ATTENZIONE!
HELLO???
For the comfort of our performers and fellow audience members, please silence or turn off all electronic devices.
BE PRESENT
We invite you to experience our performance as it is intended: in the moment, not from behind a phone or camera. Photo, video, and audio recordings of this concert are prohibited.
JULIAN AGUDELO
DEVEN ALLEN
ANUSHKA BASU
WITH GRATITUDE
The Department of Music is profoundly grateful for the Friends of Music and their generous support of Music at Emory.
With
Stage Direction by DR. BETHANY MAMOLA
Musical Direction and Piano by DR. PATRICIA DINKINS-MATTHEWS
Assistant Stage Direction by DR. SIMONE M c GAW EVANS
Costume Design by KATHY SUMMERS
Lighting and Technical Design by ELI GUAJARDO and JEFF MILLSAPS
JULIA GREEN
ALLY MANDELL
AVA SANDSTROM
CARSON TOMLINSON
CATALINA VARELA
Emory’s student performance of musical theatre and opera scenes Starring
Selections from Pirates of Penzance
“Rocky Mountain”
“Stop, Ladies, Pray!”
“Oh, Is There Not One Maiden Breast”
“Poor Wandering One”
“No, I am Brave”
“When a Felon’s Not Engaged in his Employment”
Gilbert and Sullivan (1842-1900)
Lady 1 Catalina Varela
Edith Julia Green
Kate/Policeman Ally Mandell
Isabel/Policeman Ava Sandstrom
Frederic Julian Agudelo
Sargent Deven Allen
Policeman Carson Tomlinson
“Is it Possible” from The Elixir of Love
Gaetano Donizetti (1797-1848)
Gianetta Anushka Basu Chorus of Ladies Julia Green Ava Sandstrom
Ally Mandell Catalina Varela
Selections
from Beauty and the Beast
“Beauty and the Beast”
“Belle”
“Me”
“If I Can’t Love Her”
“Home”
“Be Our Guest”
Selections from The Fantasticks
“Try to Remember”
“Much More”
“Soon It’s Gonna Rain”
Harvey Schmidt (1929-2018)
El Gallo Carson Tomlinson
Louisa Catalina Varela
Matt Julian Agudelo
“Shy” from Once Upon a Mattress
Winnifred Ava Sandstrom
Knight 1 Carson Tomlinson
Knight 2 Deven Allen
Knight 3 Julian Agudelo
Dauntless Catalina Varela
Alan Menken (b.1949)
Belle Ally Mandell
Gaston Deven Allen
Beast/Townsfolk Carson Tomlinson
Mrs. Pots/Townsfolk Julia Green
Silly Girl/Townsfolk Anushka Basu
Lumière/Townsfolk Ava Sandstrom
Chip/Townsfolk Catalina Varela
Baker/Townsfolk Julian Agudelo
“I’ve Decided
to
Marry You”
from A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder
Steven Lutvak (1959-2023)
Phoebe Ally Mandel
Sibella Ava Sandstrom
Monty Deven Allen
“One Day More” from Les Misérables
Valjean Carson Tomlinson
Marius Julian Agudelo
Cosette Anushka Basu
Eponine Catalina Varela
Mary Rogers (1931-2014)
Royal Court Ally Mandell
Julia Green
Anushka Basu
Claude-Michel Schönberg (b. 1944)
Enjolras Ava Sandstrom
Javert Deven Allen
Thenardier Julia Green
Mme. Thenardier Ally Mandell
CAST CAST
Tenor JULIAN AGUDELO , 18, is a freshman majoring in Music: Vocal Performance with a pre-BBA track. Before attending Emory, Julian participated in the Georgia Governor’s Honors Program as a voice major, competed in the Georgia State Literary Competition, where he won first place in Boys’ Solo for the past two years, and performed in numerous musical theatre productions. He was also involved in the Georgia High School Musical Theatre Awards. At Emory, Julian is a member of several ensembles, including the Emory University Concert Choir, Stageworks, and Aural Pleasure A Cappella. A Shuler Award-nominated music director, he currently serves as the music director for Emory’s premier co-ed a cappella group, Aural Pleasure. Julian would like to deeply thank Dr. Mamola and Dr. Matthews for their incredible direction, the cast for the strong sense of community they have built, and his vocal coach, Dr. Chiang, for helping him grow in more ways than he can express. Most of all, he thanks his family for their unwavering love and support.
DEVEN ALLEN is a junior at Emory University majoring in Music with a concentration in Vocal Performance and minoring in Religion. Passionate about leadership and service, he serves as the President of the Emory National Pan-Hellenic Council and the President of the Gamma Beta Gamma Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. Additionally, he is the Chaplain for Emory’s Voices of Inner Strength Gospel Choir and a dedicated member of the Concert Choir. A talented baritone, Deven finds joy in singing and exploring the intersections of music, faith, and activism. He is deeply grateful for the mentorship and guidance of Dr. Mamola, Dr. Dinkins-Matthews, and his vocal coach, Dr. Chiang, who have played an instrumental role in his artistic and academic journey. With a passion for community and a commitment to excellence, Deven strives to use his voice to uplift, inspire, and enact change.
Soprano ANUSHKA BASU is a junior at Emory University from the San Francisco Bay Area, pursuing a double major in Vocal Performance and Quantitative Social Science: Data Science. She has been studying classical voice for nine years and is currently a student of Dr. Bethany Mamola. Before attending Emory, Anushka participated in programs such as the Washington National Opera Institute, the Metropolitan Opera Guild High School Opera Singers Intensive, and SongFest at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. At Emory, she has performed in ensembles including Stageworks, University Chorus, and Collaborative Piano. She is also a finalist in the 2025 Emory Concerto and Aria Competition. Last summer, Anushka performed her first lead role as Bastienne in Mozart’s Bastien und Bastienne in Salzburg, Austria. In addition to singing, she has played piano for sixteen years and enjoys biking, reading, and spending time with her guinea pig, Pianetta.
JULIA GREEN is a senior at Emory double majoring in marketing and theater. At Emory, she’s been fortunate to have been apart of 4 theater productions, including ensemble in little shop of horrors last spring! She hopes you enjoys the show (and the marketing as well)!
CAST CAST
ALLY MANDELL is a senior at Emory majoring in psychology and minoring in music. She is excited to make her Emory musical theater debut. She currently sings in the Emory Concert Choir and was previously a member of Emory University Chorus. She would like to thank Dr. Bethany Mamola, Dr. Patricia Dinkins-Matthews, and her fellow cast mates, family, and friends for their kindness and support.
This is CARSON TOMLINSON’S first StageWorks performance. He is freshman at Emory studying vocal performance and business. Here at Emory, he is nvolved in concert choir and Aural Pleasure acapella. His previous show credits include Melchior (Spring Awakening) with ADHOC, Gomez ( Addams Family), Mr. Mayor (Suessical ), and The Wolf/Cinderellas Prince (Into the Woods). He is so happy to be a part of this production and would like to thank his friends and family for their support.
Mezzo AVA SANDSTROM , 20, from Pittsburgh, PA, is a sophomore majoring in interdisciplinary studies and minoring in vocal performance. In past years, she has enjoyed playing Éponine in Les Misérables, Cinderella in Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s Cinderella , Morticia in The Addams Family, and Belle in Beauty and the Beast, as well as many wonderful ensemble credits. Ava participates in the Emory Concert Choir as well. Ava has studied solo voice for nearly 7 years and sends so much love to her first voice teacher, Leigh Usilton. In 2016, Ava received the Rising Star Award in her school, and in 2023 she was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the Gene Kelly Awards. She serves as Co-President of TableTalk on campus and is excited to be an editor for the student magazine Hybrid Vigor. Ava would like to thank Dr. Mamola, Dr. Matthews, and Dr. Brower for beginning this journey with her and her friends and family far and wide. Ava’s heart beats for those she loves.
CATALINA VARELA , soprano, is a Senior majoring in Neuroscience (NBB) and minoring in Music: Vocal Performance. Catalina has enjoyed participating in StageWorks twice before and has studied solo voice throughout college. Currently, she also enjoys being a member of Emory’s University Chorus. In her free time, she loves to read, dance salsa, and fly gliders. She would like to thank Dr. Bethany Mamola and Dr. Patricia DinkinsMatthews for their support of Emory’s Music Department and StageWorks. Finally, she thanks you for coming out tonight and hopes you enjoy the show!
STAGE DIRECTOR
DR. BETHANY GRACE MAMOLA , soprano, has charmed audiences with her stage presence and warm vocal timbre. The Cleveland Plain Dealer praised her with “...the most beautiful singing, whose Carolina was as disarming in characterization as it was expressive in vocal shading.” Arts Atlanta wrote that Bethany “was that rare talent who commands not only the virtuosity of a seasoned operatic vocalist but also the stage presence and acting prowess necessary to truly embody the character she presents,” and that “Mamola was a captivating presence not only for her extraordinary dynamic range but also the graceful ease with which she commanded it.” The Cleveland Classical said she was “a delight to hear and see. Her casual, yet precise stage demeanor and astute vocal talent made for a wonderfully clear vocal interpretation that rang throughout the hall.” Bethany has been a featured soloist with the National Repertory Orchestra Festival in Colorado, the DeKalb Symphony Orchestra, the Sausalito Song Society, The McKinney Philharmonic, The River Cities Symphony Orchestra, The Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival and was the featured soprano soloist with the UTRGV Symphony Chorus in their 2019 performances of Handel’s Messiah. She made her directorial debut as creative director of “Try Me” at the Winspear Opera House in conjunction with AT&T Performing Arts “Elevator Project” performed at the Winspear Opera House in Dallas, Texas. Bethany’s upcoming performances include an appearance with John’s Creek Symphony Orchestra in December 2024, and the Highland Cashiers Chamber Festival, this summer. Bethany is the Director of Higher Education with OperaWorks Summer Intensive and holds a DMA in voice from the University of North Texas, a Master of Music from the Cleveland Institute of Music and a Bachelor of Music from the University of the Pacific’s Conservatory of Music. Bethany is an enthusiastic educator in voice and opera performance and the Director of Vocal Studies at Emory University.”
DR. PATRICIA DINKINS-MATTHEWS joined the faculty of Emory University Department of Music in 1998, where she is an Associate Teaching Professor in piano and Chair of the Performance Area. She has been a member of the piano faculties at the University of Florida, Baylor University, the American Institute of Music Studies (Graz, Austria), and McLennan College. Dinkins-Matthews has an undergraduate degree from the University of Tennessee and both a master of music degree in piano performance and a doctor of musical arts degree in piano pedagogy and performance from the University of Colorado. Dinkins-Matthews is an active solo and chamber music recitalist and has performed both in the United States and in Europe, including recitals in England, France, Austria, Belgium, and Germany. Among others, Dinkins-Matthews has been the pianist for the Florida Arts Trio and the American Chamber Winds (ACW), and she has appeared as soloist with the ACW, the Colorado Symphony, the University of Tennessee Orchestra, and the Florida Symphony Orchestra. Dinkins-Matthews is the pianist for the Aevia Trio and is the associate pianist for the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus. As a member of the Atlanta Symphony Chamber Chorus, she has performed many times in Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, under the baton of Robert Spano, Donald Runnicles, Nathalie Stutzmann, and the late Robert Shaw. She is an approved adjudicator for the National Federation of Music Clubs and the Music Teachers National Association.
DR. SIMONE M c GAW EVANS , mezzo-soprano, has taught at Emory since 2019 and is also the music department’s communications specialist. She has built a portfolio career in performance, education, and administration for the past 20 years. While at Emory, she has been instrumental in bringing voice to the jazz area and teaches both musical theater and classical technique. She was the mezzo soloist in Mozart’s Requiem with the EUSO in April 2022 and voice faculty showcase in September 2024 and looks forward to performing with ECMSA in February 2026. Simone holds graduate music degrees from the College-Conservatory of Music and a Bachelor of Music from Georgia State University.
VOCAL STUDIES AT EMORY
Emory’s Vocal Studies area includes approximately 25 Music majors among many other students who are either voice minors or voice non-majors studying for credit or studying privately. With five voice teachers in the program, students have ample opportunity to explore the craft of singing, working on technique and artistry as it relates to them individually. There are many performance opportunities on campus as well, including StageWorks, master classes with world renowned teachers, art song symposia, solo recitals, and voice classes. The vocal program at Emory is for the student who is moving toward a career in music, or one who simply wishes to sing.
VOICE FACULTY
DR. BETHANY MAMOLA
Director of Vocal Studies, Performance Techniques, StageWorks
DR. ANDRÉ CHIANG
Assistant Professor of Music - Voice
DR. SIMONE M c GAW EVANS
Vocal Instructor
MARIA CLARK
Vocal Instructor
DR. JONATHAN PILKINGTON
Vocal Instructor
UPCOMING CONCERTS
The following events and recitals feature students and faculty of the Emory Department of Music. For a comprehensive list of performances, visit arts.emory.edu/events.html
MUSIC AT EMORY
The Department of Music at Emory University provides an exciting and innovative environment for developing knowledge and skills as a performer, composer, and scholar. Led by a faculty of more than 60 nationally and internationally recognized artists and researchers, undergraduate and graduate students experience a rich diversity of performance and academic opportunities. Undergraduate students in the department earn a BA in music with a specialization in performance, composition, or research, many of whom simultaneously earn a second degree in another department. True to the spirit of Emory, a liberal arts college in the heart of a research university, the faculty and ensembles also welcome the participation of nonmajor students from across the Emory campus.
FRIENDS OF MUSIC
Become a part of Music at Emory by giving to the Friends of Music. A gift provides crucial support to all of the activities and scholarship opportunities for students. To learn more, visit music.emory.edu, call 404.727.1401 , or scan the QR code to the right.
ECMSA: Master Class Series Jon Kimura Parker, piano
Emerson Concert Hall
1700 North Decatur Rd.
MUSIC AT EMORY
Music at Emory brings together students, faculty, and world-class artists to create an exciting and innovative season of performances, lectures, workshops, and master classes. With more than 150 events each year across multiple Emory venues, audiences experience a wide variety of musical offerings.
We hope you enjoy sampling and assortment of work from our student ensembles, community youth ensembles, artists in residence, professional faculty, and up-and-coming prodigies, and virtuosos from around the world.