Kantorei -Denver 2019 ACDA National Conference Program

MARCH 1, 2019 • KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI

AC DA

NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2019

ACDA NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2019 CONCERT SESSION F

Friday, March 1 @ 3:30 pm Muriel Kauffman Theatre Friday, March 1 @5:45 pm Helzberg Hall

Noche oscura del alma (Canciones del alma, 1) Infinity

Associated Music Publishers

Kim AndrĂŠ Arnesen (b. 1980) Santa Barbara Music Publishing Inc.

Alicia Rigsby, soprano

Six Chanson (Rainer Maria Rilke)

Carlos Surinach (1915-1997)

Paul Hindemith (1895-1963) Schott Music

La Biche Un Cygne Puisque tout passe Printemps En Hiver Verger

Sing My Child Erin Pettitt and Michael Bradford, soloists Mason France, percussion

Sarah Quartel (b. 1982) Oxford University Press

Artistic Director Joel M. Rinsema joined Kantorei in 2014, becoming the second conductor in its history. During his tenure, Kantorei has experienced tremendous growth of its audiences, nearly tripled its budget size, and launched an ambitious recording strategy. A frequent collaborator and champion of new works for chorus, Joel has commissioned and premiered work of many of today’s leading composers including Kim André Arnesen, Mason Bates, René Clausen, Ola Gjeilo, Mark Hayes, Cecilia McDowall, David Montoya, Jake Runestad and Eric Whitacre. In the summer of 2018, Joel conducted the Central American premiere of Ola Gjeilo’s “Dark Night of the Soul” in Guatemala City and Antigua, Guatemala with Capella Cantorum de Guatemala.

Joel is a passionate advocate for the professional choral art form, and he frequently consults with other choral arts organizations around the country. Because of his leadership in his field, he received the Louis Botto Award for “Innovative Action and Entrepreneurial Zeal” from Chorus America, the industry’s advocacy, research, and leadership development organization for choruses, choral leaders, and singers.

He is an accomplished conductor of major works for choir and orchestra and was one of eighteen conductors chosen nationally through audition to participate in master classes and workshops presented by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association and Chorus America. As a tenor soloist, Joel performed across the United States, in Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic.

Joel serves as the North American Choral Promotion Manager for Oxford University Press based in Oxford, England and Music Director at First Plymouth Congregational Church in Cherry Hills Village, Colorado. He holds music degrees from Arizona State and Whitworth Universities and is a member of the Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (Grammys), American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) and Colorado Music Educators Association (CMEA).

Joel came to Kantorei from the Grammy Award-winning Phoenix Chorale. Throughout his 23-year tenure with the Phoenix Chorale, he served in nearly every capacity with the organization including the last 15 years as President & CEO and Assistant Conductor. He negotiated an ongoing recording contract with the prestigious U.K.-based Chandos Records, and Phoenix Chorale recordings earned a total of eight Grammy nominations and two Grammy wins during his tenure. Joel appears on all of the Phoenix Chorale recordings and was a soloist on the Grammy Award-winning “Spotless Rose: Hymn to the Virgin Mary.”

In addition to his work with the Phoenix Chorale, Joel served as the Director of Music at Church of the Beatitudes United Church ofh Christ in Phoenix for 15 years, and was the founding chorus master of the Arizona Musicfest Chorus.

Kantorei is a Denver-based, choral ensemble comprised of volunteer singers under the direction of Artistic Director Joel M. Rinsema. Kantorei’s choral artists have studied at schools with strong music programs across the United States such as Baylor University, Brigham Young University, Eastman School of Music, Indiana University, St. Olaf College, Wartburg College, and Westminster Choir College.

Kantorei’s singers reside throughout the greater Denver area. Some serve as choral music educators, church choir conductors, and vocal instructors. Others are doctors, social workers, optometrists, counselors, clinical psychologists, accountants, realtors –all brought together in weekly rehearsals for shared artistic excellence and community. Kantorei has performed for major choral conventions across the U.S., toured around the world, and has commissioned and premiered new choral works from renowned composers including Kim André Arnesen, Eric William Barnum, Abbie Betinis, René Clausen, Ola Gjeilo, Jake Runestad, Joshua Shank, and Eric Whitacre. Its first internationally released recording in January 2018, “Infinity: Choral Works of Kim André Arnesen” on the Naxos label climbed to the #2 best selling classical album on iTunes, #6 on the Traditional Classical Billboard Charts and #19 on the overall Classical Billboard charts. Santa Barbara Music Publishing Inc., publishes the Kantorei Choral series. Kantorei and Joel Rinsema are engaged in educational collaborations with high school ensembles around Colorado. They regularly host HS Choral Festivals and workshops featuring leading composers and conductors. Recent workshops have featured composer Ola Gjeilo, Dr. Christopher Aspaas of Texas Christian University and in 2019, Dr. Jennaya Robison of Luther College. Formed in 1997 under the leadership of six friends and artistic director Richard Larson, Kantorei has established itself as one of the nation’s premier choral ensembles and has performed for the American Choral Directors Association National Conferences in 2003, 2011 and 2019. Kantorei’s mission is “to elevate the human experience through choral excellence.” “...This is an impressive ensemble, always precise and always well-blended.”

Raymond Tuttle, Fanfare Magazine, July 2018 “Maestro Rinsema’s Kantorei sound gorgeous here.”

Philip Greenfield, American Record Guide, July 2018 “What finer advocates for his music could a composer have than these excellent singers of Kantorei?”

David Vernier, Classics Today, April 2018

THE CHOIR

* Section Leader ∞ Collaborative Pianist § Assistant Conductor ₪ ACDA Member

SOPRANO

ALTO

Mary Christ Kim Dunninger ₪ Christina Graham Heather Gunnerson Stacie Hanson Jade Howard Shannon Lemmon-Elrod Paige Lewkow ₪ Sara Michael * Juli Orlandini Erin Pettitt Alicia Rigsby ∞ Brenda Rolling Pearl Rutherford Christianna Sullins

Emily Alexander Lindsey Aquilina Allison Barber-Pasternak Lizabeth Barnett Lyn Berry-Helmlinger Theresa Derr Sarah Harrison * § ₪ Melissa Menter Erin Meyerhoff Jennifer Moore Kali Paguirigan Tegan Palmer ₪ Andrea Ware

TENOR

BASS

Kai Berry-Helmlinger * Matthew Eschliman Keith Ferguson Mason France Matthew Gierke Keith Harrison Jason Hindman Steve Howie ₪ Justin Kerr ₪ Alex Menter Jonathan Von Stroh

John Bartley Michael Bizzaro ₪ Michael Boender Michael Bradford Garth Criswell Andrew Halladay ₪ Scott Horowitz Brad Jackson Karl Johnson Brad Larson John Ludwig John Schaak Kirk Schjodt * ₪ Griffin Sutherland Matt Weissenbuehler

Kantorei receives generous support from the following:

THE STAFF Steve Grupe

Sara Michael

Sarah Harrison

Alicia Rigsby

Executive Director Assistant Conductor

Administrative Assistant & Librarian Accompanist and Collaborative Pianist

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Keith Ferguson

Susan Lekow

Jason Hindman

Juli Orlandini

Mark Aquilina Michael Bizzaro Matthew Gierke

Kevin Gunnerson Jennifer Moore

President

Vice President Development Committee Chair

Treasurer

Secretary

TEXTS & TRANSLATIONS Noche Oscura del Alma

Dark Night of the Soul

St. John of the Cross

tr. E. Allison Peers

En una noche oscura, con ansias en amores inflamada, ¡oh dichosa ventura! salí sin ser notada, estando ya mi casa sosegada.

A oscuras y segura, por la secreta escala disfrazada, oh dichosa ventura a oscuras y en celada, estando ya mi casa sosegada.

En la noche dichosa, en secreto, que nadie me veía, ni yo miraba cosa, sin otra luz ni guía sino la que en el corazón ardía. ¡Oh noche que me guiaste!, ¡oh noche amable más que el alborada!, ¡oh noche que juntaste amado con amada, amada en el amado transformada!

En mi pecho florido, que entero para él solo se guardaba, allí quedó dormido, y ella le regalaba, y el ventalle de cedros aire daba.

El aire de la almena, cuando yo sus cabellos esparcía, con su mano serena en mi cuello hería, y todos mis sentidos suspendía.

Quedéme y olvidéme, el rostro recliné sobre el amado, cesó todo, y dejéme, dejando mi cuidado entre las azucenas olvidado.

On a dark night, Kindled in love with yearnings, Oh happy chance! I went forth without being observed, My house being now at rest.

In darkness and secure, By the secret ladder disguised, oh happy chance in darkness and concealment, My house being now at rest.

In the happy night, In secret, when none saw me, Nor I beheld aught, without light or guide, save that which burned in my heart.

Oh, night that guided me!

Oh, night more lovely than the dawn!

Oh, night that joined Beloved with lover, Lover transformed in the Beloved!

Upon my flowery breast, Kept wholly for himself alone, There he stayed sleeping and I caressed him, and the fanning of the cedars made a breeze.

The breeze blew from the turret as I parted his locks; with his gentle hand he wounded my neck, and caused all my senses to be suspended.

I remained, lost in oblivion, my face I reclined on the Beloved, all ceased and I abandoned myself, leaving my cares forgotten among the lilies.

Infinity

David Roberts How far, how far is the furthest star we can see?

A distance that’s measured in time.

What there may be beyond what we see no one knows, A vastness that time cannot tell.

In all this space is just a trace of human race, Whose fortunes are measured in dust.

In oceans of time the story of life is cast about In chaos seeming futile and blind.

Our moment in time one human race.

Choose the dark or the light to rise or to fall, One chance for us all.

Six Chanson

Rainer Maria Rilke; tr. Bénédicte Jourdois 1. La biche

1. The Doe

4. Printemps

4. Springtime

Ô la biche: quel bel intérieur d’anciennes forêts dans tes yeux abonde; combien de confiance ronde mêlée à combien de peur.

Tout cela, porté par la vive gracilité de tes bonds.

Mais jamais rien n’arrive à cette impossessive ignorance de ton front.

O, doe: such beautiful interior of ancient forests in your eyes overflows; so much confidence round mixed with so much fear.

All this carried by the swift slenderness of your leaps.

But nothing ever happens to this non-possessive ignorance of your brow.

2. Un cygne

2. A Swan

Un cygne avance sur l’eau tout entouré de lui-même, comme un glissant tableau; ainsi à certains instants un être que l’on aime est tout un espace mouvant.

Il se rapproche, doublé, comme ce cygne qui nage, sur notre âme troublée... qui à cet être ajoute la tremblante image de bonheur et de doute.

A swan is moving on the water all surrounded by himself, like a gliding painting; thus at certain times a being that one loves is a whole moving space.

He comes closer, duplicated, like this swan which swims, on our troubled soul ... which to this being adds the trembling image of happiness and doubt.

Ô mélodie de la sève qui dans les instruments de tous ces arbres s’élève -, accompagne le chant de notre voix trop brève.

C’est pendant quelques mesures seulement que nous suivons les multiples figures de ton long abandon, ô abondante nature.

Quand il faudra nous taire, d’autres continueront...

Mais à présent comment faire pour te rendre mon grand cœur complémentaire?

O melody of the sap which in the instruments of all these trees is rising -, accompany the song our voice too brief.

It is during a few bars only that we follow the multiple figures of your long abandonment, O bountiful nature.

When we have to stay quiet, some others will carry on ...

But for now how to give you back my great heart which complements yours?

5. En hiver

5. In Winter

En hiver, la mort meurtrière entre dans les maisons; elle cherche la sœur, le père, et leur joue du violon.

Mais quand la terre remue sous la bêche du printemps, la mort court dans les rues et salue les passants.

In winter, the deadly death enters the houses; she looks for the sister, the father, and plays them the violin.

But when the ground moves under the spade of spring, death runs in the streets and salutes the passers-by.

3. Puisque tout passe

3. Since All Is Passing

Puisque tout passe, faisons la mélodie passagère ; celle qui nous désaltère, aura de nous raison.

Chantons ce qui nous quitte avec amour et art; soyons plus vite que le rapide départ.

As everything passes, let us make the passing melody; the one which quenches us will get the best of us.

Let us sing what leaves us with love and art; let us be swifter than the quick departure.

6. Verger

6. Orchard

Jamais la terre n’est plus réelle que dans tes branches, ô verger blond, ni plus flottante que dans la dentelle que font les ombres sur le gazon.

Là se rencontre ce qui nous reste, ce qui pèse et ce qui nourrit, avec le passage manifeste de la tendresse infinie.

Mais à ton centre, la calme fontaine, presque dormant en son ancien rond, de ce contraste parle à peine, tant en elle il se confond.

Never is the ground more real than in your branches, o blond orchard, nor more floating than the lace that the shadows make on the lawn.

There meets us what is left to us, what weighs on us and nourishes us, with the obvious passing of infinite tenderness.

But to your heart, the calm fountain, Nearly sleeping in its ancient round, of this contrast barely speaks, as in her so much he melts.

Sing My Child Sarah Quartel

Sing for the promise in each new morning.

Sing for the hope in a new day dawning. All around is beauty bright!

Wake in the morning and sing, my child.

Dance in the joy of the day unfolding.

Dance as you work and dance as you’re learning. All around is beauty bright!

Take in the day and dance, my child.

But when troubles come and worry is all that can be found, Gather your strength and hear your voice.

Sing, my child.

Laugh in the cool and the fresh of the ev’ning.

Laugh in your triumph laugh in succeeding.

All around is beauty bright!

Rest in the evening and laugh, my child.

Peace in the stillness and dark of the night.

Peace in the dreams of your silent delights.

All around is beauty bright!

Sleep in the night and peace, my child.

But when troubles come and worry is all that can be found, Gather your strength and hear your voice.

Sing, my child.

Dance, my child.

Laugh, my child.

Peace, my child.