MILLIKIN UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MUSIC
Choir UNIVERSITY
2026 TOUR
millikin.edu/choir
Benjamin Hawkinson, Conductor Beth Creighton, Accompanist
Repertoire to be selected from the following: Trilo Trad. Swedish Folksong arr. Bengt Ollen Solo: Mackenzie Sarasin
Liebst du um Schönheit Gustav Mahler (1860-1911) arr. Nana Forte
Trilo, Trilo Här är han Nära land Trilo
Liebst du um Schönheit, O nicht mich liebe! Liebe die Sonne, Sie trägt ein goldnes Haar. Liebst du um Jugend, O nicht mich liebe! Liebe den Frühling, Der jung ist jedes Jahr. Liebst du um Schätze, O nicht mich liebe! Liebe die Meerfrau, Sie hat viel Perlen klar. Liebst du um Liebe, O ja, mich liebe! Liebe mich immer, Dich lieb’ ich immerdar.
Trilo, Trilo Here he is Near land Trilo
Shift Ayanna Woods Solos: Jarrett Newsome, Maggie Brockland, Ava Coletta, Audrey Soetermans why do we build monuments in stone stone is brittle when it cracks it cuts to your churning core, America tectonic plates collide, you shift in your seat I want a monument we imagine and reimagine a monument we grasp and heave, and pull in a long arc bursting through the cracks in the story you tell, America
Nanay, Tatay Trad. Filipino Street Game arr. Ily Matthew Maniano Nanay, Tatay Gusto ko’ng tinapay Ate, Kuya, Gusto ko’ng kape, Lahat ng gusto ko ay susundin ninyo, Ang magkamali ay pipigutin ko.
Mother, Father, I want bread Sister, Brother, I want coffee You will do exactly as I say, Anyone who doesn’t will have to pay (ear pinched).
If you love for beauty, O love not me! Love the sun, She has golden hair. If you love for youth, O love not me! Love the spring Which is young each year. If you love for riches, O love not me! Love the mermaid Who has many shining pearls. If you love for love, Ah yes, love me! Love me always, I shall love you ever more.
Human Heart Coldplay, We ARE KING, Jacob Collier arr. MaryAnne Muglia Boys, boys don't cry Boys keep it all inside I tried to hide it underneath Still, my heart starts to beat My human heart Only got a human heart I wish it didn't run away I wish it didn't fall apart Oh, my human heart Night and day and light and dark Any day, it could be torn in half, ooh Only got a human heart Girls can make believe Girls wear it on the sleeve Thought I could pretend for trying's sake Still, my heart had to break
Gather up whatever is glittering in the gutter, whatever has tumbled in the waves or fallen in flames out of the sky, for it’s not only our hearts that are broken, but the heart of the world as well. Stitch it back together. Make a place where the day speaks to the night and the earth speaks to the sky. Whether we created God or God created us it all comes down to this: In our imperfect world we are meant to repair and stitch together what beauty there is, stitch it
REPERTOIRE
Holding the Light B.E. Boykin
Vespers at Millikin
Gabriel’s Message Trad. Basque Carol arr. Jim Clements The angel Gabriel from heaven came, His wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame. "All hail," said he, "thou lowly maiden Mary, Most highly favoured lady." Gloria!
"For known a blessed mother thou shalt be, All generations laud and honor thee. Thy Son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold. Most highly favored lady." Gloria!
Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head; "To me be as it pleaseth God," she said. "My soul shall laud and magnify his holy name." Most highly favored lady. Gloria!
Of her Emmanuel, the Christ, was born In Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn. And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say, "Most highly favored lady." Gloria!
with compassion and wire. See how everything we have made gathers the light inside itself and overflows? A blessing.
His Eye Is on the Sparrow Charles Gabriel Arr. Stacey V. Gibbs and Robert T. Townsend Soloists: Jocelyn Bettarelli, Jalen Eskridge Why should I feel discouraged and why should the shadows fall? Why should my heart feel lonely and long for heavenly home? When Jesus is my portion, a constant friend is He. His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches over me. Let not your heart be troubled: His tender words I hear. And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears. Through the path He leadeth, He guideth me, but one step I see: His eye is on the sparrow, and I know he watches over me. I sing because I’m happy. I sing because I’m free. His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches over me.
Carol of the Bells/Shchedryk Mykola Leontovych Arr. Gordan Badgett
Let There be Peace on Earth Sy Miller and Jill Jackson Miller Arr. Craig Courtney
Hark! How the bells, sweet silver bells, All seem to say, “Throw cares away,”
Let there be peace on earth, And let it begin with me
Christmas is here, it is bringing good cheer To young and old, to the meek and the bold.
Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be.
Ding, dong, that is their song, With joyful ring, all caroling,
With God our creator, Children all are we.
One seems to hear all the words of good cheer, Sounding from everywhere, filling the air.
Let us walk with each other In perfect harmony
Oh, how they pound, they’re raising the sound, See o’er hill and dale, telling their tale.
Let there be peace begin with me, Let this be the moment now.
Gaily they ring, while people sing Songs of good cheer, Christmas is here!
With every step I take, Let this be my solemn vow:
Merry, merry, merry, merry Christmas!
To take each moment and live each moment In peace eternally
Shchedryk, shchedrivochka, Pryletila, lastivochka
Let there be peace on earth, And let it begin with me.
Vyidy, hospodriu, podyvisia, na kosharu, Tam ovechky pokosylys, A yahnychy narodylys Vtebe Tovar ves khoroshyi, Budesh mati mirku hroshei
Bountiful evening, a New Year’s carol A little bird flew into a house, Come out, oh master, look at the sheep run There the ewes have yeaned And the lambkins have been born Your goods are great, You will have an abundance of money Merry Christmas!
O come, all ye faithful, Longing for peace, The rich and the poor, the weak and the lame, Whoever you may be. Come see the child in a manger asleep on the hay, Come and adore him, let him fill your heart today. For in the city of David A Savior is born for you who is Christ the Lord. And the government shall be on his shoulder And his name shall be called Wonderful, he is a wonderful counselor, Mighty God, Almighty God, The Everlasting Father, And the Prince of Peace. O Come where the weary find rest, And the weak find their strength. The King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, He’s come to heal your pain. Problems, he can fix it; burdens, he can bear it. You just trust and believe. Lift up your voice and pray, Your blessing’s on the way. O come, let us adore him, Kneel down before him. For he is Christ the Lord, The only Son of God. He is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, The Savior of the world!
REPERTOIRE
A Savior is Born Jolanda Robinson
Farewells
I’ll Be on My Way Shawn Kirchner When I am gone don’t you cry for me Don’t you pity my sorry soul, What pain that might have been Will now be past and my spirit will be whole. I’ll be on my way I’ll be on my way I’ll have left my feet of clay upon the ground I will be glory bound I’ll be on my way. When I am gone please forgive the wrongs that I might have done to you. There’ll be no room for regrets up there high above, way beyond the blue.
I’ll be on my way I’ll be on my way I’ll have left my frown and all my burdens down I’ll be puttin’ on my crown I’ll be on my way. When I am gone don’t you look for me in the places I have been I’ll be alive by somewhere else I’ll be on my way again.
*Praise to the Lord F. Melius Christiansen (1871-1955) *Alumni of the Millikin University Choir are welcomed to join the choir
The Conductor
Dr. Benjamin Hawkinson is the Director of Choral Activities and Associate Professor of Music at Millikin University, where he leads multiple ensembles, including the University Choir — Millikin’s premier touring ensemble, which has been invited to perform at the Illinois Music Educators Convention in 2026. He also teaches courses in Conducting and Choral Rehearsal Techniques. Under his direction, Millikin ensembles tour regularly, both regionally and internationally. Dr. Hawkinson’s leadership extends to vocal jazz. During his tenure as director of OneVoice, Millikin’s renowned vocal jazz ensemble, the ensemble has earned national recognition, including performances at the 2022 Jazz Educators Network Conference and the Illinois Music Educators Convention in 2023. In 2024, OneVoice received two DownBeat Student Music Awards. An in-demand conductor, clinician and adjudicator, Dr. Hawkinson has worked with numerous honors choirs, honors vocal jazz ensembles and festivals in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, California, Arizona and Texas. Recent choral-orchestral credits include Leonard Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms, Georg Telemann’s Magnificat in C and Tarik O’Regan’s Triptych, and he is scheduled to conduct Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem in April of 2026 with the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra and Millikin Choral Union. Dr. Hawkinson has served as Director of Music at Central Christian Church in Decatur since 2021 and oversees the Central Choral Intern program, providing vocal leadership and educating the next generation of church musicians. In his free time, Dr. Hawkinson enjoys spending time with his wife, Aubrey, who teaches voice and opera at Millikin, and their two energetic boys, Liam (7) and Eli (4).
UniversityChoir Sopranos
Altos
Sydney Alexander-Brown Callie Barks Lindsay Bellandi Jocelyn Bettarelli Jo Condos Morgan Reckamp Mackenzie Sarasin* Mars Scheidler Kallie Weller
Holly Abbott Melis Barutçu Karley Blau Maggie Brockland Ava Coletta* Cassidy Culjat Stela Hyden Izzy Kostbade Zandi Moreano Audrey Soetermans
Tenors
Basses
Bradley Channell Luke Davis Jalen Eskridge Isaiah Gates Noah Gerber Lucas Fraga Jarrett Newsome* Henry Ward Nicolas Valadez
Croix Baker Micah Gabriel Asher Knauff Aidan Kostbade# Jacob Pangilinan* Adam Peterson Diego Rivera# Laithen Webber * Section Leader # Choir Leadership
Tour Dates Thursday, January 8
Springfield, Ill. Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception •
Friday, January 9
Chicago, Ill. St. Vincent de Paul Church •
Saturday, January 10 Coal City, Ill. Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church •
Monday, January 12
Webster Groves, Mo. Webster Hills United Methodist Church •
Tuesday, January 13
Nashville, Tenn. Westminster Presbyterian Church •
Thursday, January 15 Louisville, Ky. St. Brigid Catholic Church •
Sunday, January 18 Decatur, Ill. St. Patrick Church •
Thursday, January 29
1184 WEST MAIN STREET DECATUR, ILLINOIS 62522
SOM-UniversityChoirProgram-0126
Peoria, Ill. Illinois Music Educators Conference