HOLIDAY 2025/26
A COLORADO CHRISTMAS
WITH YOUR COLORADO SYMPHONY
TAYLOR MARTIN, conductor
DEVIN DESANTIS, vocalist
COLORADO SYMPHONY CHORUS, MARY LOUISE BURKE, associate director
COLORADO CHILDREN’S CHORALE, EMILY CRILE, artistic director
Friday, December 12, 2025, at 7:30pm
Saturday, December 13, 2025, at 2:30pm
Saturday, December 13, 2025, at 6:00pm
Sunday, December 14, 2025, at 1:00pm Boettcher Concert Hall
ARR. GARY FRY
ARR. PETER HOPE
DON SEBESKY
JOHN RUTTER
We Wish You A Merry Christmas
The First Noel
A Christmas Scherzo
What Sweeter Music
Roberta Sladovnik, Janie Darone, Terry Jackson
ARR. PAUL CAMPBELL A Christmas Carol Fantasy
ARR. MATT RILEY
ARR. GARY FRY
ARR. ADAM WAITE
G.F. HANDEL
G.F. HANDEL
ARR. GARY FRY
Ode to Joy
Still, Still, Still
Go, Tell It On The Mountain
Glory to God (Messiah)
Hallelujah Chorus (Messiah)
My Dancing Day
— INTERMISSION —
COLORADO SYMPHONY IS PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY
BERLIN/POLA/WYLE
ARR. GARY FRY
KAY THOMPSON
ARR. MARK HAYES
LEROY ANDERSON
JAMES PIERPONT
ARR. TU
JOHN RUTTER
GARY FRY
Happy Holiday!
The Holiday Season
Sleigh Ride
Jingle Bells
Deanna Thaler, Kaia Hoopes, Kimberly Trubetskoy
Shepherd’s Pipe Carol
Things We Do Each Christmas
PYOTR TCHAIKOVSKY Trepak (Nutcracker)
ARR. JOHN KUZMA
BRICUSSE/WILLIAMS
BEGUELIN/SKLAR
ARR. BECK
GARY FRY
Sing a Merry Christmas
Somewhere in My Memory (Home Alone)
There is a Santa Claus (Elf)
The Song in Our Hearts
Special appearance by Brad and Susie Bolton
Special thanks to Phil Hiester, lighting designer
CONCERT RUN TIME IS APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR AND 40 MINUTES INCLUDING A 20 MINUTE INTERMISSION.
FIRST TIME TO THE SYMPHONY? SEE PAGE 14 OF THIS PROGRAM FOR FAQ’S TO MAKE YOUR EXPERIENCE GREAT!
THE FIRST NOEL
The first Noel, the angels did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay; In fields where they lay keeping their sheep On a cold winter’s night that was so deep. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel.
They looked up and saw a star Shining in the east beyond them far; And to the earth it gave great light And so it continued both day and night. Noel, Noel…
And by the light of that same star
Three wise men came from country far; To seek for a King was their intent And to follow the star wherever it went.
Noel, Noel…
Then let us all with one accord Sing praises to our Heav’n’ly Lord That hath made Heav’n and earth of naught And with His blood mankind hath bought. Noel, Noel…
SING A MERRY CHRISTMAS
Frosty the Snowman
Frosty the Snowman was a jolly, happy soul
With a corn cob pipe and a button nose And two eyes made out of coal.
Frosty the Snowman is a fairy tale they say, He was made of snow but the children know How he came to lift one day.
There must have been some magic in that old silk hat they found, For when they placed it on his head, he began to dance around.
Oh, Frosty the Snowman was alive as he could be
And the children say he could laugh and play just the same as you and me.
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
Have yourself a merry little Christmas, l et your hearts 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 far 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 bow, And have yourself a merry little Christmas now.
A Winter Wonderland
Sleigh bells ring, are you list’nin’?
In the lane, snow is glist’in’, A beautiful sight, we’re happy tonight, Walkin’ in a winter wonderland.
Gone away is the blue bird, Here to stay is a new bird; He sings a love song as we go along Walkin’ in a winter wonderland.
In the meadow we can build a snowman, Then pretend that he is Parson Brown; He’ll say “Are you married?”, we’ll say “No, man, But you can do the job when you’re in town!”
Later on, we’ll conspire
As we dream by the fire, To face unafraid the plans that we made, Walkin’ in a winter wonderland.
Here Comes Santa Claus
Here come Santa Claus! here comes Santa Claus
Right down Santa Claus Lane!
Vixen and Blitzen and all his reindeer Are pulling on the rein.
Bells are ringing, children singing, all is merry and bright;
Hang your stockings and say your prayers, ‘Cause Santa Claus comes tonight.
TAYLOR MARTIN, chorus director and conductor, Colorado Symphony Chorus
Taylor Martin is the Director and Conductor of the Colorado Symphony Chorus and Artistic Director of ELUS Vocal Ensemble. In 2019 Taylor made his debut with the Colorado Symphony conducting their staged version of Handel’s Messiah, titled Messiah: Awakening. Now in his tenth season with the Colorado Symphony Chorus, he has frequently taken the podium during the holiday season for productions of A Colorado Christmas and Messiah. Taylor has prepared the Chorus for productions with the Colorado Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, and Dallas Symphony, and he recently conducted a concert tour of Austria featuring works for chorus and organ, leading Anton Bruckner’s Te Deum with the Salzburg Domorchester. Known for his musical versatility, Taylor has prepared choruses for Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA, Al Green, and Josh Groban, among other critically acclaimed artists. Now in his eighth season with ELUS Vocal Ensemble, Taylor has led performances of great a cappella repertoire through imaginative programming of new music and major works, such as David Lang’s the little match girl passion and Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem to considerable acclaim.
DEVIN DESANTIS, vocalist and creative consultant for A
Colorado Christmas
Devin DeSantis is a Jeff nominated artist who is regarded as one of Chicago’s leading theatrical vocalists. He has been honored to work with symphonies and theatre companies around the country and the world. And it all began here — at Boettcher Concert Hall, as a member of the Colorado Children’s Chorale. His solo career began with the Colorado Symphony at the age of 11 in Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, conducted by Marin Alsop. He’s a proud graduate of Northwestern University’s School of Music, as well as a proud member of Actor’s Equity on stages in Chicago, New York, and other wonderfully essential Equity houses around the country. Favorite professional theatre credits include: Dr. Pomatter in Waitress, Charlie Price in Kinky Boots, Tommy in The Who’s Tommy, Rapunzel’s Prince in Into the Woods, Marius in Les Miserables, Prince Eric in Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Britt Craig/Young Soldier in Parade, Dr. Frederick Frankenstein in Mel Brooks’ Young Frankenstein, Dr. Madden/Fine in Next to Normal, Anyone Can Whistle starring Patti LuPone and Audra McDonald, and The Most Happy Fella starring George Hearn. He was a singer for 4 years in The Radio City Christmas Spectacular starring The Rockettes at the world-renowned Radio City Music Hall. In between concerts and shows, he is a lead singer with the Bluewater Kings Band, and a member of The Four C Notes: a Tribute to Franki Valli and the Four Seasons. Above all, he is a loving husband and proud father. Have courage and be kind.
MARY LOUISE BURKE, creative director for A Colorado Christmas & associate director, Colorado Symphony Chorus
Mary Louise Burke is in her 32nd season with the Colorado Symphony Chorus. In addition to assisting Founding Director and Conductor Laureate Duain Wolfe for many years, she has also prepared the chorus for various Colorado Symphony pops concerts and special projects, including Too Hot to Handel. She is the Creative Director of the Symphony’s annual A Colorado Christmas concerts. In the summer of 2022, she conducted the Symphony chorus on a concert tour of Austria. She was the Associate Director of the Colorado Children’s Chorale, participating in hundreds of concerts and dozens of the Chorale’s regional, national and international tours. She was also Vocal Director of the Children’s Chorale, where she provided specialized vocal coaching and opera preparation. With an expertise in vocal technique, Burke frequently leads seminars in vocal and choral techniques for area church and community choirs. She is the Vocal Advisor at Montview Presbyterian Church and sings regularly at Holy Family Church, Denver. She has a Doctorate in Voice Performance and Pedagogy from the University of Colorado.
COLORADO SYMPHONY CHORUS
The Colorado Symphony’s 2025/26 Season marks the 42nd year of the Colorado Symphony Chorus. Founded in 1984 by Duain Wolfe, our chorus has earned a reputation as one of the finest symphonic choruses in the United States. This outstanding chorus of volunteers joins the Colorado Symphony for numerous concerts each year, performing the great Masterworks, as well as pops concerts, movies and special projects, all to repeated critical acclaim.
Additionally, the Chorus has been featured annually at the Bravo!Vail Music Festival, performing with the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra or Dallas Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of notable conductors Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Jaap van Zweden, Alan Gilbert, Fabio Luisi, Hans Graf, as well as 25 years with the Aspen Music Festival.
In 2009, in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the chorus, Duain Wolfe conducted the chorus on a concert tour of Europe, presenting the Verdi REQUIEM in Budapest, Vienna, Litomysl and Prague; in 2016 the chorus returned to Europe for concerts in Paris, Strasbourg and Munich featuring the Fauré Requiem. In the summer of 2022, the Chorus toured Austria, performing to great acclaim in Vienna, Graz and Salzburg.
COLORADO SYMPHONY CHORUS
Taylor Martin, Director and Conductor
Mary Louise Burke, Associate Director and Conductor
Jared Joseph, Assistant Conductor
David Rosen, Chorus Manager
Barbara Porter, Associate Manager
Duain Wolfe, Founding Director and Conductor Laureate
Hsiao-Ling Lin and ShaoChun Tsai, Pianists
Eric Israelson, Chorus Manager Emeritus
SOPRANO
Lori Ascani
Brianna Bettis
Jude Blum
Denelda Causey
Ruth Coberly
Suzanne Collins
Angie Collums
Kerry Cote
Claudia Dakkouri
April Day
Meredith Duffy
Gracie Ewert
Lisa Fultz
Amy Gallegos
Andria Gaskill
Jenifer Gile
Lori Gill
Susan Graber
Stacey Haslam
Elizabeth HedrickCollins
Erin Hittle
Elizabeth Hott
Angie Hupp
Kaitlyn Jones
Lauren Kennedy
Meghan Kinnischtzke
Leanne Lang
Dana Linder
Rebecca Machusko
Anne Maupin
Erin Montigne
Wendy Moraskie
Jackie Oldham
Jean O’Nan
Jodie Peterson
Kim Pflug
Julie Plouffe
Barb Porter
Grace Reilly
Lori Ropa
Roberta Sladovnik
Syd Timme
Sue von Roedern
Marcia Walker
Alison Wall
Karen Wuertz
Cara Young
Joan Zisler
ALTO
Priscilla Adams
Liz Arthur
Brenda Berganza
Mary Boyle Thayer
Charlotte Braud-Kern
Michelle Brown
Isabel Cavosie
Jayne Conrad
Martha Cox
Janie Darone
Kate Friedlander
Michelle Fronzaglia
Sharon Gayley
Daniela Golden
Gabriella Groom
Sheri Haxton
Kaia Hoopes
Brandy Jackson
Christine Kaminske
Annette Kim
Andrea LeBaron
Carole London
Joanna Maltzahn
Jenae Martinez
Susan McWaters
Kristen Nordenholz
Christine Nyholm
Jill Parsons
Jennifer Pringle
Donneve Rae
Leanne Rehme
Kathi Rudolph
Wendy Schnell
Melanie Stevenson
Deanna Thaler
Clara Tiggelaar
Kim Trubetskoy
Pat Virtue
Beth York
TENOR
Jordan Antonio
Gary Babcock
Jim Carlson
Nicholas Dietrich
Jack Dinkel
John Gale
Frank Gordon
David Hodel
Sami Ibrahim
Ken Kolm
Sean Lund-Brown
Andy Marner
Tom Milligan
Richard Moraskie
Garvis Muesing
Tim Nicholas
Dallas Rehberg
Tyler Richardson
David Rosen
Andrew Seamans
Evan Secrist
Jerry Sims
P.J. Stohlmann
Daniel Thompson
Hannis Thompson
Max Witherspoon
Kenneth Zimmerman
BASS
John Adams
Grant Carlton
Bob Friedlander
Tim Griffin
Chris Grossman
Nic Hammerberg
Doug Hesse
David Highbaugh
Leonard Hunt
Terry Jackson
Tom Jirak
Jared Joseph
Matthew Kersten-Gray
Nalin Mehta
Matthew Molberg
Greg Morrison
Gene Nuccio
John Phillips
Tom Potter
Jacob Pullen
Ken Quarles
Joshua Richards
Adam Scoville
Russ Skillings
Matthew Smedberg
Riley Somo
Matt Steele
Tom Virtue
Mike West
Marc Whittington
Lu Wu
Jeffrey Zax
EMILY CRILE, artistic director, Colorado Children’s Chorale
Emily Crile exhibits her passion and enthusiasm for choral music through developing and conducting singers of all ages. She currently directs Tour Choir, a premier treble ensemble. In her 26th season with the Chorale, she has worked with all choir levels, established Legacy, prepared children for appearances with the Colorado Symphony, Central City Opera, Opera Colorado, and Colorado Ballet, and toured throughout Australia, China, Costa Rica, Europe, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, and the United States. Emily led the Chorale’s highly acclaimed debut in Carnegie Hall in 2024. With a commitment to equitable access for high quality music education, she crafted, led, and administered School Partnership and Community Choir programs across the Denver Metro area and earned a certification in Facilitating Effective DEI Discussions from Dena Samuels Consulting.
Emily is a Past President of the Colorado American Choral Directors Association and is an active choral clinician and presenter throughout the United States. She was extremely honored to serve as a Clinician for the 2025 Colorado Middle All-State Choir. Prior to joining the Chorale in 2000, she served as an Assistant Conductor with the Northern Iowa Children’s Choir. She holds a Master of Music Degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Colorado Boulder.
COLORADO CHILDREN’S CHORALE
The Colorado Children’s Chorale has been performing with the Colorado Symphony on A Colorado Christmas concerts for more than 40 seasons. With a diverse repertoire ranging from fully staged opera and musical theater to standard choral compositions in classical, folk, and popular traditions, the Chorale performs with an innovative stage presentation and a unique theatrical spirit. In recognition of its artistic quality, the Chorale was awarded the Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts, the Mayor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts and the prestigious El Pomar Award for Excellence in Arts and Humanities. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Emily Crile and Executive Director Meg Steitz, the Colorado Children’s Chorale annually trains 400 members between the ages of 7 and 14 from all ethnicities and socio-economic backgrounds representing more than 170 schools in the Denver metro area and beyond. Since its founding, the Chorale has sung countless performances with some of the world’s finest performing arts organizations, performed for numerous dignitaries, and appeared in television and radio broadcasts. The Performance Program includes a series of self-produced concerts, numerous performances with other Colorado arts organizations and touring around the world. This season the Chorale presents Merry & Bright and Free to Be All of Me in Boettcher Concert Hall, as well as So Many Voices, Performing Small Miracles, and Spring Fling Sing! in venues across the Denver Metro area. This season, Chorale children will also take to the stage in A Midsummer Night’s Dream with the Colorado Ballet.
BIOGRAPHIES
COLORADO CHILDREN’S CHORALE
Emily Crile, Artistic Director
Victoria Bailey, Assistant Conductor
CONCERT CHOIR
James Anderson
Harper Ashburn
Liam Barnette
Hazel Bradley
Rory Casey
Jaden Cassel
Caius Catalfano
Aurelia Chakraborty
Kanghyun Choi
Dana Chon
Astrid Christensen
Vera Chung
Aidan Coleman
Nina Cousineau
Willa Daniels
Ray Díaz-Brown
Beatrice Dunn
Sophia Durski
Alexandra Dyachkovskiy
Molly Flanagan
Elizabeth Francom
Elliana Freund
Brynn Frink
Scarlett Gibson
Klara Goldhair
Althea Grillos
Annelise Henriksen
Freya Hicks
Ky Hoerth
Nate Holland
Amalia Hunt Frias
Kalila Iyengar
Elijah Johnson
Quinn Johnson
Rosie Johnson
Runa Jorfald
Camilla Jouvenat
Isabelle Jouvenat
Adelaide Keeley
Siena Kim-Herbert
D’Wynter Klein
Thalia Klein
Maggie Kraus
Rosie Kurzdorfer
Owen Lackore
Clara Langhoff
Louisa (Zuzu) Lanoha
Zara Levine
Jane Lindsay
Lyla Logan
Georgia Loyd
Paisley May
Meghann McGee
Auzzy Medved
Mira Milder
Emma Miller
Audrey Moskowitz
Libby Cotten, Associate Conductor
Jared Joseph, Assistant Conductor
Maddie Musser
Luciana Nieto Mason
Mateo Nieto Mason
Tiago Nieto Mason
Liliana Nikic
Nya J. Ovalle
Charlie Parent
Adam Patterson
Isolde Persichitte
Rocco Persichitte
Vida Pham
Thalia Politis
Kazere M. Polk
Margaret Powers
Emmalyn Purviance
Hattie Ralston
Lulu Reznicek-Parrado
Corinne Robinson
Sophie Sandoval
Wyatt Schmidt
Alexa Scofield
Viola Sestito
Danny Sheridan
Josie Stacy
Tahlia Suglia
Samuel Tkachenko
Aviana Trujillo
Chloe Ulmer
Charlotte West
Ethan Williams
Lydia Wolf
Ari Wood
Liora Worang
Natalie Wuchner
Ulian Yeebio
Alex Zimmerman
Kaylee Zimmerman
TOUR CHOIR
Tre Appleton
Matthew Bennett
Lily Bowsky
Stuart Britton
Bodie Brown
Reilly Butler
Jade Hanami Calkins
Hale Camero
Catherine Carroll
Lexie Cassel
Max Chen
Kameron Covill
Adita Dande
Savannah Davenport
Tessa Jean Ditterline
Anania Erickson
Delilah Garcia
Elliot Gee
Frank Gomez
Anna Goodwin
Evelyn Grabois
Willow Hartman
Iola Higdon
Mayura Iyengar
Adelina Jewell
Deeksha Kaza
Annie Ketcham
Dana Kim
Norah Kim
Alexa Kinsman
Alyss Klein
Jane Lanoha
Brooks Larson
Evan Lewis
Rose Loyd
Selisse Maceo
Gus Martin
Kaden Matsumoto
Carly Mehmen
Charlotte Moore
Aliyah Noemí Morales
Miranda Murillo Durango
Nicolaus Nagle
Gwendolyn Nicholas
Bethany Novak
Cameron Onan
McKenna Pardieck
Ariya Peterson
Meg Politte
Riley Powers
Beckett Rathbun
Cooper Rathbun
Molly Reagan-Wilson
Emi Renteria
Monroe Rippe
Elijah Rosen
Rocco Rowekamp
Agota Rumsa
Clara Seigle
Mae Shamos
Henning Shook
Maisie Anna Skelton
Evann Stencel
Sky Stone
Karsten Visser
Christopher Von Stroh
Elizabeth Von Stroh
Lily Walz
Diem Welch
Juliet Westerhoff
Emersyn Wheeler
Conor Winburn
Ethan Winburn
Mia Zhuang
Tragen Zuhlke
1:00 & 4:00
HOLIDAY BRASS
STEFAN SANDERS, conductor
COLORADO SYMPHONY BRASS & PERCUSSION
Tuesday, December 16, 2025 at 7:00pm
Boettcher Concert Hall
THOINAT ABREAU
ARR. R. HARVEY
Branle de I’official
SIMON WILLS A Prelude and Fugue for Christmas
TRAD. ENGLISH Coventry Carol
ARR. R. HARVEY
ANTHONY DILORENZO ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas)
ANTHONY DILORENZO Christmas Toons
TORMÉ The Christmas Song
ARR. C. MOWAT
JOHNNY MARKS Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
ARR. R. HARVEY
ANTHONY DILORENZO Jingle Bells Swing-a-Ling-Ding
— INTERMISSION —
COLORADO SYMPHONY IS PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY
HOLIDAY 2025/26
TRAD. ENGLISH Past Three O’Clock
ARR. R. HARVEY
TRAD. FRENCH Il est né (He is Born)
ARR. PHIL SNEDECOR
TRAD. IRISH Wexford Carol
ARR. R. HARVEY
ARR. CHRIS CROCKARELL Caroled Bells
ARR. CHRIS CROCKARELL Swinglin’ Jinglin’
ANTHONY DILORENZO The Toy Maker
I. The Golden Palace
II. The Magic Clock
III. The Magnificent Sled
LEROY ANDERSON Sleigh Ride
ARR. R. HARVEY
TRAD. ENGLISH We Wish You a Merry Christmas
ARR. PHIL SNEDECOR
CONCERT RUN TIME IS APPROXIMATELY 1 HOUR AND 20 MINUTES INCLUDING A 20 MINUTE INTERMISSION.
FIRST TIME TO THE SYMPHONY? SEE PAGE 14 OF THIS PROGRAM FOR FAQ’S TO MAKE YOUR EXPERIENCE GREAT!
STEFAN SANDERS, conductor
Stefan Sanders is the Music Director of the Central Texas Philharmonic and the Fayetteville Symphony Orchestra, where he brings an expansive artistic vision, vibrant leadership, and a deep commitment to building strong musical cultures. Recognized nationally and internationally, he served as an Assistant Conductor of the New York Philharmonic from 2017 to 2020, where he worked closely with many of the world’s leading soloists, guest conductors, and composers. From 2014 to 2018 he held the positions of Associate and then Resident Conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, leading more than 200 performances across the all of the orchestra’s series. In 2016, he was selected as one of six conductors nationwide for the Bruno Walter National Conductor Preview, a prestigious honor hosted by the League of American Orchestras and the Nashville Symphony, which spotlights the top emerging conducting talent in the United States.
As a guest conductor, Sanders maintains a busy international schedule. He has led performances with the Colorado Symphony, Virginia Symphony, Canton Symphony, Austin Symphony Orchestra, Austin Opera, Buffalo Philharmonic, Rochester Philharmonic, Syracuse Orchestra, Sarasota Orchestra, Naples Philharmonic, San Antonio Symphony, and San Antonio Philharmonic, among others. His international appearances include performances with the Orquesta Sinfónica Nacional de Cuba (Havana, Cuba), Orquesta Sinfónica de Yucatan (Merida, Mexico), Guayaquil Symphony Orchestra (Ecuador), Kraków Opera and Ballet, Beethoven Academy Orchestra (Poland), Filharmonia Podkarpaczka (Rzeszów, Poland), Filharmonia Warmisnko-Mazurska (Olsztyn, Poland) and the Seocho Philharmonic (Seoul, South Korea). Prior to his conducting career, Sanders earned distinction as a trombonist, performing internationally as a soloist and orchestral musician. He was a member of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra’s brass section for seven seasons and appeared with major ensembles including the New York Philharmonic, Seattle Symphony, Florida Orchestra, and Seattle Opera’s production of Wagner’s Ring Cycle. His performance of Eric Ewazen’s Concerto for Bass Trombone and Orchestra with the Czech Philharmonic is featured on a commercial release from Albany Records, and remains a celebrated recording in the low brass repertoire.
Sanders is a graduate of the Interlochen Arts Academy, The Juilliard School, and the University of Texas at Austin. He was also awarded a fellowship at the American Academy of Conducting at Aspen, where he trained with esteemed mentors Larry Rachleff, Hugh Wolff, and Robert Spano.