A 45th Anniversary Christmas Concert

The Saint Dominic Academy Glee Club Presents

A Forty-Fifth Anniversary Christmas Concert

Sunday, December 10th, 2023 Saint Ann Roman Catholic Church

The Saint Dominic Academy Glee Club The Glee Club is one of the largest and most honored activities at the Academy. Approximately twenty percent of Saint Dominic Academy students have been members of the Glee Club during Mr. Napoli’s 45 years at SDA. The Glee Club has long been considered the one of the most accomplished all girls parochial school choirs in the Archdiocese and in the tri-state area. The Glee Club attended regional competitions every year from 1992 - 2018 and won Grand Championship awards in 14 of those 27 competitions.

In December, 2004, The Glee Club performed a Christmas Concert in the Winter Garden Atrium at the World Financial Center. They were one of the first choirs to perform at this historic site following its restoration after the September 11, 2001 attack on Lower Manhattan.

On December 26th, 2015, members of the Glee Club traveled to Rome and performed at a New Year’s Day, 2016, World Peace Day Papal Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in Saint Peter’s Basilica.

On May 26th, 2023, the Glee Club performed Giovanni Battista Pergolesi’s “Stabat Mater” with other treble choirs in Carnegie Hall. This was the third time that the Glee Club performed in that historic venue.

The Glee Club has sung five times at the annual Radio City Christmas Spectacular, opening for the renowned Rockettes, most recently on Monday, December 7th, 2023

The Dominoes The Dominoes are Glee Club’s elite choir. The Dominoes have performed, by invitation, 13 times at Carnegie Hall. Other famous New York City venues they have performed at include the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, the General Assembly of the United Nations, Saint Malachy’s Church in the theater district (the “Actor’s Chapel”), the Waldorf-Astoria, Rockefeller Center and Radio City.

In January 2008, the Dominoes were invited by the Barack Obama campaign to perform at Senator Obama’s appearance at Saint Peter’s College. The next day, the Dominoes sang for and met the future president.

The Dominoes performed with American composer Tim Janis at Caldwell College in April, 2010; Janis was so impressed with the choir that he arranged for the Dominoes to perform a featured number, Michael Jackson’s “Earth Song”, with international star André Rieu at the Nassau Coliseum in June, 2010. During the 2011 school year, the Dominoes performed live on Fox 5’s Good Day New York and News 12 New Jersey’s “Sounds of the Season”.

On March 1st, 2018, the Dominoes performed with the Newark Boys Chorus at Saint Peter’s University Church.

The Dominoes have sung twice as the featured liturgical choir at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart - the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. In December, 2017, 2018 and 2019, the Dominoes performed at the prestigious New York Athletic Club.

Locally, the Dominoes performed Christmas concerts for over twenty years at the Jersey City Women’s Club on Fairview Avenue, now Saint Dominic Academy’s Siena Hall, and many times at the Liberty House Restaurant’s “Snowflake Award Ceremony”, at various municipal tree lightings, for elderly members of the community and annually at the Cusack Care Center’s Blessing Tree Lighting and at the Mayor’s Annual Holiday Concert at the Landmark Loews Theater.

The Dominoes, along with the Glee Club perform an annual concert with Saint Peter’s Prep’s choir each May.

Sophia Shedd - Harpist Sophia Shedd is a harpist and musician based in New York City. She began playing at the age of 10 and has studied with many accomplished harpists including Barbara Allen, Jaclyn Wappel, and Barbara Chapman.

Sophia has recently begun planting her career in the NYC music world, serving as principal harpist with the Mannes School of Music Orchestra, performing with the Martha Graham Dance Company, and served as harp coach and hand double for the short film Run Amok, currently accepted into several International Award Winning Film Festivals.

Originally from Chesapeake, Virginia, Sophia has been an active musician for most of her life. She has had experience as both a soloist and ensemble member, performing as principal harpist in the Bay Youth Symphony Orchestra for 7 years, the Waynesboro Symphony Orchestra, and the Virginia Symphony Orchestra under the baton of JoAnn Falleta. During her time with Bay Youth Symphony Orchestra, James Madison University School of Music and Mannes School of Music, Sophia has had opportunities to perform world premieres of multiple works, including Symphony for Youth Orchestra: Rivers of the Chesapeake” by Alumnus James Hosay, The Gift of the Magi by Adolphus Hailstork, and Sound, light and shadow by Guohao Li. Sophia also has several years of experience teaching harp and piano, and is excited to build a new studio of young musicians in New York City.

James Redcay – Piano Accompanist A native of Allentown, Pennsylvania, James E. Redcay III currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of MidAmerica Productions (where he has worked since 2015), presenting large-scale classical performances at Carnegie Hall and throughout Europe as part of an annual season of concerts.

A graduate of New York University, Redcay spent years in New York City as an accomplished pianist, composer and teacher, performing and composing for numerous concerts and institutions.During this time Redcay held the position of Composer-inResidence at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ. After graduating from NYU, Redcay moved abroad to Macao, where he taught music at the Conservatory of Macao and created and managed large-scale arts and entertainment programs and daily operations for Sands China Ltd., a subsidiary of Las Vegas Sands.

After six fruitful years, Redcay relocated to the United States and now resides in the Philadelphia area with his wife Thao and son Elias.

Joseph P. Napoli - Saint Dominic Academy Glee Club and Dominoes Director

Joseph P. Napoli has taught at Saint Dominic Academy since 1979 and today marks the forty-fifth Saint Dominic Academy Christmas Concert under his direction. Mr. Napoli has also directed the Manhattan College Singers, Saint Peter’s College Glee Club and the Saint Dominic Academy Women’s Choir.

In 2005, the Council for American Private Education named Napoli New Jersey’s Non Public School Teacher of the Year. In 2006, he was honored as ItalianAmerican Educator of the year by the Bayonne Columbus Committee and was similarly honored by Jersey City’s Dante Alighieri Society in 2011. In November, 2011, Saint Dominic Academy honored Mr. Napoli with the Dominican Pillar Award. In September, 2015, the Cusack Care Center honored him as “a partner in caring” at their 12th annual Generations Benefit Luncheon.

Mr. Napoli’s choirs have made two recordings; “A Saint Dominic Academy Christmas” (Dominoes, 2002) and “Voices of Winter” (Women’s Choir, 2006). He lives in Hoboken with wife, Rose, and miniature dachshund, Chai.

Special Thanks to St. Ann Catholic Church: Saint Dominc Academy greatly appreciates the hospitality of Father Martin Schratz and the St. Ann community. We also thank Jeremy Beck, and Rebecca Pitcher for their assistance.

Introduction - Sabrina Rodriguez – Glee Club President

A Ceremony of Carols - Performed by The Dominoes Benjamin Britten - Composer Sophia Shedd - Harpist

Kindly refrain from applauding until the entire “Ceremony of Carols” is performed. We also ask that no flash photography is used during the program. Thank you.

1. Procession – Hodie Christus Natus est –“Today, Christ is born….” is taken from the vespers of the nativity and this text is used as both the procession and recession.

Traditionally, the Dominoes process with candles and hold these throughout the performance.

2. Wolcum Yole! – This movement is a miniature of the liturgical calendar of the Christmas Season. The heavenly child is welcomed as important feast days of the season are referenced. Steven, John and Thomas each have a feast day during this season.

December 28th is known as Holy Innocents Day. The New Year and epiphany (twelfth day) are mentioned, as well as the saints who have left and dear to us. Candelmesse refers to February 2nd, which remembers Mary’s purification at the temple, and Jesus’ presentation to Simeon.

3. There is no Rose – Mary was unparalleled in virtue and, in her womb, (Rose) heaven and earth were in the same space. “For in this Rose contained was heaven and earth in little space.”

4. That yonge child – Solo performed by Sofia Conti and Hannah Lance – When the baby Jesus began to cry, May sang a lullaby. The nightingale sang also, but Mary’s song was the one attended to.

5. Balulalow – Solo performed by Joan Sheridan Dimaya – Showing great humility, Mary sings a good and proper lullaby to the infant Jesus.

6. As dew in Aprille – through many metaphors, we are reminded of a traditional tale that Mary’s labor was painless, which was only fitting for such a blessed lady.

7. This little Babe – A list of metaphors in this piece depicts Christ’s battle with Satan.

Infant images are juxtaposed with the imagery of weapons and battles.

8. Interlude – This harp solo is among the classic literature for this instrument. The piece contains musical motifs that reference the procession and recession.

9. In Freezing Winter Night – Solos performed by Sabrina Rodriguez and Gabrielle Young - Chamber Choir - Mila Varela, Gabrielle Young, Keira Ang, Mia Barth, Sofia Conti, Joan Dimaya, Hannah Lance, Sabrina Rodriguez, Sofia Rodriguez, Miranda Shepard.

This gorgeous depiction of the manger scene includes wonderful metaphors; “The stable is a Prince’s court, this crib his chair of state. The beasts are parcel of his pomp, the wooden dish his plate.”

10. Spring Carol – Quartet performed by Mia Barth, Sabrina Rodriguez, Emalie Genic and Sofia Conti - A duet to thank God for Spring. (The birth of Christ) 11. Deo Gracias – Adam’s fall is paradoxically a blessing because it makes possible the Savior’s coming. “Blessed be the time the apple taken was.” Humanity was bound by sin for four thousand winters until the birth of Christ.

12. Recession – This movement is identical to the Procession and rounds out the form of the entire compositio

Glee Club Program The Glee Club’s opening group of songs includes texts in Latin, Italian and French.

Jubilate Deo

(Psalm 65)

Michael Praetorius - arr. by Doreen Rao

Ave Maria

Franz Schubert - Soloist - Sabrina Rodriguez

Gesu Bambino

Pietro Yon - Soloist -Mia Barth

Minuit Chrétien Adolphe Adam - Soloist - Miranda Shepherd O Holy Night - (Cantique de Noël) Adolphe Adam

Lullabies The Snow Carol

German Carol arranged by Audrey Snyder

A La Nanita Nana

Spanish Carol arranged by Norman Luboff

Modern Christmas Classics Mary Did You Know?

Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene Arranged by Mac Huff

Once Upon a December (from “Anastasia”)

Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty Arranged by Carl Strommen

Dedication Speech to the Class of 2024 Glee Club Members Sofia Conti - Class of 2025

White Christmas (Senior Song)

Irving Berlin

Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) Ellie Greenwich, Jeff Barry and Phil Spector Solo by Gabrielle Beredo - Class of 2024

Finale’ Carol of the Bells

M. Leontovich; arr. by Peter J. Wilhousky

Snow! (A Winter Celebration) Arranged by Teena Chin Including Let it Snow!, A Marshmallow World, Winter Wonderland, Jingle Bells and Sleigh Ride Happy Xmas (War is Over)

John Lennon and Yoko Ono; arr by Mark Brymer

Three Traditional Carols (audience sing-along) Joy to the World Joy to the World! The Lord is come; let earth receive her king.

Let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing, And heaven and nature sing, and heaven and heaven and nature sing.

He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove; The glories of his righteousness and wonders of his love, And wonders of his love, and wonders, wonders of his love.

O Come All Ye Faithful O come all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant; O come ye, o come ye to Bethlehem; Come and behold him, born the King of angels; O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord Sing choirs of angels, sing in exultation; Sing all ye citizens of heaven above.

Glory to God, in the highest; O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Silent Night Silent Night, Holy Night, all is calm, all is bright; Round yon Virgin Mother and Child; Holy infant so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent Night, Holy Night, Song of God loves pure light; Radiant beams from thy holy face, with the dawn of redeeming grace; Jesus, Lord at thy birth, Jesus Lord at thy birth.

Acknowledgements Sabrina Rodriquez, Mia Barth, Emalie Genic and Hannah Lance

The Saint Dominic Academy Alma Mater Lift your voices, lift your spirits.

Sing with zest and love and glee!

Boast of courage, truth and honor, taught at this Academy.

Raise her Banner; wear her Emblem, pledge to God and country too.

Keep her spirit, keep her counsel, She will always follow through!

Saint Dominic Academy, we pledge our hearts in loyalty, Our Alma Mater here’s to thee, we love our school devotedly.

May all our efforts during life, in all our triumphs and in strife, By the patron of our school blessed be, Saint Dominic Academy!

Saint Dominic Academy Administration Elizabeth Christou Woodall Dr. Maureen Fonseca Kamila Pawka Alyssa Ruiz Sharon Buge Mary Murphy Maureen Cravath

Head of School Associate Head of School Dean of Student Leadership & Activities Dean of School Culture Director of Finance Director of Advancement & Enrollment Manager Head of Admission

Saint Dominic Academy Glee Club Board of Directors Joseph P. Napoli Stephanie Vargas Herrera ‘10 Sabrina Rodriquez Mia Barth Emalie Genic Hannah Lance

Director Assistant Director and Business Manager President Vice President Secretary Stage Manager

The Saint Dominic Academy Glee Club Membership First Sopranos Gabrielle Beredo *+ Olivia Conti * Alice Correro Cherubim Cruz-Perez Vanessa Fazio * Maeve George * Jasmine Ibrahim * Kayla Lac Hannah Lance * Victoria Leahy Caitlin Nilla Dia Parekh Sabrina Rodriguez * Sofia Rodriguez* Ashley Sanchez Miranda Shepard* Gabriella Skop Anya Vasudevan*

Altos Keira Ang*+ Audrey Bagwan Maeve Barry * Keira Barth Maryann Burt* Lydia Carmago Ava Chirichella Evangeline Cruz-Perez * Ashley Fantamillas Emalie Genic * Jillian Lapinski Connie Liu Keona Potenza* Marina Samwaeil Eleana Sevilla Mila Varela * Gabrielle Young*

Second Sopranos Sarah Abraham Mia Barth * Sofia Conti *+ Candace Cueto Eliza Curtis * Joan Dimaya * Helena Gevedon Alexis Manocchio * Carolina Quito Camila Rosario * Sofia Santomauro * Emily Sullivan * Lily Torres Scarlett Vaca * Nina-Marie Wheeler * * - Dominoes Member + - Section Leader