Phoenix Chorale: ECLIPSE Fall Series Program

Welcome to the first concert series of our 2022-2023 season, during which we look at the theme of Enlightenment in four diverse and thought-provoking programs. We begin with Eclipse, looking at a literal enlightenment of the darkness that we experience literally each time the sun sets, but which for centuries humankind has seen as a metaphor for unease, disquiet, sorrow, and pain. Although the repertoire is sacred in nature, the messages within speak to each of us no ma er our faith or outlook on life, as the experiences we describe are common to all.

Continuing our commitment to commissioning women composers, we are excited to work with Dale Trumbore on a new composition that will become part of our Cosmos program and a future recording project. Some of you will recall our concert program of the same name, presented in 2020, and others will remember that Dale joined us onstage last season as we performed her thought-provoking work, In the middle.

Other new projects this season include our first commercial recording project in more than five years—a Christmas and Holiday program which will be available by Christmas 2023—and an adventurous collaboration with our own chamber orchestra as we present two masterpieces from the Baroque and Contemporary genres, in the surroundings of the Phoenix Art Museum during March 2023. Watch this space for more exciting news on this, soon!

As always, we thank you sincerely for your support of Phoenix Chorale and the choral arts in general, across Phoenix and beyond. We quite simply could not do what we do, without your help—whether it be in purchasing tickets and subscriptions, in sponsoring concerts and new initiatives, giving to our regular fundraising campaigns, or simply telling your friends and family that by a ending a Phoenix Chorale performance they are guaranteeing a sublime musical experience that is upli ing, generous of spirit, and which will resonate within.

Once again, welcome to our new season! We’re glad you’re joining us for the ride.

Christopher Gabbitas Artistic Director, Phoenix Chorale

Crucifixus – Antonio Lo i (1667-1740)

Tenebrae Factae Sunt – Marc’Antonio Ingegneri (1536-1592)

Te lucis ante terminum - Thomas Tallis (1505-1585)

Night Prayer – Alec Roth (b.1948)

Christina Hall, soprano

Conversion of Saul – Z Randall Stroope (b.1953)

Media Vita – Kerensa Briggs (b.1991)

Phos Hilaron – Owain Park (b.1993) Danielle Hale, mezzo-soprano

Lies’l Hill, Christina Hall, Carol Jennings, JJ Rafferty, Toby Kidd, semi-chorus

Hail, gladdening light! – Charles Wood (1866-1926)

INTERMISSION

Hymn to the Creator of Light – John Ru er (b.1945) Gladsome Light – Pavel Chesnokov (1877-1944)

Salvation is Created – Pavel Chesnokov (1877-1944) Gladsome Light – Viktor Kalinnikov (1870-1927)

Komm, Jesu, Komm – J.S. Bach (1685-1750)

Tigran Buniatyan, organ Barbara Metz, cello

Music running time c.60 minutes

PHOENIX

Fall Series: ECLIPSE

A meditative musical journey from darkness to light

PHOENIX CHORALE

Christopher Gabbitas, Artistic Director

Tom Peterson, Assistant Conductor

Crucifixus – Antonio Lo i (1667-1740)

Crucifixus etiam pro nobis sub Pontio Pilato: Passus, et sepultus est. He also was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate: He suffered and was buried.

Text from the Nicene Creed

Tenebrae Factae Sunt – Marc’Antonio Ingegneri (1536-1592)

Tenebrae factae sunt, dum crucifixissent Jesum Judaei: et circa horam nonam exclamavit Jesus voce magna: Deus meus, ut quid me dereliquisti? Et inclinato capite, emisit spiritum. Exclamans Jesus voce magna ait: Pater, in manus tuas commendo spiritum meum. Et inclinato capite, emisit spiritum.

Darkness fell when the Jews crucified Jesus: and about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice: My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And he bowed his head and gave up the ghost. Jesus cried with a loud voice and said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit. And he bowed his head and gave up the ghost.

Text from the Good Friday Matins Responsory, Gospels of Ma hew, Luke, and John

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Camelback

Sat.

Trinity

PHOENIX

Te lucis ante terminum - Thomas Tallis (1505-1585) Night Prayer – Alec Roth (b.1948) Christina Hall, soprano

Te lucis ante terminum, Rerum Creator, poscimus, Ut pro tua clementia, Sis praesul et custodia.

Procul recedant somnia, Et noctium phantasmata: Hostemque nostrum comprime, Ne polluantur corpora.

Praesta pater omnipotens Per Jesum Christum Dominum Qui tecum in perpetuum Regnat cum Sancto Spiritu

Text, Anonymous, 6th c.

To thee before the close of day, Creator of the world, we pray That, with thy wonted favor, thou Wouldst be our guard and keeper now. From all ill dreams defend our sight, From fears and terrors of the night; Withhold from us our ghostly foe, That spot of sin we may not know.

O Father, that we ask be done, Through Jesus Christ, thine only Son, Who, with the Holy Ghost and thee, Doth live and reign eternally. Amen.

Fall Series: ECLIPSE

A meditative musical journey from darkness to light

Conversion of Saul – Z Randall Stroope (b.1953)

Caedite, vexate, ligate vinculis! Vinculis, condemnate vexate!

Saul! Murder, harass, bind into chains! Saul! Chain, prosecute and harass!

Why do you persecute me, Saul? Why, why, why?

Fall down on your knees, turn hatred into love. Turn darkness into light. Bow down, Saul! Bow down, Saul! Saul, Saul, Saul.

Text by Z Randall Stroope

Composer’s note

“Thomas Tallis’ Te Lucis anter terminum has held me under its spell since I first sang it in my youth. It’s plainsong melody has been a recurring obsession, appearing (usually hidden beneath the surface) in many of my works -- the 3rd String Quartet and the cantata A Time to Dance, for example. So I was particularly excited to be asked to compose a companion piece.

With music based on plainsong, an immediate challenge for the composer is how to pin down the rhythmic flexibility of the chant. Tallis’ triple-time solution is supremely elegant, providing the slow-dancing heartbeat of his se ing. My version, being macaronic, applies different rhythmic treatments to the Latin and vernacular (English or German) texts.

Being an inveterate lover of puns, I couldn’t resist headingthe score with a quotation from the song of Solomon: “Talis est dilectus meus”.

About The Conversion of Saul

“A er the stoning of Stephen, Saul launched an all out persecution of the early Christian church and became legendary in his pursuit to exterminate all who “believed.” But as Saul (also called Paul) later wrote, he was blinded by a light from heaven as he traveled to Damascus and was confronted by a voice that called out to him, saying “Saul why do you persecute me?” This event has become known as “the conversion of Saul,” as Saul turned from his murderous deeds and spent the remainder of his life as a Christian missionary. This musical work The Conversion of Saul begins with a raucous depiction of death and destruction through highly accentuated rhythmic treatment and repeated agitation of the text. A pedal tone emerges in the middle of the piece, symbolizing the “one true light.” This continuum of light brings Saul to his knees, and “commissions” him to a life of “turning hatred into love” and bringing compassion to those around him.”

- Alec Roth, Composer Night Song

- Z Randall Stroope, Composer Conversion of Saul

PHOENIX CHORALE

Fall Series: ECLIPSE

A meditative musical journey from darkness to light

Media Vita – Kerensa Briggs (b.1991)

Media vita in morte sumus. Quem quaerimus adjutorem nisi te, Domine, qui pro peccatis nostris juste irasceris?

Sancte Deus. Sancte fortis. Sancte et misericors Salvator, amarae morti ne tradas nos.

In the midst of life we are in death. Whom can we seek as our helper but you, O Lord, who for our sins are justly angry?

Holy God. Holy and strong. Holy and merciful Saviour, deliver us not to the bi er pains of death.

Text, Antiphona de Morte, a ributed to Notker (c. 840–912)

Phos Hilaron – Owain Park (b.1993) Danielle Hale, mezzo-soprano Lies’l Hill, Christina Hall, Carol Jennings, JJ Rafferty, Toby Kidd, semi-chorus

The gathering of the light The Lord is my light and my salvation: my God shall make my darkness to be bright.

The song of the light Hail, gladdening light, of his pure glory poured Who is the immortal Father, heavenly, blest; Holiest of Holies, Jesus Christ our Lord! Now we are come to the sun’s hour of rest; the lights of evening round us shine, We hymn the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit divine! Worthiest art thou at all times to be sung, with undefiled tongue, Son of our God, giver of life, alone: Therefore in all the world thy glories, Lord, they own.

The blessing of the light Come, true light. Come, life eternal. Come, hidden mystery. Come, treasure without name. Come, reality beyond all words. Come, person beyond all understanding. Come, rejoicing without end. Come, light that knows no evening. Come, for my wretched soul has ever longed for you. Come, alone to the alone, for as you see I am alone: you have separated me from all things and made me to be alone upon the earth. Come, for you are yourself the desire that is within me, and you have caused me to long a er you, the wholly inaccessible. Come, unfailing expectation of the saved. Come, raising of the fallen. Come, the resurrection of the dead.

Let my prayer rise before you as incense; the li ing up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. O Lord, I call to you; come to me quickly, hear my voice when I cry to you. But my eyes are turned to you, Lord God; in you I take refuge; do not leave me defenceless.

Text, I: Psalm 27: 1 & Psalm 18: 28; II: Greek, third century III: St Symeon The new Theologian; Psalm 141: 2, 1, 8

PHOENIX CHORALE

Fall Series: ECLIPSE

A meditative musical journey from darkness to light

Hail, gladdening light! – Charles Wood (1866-1926)

Hail, gladdening Light, of his pure glory poured who is the immortal Father, heavenly, blest, holiest of holies, Jesus our Lord.

Now we are come to the sun’s hour of rest, the lights of evening round us shine, we hymn the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit divine.

Worthiest art thou at all times to be sung with undefilèd tongue, Son of our God, giver of life, alone: therefore in all the world thy glories, Lord, they own. Amen.

Text, Greek, 3rd century

Hymn to the Creator of Light – John Ru er (b.1945)

Glory be to thee, O lord, glory be to thee, Creator of the visible light, The sun’s ray, the flame of fire; Creator also of the light invisible and intellectual: That which is known of God, the light invisible. Glory be to thee, O Lord, glory be to thee, Creator of the Light. for writings of the law, glory be to thee: for oracles of prophets, glory be to thee: for melody of psalms, glory be to thee: for wisdom of proverbs, glory be to thee: experience of histories, glory be to thee: a light which never sets. God is the Lord, who hath shewed us light.

(Lancelot Andrewes, 1555-1626, tr. Alexander Whyte)

Light, who dost my soul enlighten; Sun, who all my life dost brighten; Joy, the sweetest man e’er knoweth; Fount, whence all my being floweth. From thy banquet let me measure, Lord, how vast and deep its treasurer; Through the gi s thou here dost give us, As thy guest in heaven receive us.

(J. Franck, 1618-77, tr. Catherine Winkworth (adapted))

Fri.

Camelback

Fall Series: ECLIPSE

A meditative musical journey from darkness to light

Gladsome Light – Pavel Chesnokov (1877-1944)

Gladsome Light – Viktor Kalinnikov (1870-1927)

Svete tihiy sviatïya slavï Bezsmertnago O sa Nebesnago, Sviatago, Blazhennago, Iisuse Hriste! Prishedshe na zapad solntsa, videvshe svet vecherniy, poyem O sa, Sïna i Sviatago Duha, Boga. Dostoin yesi vo fsia vremena pet bïti glasï prepodobnïmi; Sïne Bozhïy, zhïvot dayay, temzhe mir Tia slavit.

Gladsome Light of the holy glory of the Immortal One the Heavenly Father, holy and blessed O Jesus Christ!

Now that we have come to the se ing of the sun, and behold the light of evening, we praise the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit God. Thou art worthy at every moment to be praised in hymns by reverent voices. O Son of God, Thou art the Giver of Life; therefore all the world glorifies Thee

Text, Greek, 3rd century

Salvation is Created – Pavel Chesnokov (1877-1944)

Spaséniye sodélal yesí posredé ziemlí, Bózhe. Allilúiya. Salvation is created in the midst of the earth, O God. Alleluia.

Text, Psalm 74:12

Komm, Jesu, Komm – J.S. Bach (1685-1750)

Tigran Buniatyan, organ Barbara Metz, cello

Komm, Jesu, komm, mein Leib ist müde. Die Kra verschwind’t je mehr und mehr, ich sehne mich nach deinem Friede; der saure Weg wird mir zu schwer!

Komm, komm, ich will mich dir ergeben. Du bist der rechte Weg, die Wahrheit und das Leben.

Drum schließ ich mich in deine Hände und sage: Welt, zu guter Nacht! Eilt gleich mein Lebenslauf zu Ende, ist doch der Geist wohl angebracht. Er soll bei seinem Schöpfer schweben, weil Jesus ist und bleibt der wahre Weg zum Leben.

Come, Jesus, come, my body is weary. My strength fails more and more, I long for your peace; the bi er path becomes too hard.

Come, come, I will yield to You; You are the right path, the truth and the life.

So I give myself into Your hands and say: World, good night!

Just as my life’s course is hurrying towards its end, the spirit is opportunely healthy. It hovers next to its creator, as Jesus is and remains the true way to life.

Text, Paul Thymich, Leipziger Gesangbuch, 1697

Meet our guest artists

Tigran Buniatyan, organ

received his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Organ and Harpsichord from Oberlin Conservatory of Music and MM in Musicology from Yerevan State Conservatory. Among his teachers are James David Christie, Arvid Gast, Marie-Louise Langlais, Jean Baptiste Robin, Mark Edwards and Anna Bakunts. Tigran Buniatyan has also participated in masterclasses with Benjamin Alard, Lisa Crawford and Guy Bovet.

Tigran Buniatyan’s repertoire is mostly consisted of works of The North German Organ School. Pursuing his interests in this field, Tigran has performed on many historical organs across Northern Europe.

Currently Tigran Buniatyan is a candidate for a Doctoral degree in Organ and works as the Teaching Assistant for Kimberly Marshall at Arizona State University. Since 2021, Tigran Buniatyan is the Director of Music at Mountain View Lutheran Church (Phoenix, Arizona). Tigran Buniatyan is a prize winner at numeral international competitions.

Barbara Metz, baroque cello

fell in love with the Bach and the cello when she was five and has never lost her love of that period of music. She taught baroque cello, viola da gamba and coached baroque ensembles at Arizona State University in the Early Music Program until 2004. Barbara has performed locally over the past 45 years, including with Phoenix Chorale, Arizona Bach Festival, Ensemble Versailles, and the Renaissance ensemble Musica Dolce. She served as the continuo cellist for the Connecticut Early Music Festival for many years and was principle cellist for the Salt Marsh Opera Company in Rhode Island.

She plays on a 1676 Austrian cello still with its original set up.

The GRAMMY Award-winning Phoenix Chorale is regarded as one of the finest choral ensembles of the Western Classical tradition in North America. Founded in 1958, Phoenix Chorale’s mission is focused on building a vibrant community through song and enriching lives through choral artistry. Every one of its outstanding artists lives in Arizona, many of

whom direct music activities in Phoenix metroarea schools, community colleges, and teach voice lessons.

Appreciated for the warmth of its sound, the Chorale performs to thousands of individuals each Season through concerts and outreach events across the Phoenix metro-area. The

Chorale’s digital audience has reached millions through broadcasts, performance videos, and via albums on streaming services, like Spotify.

Under the direction of Artistic Director Christopher Gabbitas since 2019, the 28-voice professional choir presents four thematic concert programs each season, with musical works spanning the last five hundred years. Current artistic initiatives include the Phoenix Masterworks Series, which features a large-scale choral work each season, and the

Phoenix Commissions Project, a commitment to commissioning and premiering a new work every year.

The Phoenix Chorale, ensemble-in-residence at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in downtown Phoenix, is sponsored in part through grants, funding, and support from the Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture, Arizona Commission on the Arts, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, and Trinity Episcopal Cathedral.

Meet our singers

Cara Loveless-Faulkner, soprano

A native of Southern California, Cara earned her BMusED at La Sierra University, where she toured internationally with University Vocal Octet. She has served as the vocal director for On Stage Theatre Company and taught choir and musical theatre at the Coachella Valley Performing Arts Academy. Cara is also Family Nurse Practitioner and works in primary care at Family Practice Specialists here in Phoenix. Cara is delighted to be joining the Phoenix Chorale.

Christina Hall, soprano

is the choir director at Millennium High School and Co-Founder of The Choral Window. Christina also serves on the ACDA Western Region board as the Youth R&R Coordinator. She graduated from Northern Arizona University with a BA in Choral Music Education and is a native of Walla Walla, Washington. Christina has performed with world-renowned singers Sarah Brightman and Josh Groban. Christina is delighted to sing with Phoenix Chorale for her second season.

Lies’l Hill, soprano

is an artist, musician, and educator from Mesa. She earned her B.M. from Northern Arizona University in Choral Music Education, Lies’l sings with Phoenix Chorale and Canto Vivo Chorale. She serves on the boards of the Phoenix Chorale and Arizona Music Educators Association, is the Executive Director of the Sedona Academy of Chamber Singers and Assistant Choral Director at Mesa Community College. Lies’l works with many local arts organizations, including Arizona Commission on the Arts, Mesa Arts Center, Phoenix Children’s Chorus, Arizona Musicfest, and more.

Lisa Ri enhouse, soprano

is thrilled to be singing in her third season with the Phoenix Chorale. A native of Napa, California, Lisa earned her Bachelor of Voice and Master of Elementary Education from Northern Arizona University. Lisa teaches General Music for Mesa Public Schools. She also currently sings in Canto Vito in Mesa. When she is not singing or teaching, she enjoys spending time with her husband, Gavin and their two teenagers, Emma and Paul.

Katherine Rosenfeld, soprano

graduated from NAU in 2019 with a degree in choral music education. She is an alumnus of the Phoenix Children’s Chorus and Horizon High School. She has sung with many Arizona-based ensembles including the Sedona Academy of Chamber Singers, the Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra, and Canto Vivo. She currently teaches 5th-12th grade choir at Arizona School for the Arts, runs a private voice studio, and serves on the Arizona state board of the American Choral Directors Association.

Sarah Smith, soprano

made her professional debut in Arizona as a concert soloist with the Phoenix Symphony in 2010, and has since been featured as a soloist with Arizona Musicfest Orchestra, Arizona Philharmonic, Symphony of the Southwest, Desert Stages Theater, and Arizona Bach Festival. With a deep passion for choral music, Sarah also sings with Quartz Vocal Ensemble, Arizona Opera Chorus, North Valley Chorale, Arizona Masterworks Chorale, and St. Barnabas on the Desert Choir.

Danya Tiller, soprano

is Adjunct Professor of Music at both Phoenix and Glendale Community Colleges. For ten years, Danya was the Artistic Director of the Phoenix Girls Chorus, making her conducting debut at Carnegie Hall in 2016 with Vivaldi’s Gloria and 200 singers from across the USA. In 2019, she was Acting Assistant Conductor for Phoenix Chorale. She is a founding member of Helios, in its eighth season. She founded her business, Aria Music Studio, which has grown to include two vocal ensembles in addition to private lessons and coaching.

Courtney Evans, alto

is singer, pianist, and choral director from Phoenix, AZ. Courtney actively performs with various professional choirs throughout Arizona and serves as a summer Artist-in-Residence for the Ad Astra Music Festival in Kansas. Courtney graduated summa cum laude from Northern Arizona University in 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in Choral Music Education and is currently pursuing her M.M. in Choral Conducting from NAU.

Danielle Hale, alto

earned a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance from Brigham Young University. Since moving to Arizona in 2013, Danielle has spent six seasons in the Arizona Opera chorus and four seasons with the Goode Time Carolers. Danielle has performed in musical theatre productions throughout the valley—Mesa Encore, Hale Center, and Fountain Hills theaters. She has been a volunteer choir director for a local church group and elementary school choir. Danielle enjoys traveling with her husband, eating delicious food, and being a fulltime mother to her five children.

Ariana Iniguez, alto

is a mezzo-soprano and a native of Phoenix, Arizona. She currently studies with distinguished pedagogue Gail Dubinbaum Massaro. She has been praised for her musicianship, full sound, colorful tone, and a ention to technique. Ariana holds both a master’s and bachelor’s degree in Voice Performance from the University of Arizona. In her free time, she enjoys practicing yoga, journaling, and traveling.

Carol Pla Jennings, alto

is honored to be in her twenty-first season with the Chorale. She is privileged to have sung as a soloist and chorister in Australia, South Korea, and New Zealand, and has also enjoyed performing with other professional ensembles. A er earning her Bachelor’s degree in Oklahoma, she moved to the Valley of the Sun to continue her education at ASU. When she’s not singing or teaching voice, she’s o en found baking, walking, practicing yoga, or daydreaming about returning to New Zealand.

Hannah Kimball, alto

is excited to be in her fi h season with the Phoenix Chorale! She graduated in 2018 from Northern Arizona University with a degree in Music Education with a Choral Emphasis. Hannah teaches Chorus and Music Exploration at Kyrene Middle School and Pueblo Middle School, and serves as the Artistic Director of the Phoenix Women’s Chorus.

Holly Sheppard, alto

is in her 17th season with the Chorale. She performs with Phoenix Opera, is a member of Helios: A Modern Renaissance and sings with the Arizona Opera chorus. Holly has spent her career as an artist for video games and slot machines and currently works as Sr. Environment Artist at Rainbow Studios creating off-road racing environments. Holly and her husband George are outdoor enthusiasts living in Mesa with their two birds, Pico and Olive.

Stephanie Stickford, alto

is in her 15th season with the Chorale. A native of Ohio, she earned a BFA degree in music business and a MA degree in music education from The Ohio State University. She moved to Phoenix to a end graduate school at ASU and earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in music education. Stephanie currently teaches choir and guitar at North Canyon High School, and sings with Helios, a seven-voice early music ensemble. She loves water–swimming, snorkeling, water skiing, and wake surfing!

Elijah Frank, tenor

is excited to begin his second season with Phoenix Chorale. An Arizona native, Elijah has performed with many AZ ensembles including the AZ Masterworks Chorale, Canto Vivo, Solis Camerata, the AZ Bach Festival Singers, and Quartz Ensemble. Outside of AZ, Elijah has sung with Christ Church Cathedral Choir of Men and Boys Indianapolis, Indianapolis Pro Musica, and the Intercontinentaal Projectkoor in the Netherlands. He has sung on many recording projects including the Chorale’s Grammy Award winning album: “Passion Week”.

Gabriel Frongillo, tenor

graduated from the University of Arizona with his bachelor’s in Choral Music Education. Gabriel was the music director at Apollo High School in Glendale teaching and conducting choir and piano students for 8 years. He has served as the Repertoire and Resources Chair for male choirs for the Arizona branch of the American Choral Director’ Association, works as a freelance vocalist and choral conductor around the valley, including conducting the Middle School All-State choir in March of 2020. He is currently an Academic Success Advisor for the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.

James Grandjean, tenor

is ecstatic to be joining the Phoenix Chorale for his second season. An Arizona native, he holds a BM in Vocal Performance from Oklahoma City University. Since moving to Phoenix he has sung with various ensembles around the valley including Canto Vivo Chorale, Arizona Musicfest, The King’s Carolers, and the St. Barnabas Choir. James also served as an Education Outreach Artist for Arizona Opera, and currently studies with Gail Dubinbaum Massaro.

Josiah Hagstrom, tenor

is excited to enter into his eighth year with the Chorale. Josiah is an Arizona native and a er growing up in Mesa, he now resides in Gilbert with his amazing wife Mindy, his beautiful seven-year-old daughter Kayla, awesome four-year old Noah, and their golden retriever pup, Windsor.

JJ Rafferty, tenor

is excited to continue his sixth season with the Chorale. An Arizona native, he resides in Peoria with his musical wife, Genny, his favorite accompanist, and five children: Rylie, Jace, and triplet boys Asher, Brooks, and Caden. J.J. graduated from Grand Canyon University with a B.S. in Music Education with Choral Conducting emphasis. He later earned his Master’s in Music Education from Kent State University. J.J. is in his nineteenth year of teaching and is the Director of Choral Activities and Performing Arts Department Chair at Greenway High School in Phoenix.

Ben Shafer, tenor

seeks to create music that brings warmth and light. He draws inspiration from nature and the human experience. An Arizona native, he began singing with the Phoenix Boys Choir and has completed ais currently a high school choral educator, director of church music and choral singer.

Jacob Verhine, tenor

is a tenor from Marie a, Georgia. He a ended Auburn University where he earned his Bachelor of Music degree. He has lived in Tempe since 2019, and a ended Arizona State University where he earned a Master of Music in musical theater and opera. He is a member of the Arizona Opera chorus and an active performer in several valley metro theatres.

Sha Appenzeller, bass

is in his 15th season with the Chorale. He received a degree in music education from The University of Northern Iowa and studied for his Master’s degree in Vocal Performance from The University of Texas at San Antonio. He has performed with San Antonio Lyric Opera, Opera Theatre of the Rockies’ Vocal Arts Symposium, Opera Theatre of the Rockies, and Opera Colorado. Sha’s concert performances include Haydn’s The Creation, Handel’s Messiah, Brahms’ Requiem, and Mozart’s Solemn Vespers. He has worked for USAA for 20 years and is currently a senior claims litigation manager.

Caleb French, bass

currently serves as Director of Worship at Northwest Valley Baptist Church, where he plans and leads weekly services and conducts the volunteer church choir. He also resides as Music Director of Arrowhead Christian Academy, overseeing all musical activities and directing the graded choirs. Caleb also serves as adjunct vocal coach, choral clinician, and church music seminar presenter in Phoenix and beyond. Two of his sacred choral anthems are published with Beckenhorst Press.

Christopher Herrera, bass

has been singing professionally and teaching in the Phoenix area since moving to Arizona in 2012. He is currently enjoying his current career instructing young minds at North Phoenix Prep Academy in the areas of music theory, music history, and chorale singing! He has been seen performing locally with Arizona Opera, Phoenix Opera, and the Phoenix Symphony.

Joshua Hillmann, bass

is in his 18th season with the Chorale. He holds DMA and MM degrees from ASU, and has won prizes in many local and international piano competitions. Joshua serves as adjunct faculty at GCU, as singer in many fine ensembles around the country, as pianist at PVUMC, and as owner/teacher at his small teaching studio. When not immersed in music, he can be found spoiling his 4 cats or tending to his bonsai garden.

Toby Vaughn Kidd, bass

received his BM and MM degrees in Vocal Performance from Northern Arizona University under Dr. Judith Cloud. Toby has been regularly sought a er as a performer throughout the Southwest. Toby has been involved with Arizona Opera, ArtSong Rising, and is a founding artist of Helios: a modern renaissance. Recent recordings include the 2015 Grammy award winning Rachmaninoff: All-Night Vigil (soloist), Nils Lofgren’s 2019 album Blue with Lou (backup vocalist), and Helios’ 2021 debut album à7. Toby remains active in arts leadership and higher education.

Jordan Murillo, bass

is a Bass Baritone from Arizona with strong ties to operatic performance as well as A cappella arranging and directing. In the summer of 2018, Jordan a ended the Taos Opera Institute in Taos, New Mexico. Taught by former operatic superstars such as Mary Jane Johnson, Stanford Olsen, James Patrick Ra ry, and many more. Jordan was able to hone in on his cra and learn much more about his voice and abilities. From this program Jordan was able to perform with the Amarillo Opera House in their production of Michael Chings Speed Dating Tonight!

Jason Raetz, bass

is a native of Phoenix and has been singing and performing in the Valley since he was little. At 10, he quickly found his love for choral music after joining the Phoenix Boys Choir under the direction of Dr. Harvey K. Smith. Jason continued singing at Central High School where he convinced his dance partner, and current wife, to join the jazz choir. Singing in the Phoenix Chorale allows him to share his passion for excellent music making in his hometown.

David Topping, bass

has sung with the Chorale for almost 30 seasons. He has degrees in choral music from California State Fullerton and ASU. He has soloed with the Chorale, Arizona Bach Festival, MusicaNova Orchestra, Phoenix Symphony, Pacific Symphony Orchestra, and other ensembles. David sang on all four of the Grammy-winning albums of the Phoenix and Kansas City Chorales. His wife, Jody, is a United Methodist Pastor and they have two adult children, Ryan and Erika.

MUSICAL

IN

IN

Trinitymusicaz.org

Trinitymusicaz.org is your information portal to the 2022-23 Concert Calendar, Artist Biographies, Ticket Information and Resident Musicians.

to the 2022-23 Concert Calendar, Artist Biographies, Ticket Information and Resident Musicians.

Trinitymusicaz.org is your information

Music at Trinity sponsors a wide range of free and low-cost concerts in the Cathedral for the benefit of the greater Phoenix community. Musical offerings include organ and piano concerts, chamber music, vocal ensembles and other special events.

ORGAN César Franck Organ Works

of the

Music at Trinity sponsors a wide range of free and low-cost concerts in the Cathedral for the benefit of the greater Phoenix community. Musical offerings include organ and piano concerts, chamber music, vocal ensembles and other special events.

Featuring the

ORGAN César Franck Organ Works

the

for Grand-Orgue

for Grand-Orgue

10,

Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols

Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols

Works of Preston, Berkeley, Willcocks, Tranchell and more.

Works of Preston, Berkeley, Willcocks, Tranchell and more.

DECEMBER 18, 2022 6:00 PM

Prelude 5:30 PM

DECEMBER 18, 2022 6:00 PM

5:30 PM

Meet our conductors

Christopher Gabbitas - Conductor & Artistic Director

Christopher Gabbitas was appointed Artistic Director of Phoenix Chorale in May 2019, and is delighted and honored to be leading an ensemble with such a rich tradition of spreading t he joy of music through song!

Starting as an 8-year-old boy chorister in England, Chris has been singing ever since in various chapel, cathedral and professional choirs including three years as a choral scholar at St John’s College, Cambridge and a year as a lay clerk at Christ Church, Oxford, as well as directing choral ensembles throughout this time.

His singing career culminated in 15 years spent with The King’s Singers performing around 2,000 concerts across six continents, and making in excess of 50 recordings which were recognized with various awards including two Grammy Awards as a singer/ producer. In 2013 The King’s Singers were inducted into the inaugural Gramophone Hall of Fame.

Also in 2019, Chris was appointed as Artist Professor at the University of Redlands, California, teaching a unique Master of Music in Vocal Chamber Music with a Commercial Music element, which aims to produce professional choral musicians for the next generation. He maintains a busy teaching and per forming schedule across the US.

Outside music, Chris qualified as an a orney in 2003 and maintains a growing legal practice in London, representing clients in the creative commercial sector.

Much though he loves to make music, more than anything Chris enjoys returning home to his wife Stephanie - who hails from the great Commonwealth of Kentucky - and their three girls Bella, Lyra and Ariana, each of whom loves to sing! He also enjoys explaining the rules of cricket, to anybody who will listen.

Tom Peterson - Assistant Conductor & Outreach Coordinator

Tom Peterson is the music director at Christ Church of the Ascension in Paradise Valley, and served for two years as Artistic Director of the Master Chorale of Flagstaff, where he initiated their Big Sing Flagstaff and Festival of Women Composers.

Tom is also a composer, and won the 2019 Stephen Paulus Emerging Composers Competition for his work, Being Many, Seeming One, which was subsequently published by E. C. Schirmer on the Dale Warland Choral Series. Tom is a graduate of Arizona State University, the University of Arizona, and the Royal College of Music.

Fall Series:

Singer News November 2022

On Sunday, October 16th, Phoenix Chorale Assistant Conductor Tom Peterson led the Christ Church of the Ascension Choir in a co-presentation of a Ralph Vaughan Williams Anniversary Concert with the Arizona Sacred Chorale in Paradise Valley. Soloists for the Vaughan Williams’ Mass in G Minor included current Chorale members Danielle Hale, Jacob Verhine, and David Topping. The Chorale’s roster spilled into the chorus featuring Anjelica Simone, Elijah Frank, and Cara Loveless-Faulkner, board chair Lynne Traverse and Executive Director Nicole Belmont. Chorale alum Cami Anglemyer also participated as part of the chorus.

A meditative

journey from darkness

Hannah Kimball started as the new Artistic Director of the Phoenix Women’s Chorus! Their first concert, “(Not Your Ordinary)

Love Songs” is on November 19th at 7:00 pm and November 20th at 3:00 pm at All Saint’s Episcopal 6300 N Central Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85012 azpwc.org

Courtney Evans conducted 11 combined choirs at the Flagstaff “Big Sing”, an event that brings together choirs from elementary

through adults and community members to join together in singing!

This season, Holly Sheppard has the honor of joining Helios: A Modern Renaissance as their newest member. Stephen Schermitzler and the Arizona Musical Theatre Orchestra held Showcases on August 27th (Seussical) and October 29th (Sweeney Todd). Full chorus, 25-piece orchestra, and lead actors rehearsed and performed these musicals in concert style, assembled in one full day.

Caleb French recently joined the adjunct music faculty of International Baptist College & Seminary (Chandler, AZ) as a vocal instructor. He just completed training his first slate of voice students over the summer.

Katherine Rosenfeld is thrilled to share that she has accepted a full-time position teaching junior high and high school choir at Arizona School for the Arts. Since entering the teaching profession on the brink of COVID and teaching choir online or in a hybrid state for 2 years, she has been anxiously awaiting a musically-fulfilling year in education. She is SO excited to be working with some of the brightest young musicians in the Phoenix metropolitan area!

Last month, Jason Raetz was the best man at Ben Westphal’s wedding in Chicago. Ben was Jason’s partner in grad school at NAU. “He means so much to me and my family and we wish him and Charlie all the happiness in the world,” says Jason.

Kira Zeeman-Rugen is leading a production of Clue, The Musical at Sco sdale Community College. She has also been named winner in the HerVoice Composition Competition through Chicago A capella. Her composition ‘Windows to Paradise’ (In Paradisum) will be performed by the Vancouver Youth Choir under Carrie Tennant.

Evelyn Sowell

Thomas and Diane Webster-Thomas

J.

& Barbara

Thomas

Zippel and Tom

& Marga Alseike

E.

Astuno

& David Beaucage

Belmont*

Benjes

A. Bielsik

honor of Mary and Charles

Bowers

& Julie

Cushman

Dhuse

& Nancy

Eddy

Jean

Phillip Wagoner

Richard

Rhenda

Groves

A.

Mary Harthun

Charley and Kathryn Hudson

& Jan Hulin

Isobe

Paula Strano

Kilbride and Lynn Krabbe

Kliewer-Britton

Office of Mary K. Farrington-Lorch

Leombruno

& Gerald Lorch

and R. Todd Lundmark

Martin

Means

Meier

Mitchell

Miyasaka