On behalf of the College of the Arts at Cal State Fullerton, I’d like to extend a warm welcome to all attendees of the 2025 National Collegiate Choral Organization (NCCO) Conference! We are thrilled to host you on our campus and celebrate the vibrant world of collegiate choral music.
Cal State Fullerton has a long and storied tradition of excellence in choral music, powerfully embodied by our renowned University Singers and Concert Choir. For over 50 years, these ensembles have epitomized choral artistry, a legacy built first under the leadership of David Thorsen and John Alexander and now masterfully guided by Dr. Robert Istad and Dr. Christopher Peterson.
The University Singers and Concert Choir have captivated audiences at home and abroad with their resonant voices, dynamic repertoire, and impressive history of international tours, professional collaborations, and acclaimed recording sessions. The choir’s recent accomplishments truly highlight their dedication and talent. This year, the University Singers performed at the ACDA National Conference, and the Concert Choir will perform at the ACDA Western Division Conference. Both invitations represent an incredible honor afforded to only a handful of collegiate choirs. Cal State Fullerton’s choral programs continue to nurture ongoing partnerships with the Walt Disney Co., the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Pacific Symphony, and Pacific Chorale. In spring 2026, our Symphonic Chorus will collaborate with composer, songwriter, and musician Danny Elfman and Pacific Symphony as well as prepare for the University Singers’ humanitarian concert tour of India in 2026. This level of distinction in choral music reflects the values of the American Choral Directors Association and the National Collegiate Choral Organization which has elevated and promoted choral music through teaching, performance, composition, and advocacy.
Thank you, NCCO and ACDA members, for your continued dedication to advancing choral music in education and performance. Your work is vital, and we appreciate your support of our students and the opportunity for the University Singers and Concert Choir to perform for you today.
Now, prepare to be moved by the immense talent, unwavering professionalism, and extraordinary dedication of these student artists. Their accomplishments today are just a preview of the groundbreaking work they will create tomorrow.
Titans, the path ahead is yours to shape! We can’t wait to see the extraordinary future you will create in music and beyond.
Sincerely,
Arnold Holland, EdD Dean, College of the Arts
Dear Colleagues,
It is our distinct honor to welcome you to California State University, Fullerton and to the opening concert of the 2025 National Conference of the National Collegiate Choral Organization. We are deeply grateful to host our esteemed colleagues and friends from across the nation—dedicated educators, conductors, and singers who share our conviction in the transformative power of choral music. We hope you enjoy every moment of your visit to our campus and to our region of the country.
Cal State Fullerton is one of the largest and most vibrant universities in the United States, serving 43,662 students, of whom 77.9% are enrolled full-time. We are proud that 59.2% of our students receive financial aid and that 32.2% are the first in their families to attend college. Our campus community is richly diverse—57.1% of our students come from historically underrepresented backgrounds, and we are honored to be designated a Hispanic-Serving Institution, with 54.3% of our students identifying as Hispanic. In fact, CSUF is ranked No. 3 in the U.S. for bachelor’s degrees awarded to underrepresented students and No. 4 for bachelor’s degrees awarded to Hispanic students. It is also ranked No. 12 for degrees awarded to Asian American students, and ranked No. 6 nationwide for social mobility, showcasing the university's commitment to providing upward mobility for its students and promoting equity and success for diverse populations. These statistics reflect our unwavering commitment to access, opportunity, and excellence for all. We are also proud that Cal State Fullerton is consistently ranked as one of the Top Public Schools in the U.S. by U.S. News & World Report.
At Cal State Fullerton, our work is guided by a set of core beliefs that define our approach to teaching, learning, and performance. We believe that people learn and perform best in a safe and positive environment—one that places students at the center of the educational experience. We hold that developing independent musicianship is essential to every music student’s future professional success, and that the quality of one’s musical training truly matters. We are proud to be the leader in choral music education and teacher training in California, and proud that our graduates go on to sing professionally and teach all over the world. Our graduate and undergraduate alumni musicians are frequently accepted into some of the finest graduate music programs in the country, and many go on to lead successful choral programs at all levels of instruction. We affirm that professionalism is a teachable skill, that great conductors and singers must also be great teachers, and that how one does anything affects how one does everything. We teach that everything relates to everything, and that together we are stronger. We emphasize that where a student has been is far less important than where they are going, and that reaching higher—in artistry, scholarship, and character—is the path to achieving one’s goals. Above all, we believe in the power of music to change lives for the better. What we do is important. But why we do it—always and without exception—is for our students.
Welcome to our campus, and to an evening that celebrates music, learning, and community at their very best.
With gratitude and respect,
Dr. Robert Istad
Dr. Christopher Peterson Director of Choral Studies Director of Choral Music Education
Mariachi Titans
Oscar Garibay conductor
El Son De La Negra Ruben Fuentes/Silvestre Vargas
A Mi Manera .........................................................................Jacques Revaux/Gilles Thibaut arr. Juan Manuel Cortez
Cielito Lindo Quirino Mendoza y Cortes arr. Oscar Garibay
Concert Choir
Christopher Peterson conductor
Alan Garcia graduate assistant conductor
David Bergstedt collaborative pianist James Yoshizawa bodhrán
ALL FOR LOVE
Tonight’s Concert Choir program is entitled “All for Love.” Each piece was selected to explore some of the many aspects of love as it is expressed through the human condition and experience.
I Am Loved ...........................................................................
His Eye is on the Sparrow Zanaida Stewart Robles (b. 1979)
PROGRAM NOTES
Christopher H. Harris
I Am Loved
This piece explores a basic human need: to love and be loved in return. Drawing upon Sara Teasdale’s poem “Joy,” I Am Loved is a triumphant and joyous expression of having love and being loved. After an urgent and emphatic piano opening, we hear “I am wild, I will sing to the trees” boldly proclaimed by the choir in a sonorous unison before driving into lush chords. Harris ends the first section with the words “I am loved, now at last I can die,” expressing our common need to be deeply loved. In the slower middle section Harris sets Teasdale’s poetry with moments of quiet self-actualization and empowerment in the words “I am sandaled with wind and with flame, I have heart-fire and singing to give.” As the opening theme returns Harris drives the composition to a hopeful and celebratory finish concluding with the words “I am loved, now at last I can live!”
Antonio Lotti
Crucifixus
Love as sacrifice is a theme that we explore in relationships. We must sometimes give up parts of our self-centered life to embrace a selfless connection to another person in love and relationship. Crucifixus explores Christ’s sacrifice on the cross as he was crucified by Pontious Pilate, suffered, and was buried in an expression of unconditional love through a Christian, sacred lens. Antonio Lotti was a Venetian composer from the late Baroque period, having spent much of his career in the esteemed St. Mark’s Basilica. A prolific writer of sacred music, Crucifixus is one of his most famous motets. The work originated as a segment from his Credo in F. The piece opens with each line of text entering in polyphonic imitation, beginning with the basses and moving all the way to the sopranos. The suspensions create a dramatic languishing effect, which reflects the text. As the piece concludes, the choir quietly relaxes into a quiet, but peaceful resolution.
Tarik O’Regan
Alleluia, Laus et Gloria
In California composer Tarik O’Regan’s Alleluia, Laus et Gloria we express love for God and forces greater than ourselves. Originally commissioned by the BBC for the Pro Musica Girls’ Choir of Hungary, Alleluia Laus et Gloria begins with a fanfare proclamation of praise and love for God in D Mixolydian. In a dance-like chant, the altos and tenors repeat the phrase “Alleluia, Laus et Gloria” in percussive interlocked rhythms, creating a driving modal accompaniment for the rest of the text sung by the sopranos and basses. The remaining words of “Quia vera et justa sunt judicia ejus,” which translate to “and virtue to God, for his judgments are true and just,” perfectly express the rest of the prayer which is sung triumphantly and exuberantly.
Rosephanye Powell
To Sit and Dream
In Rosephanye Powell’s beautiful To Sit and Dream we explore love as an expression of desired connection…an intentional reaching out to the world in search of something better. Known for his powerful writings on social justice and a need for human equality and dignity, Langston Hughes’ poem “To You” is representative of these perspectives, highlighting the “problem world” as our reality and our need to imagine a more loving world that must be envisioned to make it into reality. Hughes was one of the central figures of the Harlem Renaissance, an artistic and cultural explosion of African American art, literature, music, and theater. Rosephanye Powell sets a dream-like work rooted in rich, jazz-inspired chords that perfectly express the tension of the text penned by Hughes. Powell uses more open sonorities and unisons as a way to communicate the overall hopeful message. The choir repeats the words “I reach out my hand to you” in a meditative fashion, searching for connection in a sometimes very dark and loveless world. This beautiful work is a contemplative reflection on the state of the world and the hope for a better and more loving tomorrow.
Traditional Irish Folk Song arr. Desmond Earley
Dúlaman
In Dúlamán we explore love as courtship and romance. Dúlamán is a famous and well-known traditional Irish folk song sung in the Gaelic language. While Dúlamán directly translates to “Seaweed,” the song is often considered a love song due to its lyrics telling a story of courtship and vying for a hand in marriage. Desmond Earley’s arrangement features a tenor soloist as the primary narrator of the story, while the choir joins in call and response during its refrain. The framework of the piece is held together by a bodhrán, an Irish frame drum that adds a rhythmic ostinato beneath the flowing harmonies. While the song is about love and its rebellious nature, it is also a celebratory representation of Irish heritage.
PROGRAM NOTES
Kevin A. Memley
Make Me Know
Make Me Know explores love in terms of finding safe harbor, expressing powerful emotions, and belonging in a group of people that protect, love, and care for you. California native Kevin Memley is a highly-accomplished choral composer, pianist, and conductor known for his lush compositions and sensitive scoring of texts. Much of his music has served as premieres for national and regional ACDA conventions. Make Me Know was commissioned for Dr. Christopher Peterson and the Cal State Fullerton Concert Choir for their performances at the 2025 NCCO Conference in Fullerton, CA and 2026 ACDA Western Division Regional Conference in San Jose, CA. Drawing upon a newly-written poem by librettist Euan Tait, the text speaks to the choral singer and their love for singing. For many, singing in choir is a special expression that gives meaning both to the singer as well as to the audience. In this text, the narrator assures, “We heard you; we bring your hidden suffering from your exile home to this place.” The text acknowledges that a love for choral singing comes from both the unity of voices, but also from the ability to feel a sense of communal belonging in a safe space with other singers.
Emilio
Sole-Sempere
Hearts Beat Together
Hearts Beat Together is a celebration of love as connection through music and singing together in community. Research shows that people’s hearts can synchronize when they experience music together, whether they are singers in a choir, instrumentalists in an ensemble, or even audience members at a concert. This synchrony is linked to the synchronized breathing patterns created by singing or listening to music, which can have a calming effect on the cardiovascular system. This upbeat and fun piece was originally commissioned by Dr. Cristian Grases for the 2015 College/University/Community Latin American Honor Choir. Premiered at the ACDA National Conference in Salt Lake City, Utah, Hearts Beat Together derives its rhythmic and dance-like style from Caribbean Calypso. The texts were written by the composer, Emilio Sole Sempere, and derive from the many experiences he had at choral festivals, and the joy that comes from singing together for extended times and experiences. We feel the love of singing together, and we don’t want it to end.
Rosephanye Powell
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings sets Paul Laurence Dunbar’s poignant poem Sympathy to music. Dunbar (1872–1906), a pioneering African American poet born in Dayton, Ohio to formerly enslaved parents, rose to prominence for his vivid portrayals of Black life in post-Reconstruction America. Though he died of tuberculosis at the age of thirty-three, Dunbar’s legacy endures.
Published in 1899, Sympathy is among Dunbar’s most celebrated works. Through the metaphor of a caged bird, he expresses a deep yearning for freedom and dignity. In this poem, Dunbar doesn’t merely witness the bird’s struggle—he identifies with it. His insight into the unseen forces that shaped his world continues to resonate with anyone who has felt silenced or unseen.
This musical setting aims to honor Dunbar’s poem and legacy by giving voice to those who have had limitations placed upon them—whether through racism, depression, abuse, illness, or other challenges. The song is through-composed, with a poetic structure and rhyme scheme thoughtfully restructured and reimagined to develop the lines more lyrically and heighten the poem’s emotional and dramatic impact as a brief choral drama.
Jeffrey Derus
The House of Belonging
Jeffrey Derus is an award-winning American composer and producer whose works have been performed by ensembles such as Choral Arts Initiative, the Jason Max Ferdinand Singers, Constellation Men’s Ensemble, and universities worldwide. His music has been described as “powerful, dramatic, and lucid” (Sonograma Magazine, 2023) and “elegant” (Voice of OC, 2023), with critics often comparing his sound to “Holy Minimalism” (AllMusic, 2023). His debut album, “From Wilderness: A Meditation on the Pacific Crest Trail,” achieved international recognition, earning two Global Music Awards and charting on Billboard and iTunes in 2023. Derus, the 2022 winner of the ACDA Raymond W. Brock Prize for Professional Composers, has held residencies at both the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation and the Britten-Pears Foundation (Derus, 2023). A graduate of California State University, Fullerton, he studied composition and music education and performed in the university’s top ensembles. One of his recent commissions was premiered at the 2023 National ACDA Conference in Dallas.
The House of Belonging serves as an evocative introduction to both Derus’s musical voice and the thematic journey of this concert—one centered on love, forgiveness, and self-discovery. Setting the poetry of David Whyte, the work contemplates the search for belonging, the meaning of home, and the quiet strength found in connection. Through luminous harmonies and moments of meditative stillness, Derus captures the tenderness and expansiveness of Whyte’s words, inviting listeners into a soundscape where vulnerability becomes the doorway to love and inner peace (Whyte, 1996).
PROGRAM NOTES
Reena Esmail
When the Violin
Reena Esmail (b. 1983) is an Indian American composer whose work bridges Indian and Western classical traditions, fostering cross-cultural dialogue and equity in musical spaces. She holds degrees in composition from The Juilliard School and the Yale School of Music, and studied Hindustani music in India as a Fulbright-Nehru scholar. Esmail has served as composer-in-residence with the Seattle Symphony, Tanglewood Music Center, and Spoleto Festival, and currently holds the position of Swan Family Artist in Residence with the Los Angeles Master Chorale (2020–2025). Her music has been commissioned by leading ensembles including the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Seattle Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, and Kronos Quartet (Esmail, 2024).
When the Violin sets a translation of poetry by the Persian mystic Jalal ad-Din Rumi (1207–1273), rendered by Coleman Barks. In this text, the violin becomes a symbol of the soul’s journey—its capacity to forgive, release pain, and rediscover beauty through surrender. Esmail’s luminous setting intertwines chant-like lyricism with modal colors drawn from Hindustani ragas, reflecting a spiritual and emotional synthesis that mirrors the act of reconciliation itself. Through her fusion of East and West, Esmail transforms Rumi’s meditation into a soundscape of renewal—inviting both performer and listener to experience forgiveness as the first step toward self-discovery (Rumi & Barks, 1995).
Matthew Lyon Hazzard
The Prow
Matthew Lyon Hazzard (b. 1989) is the Director of Choral Activities at Mt. San Antonio College and an award-winning Filipino American composer and conductor. Praised for his “exquisite text-setting” and “stunning landscapes of sound” (18th Street Singers, 2024), his works have been performed by professional, collegiate, and Grammy Award–winning ensembles worldwide. His compositions have appeared at ACDA regional conferences, been commissioned by leading ensembles such as the Oregon Repertory Singers and Portland State Chamber Choir, and received national and international recognition (Hazzard, 2024).
The Prow comes from Hazzard’s three-movement choral cycle The Ocean Between Us, setting poetry by Jonathan Talberg. The text captures the exhilaration of standing at the front of a boat—the wind, the sea spray, and the sunlight evoking a moment of freedom, remembrance, and awe. Hazzard’s writing mirrors the motion of the ocean through rhythmic momentum, soaring melodic lines, and luminous harmonic waves. Within the context of this program, The Prow represents a turning point: the rediscovery of joy through connection, adventure, and shared memory. It invites listeners to embrace the beauty of life’s journey and to celebrate the enduring presence of loved ones, both past and present, who have shaped our paths (Talberg, 2018).
PROGRAM NOTES
Saunder Choi
Yellow
Saunder Choi is a Los Angeles–based Filipino-Chinese composer, arranger, and choral artist whose work explores identity, advocacy, and the human condition through music. Winner of the 2024 ACDA Raymond W. Brock Prize for Professional Composers, his compositions have been performed worldwide by ensembles such as Conspirare, the Philippine Madrigal Singers, Santa Fe Desert Chorale, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Pacific Chorale, and the World Youth Choir. As an arranger and orchestrator, he has collaborated with artists and organizations including Tony Award–winner Lea Salonga, the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, and the San Francisco Symphony. A versatile performer himself, Choi sings with Pacific Chorale and L.A. Choral Lab and has contributed vocals to major film soundtracks such as The Lion King (2019), Mulan (2020), and Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) (Choi, 2024).
Choi’s work often reflects his belief in music as a vessel for advocacy—one that uplifts voices and amplifies themes of love, belonging, and truth. His arrangement of Coldplay’s Yellow (2000) reimagines the original Britpop anthem as an ethereal choral meditation. Through expansive divisi harmonies and sustained, shimmering textures, Choi transforms the song into an exploration of love that transcends description. In the context of this program, Yellow becomes a moment of still wonder—a pause to reflect on the unspoken, indescribable beauty of love in all its forms: romantic, familial, and divine (Coldplay, 2000).
Zanaida Stewart Robles
His Eye Is on the Sparrow
Dr. Zanaida Stewart Robles is an award-winning Black American composer, vocalist, and educator based in Southern California. Her music—praised for its soulful vitality, vibrant harmonic palette, and synthesis of African, gospel, and contemporary influences— has been performed worldwide by professional ensembles, community choirs, and educational institutions. A prominent voice in the choral field, Robles has served on numerous advisory boards and currently directs music at Neighborhood Unitarian Universalist Church in Pasadena. As a professional soprano and studio artist, she has performed nationally and internationally, with recording credits that include major film soundtracks such as Frozen 2 and The Lion King 30th Anniversary Concert (Robles, 2024).
His Eye Is on the Sparrow is Robles’s reimagining of the beloved 1905 gospel hymn by Civilla D. Martin (lyrics) and Charles H. Gabriel (music). In her choral setting, Robles honors the song’s deep spiritual lineage while infusing it with lush harmonies and rhythmic drive that speak to both tradition and renewal. Within the arc of this program, the piece serves as a moment of arrival—a celebration of faith, resilience, and unconditional love. It closes the journey of belonging, forgiveness, and self-discovery with a sense of peace and wholeness, reminding us that when we trust in love— human and divine—we find our truest home (Martin & Gabriel, 1905).
Program Overview
University Singers
This program invites listeners on a journey of love, forgiveness, and self-discovery— a progression that mirrors the human experience of seeking belonging, finding peace within, and opening the heart to connection. Each work featured in tonight’s concert was composed by a California-based artist, reflecting the state’s extraordinary creative spirit and its vital contributions to the choral profession. Our selection and support of these composers is intentional—celebrating the diversity, innovation, and humanity that define California’s musical landscape.
The program begins with Jeffrey Derus’s “The House of Belonging,” a meditation on home and the deep human need to be seen, known, and loved. From there, Reena Esmail’s “When the Violin” turns inward, exploring the vulnerability of forgiveness and the courage required to let go of pain in order to rediscover beauty. Matthew Lyon Hazzard’s “The Prow” lifts that reflection into motion, celebrating the joy of shared memory, adventure, and the bonds that continue to unite us with those we have loved and lost. Saunder Choi’s Yellow captures love in its most indescribable form—radiant, unbounded, and beyond words—illuminating the ways love transforms and transcends every experience. Finally, Zanaida Stewart Robles’s “His Eye Is on the Sparrow” brings the journey to its spiritual culmination, offering a sense of arrival and completion. Through faith, resilience, and connection to one another, the program closes with the assurance that love—divine, human, and enduring—is both the journey and the destination.
Program Notes by Erika Jackson
M.M. Candidate in Choral Conducting, California State University, Fullerton Edited with assistance from OpenAI’s ChatGPT for grammar, formatting, and citation support. All content, analysis, and wording decisions were made by the author.
References
Choi, S. (2024). Artist biography. Retrieved from https://www.saunderchoi.com Coldplay. (2000). Parachutes [Album]. Parlophone Records. Derus, J. (2023). Composer biography. Retrieved from https://www.jeffreyderus.com Esmail, R. (2024). Composer biography. Retrieved from https://www.reenaesmail.com Hazzard, M. L. (2024). Biography. Mt. San Antonio College Faculty Page. Martin, C. D., & Gabriel, C. H. (1905). His Eye Is on the Sparrow [Hymn]. Robles, Z. S. (2024). Official biography. Retrieved from https://www.zanaidarobles.com Rumi, J., & Barks, C. (1995). The Essential Rumi. HarperOne. Sonograma Magazine. (2023). Review of From Wilderness. Talberg, J. (2018). The Ocean Between Us [Poem]. California State University, Long Beach. Whyte, D. (1996). The House of Belonging. Many Rivers Press.
VIOLIN
Alexander Warner
Pamela Lopez
Miriam Ibanez
Ana Adame
ACCORDION
Quentin Rivest
SOPRANO 1
Kaitlin Chheng*
Tabetha Mora
Sarah Raber
Rey Riney
Nicole Rodriguez
Peyton Slaven
Hannah Weisman
Zoe Wolfsen
SOPRANO 2
Ashleigh Buck
Rachel Delmastro
Kaitlyn Gooding
Anna Grozdanov
Daphne Master
Ella McConnell
Kelsey Rhebergen*
Yesenia Vasquez
Mariachi Titans
TRUMPET
Gustavo Rivera
Angel Kuk
Mauricio Romero-Ravela
VIHUELA
Haziel Flores
ALTO 1
SOPRANO I
Erika Jackson*
Amber Napoli
Hannah Park
Quintessa Wedell
SOPRANO II
Amilleah Barragan
Kate Bowles
Em Nguyen*
Sara Preston
GUITARRA
Ricardo Gonzalez Arredondo
Miguel Leon Fernandez
Jeremy Sánchez
Daniel Rosas
Garcia
Abraham Robles
Concert Choir
TENOR 1
Carisa Espinosa
Chloe Konoske
Kady Lin
Jessica Orozco
Minerva Padilla
Nguyen
Brianna Perez
Veronica Torres Diaz
Sidney Wu
ALTO 2
Grace Finley
Annie Guzman*
Georgina Hernandez
Valentina Manco
Vea Stone
Krysta Tillett
Jordan Watkins*
Michael Eskovitz
Alan Garcia
Matthew Garcia
Alejandro Munoz
Justin Parron
Edgar Sanchez
John Nguyen*
Lissandra Tong
TENOR 2
Peter Alunan
Juan De Leon
Jacob Ellis
Hector Esteva*
Steve Moreno
Tung Tran
Joshua Smith
Santiago Zumaya
University Singers
ALTO I
Sophia Khurana
Hillary Ngo*
Jenna Scotese
Abby Tyree
ALTO II
Joy Dorko*
Lindsey Lacanilao
Katelyn Pacpaco
Dulce Segura
GUITARRON
Brooklynne Summers
Joanna Villa
BASS 1
Brendan Baxter*
Brennan Bastanchury
Alex Galvan
Jacob Gomez
Jason Magallanes
Isaiah Mawien
Jack Nisbet
Cristian Polo
BASS 2
Derrick (Kro)
DeAndrade
Scott Freeman
Jack Kendig
Cooper Koerner
Ben Reyes
Jason Salcido
Mason Schoenfeld*
Chris Sun
TENOR I
Aron Demarest
Alan Garcia*
Abraham Robles
Nicholas Quinn
TENOR II
Jeremy Lee*
Steven McCann*
Alexei Rehorn
Adam Rooney
BARITONE
Justin Gabriel
Michael Ortiz*
Miles Rojo
Malek Sammour
BASS
Gerrit Hoevers
Bryson Huang
CJ Koehn
Adrian
Rangel-Sanchez*
*Section Leaders
Mariachi Titans
Concert Choir
University Singers
Oscar Garibay
Mariachi Titans
Oscar Garibay is recognized as a versatile musician. As a classical instrumentalist, Garibay has won several concerto competitions and toured internationally with various orchestras and bands. In his role as a mariachi musician, Garibay has performed on tour with the Grammy Award-winning Mariachi Los Camperos.
Garibay is a pioneer in mariachi education. Under the mentorship of José Hernández, the director of Mariachi Sol de México, Garibay became one of the founding teachers of the José Hernández Mariachi Academy. This experience led to his appointment as Orange County’s first full-time mariachi director. He currently serves as the director of Santa Ana College’s Mariachi Dons, CSU Fullerton’s Mariachi Titans, and Chapman University’s Mariachi Panteras, all of which are Orange County collegiate ensembles.
In addition to his commitments in Southern California, Garibay serves as a teaching artist for the Northwest Mariachi Festival, where he mentors the next generation of mariachi students in Washington state. He also collaborates closely with his hometown roots; the Davis Joint Unified School District and UC Davis, where he directs their mariachi program to establish a citywide mariachi initiative in Northern California.
ABOUT THE GUEST ARTIST
James Yoshizawa is a Los Angeles-based percussionist who is known for his versatility and unique specialties. He has been a guest artist at festivals throughout the USA, he was the percussionist and bodhrán soloist for the Broadway musical “Come From Away” in 2016, he has performed for President Barack Obama, he was the 2022 All-Ireland World Champion in Irish percussion, and he has recorded on numerous albums and soundtracks. He can be found playing all around Los Angeles in various ensembles ranging from jazz to Irish to R&B to classical music.
James Yoshizawa
Christopher Peterson Concert Choir
Christopher Peterson is a teacher, conductor, choral clinician, author, editor, and choral arranger of music and books published in the United States and around the world. In his over thirty years as a music educator he has taught in elementary, middle school, high school, church, community, festival, and collegiate settings. He earned the Bachelor of Science in Music Education from the University of Southern Maine in choral and instrumental music education and taught music for nine years in the public schools of Maine. He earned the Master of Music in Choral Conducting degree at the University of Maine, and the Doctor of Philosophy in Music Education and Choral Conducting at Florida State University.
CSUF Peterson trains and mentors undergraduate and graduate choral music educators and conductors and directs the Concert Choir and the Singing Titans Chorus. In May of 2019 he was honored as the University-wide recipient of the CSUF Carol Barnes Award for Excellence in Teaching. He has served as State Choral Representative and Southern Section President for the California Music Educators Association (CMEA), as well as the Western Division Representative for the National Association for Music Education’s (NAfME) Council for Choral Education. He has also served the California Choral Directors Association in various offices, including CCDA President and is the current Vice President. His collegiate textbook “RESONANCE: The ART of the Choral Music Educator” is published by Pavane and is being used across the United States to train future choral music teachers and conductors.
Peterson has been invited to teach, judge, and conduct choirs in more than thirty US states, five Canadian Provinces, and nine countries including China, England, Sweden, Japan, Germany, New Zealand, and Holland, and has conducted All-State Choirs across the nation including Maine, North Carolina, Oregon, Wisconsin, and California. He also holds the position of Director of Music at Irvine United Congregational Church in Irvine, CA. His “hobby” for many decades has been enjoying singing barbershop harmony, and he is a BHS District Quartet Champion baritone, a top-5 medalist chorus director, and a four-time gold medalist with the Masters of Harmony, nine-time International Men’s Chorus Champions of the Barbershop Harmony Society.
Robert Istad
University Singers
Robert Istad, a Grammy Award-winning conductor who “fashions fluent and sumptuous readings” (Voice of OC) with his “phenomenal” artistry (Los Angeles Times), is Professor, Director of Choral Studies at California State University, Fullerton and Artistic Director of Pacific Chorale. He was recognized as CSUF’s 2016 Outstanding Professor of the Year. At CSU Fullerton, Istad conducts the University Singers and manages CSUF’s large graduate choral conducting program. Recently, he and the University Singers performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Pacific Symphony Orchestra, Andrea Bocelli, Jennifer Hudson, Kathleen Battle, the Eagles, and recorded albums with Yarlung Records and with composer John Williams and Sony Classical.
Under Istad’s leadership, Pacific Chorale continues to expand its reputation for excellence for delivering fresh, thought-provoking interpretations of beloved masterworks, rarely performed gems and newly commissioned pieces. In July 2023, he led Pacific Chorale’s first international tour in seven years, conducting performances at leading venues in Austria, Germany and the United Kingdom. His artistic impact can be heard on three recent recordings and one feature film featuring Pacific Chorale, including the 2022 Grammy Award-winning “Mahler’s Eighth Symphony” with the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Gustavo Dudamel on Deutsche Grammophon (2021), for which he prepared the chorus. It won Best Choral Performance and garnered a Grammy nomination for Best Engineered Album, Classical. Istad’s feature film “To the Hands,” a choral-theatrical meditation on homelessness and displacement, was premiered in 2025 as an official selection of the Newport Beach Film Festival among many others, and will be released commercially in 2026. Additionally, Istad prepared Pacific Chorale for Pacific Symphony’s commercial recording of Sir James MacMillan’s “Fiat Lux” released on Tonsehen Records (2024) and conducted the Pacific Chorale’s recording “All Things Common: The Music of Tarik O’Regan” released on Yarlung Records (2020). He regularly conducts and collaborates with Pacific Symphony, Berkshire Choral International, and Yarlung Records. His extensive credits also include recording for Sony Classical and guest conducting Long Beach Symphony Orchestra, Bach Collegium San Diego, Musica Angelica Baroque Orchestra, among others. He has prepared choruses for such renowned conductors as Gustavo Dudamel, Carl St.Clair, Esa-Pekka Salonen, John Williams, and John Mauceri, among others.
Istad and the University Singers travel throughout the world and have presented concert tours of Rwanda & South Africa (2024), Australia (2022),
ABOUT THE CONDUCTORS
Spain (2019), and Scandinavia, the Baltics and Russia (2017). They have performed at numerous regional and national ACDA conferences including the 2024, 2018, and 2012 ACDA Western Division Conferences and the 2013 and 2025 ACDA National Conferences. They also performed for the 2013 National Collegiate Choral Organization National Conference. Other highlights include a 2015 residency and performances in Paris, France, engagements at the 2012 Ottobeuren and Eingen Festivals of Music in Germany, a 2010 performance for UNESCO in Pisa, Italy, and a 2008 performance at the Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest, Hungary.
Istad received his Bachelor of Arts degree in music from Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois, his Master of Music degree in choral conducting from California State University, Fullerton and his Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral music at the University of Southern California. He studied conducting with Dr. William Dehning, John Alexander and Dr. Jon Hurty. Istad, who is on the Executive Board of Directors of Chorus America and serves as Dean of Chorus America’s Conducting Academy, is in demand as guest conductor, lecturer, and clinician.
ABOUT THE COLLABORATIVE PIANIST
David Bergstedt
David Bergstedt is a versatile Southern California pianist who is currently on staff in the vocal area of Cal State Fullerton’s School of Music. In that role, he accompanies and coaches in the choral and opera programs. He has worked as a collaborative pianist and organist around the region for many years, and he has had past positions at Villa Park High School and the Village Community Presbyterian Church in Rancho Santa Fe.
David completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in piano performance at CSUF, studying with Eduardo Delgado and Ning An and performing in jazz and new music ensembles. He is currently pursuing his Doctor of Musical Arts degree with Dr. Baruch Meir at Arizona State University and has participated in piano and chamber music festivals in Italy, Germany, and Hungary.
$500,000 +
Mrs. Junko Klaus
$100,000-$499,999
Johnny Carson Foundation
$50,000-$99,999
CSU Northridge Foundation
Leo Freedman Foundation
Ms. Susan Hallman in Memory of Ernie Sweet ‘77
Mr. Matthew Scarpino & Ms. Karyn Hayter
Mr. Steve & Mrs. Robin Kalota
Dr. Sallie Mitchell*
Dr. Tedrow & Mrs. Susan Perkins
Mrs. Louise Shamblen
$25,000 - $49,999
Mr. Darryl Curran
Mrs. Lee C. Begovich
Mrs. Marilyn Carlson
Ms. Mary A. and Mr. Phil Lyons
Mr. Bob & Mrs. Terri Niccum
Mr. Ernest & Mrs. Donna Schroeder
Dr. Ed & Mrs. Sue Sullivan
$10,000-$24,999
Dr. Joseph & Dr. Voiza Arnold
Mr. John Aimé & Ms. Robin de la Llata Aimé
Dr. Marc Dickey
Mrs. Evelyn Francuz
Mr. Edward & Mrs. MaryLouise Hlavac
Ms. Kathleen Hougesen
Ms. Kathy Mangum
Mr. James & Mrs. Eleanore Monroe
Mrs. Norma Morris
Mr. John Brennan & Ms. Lucina Moses
$5,000-$9,999
Mr. Nick & Mrs. Dottie Batinich
Continuing Life LLC
Ms. Harriet Cornyn
Mr. William S. Cornyn
Dedicated 2 Learning
Mr. Richard & Mrs. Susan Dolnick
Ebell Club of Fullerton
Friends of Jazz, Inc.
Dr. Margaret Gordon
DONOR APPLAUSE
Mr. Norm & Mrs. SandyJohnson
Ms. Teri Kennady
Mrs. Jill Kurti Norman
Morningside of Fullerton
Mrs. Bettina Murphy
Mr. David Navarro
Dwight Richard Odle Foundation
Dr. Stephen Rochford, DMA
Southern California Arts Council
Swinerton Builders
Mr. Framroze & Mrs. Julie Virjee
$1,000-$4,999
Mr. John A. Alexander & Mr. Jason Francisco
Mrs. Judy Atwell
Mrs. Lois Austin
Mr. Tod Beckett-Frank
Ms. Karen Bell
Mr. John &
Ms. Shanon M. Fitzpatrick
Dr. Keith & Mrs. Renae Boyum
Mr. Allan & Mrs. Janet Bridgford
Mrs. Marion Brockett
Mr. James & Mrs. Diane Case
Mr. Stephen Collier & Ms. Joann Driggers
Mr. William H. Cunliffe, Jr.
D Barry Schmitt Trust
Ms. Jeannie Denholm
Mr. Gordon & Mrs. Lorra Dickinson
Mr. Kenneth & Mrs. Stacey Duran
Mr. Greg & Mrs. Shawna Ellis
Ms. Judi Elterman
Dr. Anne Fingal
Fullerton Families & Friends Foundation
The Jane Deming Fund
Mrs. Marsha Gallavan
Mrs. Terie Garrabrant
Dr. Leon & Mrs. Annette Gilbert
Mrs. Janet M. Green
Mr. James Henriques
Mr. David &
Mrs. Margret Hoonsbeen
Mr. Mike Ibanez
Mr. Darren &
Mrs. Tatyana Jones
Ms. Michelle H. Jordan
Ms. Gladys Kares
Ronald L. Katz
*deceased
Very special care has been given to the prepartion of this donor list. For questions or concerns, please contact: Ann Steichen | 657-278-3347
Family Foundation
Mr. Raymond & Mrs. Masako Kawase
Mr. Jeffrey & Mrs. Gayle Kenan
Dr. Kristin Kleinjans & Mr. Anthony Dukes
Mrs. Shirley Laroff
Mr. Lynn & Mrs. Susan Lasswell
Mrs. Marilyn Little
Mr. Juan Lopez
Mr. Paul Coluzzi & Mr. John Martelli
Dr. George& Mrs. Karen Mast
Mrs. Thelma Mellott
Mr. Michael & Mrs. Mary Miguel
Mr. Carl Mrs. Patricia Miller
Stifel Nicolaus
Mr. Ujinobu & Mrs. Yoshino Niwa
Mr. Colin Connor & Ms. Debra Noble
Dr. Arie & Mrs. Deanna Passchier
Mr. Jarrold Petraborg
Mr. John Phelps & Mrs. Kerry Laver-Phelps
Mr. Jim Plamondon
Mr. E. B. & Mrs. Linda Powell
Mr. Robert Rennie & Mrs. Nancy Rennie
Ms. Christine Rhoades
Ms. Mary Rupp
Mr. Thaddeus & Mrs. Eleanor Sandford
Mrs. Rita Sardou
Mr. D. Schmitt
Mrs. Martha Shaver
Mrs. Ingrid R. Shutkin
Ms. Barbara Kerth & Ms. Lorena Sikorski
Ms. Janet Smith
South Coast Repertory
Ms. Ann Sparks
Mr. Robert & Mrs. Roberta Sperry
Mr. Douglas Stewart
Mr. Tom & Mrs. Carolyn Toby
Liqi Tong
Viet Tide
Ms. Verne Wagner
Dr. Sean & Dr. Tina L. Walker
Dr. Robert & Mrs. Teri Watson
Dr. Wayne & Dr. Ruth Zemke
Gifts received from July 1, 2023 to December 31, 2024
ONTIVEROS SOCIETY
The Ontiveros Society includes individuals who have provided a gift for Cal State Fullerton through their estate plan. We extend our deep appreciation to the following Ontiveros Society members, whose gifts will benefit the students and mission of the College of the Arts:
ANONYMOUS
JOHN ALEXANDER
LEE & DR. NICHOLAS A.* BEGOVICH
GAIL & MICHAEL COCHRAN
MARC R. DICKEY
JOANN DRIGGERS
BETTY EVERETT
CAROL J. GEISBAUER
& JOHN* GEISBAUER
SOPHIA & CHARLES GRAY
MARYLOUISE & ED HLAVAC
GRETCHEN KANNE
DR. BURTON L. KARSON
ANNE L. KRUZIC*
LOREEN & JOHN LOFTUS
ALAN A. MANNASON*
WILLIAM J. MCGARVEY*
DR. SALLIE MITCHELL*
ELEANORE P. & JAMES L. MONROE
LYNN & ROBERT MYERS
MR. BOB & MRS. TERRI NICCUM
DWIGHT RICHARD ODLE*
SHERRY & DR. GORDON PAINE
*deceased
DR. JUNE POLLAK
& MR. GEORGE POLLAK*
DR. STEPHEN M. ROCHFORD
MR. STAN MARK RYAN ‘75
MARY K. & WILLIAM SAMPSON
LORENA SIKORSKI
DOUGLAS G. STEWART
ANDREA J. & JEFFREY E. SWARD
RICHARD J. TAYLOR
VERNE WAGNER
RICHARD WULFF
DR. JAMES D. & DOTTIE YOUNG*
The College of the Arts Proudly Recognizes the 300+ Members of Our VOLUNTEER SUPPORT GROUPS
ALLIANCE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS: The Alliance for the Performing Arts (formerly MAMM) benefits performing arts students through underwriting visiting artists; special theatre, dance, and music performances; and other unique experiences for members.
SPECIAL SUPPORT AND EVENT UNDERWRITING
Judy Atwell
Drs. Voiza & Joe Arnold
Dr. Margaret Faulwell Gordon
Susan Hallman
Norma Morris Richard Odle Estate
Kerry & John Phelps
Jeanie Stockwell Verne Wagner
ART ALLIANCE: Art Alliance promotes excellence and enjoyment in the visual arts, and their fundraising efforts contribute to student scholarship, gallery exhibitions, opening receptions and sculpture acquisition on campus.
SPECIAL SUPPORT AND EVENT UNDERWRITING
Fay Colmar
John DeLoof
Joann Driggers & Steve Collier
Loraine Walkington
MUSIC ASSOCIATES: Music Associates maintains a tradition of active involvement and community support, and raises scholarship funds for School of Music students through annual fundraising events and membership dues.
SPECIAL SUPPORT AND EVENT UNDERWRITING
Marilyn Carlson
Evelyn K. Francuz
Sandy & Norm Johnson
Marti & Bill Kurschat
Karen & George Mast
Thelma & Earl Mellott
Bettina Murphy
Grace & Ujinobu Niwa
Kerry & John Phelps
Mary & Jerry Reinhart
Ann & Thad Sandford
Dodo V. Standring
Carolyn & Tom Toby
John Van Wey
MORE INFORMATION: Haley Sanford • 657-278-2663
There are many ways to support the College of the Arts, the School of Music, Department of Theatre and Dance, and Department of Visual Arts
COLLEGE OF THE ARTS • SELECT EVENTS | FALL 2025
*Molly Pease, mezzo-soprano, with David Bergstedt, piano
September 19 • Meng Concert Hall
Simon Shiao, violin
October 2 • Meng Concert Hall
Soo Kim: (Charlie sings in the quietest voice) and Carole Caroompas: Mystical Unions
October 4, 2025 – May 17, 2026 College of the Arts Galleries
University Symphony Orchestra
October 4 • Meng Concert Hall
University Wind Symphony & Alumni Band: Alchemy of Sound
October 5 • Meng Concert Hall
Caroline Chin, violin
October 9 • Meng Concert Hall
Men on Boats
October 9–18 • Hallberg Theatre
9 to 5: The Musical
October 23–November 1 • Little Theatre
Shakespeare in Sound feat. the University Symphonic Winds
October 12 • Meng Concert Hall
University Singers and Concert Choir
October 19 • Meng Concert Hall
Fullerton Jazz Orchestra and Fullerton Jazz Chamber Ensemble
October 24 • Meng Concert Hall
Dr. Garik Pedersen, piano
October 25 • Meng Concert Hall
Advanced Vocal Workshop with Mark Robson, piano
October 30 • Meng Concert Hall
Ernest Salem, violin & Alison Edwards, piano
November 1 • Meng Concert Hall
Irina Kulikova, guitar
November 4 • Meng Concert Hall
The House of the Spirits
November 6–15 • Young Theatre
Mackenzie Melemed, piano
November 9 • Meng Concert Hall
Opera Scenes
November 14–16 • Recital Hall
Fullerton Pops in Here’s Johnny: A Tribute to Johnny Carson feat. University Symphony Orchestra and Fullerton Jazz Orchestra
November 16 • Meng Concert Hall
Jazz Singers
November 19 • Meng Concert Hall
Cello Choir
November 19 • Recital Hall
University Symphonic Winds
November 21 • Meng Concert Hall
Fall Dance Theatre: “Tethered”
December 4–13 • Hallberg Theatre
Fullerton Jazz Orchestra
December 5 • Meng Concert Hall
University Wind Symphony
December 7 • Meng Concert Hall
Titan Voices and Singing Titans
December 8 • Meng Concert Hall
Fullerton Jazz Chamber Ensemble and Fullerton Latin Ensemble
December 9 • Meng Concert Hall
University Band
December 10 • Meng Concert Hall
Deck the Hall at Cal State Fullerton! December 13, 14 • Meng Concert Hall
