Common Threads
Rider University Chorale
Tom T. Shelton, Jr., conductor
Jaeyeon Chung, collaborative pianist
Christian Johnson, graduate assistant conductor
Duomi Liu, graduate assistant conductor
Featuring Princeton BoyChoir
Adam Good, conductor
Tyler Weakland, collaborative pianist
Friday, April 19, 2024 at 7:00 p.m.
Gill Memorial Chapel
Rider University
2083 Lawrenceville Road
Lawrenceville, N.J.
Program
Prelude: Verset
Duomi Liu, organ
I
Kyrie from Missa Brevis in C Minor
Olivia Dixon, soprano
Kate Reinhard, oboe
Leon Boellmann
Imant Raminsh (b.1943)
We Belong
Echo
Karen Marrolli (b. 1975)
Liz Karns, Michael H. Woods, and Lisa Marcelli, soloists
Duomi Liu, graduate student conductor
Carmine Fiumano, percussion
Tom Shelton (b. 1966)
Emily Wallace, Christian Johnson, Chris Psolka, Jamie Green, soloists
A New Heart Melissa Dunphy (b. 1980)
Christian Johnson, graduate student conductor
Love Will Find a Way
Stars
Rosephanye Powell ’87 (b. 1962)
Olivia Santa Croce, Melody Ross, soloists
Carmine Fiumano, percussion
Wes Howell, guitar
II
Princeton BoyChoir Treble Choir
Larysa Kuzmenko (b. 1956)
The Sally Gardens arr. Benjamin Britten (1913-1976)
Al Shlosha D’varim
I Am the Gentle Light
Allan E. Naplan (b. 1972)
Paul Mealor (b. 1975)
Shine on Me arr. Rollo Dilworth (b. 1970)
Sondheim! A Choral Celebration
Stephen Sondheim (1930-2021)
arranged by Mac Huff
Wes Howell, guitar
Carmine Fiumano, percussion
I.
II.
Comedy Tonight
Andre Baldasserini, Wendy Heath, Connor Meletta, Eliana Cardona, Jamie Green, Kristen Rodgers, soloists
Into the Woods
Putting It Together
Scarlett Liput, Melissa Olsen, Abby Dalal, Heather Dalal, soloists
Not While I’m Around
Losing My Mind
Send in the Clowns
III. Company
The Little Things
Being Alive
Jenna Simms, solo
Kamanay Belcher, solo
Kristen Rodgers, solo
Chris Psolka, solo
Common Threads
Kiersten Burd and Wendy Heath, soloists
Inabel Abreu, solo
IV
Carmine Fiumano, percussion
Andrea Ramsey (b. 1977)
III
Program Notes, Text & Translations
Kyrie from Missa Brevis in C Minor
Imant Raminsh, a Canadian composer of Latvian descent, wrote his Missa Brevis in C Minor in 1989 – 90. Originally composed for treble choir, Raminsh has also arranged the work for mixed voices and with both piano and orchestral accompaniment options. The Mass features a soprano soloist and a wide array of harmonies, including a strong sense of modality, felt especially in the moving, opening Kyrie.
Kyrie eleison
Christe eleison
We Belong
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Karen Marrolli is the Director of Music Ministries at Central United Methodist Church in Albuquerque, NM. She has previously served as Director of Music Ministries at Trussville First United Methodist Church in Trussville, AL, as Director of Choral Ministries at the United Church of Santa Fe in Santa Fe, NM, and as the Artistic Director of the Zia Singers, the Cantu Spiritus Chamber Choir, and the Santa Fe Men’s Camerata. Marrolli holds the DMA degree in Choral Conducting from Louisiana State University (2010), where she studied Choral Conducting with Dr. Kenneth Fulton. She earned her BM in Music Theory and Composition (1997) and her MM in Choral Conducting and Sacred Music (2000) from Westminster Choir College before relocating to Charleston, SC. While in Charleston, she founded Lux Aeterna, a chamber choir who presented candlelight concerts in honor of such events as World AIDS Day, the September 11th attacks, and Child Abuse Awareness Month. These concerts give hope to those who were in a process of healing.
"We Belong" refers to the idea that all of humanity is interconnected. Recent events such as the pandemic have shown us that we are all interwoven more than we can ever imagine, and that the actions and circumstances of one person can have a ripple effect across the population. We also know that injustice and intolerance have wide ranging impacts, and each of us has a responsibility to stand up for and with others and to treat others with kindness and respect.
If we stand side by side, remaining open to people whose lives are different from our own, the fabric of humanity becomes stronger and richer. If we put aside our differences and care for each other, we all strengthen the global community of humanity. This piece, written in a universal “global music” style, is meant to feel as though it is universal and intelligible, highlighting the universality of the human race.
Echo
Echo, by Christina Rossetti, is a beautiful poem about loss and can be interpreted many ways. Compositionally, I tried to evoke feelings of beauty, loss and remembrance through the melodic line in the opening section. In the middle section, I wanted to paint a picture of grief, reality, and the feeling of life spinning out of control as we deal with loss. This becomes faster, more frenetic, and louder, as the ostinato parts are added one by one. After this climax, there is a return to a sense of calm - symbolizing that as time passes, we are able to come to terms with loss.
– Tom Shelton
A New Heart
Melissa Dunphy is an Australian-American composer based out of Philadelphia, PA. She recieved her Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania and currently teaches composition at Rutgers University. Her work is often written with political themes, addressing contemporary human issues, and primarily writes for voice.
This piece, A New Heart, is a setting of the 36th chapter of Ezekiel. It is a prophecy, declaring that the Israelites will received a new heart, and that their hardened hearts will be softened, and that all malice and wickedness in the world will be healed
"I will give you a new heart, and put a new spirit within you:
I will take away your heart of stone, I will give you a heart of flesh.“
:26 Ezekiel 36
Love Will Find a Way
Love Will Find a Way features music by Westminster Choir College alumna, Rosephanye Powell, and text by Stephen Bock. Regarding the text, Bock writes: “The text came out of an evening of watching annoying television “news” programs, which were really nothing more than two people yelling at each other about some topic and not listening to the other person at all. I thought “There has to be a better way for our society to deal with complex issues.” Out of that came the text. In fact, it came very fast. Words were coming out of my head faster than my fingers could type. The entire thing was written in under an hour.”
Powell adds: “As I read the words, I found myself inspired by his sentiments. Steve’s lyrics described where we were as a country, and where we find ourselves even now. His lyrics addressed the apparent problems while offering hope through acts of love. Somehow, amid all the divisiveness of our world, there are stories of people coming together, loving, and helping one another.”
*From “Words & Music: A Conversation with Poets and Composers” by Robert Bode; Choral Journal, March/April 2023
Sondheim! A Choral Celebration
Stephen Sondheim's music and lyrics stand as milestones in the world of American musical theater. “Sondheim! A Choral Celebration” highlights these milestones by including favorites from the following musicals: “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum”, “Into the Woods”, “Putting It Together”, “Sweeney Todd”, “Follies”, “A Little Night Music”, and “Company”. This Musical Celebration features songs from musicals where Sondheim wrote the lyrics and the music. Sondheim is a legend, and also remembered for writing the Lyrics to “Gypsy” and “West Side Story”.
Common Threads
Andrea Ramsey's setting of the Norma Hudgens text, 'Common Threads' was commissioned by the Allegro Choirs of Kansas City for their performance at the National ACDA convention in 2019 in Kansas City. This inspirational song reminds each of us that we have a light to shine and hope to offer others. Even though we have our differences - if we look close enough - we find the common threads.
Oh, every one of us, On this big spinning globe, We all have light to shine To give somebody hope.
Oh, every one of us, We have our differences, But if we look close enough, We find the common threads.
About the Artists
RIDER UNIVERSITY CHORALE
The Rider University Chorale provides the fundamentals of artistic choral singing. The ensemble performs diverse repertoire from across time and place. Concerts feature choral masterworks, compositions by contemporary composers, as well as spirituals, folk song settings from around the world, and music of the stage and screen. Current students, faculty and staff, alumni, and members of the surrounding community are invited to participate. The ensemble is one of six curricular ensembles at Westminster Choir College.
PRINCETON BOYCHOIR, WESTRICK MUSIC ACADEMY
Westrick Music Academy, based in Princeton Junction, NJ provides opportunities to grow in a supportive, inclusive, and joyous environment through the experience of musical excellence to over 300 students in the Central Jersey and Eastern PA area. Formerly known as Princeton Girlchoir, Westrick Music Academy (WMA) is the umbrella organization that houses:
• Princeton Girlchoir
• Princeton Boychoir
• Music Education Programs
Launched in 2017, Princeton Boychoir is dedicated to developing boys into confident young men of character through song, music education, and leadership development. Boys from 3rd through 12th grade are placed in ensembles based on age and ability. Led by our esteemed Music Director, Mr. Adam Good, each chorister strives to be an outstanding musician while cultivating self-confidence through education and performance. Princeton
Boychoir has graced concert stages locally and internationally, sharing the gift of music with diverse audiences.
Together with the Princeton Girlchoir (founded in 1989), the Princeton Boychoir helps form the core of the Westrick Music Academy and its commitment to musical excellence, community engagement, and fostering lifelong friendships. Their collective impact transcends boundaries and enriches lives through the universal language of music.
TOM T. SHELTON, JR., CONDUCTOR
Tom T. Shelton, Jr. is associate professor of Sacred Music at Westminster Choir College of Rider University, in Lawrenceville, NJ. Professor Shelton teaches classes in conducting, sacred music, music education, and conducts the Rider University Chorale.
In addition, he is the Director of Children’s and Youth Choirs at Princeton United Methodist Church and conducts the Semi-Tones Ensemble with the Princeton Girlchoir Organization.
Professor Shelton has a passion for music education in all areas: church, school and community. He taught middle school choral music in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County (NC) for 18 years. During that time, he was selected Teacher of the Year for both Atkins Middle School (1993) and Kernersville Middle School (1999 and 2005). In 1999 the North Carolina Music Educators Association presented him with the North Carolina Middle School Music Teacher of the Year award.
Professor Shelton is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association, having served as National President (2017-2019). Other ACDA leadership positions have included Southern Region president (2011-2012), National R&S chair for Middle School/Junior High Choirs (2007-2009) and North Carolina president (20052007). He serves as the ACDA Student Chapter Advisor for Westminster Choir College.
Professor Shelton has conducted choral festivals and presented workshops throughout the United States as well as Hong Kong. He has conducted Choral Festivals in Carnegie Hall, Honor Choirs for the Central Region ACDA, Southern Region ACDA, as well as in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, and Washington. Professor Shelton has served as an adjudicator for the Penabur International Choral Festival (Jakarta, Indonesia); the Rovdo International Choral Festival (Belarus); and worked on several projects with the “Soul Sounds Academy” (Sri Lanka).
Professor Shelton serves as the Music Education Editor for Hinshaw Music, as well as the Series Director for the Music for Young Voices Series with GIA Publications. Professor Shelton has compositions published by Choristers Guild, Colla Voce Music, G. Schirmer, Galaxy, GIA Publications, Growing in Grace Curriculum, Heritage Music Press, Hinshaw Music Company, Musicspoke.com, Santa Barbara Music Press, and Walton Music. His Missa Brevis for Treble Voices was premiered in Carnegie Hall in June of 2023 by National Concerts.
ADAM GOOD, CONDUCTOR
Adam Good is the Music Director of the Princeton Boy Choir and the Director of Choral Activities at East Brunswick High School and is passionate about the education of young artists. His choral groups have received superior ratings at festivals and venues throughout New Jersey, and his students have been regularly accepted into the National Association for Music Education Conference Choirs, the American Choral Directors Association Conference Choirs, and the New Jersey All-State, Region, and County honor choirs. Mr. Good has served as the manager for the ACDA Eastern Division Mixed Repertoire Choir, NJMEA All-State Treble Chorus and All-State Mixed
Chorus, CJMEA Region II Mixed Chorus. He is currently serving on the executive board of the NJACDA as the World Music and Culture Chair. Since 2015, he has been a guest lecturer at the Educators Professional Development Conference in Cap-Haitien, Haiti. Mr. Good holds a Bachelor of Science in Music Education from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, and a Masters Degree in Choral Conducting from Ithaca College where he studied with Dr. Janet Galván.
CHRISTIAN JOHNSON, GRADUATE STUDENT CONDUCTOR
Christian Johnson is a graduate assistant conductor of the Westminster Choir College Chapel Choir and the Rider University Chorale. Originally from Atlanta, Georgia, Christian Johnson attained his Bachelor of Arts in Music at Truett McConnell University. As an undergraduate student, he directed the Truett McConnell Chamber Singers. He currently studies conducting with Dr. James Jordan, Dr. Steve Pilkington, and Dr. Donald Nally. As a tenor, he also studies voice with Dr. Christopher Arneson. In addition, he also serves in churches as both a chorister and conductor.
DUOMI LIU, GRADUATE STUDENT CONDUCTOR
Duomi Liu is a graduate student, double majoring in both choral conducting and sacred music, with a concentration in organ. She is a graduate assistant conductor of the Westminster Choir and the Rider University Chorale. She previously attended Beijing Normal University, where she received her Bachelor's degree in piano. Duomi served as a conductor at Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai campus, and for the Beijing International Children's Choir. Duomi studies conducting with Dr. James Jordan, Dr. Steve Pilkington, and Dr. Donald Nally. She also studies organ with Dr. Michael Diorio.
RIDER UNIVERSITY CHORALE
Tom T. Shelton, Jr., conductor
Jaeyeon Chung, collaborative pianist
Christian Johnson, graduate assistant conductor
Duomi Liu, graduate assistant conductor
SOPRANO
Inabel Abreu
Kamanay Belcher
Eliana Cardona
Abby Dalal
Jen Gregg
Wendy Heath
Liz Karns
Thelma Kesselly
Julia Kovalev
Lisa Marcelli
Melissa Olsen
Chris Psolka
Melody Ross
ALTO
Kiersten Burd
Barbara Carroll
Melania Chiarelli
Heather Dalal
Scarlett Liput
PRINCETON BOYCHOIR TREBLE CHOIR
Oluwakafemomi Akinyanmi
Zoheb Ansari
Brennan Clissold
Liam Djordjevic
Gabriel Gomes
Andy Lacroix
Hai Long
Mikail Malik
Liam McWha
Hugo Okabayashi
Amyaman Sreekanth
Duomi Liu
Jean Milman
Alison Neu
Kristen Rodgers
Olivia Santa Croce
Kayla Schneider-Smith
Jenna Simms
Gabi Smalley
Debbie Stasolla
Emily Wallace
TENOR
Christian Johnson
Aaromal Menon
Jaxx Stephens
BASS
Andre Baldasserini
Jamie Green
Trevor Janusas
Connor Meletta
Karthik Subramaniyam
Thomas Teti
Kai Ueng-McHale
Narayan Venkatesh
Dominic Walters
Hanshu Wang
Gavin Wells
Kiyaan Yadav Krishna Vinayak
Max Zha-Zhao
Garik Zlotchew
About Rider University & Westminster Choir College
Located in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, Rider University is a private co-educational, student-centered university that emphasizes purposeful connections between academic study and real-world learning experience. Rider prepares graduates to thrive professionally, to be lifelong independent learners, and to be responsible citizens who embrace diversity, support the common good, and contribute meaningfully to the changing world in which they live and work.
The College of Arts and Sciences is dedicated to educating students for engaged citizenship, career success, and personal growth in a diverse and complex world. The college cultivates intellectual reflection, artistic creativity, and academic maturity by promoting both broad academic inquiry and in-depth disciplinary study, while nurturing effective and ethical applications of transferable critical skills. The College consists of four schools: the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, the School of Communication, Media, and Performing Arts, the School of Science, Technology, and Mathematics, and Westminster Choir College.
Culturally vibrant and historically rich, Westminster Choir College has a legacy of preparing students for thriving careers as well-rounded performers and musical leaders on concert stages, in schools, universities, and churches, and in professional and community organizations worldwide. Renowned for its tradition of choral excellence, the college is home to internationally recognized ensembles, including the Westminster Symphonic Choir, which has performed and recorded with virtually all of the major orchestras and conductors of our time. In addition to its choral legacy, Westminster is known as a center for excellence in musical pedagogy and performance.
Upcoming Performances
WESTMINSTER CONCERT BELL CHOIR: A TIME TO DANCE
Saturday, April 20, 4 p.m.
Gill Chapel
WESTMINSTER CHOIR: MUSIC OF AWE AND WONDER
Sunday, April 21, 4 p.m.
Gill Chapel
SENIOR DANCE CAPSTONE CONCERT: LIVING LEGACIES
Friday, April 26, 7:30 p.m.
Bart Luedeke Center Theater
ARTBEAST 2024
ARTSTAGES: CREATIVE JOURNIES IN MOTION
Friday, April 26, 3 p.m.
Rider University
SPRING THEATRE FESTIVAL IN ASSOCIATION WITH ARTBEAST
AUTHENTIC INSTRUMENT II & ACTING IV SHOWCASE
Saturday, April 27, 2 p.m.
Sunday, April 28, 2 p.m.
Yvonne Theater
DIRECTING CLASS PLAY FESTIVAL: IMPRESSIONS
Saturday April 27, 4:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m.
Spitz Theater
WESTMINSTER JUBILEE SINGERS SPRING CONCERT
Sunday, April 28, 7:30 p.m.
Gill Chapel
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON UPCOMING PERFORMANCES, SUBSCRIPTION AND PATRON PROGRAM OPTIONS, VISIT RIDER.EDU/ARTS.
