WHEN THE Violin Sings
28 SEPTEMBER Saturday 29 SEPTEMBER Sunday
FEATURING: Beth Johnson, Violinist • Barbara George, Cellist
Richard Bjella, Artistic Director
Proudly presents
WHEN THE Violin Sings
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2024 • 7:30PM
First Presbyterian Church - Kerrville
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2024 • 3:00PM
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower
FEATURING
Richard Bjella, Artistic Director Dr. Eric Thompson collaborative pianist
Beth Johnson, violinist
Barbara George, cellist
Through exquisite music and innovative programming, the San Antonio Chamber Choir elevates the spirit, enlightens the mind, and nurtures the soul.
PROGRAM
Prologue
Hands Opening Jocelyn Hagen (b. 1980)
I
Voices of Earth**
Mark Sirett (b. 1952) Smile Thy Shores** Andrea Clearfield (b. 1960)
II
The Lark Ascending Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872–1958) / arr. Steve Bjella
III
Chaconne* Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) / arr. Richard Bjella
IV
When the violin (violin)
Reena Esmail (b. 1983) When the violin (cello and choir)
Soloists: Lindsey Johnson, Hillary Schranze, Jennifer Root, & Michael Zuniga
V
Vocalize Sergei Rachmaninoff (1873–1943)
VI
Serenade to Music R. Vaughan Williams
Soloists: Lindsay Selli, Seth Lafler, Sarah Davis, Crystal Jarrell Johnson, Cassidy Wallace, & Michael Zuniga
VII
La Muerte del Ángel
Astor Piazzolla (1921–1992) arr. José Bragato, choral parts by R. Bjella
Epilogue
Hands** Jocelyn Hagen
Soloists: Crystal Jarrell Johnson & Seth Lafler
Allan Ross and Eva Laporte, storytellers
Script written by John Silantien from notes by Rick Bjella
*World Premiere
**Texas Premiere
PROGRAM
Voices of Earth
We have not heard the music of the spheres, The song of star to star, but there are sounds More deep than human joy and tears, That Nature uses in her common rounds; The fall of streams, the cry of winds that strain The oak, the roaring of the seas’s surge, might Of thunder breaking afar off, or rain That falls by minutes in the summer night. These are the voices of earth’s secret soul, Uttering the mystery from which she came. To him who hears them grief beyond control, Or joy inscrutable without a name, Wakes in his heart thoughts bedded there, impearled, Before the birth and making of the world.
Archibald Lampman (1861–99)
Smile Thy Shores
Maine
Far in the sunset’s mellow glory, Far in the day-break’s pearly bloom, Fringed by ocean’s foamy surges, Belted in by woods of gloom, Stretch thy soft, luxuriant borders, Smile thy shores, in hill and plain, Flower-enameled, ocean-girdled, Green bright shores of Maine. Bright from many a rocky headland, Fringed by sands that shine like gold, Gleams the light-house, white and lonely, Grim as some baronial hold. Bright by many an ocean valley Shaded hut and village shine; Roof and steeple, weather-beaten, Stained by the ocean's breath of brine.
Isaac McLellan (1806–99) (first and last stanzas)
The Lark Ascending
He rises and begins to round, He drops the silver chain of sound, Of many links without a break, In chirrup, whistle, slur and shake.
For singing till his heaven fills, 'Tis love of earth that he instills, And ever winging up and up, Our valley is his golden cup And he the wine which overflows to lift us with him as he goes.
Till lost on his aerial rings In light, and then the fancy sings.
George Meredith’s (1828–1909)
Section of his poem that RVW quotes at the beginning of the work.
Chaconne
(She) was my North, my South, my East and West, My working week and my Sunday rest, My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song; I thought that love would last forever: I was wrong.
W.H. Auden (1907–73)
Third verse of Stop All the Clocks
Pronoun changed from ‘he’ to ‘she’
When the violin When The violin Can forgive the past
It starts singing.
When the violin can stop worrying About the future
You will become Such a drunk laughing nuisance
That God Will then lean down And start combing you into Her Hair.
When the violin can forgive Every wound caused by Others
The heart starts Singing.
Hafiz, The Gift (tr. Daniel Ladinsky)
PROGRAM
Serenade to Music
How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank! Here will we sit and let the sounds of music Creep in our ears: soft stillness and the night Become the touches of sweet harmony.
Look how the floor of heaven Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold: There’s not the smallest orb which thou behold’st But in his motion like an angel sings, Still quiring to the young-eyed cherubins; Such harmony is in immortal souls; But whilst this muddy vesture of decay Doth grossly close it in, we cannot hear it.
Come, ho! and wake Diana with a hymn! With sweetest touches pierce your mistress’ ear, And draw her home with music.
I am never merry when I hear sweet music. The reason is, your spirits are attentive: The man that hath no music in himself, Nor is not moved with concord of sweet sounds, Is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils; The motions of his spirit are dull as night And his affections dark as Erebus: Let no such man be trusted.
Music! hark! It is your music of the house. Methinks it sounds much sweeter than by day. Silence bestows that virtue on it. How many things by season season’d are To their right praise and true perfection! Peace, ho! the moon sleeps with Endymion, And would not be awaked.
Soft stillness and the night
Become the touches of sweet harmony
William Shakespeare’s (1564–1616)
Merchant of Venice
SOPRANO 1
Natalie Baker
Anna Osterman
Nancy Poffenbarger
Lindsay Selli, M.M.
SOPRANO 2
Heather Cole
Sarah Davis
Lindsey Johnson
SAN ANTONIO CHAMBER CHOIR
Richard Bjella, Artistic Director
Roland Barrera, Executive Director
ALTO 1
Kelly Leary
Hillary Schranze
Cassidy Wallace
ALTO 2
Valerie Jeannin
Crystal Jarrell Johnson, M.M.
Jennifer Root
TENOR 1
Manny Lopez
Seth Lafler, M.Ed.
TENOR 2
Klint Fabian
Joseph Herron
Richard Trammell
BARITONE
Jordan Boyd, D.M.A.
Andrew McNair
Chaz Nailor, M.M.
BASS
Colin Powell
Otoniel Rodriguez
Michael Zuniga
UPCOMING CONCERTS
Brake for Christmas
A Musical Wilderness of
20 DECEMBER
Friday • 7:30PM
Diane Bennack Concert Hall, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX
21
DECEMBER
Saturday • 7:30PM
Judson I.S.D. Performing Arts Ctr., Converse, TX
28
MARCH
Saturday • 7:30PM
Alamo Heights United Methodist Church, San Antonio, TX
29 MARCH
Sunday • 3:00PM
The Chapel of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX
ADDITIONAL SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
Bach Reflections & Reverberations
This is the inaugural program of a multi-year project in celebration of the music and influence of J.S. Bach, a composer who stands at the fountainhead of Western classical music and whose influence on the history of music is as profound as any musician who has ever lived.
J.S. Bach: Easter Oratorio
Fri., April 11 @ 7:30PM
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Little Flower Sat., April 12 @ 7:30PM
OLLU Sacred Heart Chapel
Mon., May 12 @ 7:00PM
St. Mark's Episcopal Church
Composer Armando Bayolo’s “Cancionero de luto” is his heartwrenching response to events at the Robb Elementary shooting in 2022 & others like it. Cancionero de luto (“Mourning Songbook”) sets six texts in as many languages with the aim to fill the need for an ecumenical music of grief that also embraces so-called freethinkers, atheists, and other non-spiritual traditions as well. Commissioned by SOLI Chamber Ensemble & Yale University, this new work is scored for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, & percussion with chorus, & will be SOLI’s second wonderful collaboration with SACC. This will be the World Premiere performance of this new work.
BIOGRAPHIES
Beth Johnson, violin
Beth Johnson joined the former San Antonio Symphony, now San Antonio Philharmonic, in 1994. She received undergraduate and graduate degrees from the College/Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati.
Beth previously was on the music faculty at Alamo Community Colleges and has a home teaching studio. Locally she has performed with the Cactus Pear Music Festival, The Olmos Ensemble, the San Antonio Chamber Choir, and as a soloist around the San Antonio area. She serves as a staff musician at Christ Episcopal Church.
Beth served as associate concertmaster and section violinist of the Dayton Philharmonic, the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, the West Virginia Symphony, New Haven Symphony, as a substitute musician for the Cincinnati and Columbus Symphonies, and in the winter and spring of 2003 as concertmaster for the U.S. tour of “Phantom of the Opera.” In recent summers she has performed in the St. Endellion Music Festival in Cornwall, England.
Barbara George, cello
Barbara George is a San Antonio Philharmonic and Pearl Trio cellist. Before coming to Texas she was principal cellist of the Orlando Philharmonic and a member of the Orlando Philharmonic String Quartet. She was a cello professor at the University of Florida Gainesville and the University of Central Florida. Before her principal position, she was a member of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. Also, she performed, recorded, and toured with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the Los Angeles Opera Orchestra, and the Lyric Arts Chamber Ensemble. As a studio musician, she recorded many motion picture soundtracks, commercials, and record albums. Barbara was awarded a Master of Music degree from the University of California at Los Angeles as a student of Ronald Leonard and a Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music as a student of Stephen Geber. She has performed at the San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival, the Spoleto Italy Festival, the Sarasota Music Festival, the Mainly Mozart Festival, the Victoria Bach Festival, the Sunflower Music Festival, and the Austin Chamber Music Center Festival. In 2019 Barbara released a solo album, Femme, of all women composers with pianist Jim James.
Allan S. Ross
Mr. Ross is a Professor Emeritus of Theatre at San Antonio College where he was the Director of Theatre and a founder and Artistic Director of The Summer Company. He is a founder of The Classic Theatre of San Antonio. Mr. Ross has achieved recognition not only as an actor, but as a director and designer. This will be his third appearance with the SACC. He appeared with Anna Gangai in the concert dedicated to music inspired by Shakespeare, BITS, BALLADS, and the BARD, and as Mark Twain in the Great American Songbook concert.
Eva LaPorte
Eva LaPorte (she/her) is a theatre artist working in San Antonio. She holds an acting degree from the University of Northern Colorado and studied directing, producing, and acting with the National Theatre Conservatory, National Theater Institute at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center, Royal Shakespeare Theatre Academy, and the Moscow Art Theatre. Eva and her partner Zach Lewis operate a theatre project focusing on contemporary plays that build new communities around the themes seen on stage. www.thesurroundproject.com
ARTISTIC BIOGRAPHIES (CONTINUED)
Richard Bjella
Richard Bjella has distinguished himself as a conductor, clinician, choral pedagogue, and choral arranger. In 2014 Bjella was appointed Artistic Director of the San Antonio Chamber Choir. He retired from Texas Tech University in 2017. He previously served 25 years as Director of Choral Studies at the Lawrence Conservatory of Music, leading the Concert Choir in an acclaimed performance at the 2009 National ACDA Convention. The Texas Tech University Choir has been celebrated for its excellence in Carnegie Hall, Orchestra Hall, at TMEA convention appearances, and at the 2013 ACDA Convention.
Bjella has presented workshops at several ACDA national and regional conventions and has been a headliner for countless events from Alaska to Florida for teachers and students alike. It has also been his honor to conduct and present masterclasses worldwide and at over 400 festivals and workshops in 34 states, including several appearances at Lincoln Center, Orchestra Hall, and Carnegie Hall. He has presented workshops and conducted in South Korea, England, France, Switzerland, Lithuania, Columbia, Haiti, Estonia, Latvia, Austria, Hungary, and Italy. He led the European tour for the Texas Choral Directors to Vienna, Prague, and Budapest in June and July. He is also deeply honored to be the 2025 Texas All-State Mixed Choir conductor, performing in San Antonio at the TMEA Convention and the national ACDA convention in Dallas. He is also actively promoting creative choral programming and a writer for The Oxford Handbook of Choral Pedagogy (2017) with his chapter, The Art of Successful Programming: Study, Selection, and Synthesis
Bjella received a ‘2017 Professing Excellence Award’ at Texas Tech University and the Lawrence University Teaching Award in 2008. This award is given to outstanding faculty who go “above and beyond,” both inside and outside the classroom, to impact student learning and academic success. He was also honored to receive the ‘Morris Hayes Lifetime Achievement Award’ from the Wisconsin Choral Directors.
Eric Thompson
Eric Thompson was born and raised in San Antonio, graduated from John Jay High School and received degrees in piano performance from UTSA and The University of Texas. He has been employed at Texas State University-School of Music since 2006 and currently holds the position of Program Faculty of Collaborative Piano.
SACC COMMUNITY CONNECTION PROGRAMS
Alamo City Street Choir Tracy Bjella Powers, Director
Started in 2019, The Alamo City Street Choir offers a musical outlet for those experiencing homelessness and severe disadvantage. Their voices of hope and wisdom will bring the community to a higher level of beauty through the art of singing. ACSC meets weekly at Travis Park Church in partnership with Corazon San Antonio. H-E-B generously underwrites this program. Contact Tracy Bjella Powers, Director for more information please email - tracy@sachamberchoir.org.
Kelly Ranson, President
SACC BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President, Ranson Properties
Kay Sherrill, Vice President
Retired High School Choir Director, Judson I.S.D.
James Reed, Treasurer
Claims Replacement Manager, USAA
Angus McLeod, Secretary
Retired Music Educator, Alamo Heights I.S.D.
Sarah Brandt
Senior Director of Prospect Management & Research, University of Texas at San Antonio
Adam Cason
Director of Product Marketing, Futurex
Carol Gamble
Volunteer Coordinator, Corazon San Antonio
Norbert Gonzales, Jr., C.P.A., J.D.
Owner & President, The Gonzales Group, CPA
Natalie Luna Kuhn, C.P.A. & C.F.E.
Director of Audit Services, Randy Walker & Co.
Kit Powers, M.D.
Cardiologist, University Medical Associates
John Silantien, D.M.A.
Choral Studies Professor Emeritus University of Texas at San Antonio
AD HOC MEMBERS
(NON-VOTING)
Rick Bjella, Artistic Director
San Antonio Chamber Choir & Retired Director of Choral Studies
Texas Tech University
Roland Barrera, Executive Director
San Antonio Chamber Choir & Director of Music & Worship Arts
Tarrytown United Methodist Church (Austin, TX)
Tracy Bjella Powers
Alamo City Street Choir Director
SACC CIRCLE OF SUPPORTERS
(based on cumulative gift totals of sustained givers since January 2023)
Maestro’s Circle:
$25,000 and above
H-E-B Grocery Co.
Kelly Ranson
Mary Ann Winden
Sponsor’s Circle:
$10,000–$24,999
Bexar County
Caritas Concert Series
City of San Antonio
Dept. of Arts & Culture
Kronkosky Foundation
Bonnie Mutt Estate
Edith De Lay, executor
Becky & Jeffrey Nodland
San Antonio Symphony League
Composer’s Circle:
$5,000–$9,999
Corazon San Antonio
Jennifer & Scott Rose
Texas Commission on the Arts
Diamond Level:
$2,500 to $4,999
Linda & Rick Bjella
Sarah Brandt & A. Thomas Papagiannakis
Adam & Mollie Cason
Cynthia I. Gonzales
Norbert Gonzales Jr.
San Antonio Area Foundation
The Gonzales Group
CPA Firm
Tracy Bjella Powers & Kit Powers, MD
Randy Walker & Co.
Platinum Level:
$1,000 to $2,499
Roland Barrera
Cristian Cantu
Frost Bank
Frances & Jim Garner
Hope House Ministries
Natalie Luna Kuhn & Frank Kuhn
Cathy & James Reed
Beverly Roth
Kay Sherrill
Jill & David Trawick
Jennifer Whatley
Gold Level: $500 to $999
Carol & Bruce Cauley
Daniel Diller
Lamont Jefferson
Nancy & Cliff Jenkins
Ann & Carl Leafstedt
Gwen & Angus McLeod
Renee Meriwether
Angus Ranson
Terri Peña & Allan Ross
Harold Sager
Caroline Vickrey
Silver Level:
$250 to $499
Rosalinda & Pedro Barrera
Carol Gamble
Janice Grantz
Mildred & James Harnish
Anna & Bruce Liesman
Anne Mulligan
Patrice & Joey Oliver
Pathways of Hope
Adrienne P. Bingamon
University Methodist Church
Alice & Sergio Viroslav
Bronze Level:
$100 to $249
Calhoun Law Firm
Shirley Coffman
Nancy Cook-Monroe
Denise Doyle
Klint Fabian
Lynne & Merlin Gackle
Alex Gmeinder
Mary Greer
Valerie Jeannin
Joan Kearl
Kevin Meidl
Joseph Milligan
Paul Myers
Warren Neisler
Anna & Joe Osterman
Diane Persellin
Ladawn Petersen
Karen Pfefferle
Lars Ranson
James Rodde
Kimberly Sherrill
John Silantien
George Spencer
Joy & William Surbey
Ana M. Valadez
Sharon Wallace
Mary Walsh
Friends: up to $99
Daryl Anderson
Alyssa Avenatti
Gabriela Barba
Rachel Benefiel
Diane Burchers
Karla Busch-McEwen
Joan Carlson
Regina Chew
Juliette Conte
Nancy Cook-Monroe
Ms. Mary Cowart
Robert Dalglish
Dean David
John Debner
Denise Doyle
Mary Esther Escobedo
Cass Everitt
Debra Faszer-Mcmahon
Jaimes Flores
Donald Frantz
Jesus Garcia
Melissa Garza
Mireya Garza
Darrell Gerik
Laura Giacomoni
Gary Goethe
Billie Gonzales
Ms. Mary Greer
Tom Grothues
Debra Habingreither
Jerry Hamilton
John Hammer
Jean Henslee
Barry Hubbard
Crystal Jarrell Johnson
Carrie Jasso
Denise Kellum
Stephanie Key
Minji Kim
Rebecca Krogness
Elizabeth Lampright
Debra Lolmaugh
Gary Mabry
Susan McAllister
Laura McDaniel
Melie McIntosh
Kevin Meidl
Patricia Morgan
Mr. Paul Myers
Elizabeth Nabutovsky
Dena Orth
Marianne Orton
Casey & Maureen Papovich
Melissa Peck
Josep-Maria Peralba
Diane Persellin
Lauren Phillips
Richard Reams
Harriet Redman
Keith Riggle
Christina Rivera
Maryann Robledo
Kelly Robles
Beverly &
Dennis Schaffer
Kathy Scruggs
Lindsay & Vello Selli
Linda Smith Raul Soria
Aimee Stead
Cathy Talcott
Irma Taute
Maria Velasco
Margi Wallace
Nicki Weaver
Gayle Weinraub
Judith York & Richard Tye
Tribute Giving:
In memory of Len Bjella In memory of Mimi Gonzales In memory of Brian Halverson In memory of Muriel Leafstedt In memory of Art Winden In honor of Roland Barrera In honor of David Beck In honor of Richard Bjella In honor of Edith DeLay In honor of Alyx Gonzales In honor of Kelly Ranson In honor of Kay Sherrill In honor of Valerie Jeannin In honor of Tracy Bjella Powers & the Alamo City Street Choir In honor of Jennifer Whatley In honor of Mary Ann Winden
Special Thank You:
Sophia Balmer
Jadin Blanchard
Sarah Brandt
Seth Lafler
Angus McLeod
Tracy Bjella Powers & Kit Powers
Kelly Ranson
John Silantien
THANKS TO OUR GENEROUS 2024 – 2025 SPONSORS:
GOVERNMENT AGENCIES
CORPORATE SPONSORS
PARTNERS FOUNDATION SUPPORT
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