Choral Chameleon (Chameleonic): 2012 - Sweet & Clear Program

Saturday, December 15th, 2012 8:00 pm John Street Church 44 John Street New York, NY

CONDUCTORS’ NOTES When I heard that the title of our first Chameleonic concert was going to be Sweet & Clear, the first piece that came to mind for me was Light of a Clear Blue Morning. I had been listening to this piece over and over again since hearing Conspirare perform it at the 2010 ACDA Convention in Philadelphia. Light of a Clear Blue Morning was so perfectly sweet and clear to me, and became the center of my programming. Lirum Lirum has a refreshing, delightful character that I was drawn to. Morley's timeless compositions provide a cozy, sophisticated musical experience to the set, which I think shines especially bright when performed in contrast with pieces such as Hark I Hear the Harps Eternal. This piece, by Alice Parker, made a lasting impression on me when I performed it years ago in college. Despite the popularity of this Appalachian shape note song, it is rarely performed true to its stylistic origins. I find the extremely forward, resonant style of traditional shape note singing to be invigorating, and one which contributes extraordinary purity of sound to this concert's theme. Personent Hodie is one of my favorite processionals and one whose declamatory nature provides the weight to my concert set. The crystal clear, trumpet-like quality of this piece calls us to celebrate, brings us down to earth, into our seats, and ready to be together in music. Enjoy!

- Julie Waters, Conductor When selecting the music for this concert, I was inspired by the individual journey different characters take in the Christmas story, many of which were isolated and alone. We begin in homage to the Virgin Mary and the prize that she gives the entire world through her mothering journey. An unmarried, pregnant woman during her day would have become a social outcast and very much alone. Next we join the end of a cross-country trip made by the three Kings. They left behind their homes, following a star through the desert, in search of hope. Flowers are often used as a metaphor of the central character, the Christ-Child, whose entire life was a solitary journey. We end our journey with one of the most well-known, classic tunes. With this final piece of the set, we hope your own holiday journey takes your troubles miles away.

- Jeffery R. Thyer, Conductor I have always loved Christmas carols, so I knew right away when planning for this program that Edmund Sears’s text from the old carol It Came Upon the Midnight Clear was going to be at the heart of my musical choices. Matthew D. Nielsen’s contemporary setting of the text conveyed to me the hushed awe that the shepherds from the story must have felt, looking up that night to see a sky filled with angels. The bright, medieval lilt of Gaudete and the soothing strains of the traditional Swedish carol Jul, Jul, Strålande Jul evoke the angels themselves, first delivering a joyful proclamation to the people below and then singing them to sleep with a prayer for peace.

Finally, Lindisfarne’s Clear White Light is what I imagine the following morning might have been like here on earth - a joyous celebration of hope. Above all, this concert and this music are about unity, and watching this choir come together to make music for the first time has been the essence of that unity for me. We hope you will feel it too.

- Evan Crawford, Conductor Something "Sweet and Clear" is just what we need at this time of year, isn't it? This concert means a lot to me. It is a gentle reminder to take moments out of our hectic lives and be still enough to observe what really matters. It's a time to gather in solidarity against war and violence in the world, and to take joy from what is right with it. As Mary Wilson (lyricist of our concert's title piece, and member of The Supremes) says: "above the sounds of war, the clamorous bells are pealing their delight." No matter who you are or what you believe, we stand here with you tonight because of the very fact that you came to hear us. We couldn't be more grateful to share with you the birth of this new ensemble into a troubled and needy world, such as it often is for all of us. How sweet and clear it is to us that we should be called to do this work together. Us means you too. Thanks for being here. If it's your first time, --Welcome to the Choral Chameleon family--.

- Vince Peterson, Conductor and Artistic Director

Sweet & Clear Personent Hodie (setting by Lana G. Hoggard) Lirum Lirum (Thomas Morley, arr. David Giardiniere) Light of a Clear Blue Morning (Dolly Parton, arr. Craig Hella Johnson) Soloist: Briana Lobbett / Trio: Alisa Ledyard, Amy Waschenfelder, Charla Burton Mark Johnson, Recorder

Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal (arr. Alice Parker) Angela Travins, soloist

Julie Waters, Conductor A Hymn to the Virgin (Benjamin Britten) Quartet: Mi Na Shin, Jacqueline Perez, Akira Fukui, Mark Johnson

The Three Kings (Healey Willan) Lo, How a Rose / The Rose (arr. Craig Hella Johnson) Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (arr. Ryan Brandau) Amy Waschenfelder and Michael Squitieri, soloists

Jeffery R. Thyer, Conductor ***INTERMISSION*** Midnight Clear (Matthew D. Nielsen) Gaudete (Piae Cantiones, 1582, arr. Craig S. Kingsbury) Michelle Coladonato, Caitlin Heibach, Aaron Alan, and Michael Squitieri, soloists

Jul, Jul, Strülande Jul (Gustaf Nordqvist) Clear White Light (Alan Hull, arr. Evan Crawford) Evan Crawford, Conductor What Sweeter Music (Eleanor Daley) Lo V’chayil (Elliot Z. Levine) Alyssa Frank and Patrick Wakie, soloists

One Bright Star (John Jarvis, arr. Ed Lojeski) Shana Barone, soloist

This Christmas Night (Malcolm Williamson) Vince Peterson, Conductor William Healy, Piano

TEXTS AND TRANSLATIONS Personent Hodie (setting by Lana G. Hoggard) Personent hodie voces puerulae Laudantes iucunde qui nobis est natus, Summo Deo datus, Et de virgineo ventre procreatus.

Let youthful voices resound today, Joyfully praising Him who is born for us, Who is given unto us by the most high God, And brought forth from a virgin.

In mundo nascitur, pannis involvitur, Praesepi ponitur stabulo brutorum, Rector supernorum, Perdidit spolia princeps infernorum.

He is born in the world, is wrapped in swaddling cloths And placed in a manger in a stable of beasts.

He is ruler over all things.

The prince of darkness has lost his prey!

Magi tres venerunt munera offerunt, Parvulum inquirunt, stellulam sequendo, Ipsum adorando, Aurum, thus et myrrham ei offerendo.

Three wise men come, bearing gifts.

They have found the Child by following a little star.

Adoring the Lord, They offer Him gold, incense and myrrh.

Omnes clericuli, pariter pueri Cantent ut angeli, advenisti mundo, Laudes tibi fundo, Ideo gloria in excelsis Deo!

Let all the clerics and children alike Sing as did the angels, of your coming into the world And give you praise, Saying: Glory to God in the highest!

Lirum Lirum (Thomas Morley, arr. David Giardiniere) You that watch your flocks by night, Blinded by a radiant light, Seek the child of David’s line.

Lirum, lirum, lirum.

Heaven rejoicing, Angels are voicing, Shepherds, do not tarry, He comes for all mankind.

Lirum, lirum, lirum.

Ancient kings from lands afar, Guided by the Eastern star, Bring your gifts of rarest prize.

Lirum, lirum, lirum.

Prophets foretelling, In humble dwelling, See the mother Mary, Her son in manger lies.

Lirum, lirum, lirum.

Light of a Clear Blue Morning (Dolly Parton, arr. Craig Hella Johnson) It’s been a long dark night, And I’ve been waiting for the morning.

It’s been a long hard fight, But I see a brand new day a-dawning.

I’ve been looking for the sunshine ‘Cause I ain’t seen it in so long.

Ev’rything’s gonna work out fine.

Ev’rything’s gonna be alright, it’s gonna be okay.

I can see the light of a clear blue morning.

I can see the light of a brand new day.

I can see the light of a clear blue morning.

Ev’rything’s gonna be alright, it’s gonna be okay.

Hark, I Hear the Harps Eternal (arr. Alice Parker) Hark, I hear the harps eternal Ringing on the farther shore.

As I near those swollen waters, With their deep and solemn roar.

Hallelujah, hallelujah, Hallelujah, praise the Lamb Hallelujah, hallelujah, Glory to the great I AM. And my soul though stained with sorrow, Fading as the light of day, Passes swiftly o’er those waters To the city far away.

Souls have crossed before me, saintly, To that land of perfect rest; And I hear them singing faintly In the mansions of the blest.

A Hymn to the Virgin (Benjamin Britten) Of one that is so fair and bright (Velut maris stella,) Brighter than the day is light, (Parens et puella:) I cry to thee, thou see to me, Lady, pray thy Son for me, (Tam pia,) That I may come to thee.

(Maria!)

All this world was forlorn (Eva peccatrice,) Till our Lord was yborn (De te genetrice.)

With “ave” it went away Darkest night, and comes the day (Salutis;) The well springeth out of thee.

(Virtutis.)

Like a star of the sea Parent and maiden

So good Mary!

because of Eve the sinner of you, the mother

of salvation of virtue

Lady, flow’r of ev’rything, (Rosa sine spina,) Thou bare Jesu, Heaven’s King, (Gratia divina:) Of all thou bear’st the prize, Lady, queen of paradise (Electa:) Maid, mild mother es effecta.

(Effecta.)

rose without a thorn by divine grace

chosen you are made

The Three Kings (Healey Willan) “Who knocks tonight so late, so late?”

The weary porter said.

Three Kings stood at the gate, Each with a crown on head.

A light the manger lit: There lay the Mother meek.

Said they, “This place is fit: Here is the rest we seek!”

The serving man bowed down; The inn was full, he knew.

Said he, “In all this town Is no fit place for you!”

They loosed their latchet strings, So stood they all unshod.

Come in, ye Kings!

And kiss the Feet of God.

Low, How a Rose / The Rose (arr. Craig Hella Johnson) Lo, how a Rose e’er blooming From tender stem hath sprung.

Some say love, it is a river that drowns the tender reed; Of Jesse’s lineage coming As men of old have sung.

Some say love, it is a razor that leaves your soul to bleed; It came, a Flow’ret bright, Some say love, it is a hunger, an endless aching need; Amid the cold of winter I say love, it is a flower, and you, its only seed.

When half-spent was the night.

It’s the heart afraid of breaking that never learns to dance; It’s the dream afraid of waking that never takes the chance; It’s the one who won’t be taken who cannot seem to give; And the soul afraid of dying that never learns to live.

This Flow’r, whose fragrance tender With sweetness fills the air, When the night has been too lonely and the road has been too long; Dispels with glorious splendor The darkness ev’rywhere.

And you think that love is only for the lucky and the strong; True Man, yet very God, Just remember in the winter far beneath the bitter snow; From sin and death He saves us Lies the seed that with the sun’s love, in the spring becomes the rose.

And lightens ev’ry load.

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (arr. Ryan Brandau) Have yourself a merry little Christmas Let your heart be light From now on our troubles will be out of sight Have yourself a merry little Christmas Make the Yuletide gay From now on our troubles will be miles away Here we are as in olden days Happy golden days of yore Faithful friends who are dear to us Gather near to us once more Through the years we all will be together If the fates allow Hang a shining star upon the highest bough And have yourself a merry little Christmas now

Midnight Clear (Matthew D. Nielsen) It came upon the midnight clear, That glorious song of old, From angels bending near the earth To touch their harps of gold: “Peace on the earth, good will to men From heav’n’s all-gracious King.”

The world in solemn stillness lay To hear the angels sing.

Still through the cloven skies they come, With peaceful wings unfurled, And still their heav’nly music floats O’er all the weary world.

Above its sad and lowly plains They bend on hov’ring wing, And ever o’er its babel soungs The blessed angels sing.

For lo! the days are hast’ning on, By prophets seen of old, When with the evercircling years Shall come the time foretold, When the new heav’n and earth shall own The Prince of Peace their King, And the whole world send back the song Which now the angels sing.

Gaudete (Piae Cantiones, 1582, arr. Craig S. Kingsbury) Gaudete, Gaudete, Chrisus est natus Ex Maria virgine, Gaudete!

Rejoice, Rejoice, Christ is born Of the virgin Mary, Rejoice!

Tempus ad est gratiae Hoc quod optabamus, Carmina laetitiae Devote redamus.

It is now the time of grace, That we have desired, Let us sing songs of joy, Let us give devotion.

Deus homo factus est, Natura mirante.

Mundus renovatus est A Christo regnante.

God was made man, And nature marvels.

The world was renewed

By Christ who is King.

Ezechielis porta Clausa per transitur, Unde lux est orta Salus in venitur.

The closed gate of Ezekiel Has been passed through; From where the light rises Salvation is found.

Ergo nostra cantio Psallat jam in lustro.

Benedicat Domino, Salus regi nostro.

Therefore let our assembly now sing, Sing the Psalms to purify us.

Let is praise the Lord, Greetings to our King.

Jul, Jul, Strålande Jul (Gustaf Nordqvist) Jul, jul, strålande jul, glans över vita skogar, himmelens kronor med gnistrande ljus, glimmande bågar i alla Guds hus, psalm som är sjungen från tid till tid, eviga längtan till ljus och frid!

Jul, jul, strålande jul, glans över vita skogar!

Christmas, Christmas, shining Christmas, Shine over white forests, The crown of the heavens with brilliant light, Glowing arches in all God’s houses Psalms that are sung from time to time, Eternal longing for light and peace!

Christmas, Christmas, shining Christmas Glisten over white forests!

Kom, kom, signade jul!

Sänk dina vita vingar över stridernas blod och larm, över all suckan ur människobarm, över de släkten som gå till ro, över de ungas dagande bo!

Kom, kom, signade jul, sänk dina vita vingar!

Come, come, blessed Christmas!

Lower your white wings Over the battle’s blood and turmoil, Over all sighs from human hearts Over the generations that will go to rest, Over the young ones coming of age!

Come, come, blessed Christmas, Lower your white wings!

Clear White Light (Alan Hull, arr. Evan Crawford) Do you believe the clear white light Is going to guide us on?

Running along the ground singing a song in the morning light,

Follow a flower it feels as far as out of sight.

Turning your heads to the clouds and the skies and the trees, 'Cause you never know what you might see.

Do you believe the clear white light Is going to guide us on the way?

Seeing the sun as it wants to be seen by ev'ryone, Melting the sky throw a hole in your eye where the magic comes.

Turning your heads to the skies with the clouds in your eyes, ‘Cause you never know what you might find.

Now is the time to be loving and kind to your fellow men, Seeing the sympathy starting out all over again.

Now is the time to give love just one more go, 'Cause you never know what you might know.

Do you believe the clear white light Is going to guide us on Yes I believe the clear white light Is going to guide us on the way!

What Sweeter Music (Eleanor Daley) What sweeter music can we bring Than a carol for to sing The birth of this our heav’nly king?

Awake the voice! Awake the string: Dark and dull night fly hence away, And give the honour to this day, That sees December turn to May, If we may ask the reason say: We see him come, and know him ours, Who with his sunshine and his showers, Turns all the patient ground to flowers, Turns all the patient ground to flowers.

The darling of the world is come, And fit it is we find a room To welcome him. The nobler part Of all the house here is the heart.

Which we will give him and bequeath This holly and this ivy wreath, To do him honour who’s our king, And Lord of all this reveling, What sweeter music can we bring Than a carol for the sing The birth of this our heav’nly king?

Awake the voice! Awake the string: For this the birth of our heavn’ly king.

Lo V’chayil (Elliot Z. Levine) Lo v’chayil v’lo v’choach ki im b’ruchi amar Adonai tz’vaot.

Not by might nor by power But by My spirit, saith the Lord of Hosts.

One Bright Star (John Jarvis, arr. Ed Lojeski) Long, long ago, In a world dark and cold, A night so still, winter’s chill, One bright star was shining.

On a bed made of hay, In a manger he lay, The shepherds came, they knew his name: King of kings, a brand new day.

They saw the light in the darkness, It shines on love and tenderness, Brings out the hope that’s in all of us.

May it shine its light on you this Christmas night.

On this Christmas day, May that star light your way.

This Christmas Eve, I still believe That same star still shines on me.

I saw the light in the darkness It shines on love and tenderness, Brings out the hope that’s in all of us.

May it shine its light on you this Christmas night.

This Christmas Night (Malcolm Williamson) How sweet and clear above the sounds of war The clamorous bells are pealing their delight!

The angels sing of glory, as they soar Among the manmade stars, this Christmas night.

And, once again, with spices and with gold, Three Kings are riding through the sparkling snow To this poor lodging in the bitter cold Where Mary kneels within the lantern glow To watch her Baby lying in the hay, And think about the wonder of His birth; And as He sleeps, to fold her hands and pray For peace to come upon this troubled earth.

THE VOICES OF CHAMELEONIC SOPRANO Alisa Ledyard Alyssa Frank Amy Waschenfelder Briana Lobbett Jessica Wong Julie Waters Kathryn Squitieri Michelle Coladonato Soyoun Lim Traci Tournoux

TENOR Aaron Alan Akira Fukui Bill Heigen Charlie Byrd Evan Crawford Jeffery R. Thyer Patrick Wakie Rodrigo Oliveira

ALTO Angela Travins Caitlin Heibach Charla Burton Emma Teitelbaum Leslie Fray Monique Sofo Rose Couchon Shana Barone

BASS Alan Ahles Mads Lange Michael Squitieri Thomas Robertson Vince Peterson

CHAMELEONIC is a new 32-voice avocational choir in New York City.

Its members come from many diverse musical interests, backgrounds, and age groups. The group seeks to cultivate seasoned choral singers in the greater NYC area who possess exemplary openness to amalgamated programming and sound singing and music reading techniques. Its concerts, in trademark Choral Chameleon fashion, combine unlimited styles of singing and musical genres to build bridges between the old and the new, the popular and the obscure, the spiritual and the secular. They address real human themes that are relevant to people's lives in this day and age. It is, in essence, more than a choir. It is a musical social movement and also a truly unique educational experience for singers and audience members alike. We're building the next generation of choral music devotees to ensure the future of this vital musical art form for generations to come! In an ever-changing world where human beings and their interests evolve, we believe our steadfast commitment to relevance and our heartfelt, personal approach to working with people, will sow seeds of goodness and love where growth of these virtues is most needed.

CONDUCTOR & GUEST ARTIST BIOS Julie Waters grew up in the suburbs of Seattle, Washington, where she was able to participate in an extensive choral program under the direction of Dr. Sarah Graham at Sumner High School. She then went on to Western Washington University (WWU), where she studied Secondary Choral Music Education and Advanced Choral Conducting with Dr. Leslie Guelker-Cone, emphasizing the use of Labon Movement Analysis in conducting. While at WWU, Julie sang in the Concert Choir, whose repertoire consisted primarily of 20th century music. Julie moved to New York City where she joined Choral Chameleon in 2009 and became a codirector of Chameleonic in 2012. Julie also currently teaches K-5 Vocal Music at PS/MS 95 in the Bronx.

Jeffery R. Thyer is an active choral director, singer and concert producer in New York City. He holds a Master of Music degree in choral conducting from Ball State University and a church music degree from Indiana Wesleyan University. He is co-conductor of and singer with the vocal ensemble Chameleonic plus a member of the New York Festival Singers and the Choir at Church of the Holy Trinity. By day, he is the Associate Director of Program Development for Distinguished Concerts International New York, a concert production company. In that role, he guides the programming team for the concert series and works closely with directors to organize performances of major choral/orchestral works, world premieres and performances in venues like Carnegie Hall, Avery Fisher at Lincoln Center and Disney Hall in LA. Jeffery made his mark in the choral and music production world at the American Choral Directors Association National Headquarters in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma where he served as the Conference Consultant and Division Liaison to the Association’s seven regional divisions and assisted in the planning of eighteen national and divisional conferences. His duties included conference planning, artistic relations, budget planning, graphic design, web site management, advertising and exhibit sales, procedure and policy writing and more. A native of Indiana, Jeffery now makes his home in Williamsburg. Beyond choral music, Jeffery is a freelance website designer/manager. www.JefferyThyer.com Evan Crawford has lived in New York since 2004 and has sung in venues throughout the city including church services, new music concerts, cabarets, and solo recitals. A lifelong choral music enthusiast, he sang for five years with the Brooklyn College Chamber Choir and was featured as a soloist numerous times in major works including Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms and Bach’s Gottes Zeit ist die allerbeste Zeit. Evan has also performed with the Musica Bella Orchestra in Bach’s B-Minor Mass, and in 2008 he toured with the Beijing Olympics Festival Chorus, singing at cultural festivals in

Beijing and Shanghai. Evan holds B.M. and M.M. degrees in voice performance from the Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music and has maintained a private voice teaching practice in Brooklyn for three years. He currently studies voice with Adam Baritot and choral conducting with Vince Peterson.

Vince Peterson, composer, conductor, and pianist, is the Founder and Artistic Director of Choral Chameleon and Chameleonic. Additionally, he serves as Choirmaster and Organist of St. Paul's Carroll St. in Brooklyn, and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music at Brooklyn College. As choral accompanist and singer, he has toured in Italy, The Philippines, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, France, Canada, and throughout the United States. His compositions and arrangements have been performed by many reputable ensembles, including Cantori New York, The Monmouth Civic Chorus, The San Francisco School of the Arts, The SFArtsEd Players, plus numerous high school and college choirs around the country. He has been commissioned and recorded for three consecutive seasons by the GrammyÂŽ-award winning ensemble Chanticleer. The New York Times called Peterson "authoritative beyond his years" and The Brooklyn Eagle lauded his concert programming as "a stunning symphony of the spiritual and secular." He holds the BMus in Composition from The San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he studied with celebrated composer, Conrad Susa; and the MMus in Composition and Choral Conducting from Mannes College of Music in New York City, where he studied with David Loeb and Mark Shapiro.

William Healy is a freelance composer and pianist based in New York. In announcing his awarding of the Jean Slater Edson Prize in composition from Vassar College in 2010, his work was described as "creative and sensitive...with a keen ear for instrumental color." Healy's commissions have included the Mahagonny Ensemble and the Lake Monocan String Sextet, and his works have recently been premiered by the Vassar College Choir, cellist Claire Solomon and baritone Michael Hofmann. He has written soundtracks for numerous student films, and he composes and plays trumpet for the 8-piece hip hop/afrobeat band Yes Noyes. He studied composition with Harold Meltzer and Richard Wilson at Vassar College, and he has studied with Larry Allen Smith, Stephen Dembski and Lawrence Dillon. After beginning his piano studies at age four with Dennis Malone, he has been recognized for his talent with top prizes in the Connecticut Music Teacher's Association Piano Competition, the Westchester Music Teachers' Award, the Nicholas Flagello Competition, and as the winner of the Vassar College concerto competition multiple times. In addition, he has appeared as a concerto soloist with orchestras in New York and Connecticut. He studies with Frank Heneghan of the Royal Conservatory in Dublin, Luiz de Moura Castro of the Hartt School of Music, Anna Polonsky of Vassar College, and Vince Peterson of Brooklyn College.

CHORAL CHAMELEON BIO Choral Chameleon was founded in New York City in January of 2008 by Vince Peterson with the purpose of filling a truly observable musical need. Though there is a staggering breadth of choral music to be heard in NYC, all of the groups that Vince was hearing were either devoted entirely to one kind of music or not at all considerate of the listeners. Popular music groups dismissed western art music as inaccessible, while high-caliber concert music groups labeled popular music as insubstantial and void of real musical ideas. Meanwhile, Vince was witnessing division and prejudice in his own life - towards his dearest friends, relatives, and himself. This all served as a reminder of the trivial matters that can separate us all from each other and damage our relationships.

Choral Chameleon was formed as a way of uniting different groups of people through the art of ensemble singing. Uniting singers of varied and dynamic musical backgrounds into a unique and unified 12-voice instrument, Vince has sought to speak an actual universal language. They come from wide-ranging professional experiences in opera, theater, jazz, pop, and ethnic musics both sacred and secular, and early music, baroque, and 20th century styles alike.

The result is an ever-changing, idiomatically virtuous, and spontaneously transforming sound never experienced before in the concert hall. Choral Chameleon places the understanding of each style it performs at the very center of the rehearsal process, never resting until the inherent nuances of each piece are fully honored and preserved.

Choral Chameleon concert programs open doors for listeners of all ages by relating groups of repertoire to real human themes and topics which affect our daily lives. Without preaching or condescension, these programs speak honestly from the heart and gently remind the listener that there is hope for human goodness in the world and that they are not in it alone. Chameleon's work has already changed the lives of countless people who did nothing more than walk in the door and sit down to listen. They appeal to first-time choral concert-goers just as much as they do to seasoned listeners.

But Choral Chameleon's work does not stop there! In addition to its concert programs, the organization has launched an amazing educational outreach initiative that has already impacted the lives of hundreds of students in high school and college. The highlight of the CC Education Program is the annual Institute for composers and conductors, which boasts a world-class faculty, including multi-Grammy award winners Vance George and Matthew Oltman, as well as Vince Peterson and other important figures in the world of modern choral music.

CHORAL CHAMELEON MISSION AND VISION Our Mission: 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.

Our Vision: PERFORMANCE. Present distinctive musical performances of diverse repertoire combining styles and genres in new and interesting ways, honoring the voice as a unique instrument with a particular ability to reach human beings and transcend divisions of culture, nationality, gender, language, and age.

COLLABORATION. Work together in performance with other musicians including choral and instrumental ensembles; and unique types of instrumentalists such as those specializing in music from a certain period or culture. Create new, innovative works with living composers of choral music, through such possible avenues as workshops, festivals, and commissions.

EDUCATION. Inspire the next generation of choral singers, conductors, and composers through invitational choral festivals at the high school level; public and private workshops on technique and style; and hands-on learning opportunities for students of choral conducting and composition.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Michael Lavigne, President Vince Peterson, Artistic Director Steven Smith, Director of Education Outreach (ex-officio) Evan Crawford, Assistant to the Artistic Director (ex-officio) Aaron Miner, Secretary Catherine Torrey, Treasurer Alan Ahles Jeremy Howard Beck Greg Cicchino Keith Edwards Katie Zaffrann

ARTISTIC ADVISORY BOARD David Conte (Composer; San Francisco Conservatory of Music) Vance George (Music Director Emeritus: San Francisco Symphony Chorus) Stephen Goldstine (Consultant; Oakland School of the Arts) Emily Keeler (Artistic Director:San Francisco Arts Education Project) Bruce MacIntyre (Musicologist; Director: Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music) Matthew Oltman (Music Director Emeritus: Chanticleer) Conrad Susa (Composer; San Francisco Conservatory of Music)

www.choralchameleon.com