The Drop That Contained the Sea by Memphis Symphony

THE PAUL AND LINNEA BERT CLASSIC ACCENTS SERIES

Sunday, May 4, 2025 | 2:30 PM | Scheidt Family Performing Arts Center

Sponsored by the MSO Circle of Friends 2025 Eddy Award Presentation to Kirk Whalum

MEMPHIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Robert Moody, Music Director

Kyle Dickson, Assistant Conductor

The Madeleine Luce Moore Chair

VIOLIN I

Barrie Cooper, Concertmaster

The Joy Brown Wiener Chair

Marisa Polesky, Assistant Concertmaster

Diane Zelickman Cohen, Assistant Principal

Wen-Yih Yu, Assistant Principal

Jessica Munson

Janaina Fernandes

The Rebecca Webb Wilson Fellowship

VIOLIN II

Gaylon Patterson, Principal

The Dunbar and Constance

Abston Chair

Erin Kaste, Assistant Principal

Lenore McIntyre, Assistant Principal

Yennifer Correia

Priscilla Tsai

Esther Humphries

VIOLA

Jennifer Puckett, Principal

The Corinne Falls Murrah Chair

Michelle Pellay-Walker, Assistant Principal

Aaron Tubergen, Assistant Principal

Beth Luscombe

CELLO

Ruth Valente Burgess, Principal

The Vincent de Frank Chair

Iren Zombor, Assistant Principal

Jonathan Kirkscey, Assistant Principal

BASS

Scott Best, Principal

Andrew Palmer

FLUTE

Shantanique Moore, Principal

The Marion Dugdale McClure Chair

OBOE

Lani Kelly, Principal

The Paul and Linnea Bert Chair

CLARINET

Andre Dyachenko, Principal

The Gayle S Rose Chair

HORN

Caroline Kinsey, Principal

The Morrie A. Moss Chair

Robert Patterson

TROMBONE

Greg Luscombe, Principal

Mark Vail

TIMPANI

Ed Murray, Principal

PERCUSSION

David Carlisle, Principal

Stewart Plumlee

Dwight Van de Vate

HARP

Frances Cobb Kenney, Principal

The Ruth Marie Moore Cobb Chair

KEYBOARD

Adrienne Park, Principal

The Buzzy Hussey and Hal Brunt Chair

THE PAUL AND LINNEA BERT CLASSIC ACCENTS SERIES

Sunday, May 4, 2025 2:30 p.m. Scheidt Family Performing Arts Center

CONCERT NOTES

by Michelle Pellay-Walker

Christopher Tin (1976- ): The Drop That Contained the Sea

First Complete Performance: Distinguished Concerts Orchestra and Choir (Jonathan Griffith, conductor): Carnegie Hall, New York City, April 2014.

The Drop That Contained the Sea, by American composer Christopher Chiyan Tin, is a classical crossover composition consisting of ten individual movements that explores various aspects of water in its different forms. The composer ’ s Program Notes (taken from his website) are quite comprehensive, and read as follows:

“The title of The Drop That Contained the Sea comes from a Sufi concept: In the same way that every drop of water contains the essence of the sea, inside every human is the essence of all of humanity In keeping with this idea, I've introduced a water theme in the prelude, and woven subtle variations throughout the album. It contains all seven notes of a major scale-four descending and three ascending-mirroring the flow of water through our world, and representing the vast ocean of melodic possibility contained within a single scale.

Water is one of the most powerful forces in the world It creates life and brings about death, and it has the power to shape the face of the earth Water means different things to different cultures, and I wanted to explore this in The Drop That Contained the Sea. Each piece is inspired by water in a different form, arranged in the order that water flows through the world: Melting snow, mountain streams, rivers, the ocean, and so forth. And like Calling All Dawns, the end of the album flows back into the beginning, reflecting the endless nature of the water cycle. Each of the 10 pieces is also sung in a different language, exploring a different vocal tradition: Bulgarian women's choirs, Mongolian throat singing, and Portuguese fado, to name just a few”

Initially scored for full orchestra plus chorus, the chamber orchestra version consists of significantly reduced woodwinds (one flute doubling piccolo, one oboe, and one clarinet), brass (two horns and two trombones), and percussion (timpani plus three percussion), piano, celesta, harp, and strings; the latter is the version that is being performed on this particular concert set All of the ethnic percussion instruments called for in the full version (and there are a lot of them!!) are used in the chamber version as well.

These works were recorded at Abbey Road Studio, with Tin conducting the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and upon its release, in May of 2014, the album achieved Number One status on the Billboard Traditional Classical Albums chart Each of the vocal selections was commissioned by a different group, and they were premiered separately, as detailed on the composer ’ s website

ON STAGE

Robert Moody, conductor

Internationally acclaimed conductor, Robert Moody, is currently enjoying his 9th season as Music Director of the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, his 18th season as Music Director of Arizona Musicfest, and celebrating his inaugural season as Music Director of the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra. He is also a frequent guest conductor in South Africa, and will return there for concerts with the three major orchestras in June 2025.

Zuri, mezzo-soprano

With a sound that is designed to connect straight to the heart of the listener, Spinto Soprano, Zuri, has enjoyed a fulfilling career. Her warm and rich tone combined with an uncanny dramatic sensibility has long made her a favorite among audiences in the Midwest, and recently, in the Charlotte area. A graduate of Nebraska Wesleyan University, Zuri won every division of NATS (National Association of Teachers of Singing) she entered.

Lawrence Barasa, tenor

Kenyan-born tenor Lawrence Barasa appears this season with Eugene Opera for a solo recital and sings Don José in Carmen with Opera in the Park (Portland, Oregon) He will also join the Metropolitan Opera roster, covering Remendado in Carmen during the 2025–2026 season. He recently made his Annapolis Opera debut as Alfredo in La Traviata. A former Apprentice Artist with the Santa Fe Opera, Mr. Barasa has also performed at Carnegie Hall in Joyce DiDonato’s Masterclass.

TO LEARN MORE...

SCAN THE QR CODE FOR DIGITAL PROGRAM PAGE

Today’s Chorus is a Powerful Collaboration of Voices from Across Our City

Featuring the Memphis Symphony Chorus, White Station High School Choir, and St. George’s Independent School Choir, the Drop That Contained the Sea Chorus brings together extraordinary talent from every corner of Memphis.

Memphis Symphony Chorus

Dr. Lawrence Edwards, artistic director

Liz Parsons, accompanist

SOPRANO

Olivia Ball

Alicia Butler

Edith Christmas

Belle Clark

Melanie Davis

Katrice Feild

Mary Gaudet

Aimee Randolph

Aurora Russell

Pam Schnell

Karen Tate

B J Webster

Laura Williamson

St. George's Singers

Nate Dumser, choir director

SOPRANO

Helen Beaudoin

Addison East

Riley Griffin

Holly Herrera

White Station High School

Daniel Massey, choir director

SOPRANO

Giselle Baddorf

Kaitlyn Cooper

Jennifer Guerrero

Amy Hatler

Abby Mitchell

Morgan Mooney

Lucy Roaten

Sarah Scroggins

ALTO

Faith Armstrong

Lily Axelrod

Cindy Burnette

Caroline Glusenkamp

Pam Gold

Gerre Harrell

Christine Hughes

Ann Indingaro

Jayla Isom

Cora Jones

Sue Lease

Anita Lotz

Jill Margolin

Lisa Lucks Mendel

Sila Ozkara

Terron Perk

Mary Seratt

Anna Shelton-Brownell

ALTO

Ava Barthel

Veda Crose

MacKenna Harper

Lexie Haynes

Makayla James

Lourdes Peete

Elena Sallee

ALTO

Michaela Arnold

Eva Bowen

Aubrey Burress

Ellie Carr

Destiny Davenport

Payton James

Journee Jones

Siri Larsen

TENOR

Bradley Bolden

Riley Bruce

Rita West

Ali Wetherald

TENOR

Tyler Bruno

Julius Dabbs

Clint Early, Jr

Craig Gough

Sean Klaus

George Martin

David McNair

Jake Milligan

John Sanborn

David Schnell

David Spear

BASS

Matt Babb

Charles Dove

Camryn Smith

TENOR

Will Getman

Gavin Malott

Aiden Rubin de la Borbolla

Bill Gaudet

Scott Hall

Sam Hughes

Jim Jaggers

Dayrin Jones

Jim McClanahan

David Patterson

Eugene Reyneke

Al Whitney

Lewis Wright

Jabarie Haywood

BASS

Alexandre Bizot

Robert Easterling

Noah Johnson

Khaleb Kearney

Kameron Kearney

James Zelinski

BASS

Jackson Juckett

Mason Merkle

Nicholas Miller

Sam Miraglia

Thomas Pruett

Miller Utterback

HONORING DR. LAWRENCE EDWARDS

After 35 years of dedicated leadership, Dr. Lawrence Edwards is retiring as Artistic Director of the Memphis Symphony Chorus Since 1988, Dr Edwards has been the guiding force behind the chorus, shaping it into a premier ensemble that performs between two and five concerts per season with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. Under his direction, the chorus has tackled major works across the classical choral repertoire, including Bach’s Mass in B Minor, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, and Handel’s Messiah

Beyond his work with the chorus, Dr. Edwards served as Coordinator of Choirs for the University of Memphis School of Music from 1987 to 2021, directing ensembles like the University Singers and Sound Fuzion, and mentoring countless students in choral conducting His commitment to excellence and education has left an indelible mark on the Memphis music community.

As we celebrate Dr. Edwards' retirement, we honor his remarkable contributions and the legacy he leaves behind a chorus enriched by his passion and a community inspired by his dedication.

THE MEMPHIS SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA IS PROUD

TO HONOR KIRK WHALUM AS THE 2025 EDDY AWARD RECIPIENT

Soulful, passionate, stirring...these are the words most often used to describe Kirk Whalum's music. Forged from his Memphis, (TN) gospel roots and his 1980‘s initiation into the thriving Houston, TX nightclub scene, Kirk’s big, rich tenor sound is unmistakably his. The 80’s were highlighted by Kirk’s stepping out of his blossoming sideman role and forming his own band. It was there that Kirk ultimately developed both his “voice” and songwriting in the crucible of the local club scene especially at a rooftop club called Cody’s. It was also in Houston where jazz pianist Bob James “discovered” him and brought him on tour, which led to five successful albums with Columbia Records, including Cache, Kirk’s first #1 album As well, Kirk and Bob received a Grammy nomination for their collaboration album, Joined at the Hip After moving to Los Angeles, Kirk became an in demand like Barbara Streisand, Al Jarreau, Luther Vandross, Larry Carlton, Quincy Jones and most notably, Whitney Houston, amongst many others. It’s his sax heard on the mega-hit, “I Will Always Love You.” Kirk soon followed that career high point with his phenomenal hit album released on Warner Bros. Records, For You, perhaps the most successful of over 25 solo recordings to date; others include his eclectic, and much lauded, Gospel According to Jazz series, (Chapters 1, 2, 3 and 4). In addition to his many solo projects, Kirk was also a member of the popular soul/jazz group, BWB, which features Kirk as the “W” of the group with Rick Braun (trumpet) and Norman Brown (guitar).

An ordained minister, Kirk has earned a Masters of Art in Religion. It’s in this spirit that he serves his community in various ways when his touring schedule allows There is also his daily fifteen minute podcast, Bible In Your Ear (BIYE), in which he invites you to listen along as he reads through the Bible in a year In addition to music and ministry, Kirk has a passion to educate young, aspiring musicians and is currently engaged as a music professor at Visible Music College in his hometown of Memphis

Kirk is the recipient of numerous awards and acknowledgments for his musical excellence including three Dove Award nominations, an NAACP Image Award nomination and has won two Stellar AwardsGospel music’s highest honor. A twelve time Grammy® Award nominee, Kirk won his first Grammy® Award (2011) for Best Gospel Song (“It’s What I Do”––featuring Lalah Hathaway) alongside life-long friend and gifted songwriter, Jerry Peters. Kirk has also been honored with a Brass Note on the Memphis Walk of Fame and a Star on the Nashville Walk of Fame.

In a career spanning decades, Kirk has a sound that is uniquely his; it is a sound that leaves an indelible imprint on the listener.

THE EDDY AWARD

Each year the Eddy Award is given to an esteemed community member who has made a transformational contribution to enhance cultural awareness by using the power of music to foster intentional inclusion and community engagement for all people.

The Eddy Award is based on the metaphoric language used in the Circle of Friends' teaching tale entitled "The Eddy: The Current that Changed the Course of the River."

An eddy is a circular current at variance with the main water flow that changes the direction or trajectory of the river. Since the movement is often caused suddenly by the splash of a fallen rock, as referenced in the teaching tale, its meaning is fitting for this unique recognition of an individual who facilitated change through the power of music

The Circle of Friends was established more than a decade ago as a women's philanthropy initiative. The Circle now includes women and men from diverse backgrounds. They support the MSO and also recognize the importance of having people from different networks and social identities join in an effort to expand cultural interrelatedness through the power of music.

Together, they caused a disturbance of sorts to manifest their shared vision of being instruments of intentional inclusion through the Memphis Symphony Orchestra (MSO). Their unwavering commitment has been the catalyst that helped to change the organization's core values to reflect more diversity, equity, and inclusion in its audience, patrons, staff and, ultimately, the orchestra itself. Their mission is ever-flowing and never-ending, like the ripples of eddies forming concentric circles that expand, creating waves of change and ultimately altering the course of a river.

In 2020, the Circle of Friends established the Musician Fellowship Program to address the demographics of the orchestra itself. This program was designed to attract the best and the brightest emerging musicians of color who have completed a music degree from a higher education institution or conservatory The appointment to be seated in the string section of the orchestra over a two-year tenure is a welcomed opportunity for experimental learning for an aspiring musician to prepare for a professional career as a classical musician or teaching artist

MEMPHIS SY MPHONY ORCHESTRA 25|26 SEASON

TCHAIKOVSKY VIOLIN CONCERTO

Saturday, September 13, 2025

7:30pm Cannon Center

Sunday, September 14, 2025

2:30pm · Scheidt Center

Robert Moody, conductor

Randall Goosby, violin

GO FOR BAROQUE

Friday, October 3, 2025

6:30pm · Crosstown Theater

Sunday, October 5, 2025

2:30pm Scheidt Center

Anne Harrigan, conductor

Samuel Xu, piano

SYMPHONIE FANTASTIQUE

Saturday, October 25, 2025

7:30pm Cannon Center

Sunday, October 26, 2025

2:30pm Scheidt Center

Robert Moody, conductor

HANDEL’S MESSIAH

Monday, December 1, 2025 7:30pm

Lindenwood Christian Church

Tuesday, December 2, 2025 7:30pm

Thursday, December 4, 2025 7:30pm

Germantown United Methodist Church

Robert Moody, conductor

Memphis Symphony Chorus

Dr Lawrence Edwards, conductor

ONE NIGHT ONLY:

DEVOTION: A SALUTE TO AMERICA’S ARMED FORCES

Saturday, December 6, 2025

7:30pm Scheidt Center

Robert Moody, conductor

Memphis Symphony Chorus

Dr. Lawrence Edwards, conductor

MAGIC OF MEMPHIS

Saturday, December 20, 2025

2:30pm & 7:30pm Cannon Center

Robert Moody, conductor

Kyle Dickson, conductor

Memphis Symphony Chorus

Dr. Lawrence Edwards, conductor

BRAHMS SYMPHONY NO. 4 & TRUMPET VIRTUOSO

Saturday, January 31, 2026

7:30pm Cannon Center

Sunday, February 1, 2026

2:30pm · Scheidt Center

Robert Moody, conductor

Will Leathers, trumpet

NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC’S AUDREY WRIGHT PLAYS

ZWILLICH VIOLIN CONCERTO

Friday, February 27, 2026

6:30pm Crosstown Theater

Sunday, March 1, 2026

2:30pm Scheidt Center

Kyle Dickson, conductor

Audrey Wright, violin

ONE NIGHT ONLY - VERDI REQUIEM

Saturday, March 28, 2026

7:30pm Cannon Center

Robert Moody, conductor

Memphis Symphony Chorus

Dr. Lawrence Edwards, conductor

University of Mississippi Choirs

Drs. Donald Trott & Elizabeth

Hearn, conductors

AMERICA’S 250TH BIRTHDAY ORCHESTRAL CELEBRATION

Saturday, May 2, 2026

7:30pm Cannon Center

Sunday, May 3, 2026

2:30pm Scheidt Center

Robert Moody, conductor

Jeffrey Biegel, piano

Memphis Symphony Chorus

Dr. Lawrence Edwards, conductor

COPLAND APPALACHIAN SPRING

Friday, May 15, 2026

6:30pm Crosstown Theater

Sunday, May 17, 2026

2:30pm Scheidt Center

Robert Moody, conductor

Jennifer Gunn, flute / piccolo

SYMPHONY IN THE GARDENS

Sun, May 11 · 5:00pm

Dixon Gallery & Gardens

RACHMANINOFF AND SAINT-SAËNS

Sat, May 17 · 7:30pm · Scheidt

Sun, May 18 · 2:30pm · Scheidt SUNSET SYMPHONY - feat. MSO BIG BAND

Sat, May 25 · 7:30pm

Overton Park Shell