VCS Fall Choir Concert Program

Fall Choir concert

WHITNEY MORSE on The Sharon®L. Morse

PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Dear Patron of the Arts

,

Welcome to The Sharon® L. Morse Performing Arts Center!

Much like the building’s namesake, my grandmother, Sharon L. Morse, we love all varieties of the performing arts here. It is in her memory that I, along with my amazing team of artists and arts administrators, strive to bring many different types of the highest quality entertainment here to The Sharon.

Since opening in 2015, we have strived to establish your trust, that a show at The Sharon is a show worth seeing. Perhaps you find yourself here today to see a concert of one of your favorite musicians, or to take in the national tour of a Broadway show. Either way, we encourage you to consider trying out a new show that perhaps you haven’t heard of before, knowing that it has been intentionally curated by our team.

We welcome you to The Sharon: a place for you to see an old favorite, but also a place to discover your new favorite. I sincerely hope you enjoy the show today, and I look forward to seeing you here again soon!

See You at The Sharon,

W hitney Morse Artistic Director

The Villages High School Choral Department

is proud to present an evening of three parts

The First Part

Each ensemble has prepared music for the second annual Edgar Allan Poe House. As you might imagine, these pieces all have Fall or Halloween motifs, but this year’s Poe’s House has an added theme—storytelling. Keeping with that, all of the music chosen for Poe House is taken from major motion pictures. We think that you will recognize them.

The Second Part

These fives pieces are in the Americana canon. Some may be familiar, and others may not.

Storm Comin’ is an original piece by The Wailin’ Jennys, whose albums Bright Morning Stars and Fifteen both topped the Billboard Bluegrass charts. Storm Comin’ is one of their best known songs, and tonight we are performing the same arrangement that they first recorded.

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening is a hauntingly simple setting of Robert’s Frost’s iconic poem of the same name. Originally from a larger work, Frostiana, this piece has become a part of standard Glee Club repertoire as a stand alone work. Frost himself referred to the poem as his “best bid for remembrance.” It became a part of John F. Kennedy’s stump speeches, and a portion of the poem was delivered in the Westinghouse Broadcasting reporting of his funeral.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep.

Bright Morning Stars is a traditional Appalachian folk song that has existed since at least 1854. The song begins with our expression of joy and personal rebirth here on Earth. “Day is a’breaking in my soul.” In the middle, we stop and reflect. Where are our loved ones to share the joy? “They have gone to Heaven shouting!” At the end, we imagine ourselves as those ancestors, watching our children from above. “They’re upon the Earth a’dancing.” Please enjoy this incredible arrangement of one of the most well-known American folk songs.

The origin of Keep Your Lamps is not well settled. Its earliest attribution is to Blind Willie Johnson, who recorded it in 1928, but it likely has roots in older spirituals or work songs. Andre Thomas’s arrangement honors those roots with a presentation typical of traditional choral spirituals. Often, spirituals have a hidden meaning related to escape or The Underground Railroad. “Keep your lamps trimmed and burning” because the moment to go North may come without notice. “Don’t get weary.” “The time is drawing nigh.” Those messages were passed from generation to generation through song. Some of the most beautiful music ever created was born of pain suffered in one of the most vile institutions in history.

Steal Away is another spiritual with a double meaning. It is attributed to Wallace Willis, a slave himself. When a local minister, Alexander Reid, heard Willis singing, he transcribed the song for posterity. It has since become one of the most well-known spirituals of today, and its message is clear. “The trumpet sounds within my soul. I ain’t got long to stay here.”

The Third Part

Please enjoy our blatant and unabashed patriotism. We sing to celebrate veterans and active members of the armed services. We sing to celebrate the promise of freedom and justice for all. We sing for the principles that form the bedrock of our great nation. We sing for each other and the land we all call home—The United States of America. Please join us in our celebration.

PROGRAM

SOUL

The Star-Spangled Banner

John Stafford Smith, arr. Mark Lehnowsky

I Put a Spell on You from Hocus Pocus

Jay Hawkins (1929 - 2000), arr. Jacob Narverud Julianne Sanchez, Emma Gordon, Savannah Pierce, Josie McDonald, Maggee Wellman, Janaiza Justin, Kamila Abreu, soloists

Storm Comin

Ruth Moody, as performed by The Wailin' Jennys

CHORALE

Double Trouble from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban John Williams (b. 1932), arr. Teena Chinn

Steal Away

Traditional Spiritual, arr. Patrick Dupre Quigley

My Country 'Tis of Thee Traditional, arr. Mark Lehnowsky

B.T.E.

Battle Cry of Freedom

George F. Root, arr. John Ness Beck

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening from Frostiana Randall Thompson (1899 - 1984)

Hoist the Colors from Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End Hans Zimmer (b. 1957), arr. Mark Lehnowsky Josie McDonald, Julianne Sanchez, Emily Veri, Anna Brock, Anna Kuns, Mallorie Simpson, percussionists

God Bless the USA

Lee Greenwood (b. 1942)

CHAMBER SINGERS

Duel of the Fates from Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace

John Williams (b. 1932), arr. Keith Christopher

Bright Morning Stars

Appalachian Song, arr. Shawn Kirchner Caleb Windham, soloist

America the Beautiful

Samuel Ward (1848 - 1903), arr. Anthony Leach Josie McDonald, Anna Brock, Julianne Sanchez, Janiyis McNeil, soloists

CONCERT CHOIR

Keep Your Lamps

Traditional Spiritual, arr. Andre Thomas

The Ballad of Sweeney Todd from Sweeney Todd Stephen Sondheim ( 1930 - 2021), arr. Andy Beck

A Tribute to the Armed Services Traditional, arr. Lloyd Larson

Homeland melody from The Planets: Jupiter Gustav Holst (1874 -1934), arr. Z. Randall Stroope

SOPRANO I

Kamila Abreu Sidney Brooks

Maggie Byrne

Jacqueline Campbell Anna Gordon

Emma Gordon Anna Kuns

Josie McDonald Bella Ramsell

SOPRANO II

SOUL

Alana Desmarais Hannah Kennedy Julia Perry

Savannah Pierce

Kaitlin Ritch

Julianne Sanchez

Emily Shpur

Katelyn Shpur

ALTO I

Anna Brock

Janaiza Justin Ally Kenny

Ava Logan Mallorie Simpson Emily Veri

ALTO II

Julia Ballecer

Emma Broome

London Campbell Chiara Cuomo

Alexis Osterman Sydney Rich Alexis Rose Maddie Ward

Camryn Waters Maggee Wellman

SOPRANOS

Sidney Brooks Maggie Byrne

Jacqueline Campbell

Brie Cook

Ella Dariano

Chiara Cuomo Ella Dariano

Alana Desmarais Sara Hughes

Allyson Kenny

Elizabeth Mulconrey

Kaitlin Ritch Emily Shpur

Katelyn Shpur

CHORALE

ALTOS

Julia Ballecer

Erika Brandner

Emma Broome

Angelina Cosentino

Reagan Croom Grace DeClerk

Lydia Fernung

Reagan Galloway Alexis Osterman

Olivia Perez

Hailey Piecewicz

Geneva Rao Alexis Rose Emma Spell

Camryn Waters

BARITONES

Eddy Bandomo

Kody Machande Beau Oliver Paul Speaks

TENOR

Allister Clarke

Thatcher Clarke Jack Dasher Wesley Hubbard Juan Montenegro Caleb Windham Janiyis McNeil

SOPRANOS

Kamila Abreu Anna Gordon Emma Gordon

Hannah Kennedy Anna Kuns

Ava Logan Josie McDonald Julia Perry Savannah Pierce Bella Ramsell

Julianne Sanchez

B.T.E.

BARITONE

Cliff Bridges Ronan Cook Paul Speaks Aaron Veri Noah Winslett Shea Yael

CHAMBER SINGERS

ALTOS

Anna Brock London Campbell Janaiza Justin Sydney Rich Mallorie Simpson Emily Veri Maddie Ward Maggee Wellman

TENORS

BASS

Jordan Davison Mekhi McCullough Nic Saucier Greg Sherman Otto Smith Brock Steinbrook

BASSES

Allister Clarke Jack Dasher Wesley Hubbard Janiyis McNeil

Juan Montenegro Caleb Windham

Cliff Bridges Jordan Davison Mekhi McCullough Nic Saucier Greg Sherman Brock Steinbrook Aaron Veri Noah Winslett Shea Yael

HISTORY

The Villages High School Choral Department has a proud tradition of choral excellence. Now with their fourth director, the current ensembles continue that tradition. The VHS choirs work to bridge the communities of singers in The Villages, partnering with The Village Voices, The Marion Civic Chorale, and professional musicians from the area. In 2020, they performed at The African American Music Festival in State College, Pennsylvania. In 2019 and 2022, they were invited to sing as part of EPCOT’s Candlelight Processional. In 2022, they received Superior ratings and won best in class awards in both the Mixed Choir and Renaissance divisions and an overall Esprit du Corps Award at Music in the Parks in Virginia. In the last few years, they have worked with choral faculty on campuses at The Pennsylvania State University, The University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, and Duke University, and have hosted professors and choirs from the University of Florida, Methodist University, and The College of Central Florida. They received the top ratings possible (Superiors) from all four judges at the District V Music Performance Assessment in 2022. Choirs at VHS have offered over a dozen world premiers by three different composers and are the featured choirs appearing on the websites for several recordings of those works.

These are great students—the crème de la crème. They are athletes, academicians, thespians, composers, writers, artists, and gamers. They are talented, and not just as singers. Most importantly, they are good people. They actively work to make our community better and are always willing to do what is needed. We are proud to introduce you to the students of the 2022-2023 Villages High School Choirs!

SPECIAL THANKS

We would like to thank Dr. McDaniel, Mr. Grant, and our administration for supporting us; the VHS faculty and staff for encouraging our students; The Sharon L. Morse staff for making the event possible; The Daily Sun for helping us reach the community; the Village Voices, Music Boosters, and Opera Club for their continued support; The Villages and The Morse Family for everything they have done to promote the arts and enable our program to be so successful; parent volunteers, without whom we v not accomplish half of what we do; and, most importantly, our parents, family, and friends, who offer support and guidance-without them this event could not happen.

MARK LEHNOWSKY

Mark Lehnowsky holds a J.D., an M.M. in Conducting, a B.M. in Composition, and a B.S. in Economics. He is in his fifth year at TVHS. He served as Artistic Director of the Marion Civic Chorale and the Choral Arts Society of Madison, the Director of Adult Choirs at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, and the Assistant Conductor of Penn State’s Essence of Joy; conducted the UW-Madison U Chorus, Masters Singers, Women’s Chorus, and Chorale; and founded and directed Shades of Blue, an award-winning a cappella group with alumni who have careers on Broadway. Mark has conducted his own music at ACDA National Convention and served as a clinician for high school and collegiate ensembles from PA, MD, NJ, WI, and MN.

Mark is frequently commissioned, and his music is performed around the country. He had the honor of studying conducting with two Grammy Award winners who have premiered his compositions. Mark has written music for several short films, including a commercial that aired (once) on ESPN 2. He is a twotime International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella Best Arrangement winner. Mark has performed or conducted on four continents, at the Kennedy Center, and Notre Dame de Paris, and his music has been performed in the U.S. and Europe.

GARY LACROIX

Gary has been the staff piano accompanist for The Villages High School Music Department from 2010 to the present. “For the past 13 years it has been a privilege to make music with these fine young singers and instrumentalists.”

He is also worship leader for New Song Community Church in Lady Lake, serving there since November of 2010.

A private piano teacher to students of all ages, Gary is a native of Michigan where he studied piano as a music major at Michigan State University and Central Michigan University. Gary also accompanies the Marion Civic Chorale in Ocala. Gary and his wife Janet are members of the entertainment group "the LaCroixs." They perform variety music at various venues throughout The Villages and surrounding area.

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