Letter from the Department
Welcome to this concert presentation by the Music Program in the Department of Performing Arts. We are delighted to have the wonderful support of great families and friends. A very special welcome goes out to our visitors from the community who may not have any affiliation to our students, and simply come to hear spectacular musical performances by these talented student musicians. We hope everyone in our audience is pleased with the musical selections; and proud of the achievement of the students involved.
The students you will hear at this performance are not music majors. They do this for their love of music and dedicate their time and energy to cultivating their passion for this art form. They are as dedicated to their studies and career pursuits as they are to this intrinsic passion they have within them. The program is fortunate to have a bounty of students with this yearning. We would not exist without them!
The Music Program and Department of Performing Arts is dedicated to providing robust opportunities in the performing arts while students are at Drexel. Our goal is to provide a positive and supportive environment for our students. It is our hope that students and audiences alike feel they are represented in the selections being performed. The human connection is most important to us all.
Thank you for attending this performance. Being here is the greatest show of support for the students, the Music Program, and the Department of Performing Arts. Thanks to the dedicated leadership of the faculty ensemble directors and staff, we are pleased to present you with the following program.
Sincerely,
Luke Abruzzo, Music Program Director Miriam Giguere, PhD, Department Head, Performing Arts
Acknowledgements
The Drexel University Chorus and Chamber Singers would like to thank everyone in the Performing Arts office, especially our fearless leaders Luke Abruzzo, & Dr. Miriam Giguere.
Drexel Performing Arts would like to thank Senior Vice President for Student Success, Dr. Subir Sahu, for his continued support of Performing Arts at Drexel.
About the Ensemble
The Drexel University Chorus is an auditioned, 50-voice group for experienced choral singers which performs music from the Renaissance to today, with and without instrumental accompaniment. The ensemble has a particular goal to present newly-composed works that react to the natural, social, and political worlds in which we live. The ensemble typically performs one major on-campus program at the end of each quarter, with occasional service and off-campus concerts.
Drexel University Chamber Singers is an advanced choral ensemble of 24 singers that are drawn from the University Chorus. The ensemble performs at the University Chorus concerts at the end of each term and may have additional on and off-campus performances. Repertoire is generally drawn from early and modern sources, focusing of Baroque cantatas and the work of living composers.
Performance Scholarships are available for this ensemble. Scholarship auditions are typically held during Accepted Students Weekends in April. Contact the director for audition requirements and scheduling. For more information email Dr. Daniel Spratlan at dms542@drexel.edu
University Chorus and Chamber Singers
Dr. Daniel Spratlan, Conductor Program
Sicut Cervus -------
Giovanni Pergolesi da Palestrina (1525-1594)
Ne Irascaris Domine --------------------
William Byrd (1540-1623)
Civitas Sancti ---------------------------------------------------------
Miserere Mei Deus -------------------
Byrd
Gregorio Allegri (1582-1652)
Dona Nobis Pacem --------------------
Lewis Spratlan (1940-2023)
Ubi Caritas --------------------------------
Maurice Duruflé (1902-86)
Tantum Ergo--------------------------------------------------------
Ave Maria ----------------------------------
Gallant Weaver --------------------------
Duruflé
Franz Biebl (1906-2001)
James MacMillan (b. 1959)
Shift ------------------------------------------
Bound ----------------------------------------------------------------
Ayanna Woods (b. 1993) Woods
Ensemble Members
Dr. Daniel Spratlan
Conductor
Soprano
*Molly Angelov
Damini Babu
*Holly Bender
Hannah Bashore
Emily Daly
Jax Dyszel
Ashleigh Edwards
Alisha Fazal
Alyssa Mascuilli
*Gianna Moffa
*Katelyn O’Connor
*Schell Podoll
Natalie Sager
Julia Sanginario
+*Jessica Urwiler
*Zoë Warren
Hannah Woodbury
Alto
*Sumita Bhattacharyya
Victoria Caracillo
Sophia Coulopoulos
+*Kira Daubert
Abby Feinstein
*Seven Finckel
*Lilly Gerard
Mia Hernandez
Mirella Ionescu
Talia Jones
Madeline Keane
Bethany Lierenz
Sophia Lyons
Zoe Mathes
Ashley Prentice
Nyssa Sharma
*Ace Snyder
Designations
* Chamber Singers
+Section Leaders
*Kayla Thomas
Ensemble Members
Tenor
*Cooper Fischbeck
*Stephen Lang
Austin Ngung
*Michael O’Neill
Alexander Thomas
Danny Vitelli
Aaron Patterson Bass
*Devin Casas
*Jack McElhenney
Chau Nguyen
+Jordan Singer
*Ethan Utterback
Alex Yelovich
Accompanists
Ben D’Annibale
Designations
* Chamber Singers
+Section Leaders
Dr. Daniel Spratlan
University Chorus and Chamber Singers Conductor
A native of Amherst, Massachusetts, conductor Dr. Daniel Spratlan is active in both the conducting and singing worlds. Dr. Spratlan is currently in his fourth year as Director of Choral Activities at Drexel University in Philadelphia, and his 14th season as Director of Music at the Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill. Previously, he served on the conducting faculties at Haverford College, Temple University, and Rutgers University. Dr. Spratlan earned his DMA in Choral Conducting from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, his MM in Choral Conducting from Westminster Choir College, and BA in Music from Earlham College.
An active professional singer, Dr. Spratlan in his 18th season singing with the now four-time Grammy Award-winning choir The Crossing with whom he has recorded over 30 albums. He has performed as a soloist and professional chorister with ensembles such as the New York Choral Artists, Clarion Choir, Philadelphia Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, Concert Chorale of New York, Opera Philadelphia, Piffaro, Tempesta di Mare, San Francisco Symphony, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic in venues such as Carnegie Hall, David Geffen Hall, the Kimmel Center, and Walt Disney Concert Hall.
Texts/Translations
Sicut Cervus
Sicut cervusdesiderat ad fontes aquarum, ita desiderat anima mea ad te, Deus.
Sitivit anima mea ad Deum fortem vivum: quando veniam et apparebo ante faciem Dei?
Like as the hart desireth the water-brooks: so longeth my soul after thee, O God.
My soul is athirst for God, yea, even for the living God: when shall I come to appear before the presence of God?
Ne Irascarius Domine
Ne irascaris, Domine, satis et ne ultra memineris iniquitatis nostrae. Ecce, respice, populus tuus omnes nos.
Be not angry, O Lord, still, neither remember our iniquity forever. Behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.
Civitas Sancti
Civitas sancti tui facta est deserta. Sion deserta facta est,Jerusalem desolata est.
The holy cities are a wilderness. Sion is a wilderness, Jerusalem a desolation.
-Isaiah 64: 9-10
Texts/Translations
Misere Mei Deus
Miserere mei, Deus: secundum magnam misericordiam tuam. Et secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum, dele iniquitatem meam.
Amplius lava me ab iniquitate mea: et a peccato meo munda me. Quoniam iniquitatem meam ego cognosco: et peccatum meum contra me est semper. Tibi soli peccavi, et malum coram te feci: ut justificeris in sermonibus tuis, et vincas cum judicaris.
Ecce enim in iniquitatibus conceptus sum: et in peccatis concepit me mater mea.
Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti: incerta et occulta sapientiae tuae manifestasti mihi. Asperges me hysopo, et mundabor: lavabis me, et super nivem dealbabor.
Audi tui meo dabis gaudium et laetitiam: et exsultabunt ossa humiliata. Averte faciem tuam a peccatis meis: et omnes iniquitates meas dele.
Have mercy upon me, O God, after Thy great goodness
According to the multitude of Thy mercies do away mine offences. Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness: and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my faults: and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that Thou mightest be justified in Thy saying, and clear when Thou art judged. Behold, I was shapen in wickedness: and in sin hath my mother conceived me.
But lo, Thou requirest truth in the inward parts: and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly. Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me hear of joy and gladness: that the bones which Thou hast broken may rejoice. Turn Thy face from my sins: and put out all my misdeeds.
Texts/Translations
Misere Mei Deus (continued)
Cor mundum crea in me, Deus: et spiritum rectum innova in visceribus meis. Tunc acceptabis sacrificium justitiae, oblationes, et holocausta: tunc imponent super altare tuum vitulos.
Make me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within me. Then shalt Thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with the burntofferings and oblations: then shall they lay calves upon Your altar.
-Psalm 51
Dona Nobis Pacem
Sim shalom tova uv ’rachah
A’tina assalam. Salam
Shalom
Dona nobis pacem.
Henay mah tov oo maynayim
Shevet achim gam yachad.
Grant us peace, goodness, blessing, and grace. Peace be upon you. Behold how good and pleasant it is for people to dwell together.
Texts/Translations
Ubi Caritas
Ubi caritas et amor,
Deus ibi est.
Congregavit nos in unum
Christi amor.
Exultemus, et in ipso iucundemur.
Timeamus, et amemus
Deum vivum.
Et ex corde diligamus nos sincero.
Where there are charity and love, God is there. We gather together in the love of Christ.
Let us rejoice and be glad in Him. Let us fear and love the living God.
And with a sincere heart, let us love each other.
Tantum Ergo
Tantum ergo Sacramentum
Veneremur cernui:
Et antiquum documentum
Novo cedat ritui:
Praestet fides supplementum
Sensuum defectui.
Genitori, Genitoque
Laus et iubilatio,
Salus, honor, virtus quoque
Sit et benedictio:
Procedenti ab utroque
Compar sit laudatio. Amen.
Down in adoration falling, Lo! the sacred Host we hail; Lo! o'er ancient forms departing, newer rites of grace prevail; faith for all defects supplying, where the feeble sense fail.
To the everlasting Father, and the Son who reigns on high, with the Holy Ghost proceeding forth from Each eternally, be salvation, honor, blessing, might and endless majesty.Amen.
Texts/Translations
Ave Maria
Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae et concepit de Spiritu sancto. Ave Maria, gratia plena, Dominus tecum. Benedicta tu in mulieribus, Et benedictus fructus ventris tui, Jesus, Jesus.
Maria dixit: Ecce ancilla Domini. Fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum.
The angel of The Lord visited Maria and she conceived of the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary, Full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus, Jesus.
Maria said: See the servant of the Lord. May it happen to me according to your word.
Et Verbum caro factum est et habitavit in nobis.
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.
And the Word became flesh and lived among us.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, Holy Mary, pray for us now and in the hour of our death.
Amen.
Texts/Translations
Gallant Weaver
Where Cart rins rowin' to the sea, By mony a flower and spreading tree, There lives a lad, the lad for me, He is a gallant Weaver.
O, I had wooers aught or nine, They gied me rings and ribbons fine; And I was fear'd my heart wad tine, And I gied it to the Weaver.
My daddie sign'd my tocher-band, To gie the lad that has the land, But to my heart I'll add my hand, And give it to the Weaver.
While birds rejoice in leafy bowers, While bees delight in opening flowers, While corn grows green in summer showers, I love my gallant Weaver
-Robert Burns
Texts/Translations Shift
Why do we build monuments in stone?
Stone is brittle, when it cracks it cuts, It cuts to your churning core, America. Tectonic plates collide, you shift in your seat.
I want a monument we imagine, and reimagine, And reimagine a monument we grasp and heave, and pull, Pull in a long arc, bursting through the cracks in the story you tell, America.
- A.W.
Texts/Translations
Bound
For my grandmother
For my grandmother’s hands
For the work of her hands
For her loving labor
For my grandfather
For my grandfather’s feet
For the pounding of his feet
For his loving labor
For the transformation
Their loving labor build
We inhabit
We are bound
Right now
With our hands
With the work of our hands
With our feet,
With the pounding of our feet
-A. W.
Drexel offers four different music minors:
Music: requires 26 credits, including work in Music Theory, History, private lessons, ensemble performance, and 9 credits of music electives.
Music Theory and Composition: aimed at people who are writing their own music or who would like to begin doing so. You will take courses in Music Theory, Arranging, Composition, and Digital Composition, and end with a portfolio of several completed pieces.
Music Performance: requires two years of private lesson studies with our artist faculty culminating in a recital. The Music Program will provide support for the recital venue and accompanist.
Jazz & African-American Music: includes course work in Jazz History, African-American Music, Jazz Theory, private study in Jazz performance, and ensemble work in several ensembles devoted to jazz.
Support Great Performance
Dance, Music, and Theatre are a vital, central part of the Drexel academia and student life. Donations support performing arts ensembles and programs, as well as the operation of our performing arts venues, including the Mandell Theater and URBN Annex Black Box Theater.
Drexel University Department of Performing Arts Staff
Department Head
Dr. Miriam Giguere
Program Directors
Luke Abruzzo
Music
Nick Anselmo Theatre
Jennifer Morley Dance
Administrative Staff
Ellie Ebby Department Assistant
Hannah Burke Department Administrator
Caroline Leipf
Mandell Theater Managing Director
Cece Hill
Performing Arts Graduate Assistant
Liv Shoup
Audience Services Coordinator
Lauren Tracy
Ensemble Production Associate
Production Staff
Paul Jerue
Theatre Production Manager/Black Box Theater Technical Director
Asaki Kuruma
Costume Shop Manager
Chris Totora
Mandell Theater Technical Director
Upcoming Performing Arts Events
