Biographies Texts and Translations
Dr. John Brough, Conductor
Dr. John Brough has enjoyed a multifaceted career as a conductor, organist, tenor soloist and music educator. He is recognized for programming engaging concerts with many different choral ensembles, as well as working in collaboration with choirs and instrumental ensembles throughout the Edmonton area. After many years as Artistic Director of Da Camera Singers, John is excited to bring his energy and love of choral music to the students at Concordia University of Edmonton, where he is the newly appointed Assistant Professor of Music, and Director of Choral Activities. John has prepared choruses for major orchestral works working alongside internationally renowned conductors, and internationally recognized soloists, His recording credits include an album of Canadian a cappella choral compositions, featuring the only commercial recording of John Estacio’s “Eulogies”, as well as a Christmas CD of 21st century carol arrangements, “Kings and Shepherds”, featuring works of Ola Gjeilo, and new compositions by Jake Runestadt and Jonathan Dove. In the winter of 2021, John was delighted to receive the Con Spirito award from Choir Alberta, recognizing his years of work, spirit, and dedication to Edmonton’s choral community. John is active in the early music scene in Alberta. He is a founding member of Early Music Alberta and appears regularly in concerts with EMA as conductor and continuo keyboardist. In 2009, he co-founded the Scona Chamber Singers, a professional ensemble focusing on early music performances. When not performing, John enjoys spending time with his wife, Kathleen, and their daughters, Annie and Sadie, camping and hiking throughout the beautiful province of Alberta.
Kim Cousineau, Pianist
Kim received a Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Victoria, and studied privately with Anna Cal, student of Russian pianist Pavel Egorov. He worked as a répétiteur and rehearsal pianist for Pacific Opera Victoria on numerous productions, including Bizet’s Carmen and the world premieres of MacDonald’s Mary’s Wedding and Stokes’ Rattenbury. Kim has been involved in numerous musical theatre productions, including Candide and Baby (Opera Nuova), Bernarda Alba and The Light in the Piazza (MacEwan Theatre), The Drowsy Chaperone (Louis St. Laurent High School), and A Penny Saved (Acting Out Musical Theatre). He was a staff pianist with Victoria-based summer music programs In The Key Of Glee and A Voce Sola, and with Singspiration in Edmonton. Kim is in high demand as a choral accompanist in the Edmonton area, working with many groups including Concordia Concert Choir, Da Camera Singers, A Joyful Noise, Vocal Alchemy, Ante Meridiem, and Chronos. In 2012, Kim was the recipient of the BC Choral Federation’s Joyce O. Maguire Award for outstanding long-term service as a choral accompanist. He maintains a busy schedule as a collaborative pianist and coach and is currently on faculty at the Alberta College Conservatory of Music
Vladimir Machado Rufino, Violin
Brazilian-Canadian violinist Vladimir Rufino has brought his love of music to stages in South America and Europe as well as Canada and the United States. He holds a Doctor of Music degree from the University of Alberta (Canada), a Master of Music degree and Artist Certificate from Azusa Pacific University (USA), and a Bachelor of Music degree from the Universidade Federal da Paraíba (Brazil). He has studied with Yerko Pinto Tabilo and Charles Stegeman. He has participated in music festivals and symposia in Brazil, Canada, and the United States including the Starling-Delay Symposium on Violin Studies at The Juilliard School. Vladimir has performed with orchestras in Brazil, the United States, and Canada, on many occasions serving as soloist, concertmaster, and assistant concertmaster. His chamber music experience includes numerous international performances as part of the Quartet Quarta Dimensão, the Camerata Brasílica, the Villa-Lobos String Quartet, and the Vaughan String Quartet. Besides performing the standard classical repertoire, Vladimir has performed and recorded a number of works by Brazilian composers. Vladimir currently performs regularly with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra and as first violin of the Vaughan String Quartet, which released its debut CD in 2018. In addition to his performance schedule, Vladimir adjudicates for festivals and competitions in Alberta and teaches at the MacEwan University Conservatory of Music.
Earth, Teach Me - Rupert Lang Earth teach me stillness
Earth teach me limitation
As the grasses are stilled with light.
As the ant who crawls on the ground.
Earth teach me suffering
Earth teach me freedom
As old stones suffer with memory.
As the eagle who soars in the sky.
Earth teach me humility
Earth teach me resignation
As blossoms are humble with beginning.
As the leaves which die in the fall.
Earth teach me caring
Earth teach me regeneration
As the mother who secures her young.
As the seed which rises in spring.
Earth teach me courage
Earth teach me to forget myself
Earth teach me courage
As melted snow forgets its life.
As the tree which stands all alone.
Earth teach me to remember kindness As dry fields weep with rain.
Earth Song - Frank Ticheli Sing, Be, Live, See.
But music and singing
This dark stormy hour,
Have been my refuge,
The wind, it stirs.
And music and singing
The scorched earth
Shall be my light.
Cries out in vain:
A light of song
O war and power,
Shining Strong: Allelulia!
You blind and blur,
Through darkness, pain, and strife, I'll
The torn heart
Sing, Be, Live, See...
Cries out in pain.
Peace.
The Earth Adorned - Waldmar Aheln The earth adorned in verdant robe sends praises upward surging, while soft winds breathe on fragrant flowers from winter now emerging. The sunshine bright gives warmth and light O God, amid these joys of life, to budding blossoms tender, creation's glory beaming, proclaiming summer splendor. grant us the grace to keep your word and live in love redeeming. All flesh is grass, the flowers fade, From out the wood, the birds now sing and time is fleeting ever; God's word remains forever. and each its song now raises, to join with all the universe in voicing thankful praises. With hope and joy their songs employ a rapturous exultation in praise of God's creation.
Five Hebrew Love Songs - Eric Whitacre 1.
Temuna (A Picture)
A picture is engraved in my heart; Moving between light and darkness: A sort of silence envelopes your body, And your hair falls upon your face just so. 2.
Kala Kalla (Light Bride)
Light bride She is all mine, And lightly She will kiss me!
Five Hebrew Love Songs - Eric Whitacre (continued) 3.
Larov (Mostly)
"Mostly," said the roof to the sky, "the distance between you and I is endlessness; But a while ago two came up here, And only one centimeter was left between us." 4.
Eyze shelag (What snow!)
What snow! Like little dreams Falling from the sky. 5.
Rakut (Tenderness)
He was full of tenderness; She was very hard. And as much as she tried to stay thus, Simply, and with no good reason, He took her into himself, And set her down In the softest, softest place.
Let My Love Be Heard - Jake Runestad Angels, where you soar Up to God’s own light Take my own lost bird On your hearts tonight; And as grief once more Mounts to heaven and sings Let my love be heard Whispering in your wings
An Elizabethan Summer - Stephen Chatman 1.
Cuckoo
When daisies pied and violets blue And lady-smocks all silver-white And cuckoo-buds of yellow hue Do paint the meadows with delight, The cuckoo then, on every tree, Mocks married men; for thus sings he: “Cuckoo; Cuckoo, cuckoo!” O, word of fear, Unpleasing to a married ear! When shepherds pipe on oaten straws, And merry larks are ploughmen's clocks, When turtles tread, and rooks, and daws, And maidens bleach their summer smocks, The cuckoo then, on every tree, Mocks married men; for thus sings he, “Cuckoo; Cuckoo, cuckoo!” O, word of fear, Unpleasing to a married ear!
An Elizabethan Summer - Stephen Chatman (continued) 2. Golden Slumbers Golden slumbers kiss your eyes, Smiles awake you when you rise ; Sleep, pretty wantons, do not cry, And I will sing a lullaby, Rock them, rock them, lullaby. Care is heavy, therefore sleep you, You are care, and care must keep you ; Sleep, pretty wantons, do not cry, And I will sing a lullaby, Rock them, rock them, lullaby.
An Elizabethan Summer - Stephen Chatman (continued) 3. Come Away, Sweet Love Come away, sweet love, and play thee, lest grief and care betray thee, Fa la la. Leave off this sad lamenting and take thy heart's contenting. The nymphs to sport invite thee, and running in and out delights thee. Fa la la
All Suddenly The Wind - Allan Bevan All suddenly the wind comes soft, And Spring is here again; And the hawthorn quickens with buds of green, And my heart with buds of pain. My heart all Winter lay so numb, The earth so dead and frore, That I never thought the Spring would come, Or my heart wake any more. But Winter's broken and earth has woken, And the small birds cry again; And the hawthorn hedge puts forth its buds And my heart puts forth its pain.
The Stars Are With The Voyager - Eleanor Daley The stars are with the voyager Wherever he may sail; The moon is constant to her time; The sun will never fail; But follow, follow round the world, The green earth and the sea; So love is with the lover's heart, Wherever he may be. Wherever he may be, the stars Must daily lose their light; The moon will veil her in the shade; The sun will set at night. The sun may set, but constant love Will shine when he's away; So that dull night is never night, And day is brighter day.
The Road Home - Stephen Paulus Tell me, where is the road I can call my own, That I left, that I lost So long ago? All these years I have wandered, Oh when will I know There's a way, there's a road That will lead me home? After wind, after rain, When the dark is done, As I wake from a dream In the gold of day, Through the air there's a calling From far away, There's a voice I can hear That will lead me home.
Rise up, follow me, Come away, is the call, With the love in your heart As the only song; There is no such beauty As where you belong; Rise up, follow me, I will lead you home.
Homeward Bound - Jay Althouse In the quiet misty morning When the moon has gone to bed When the sparrows stop their singing And the sky is clear and red
If you find it's me you're missing If you're hoping I'll return To your thoughts I'll soon be list'ning In the road I'll stop and turn
When the summer's ceased its gleaming When the corn is past its prime When adventure's lost its meaning I'll be homeward bound in time
Then the wind will set me racing As my journey nears its end And the path I'll be retracing As I'm homeward bound again
Bind me not to the pasture Chain me not to the plow Set me free to find my calling And I'll return to you somehow
Sonnet 43 - Laura Hawley When most I wink, then do mine eyes best see, For all the day they view things unrespected; But when I sleep, in dreams they look on thee, And darkly bright, are bright in dark directed. Then thou, whose shadow shadows doth make bright, How would thy shadow’s form form happy show To the clear day with thy much clearer light, When to unseeing eyes thy shade shines so! How would, I say, mine eyes be blessed made By looking on thee in the living day, When in dead night thy fair imperfect shade Through heavy sleep on sightless eyes doth stay! All days are nights to see till I see thee, And nights bright days when dreams do show thee me.