Join us on Wednesday, April 6th at 7pm at The Metropolitan Museum of Art (83rd St. and 5th Avenue, NYC) for Chanticleer’s New York City premiere of Cells Planets, Vince Peterson’s spectacular arrangement of a Little Grey Girlfriend song by Chameleon soprano Erika Lloyd.

Purchase tickets for this event through the Met Museum’s website (www.metmuseum.org/tickets). Believe us, you don’t want to miss it!

P.O. Box 1121 New York, NY 10185 contact@choralchameleon.com www.choralchameleon.com