2023Holiday-Program-Virtual

presents our Annual Holiday Concert

The Sleigh Knows the Way

Saturday, December 9, 2023 @3:00pm The United Baptist Church

&

Sunday, December 17, 2023 @3:00pm Cherrydale United Methodist Church Sopranessence is funded in part by Professional Dermatology Care, PC

Maithily A. Nandedkar, MD Board Certified Medical & Surgical Dermatologist

Kristen Ritch, PA-C Jessica Beliveau, PA-C 1801 Robert Fulton Dr, Suite 520 Reston, VA 20191 703-860-1818 www.professionaldermatologycare.com

Welcome & Happy Holidays!

Thank you for joining us this afternoon to celebrate the winter holidays! This program will lead us to a multitude of places - from good old time sleigh rides through the snow to Bethlehem to the comforts of home - rest assured that no matter our destination, The Sleigh Knows the Way! You might recognize a few tunes from our virtual seasons - they were so catchy, we had to bring them to the live stage!

If this is your first Sopran Sopranessence experience, you’re in for a treat! Our performances are made to break the stereotype of classical music being stuffy and distant. One of the fun ways we do this is by unconventionally taking melodies, typically sung by one voice, and trading off musical lines like runners in a relay race. Or maybe we’ll “mash” together a couple of songs and see what new story evolves. It’s all about having fun with music and bringing you, our audience, along for the ride!

We sincerely hope you enjoy today’s performance. Please join us in February for a reprise of Fairy Tales & Fables and in May for our Annual Spring Benefit, supporting the Arc of Northern Virginia see details on the back cover of this program.

If you haven’t signed up for updates yet, we’d love to welcome you to our growing group of supporters. Scan the QR code below to join our mailing list so we can stay in touch. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube (search for Sopranessence). We’d love to see any pictures you take from today’s show. Just tag Sopranessence when you post so we can give you a shoutout. We love hearing from our friends and supporters on social media!

Wishing you a warm and cozy Holiday Season!

Scan or click the code to join our email list!

The Sleigh Knows the Way Over the River and Fleecy Snow (Over the River and Through the Wood • The Sleighing Song)

Chanukah Hymn (Chanukah • Ma’oz Tzur)

Anonymous/Clare W. Beams arr. Nicole Lamm Solomon Golub/ 13th c. Traditional Hebrew Melody arr. Bharati Soman

Bethlehem Star Lewis H. Redner/Amanda Kennedy/ (O Little Town of Bethlehem • John Francis Wade; Eng. transl. by Frederick Oakeley Star of the East • O Come All Ye Faithful) arr. Nicole Lamm Benedictus

Missa brevis Sancti Joannis de Deo (Kleine Orgelmesse)

Emily Davis Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

It’s Not a Regular Christmas, Unless You’re with the Folks Back Home All Those Christmas Clichés

Joseph Haydn

Bobby Heath

Stephen Flaherty & Lynn Ahrens

Jenna Stein

Laudamus Te

Gloria in D Major, RV 589

Antonio Vivaldi

We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you.

I’ll Be Home for Christmas Nicole Lamm

Christmas Is Weihnachten

Kimm Gannon & Walter Kent arr. Luke Duane Percy Faith Engelbert Humperdinck

Zoe McCray The miracle of Christmas drifts through the lands. Every heart is happy to sacrifice. The heavens shine with a thousand stars; the sacred song sounds softly in the distance. Its light shines brightly; its messengers bring blessings from house to house. May it bring peace and joy to every heart!

The Sleigh Knows the Way (continued)

On a Good Old Time Sleigh Ride

White Christmas

Albert Gumble; arr. Bharati Soman, based on the Peerless Quartet

Holiday Inn

Irving Berlin Maggie Ramsey arr. Richard Walters

Chantez Noël

Charles Gounod

arr. Nicole Lamm Lift up your songs of joy to God. O hearts ablaze with holy love, sing Noël! The heavens tremble with ecstacy this day. Let the dark night disappear! O Virgin mother, cradle again the divine child and see the clarity of the heavens in his eyes. From the celestial dawn, a halo seems to appear over the child. O God, my voice calls you. I hear the choir fill the skies with a victorious song. Let my soul open its wings, let her fly away and feel your radiant, eternal flame!

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas

Hugh Martin & Ralph Blane

Suzy’s Marshmallow World (Suzy Snowflake • A Marshmallow World)

Peter de Rose/Sid Tepper & Roy Bennet arr. Bharati Soman

Kathleen Allen

I Wonder as I Wander Appalachian Carol Hannah Leeper arr. John Jacob Niles (There’s No Place Like) Home for the Holidays

Robert Allen

The Little Road to Bethlehem

Michael Head

Bharati Soman

Behold that Star

Thomas W. Talley arr. Bharati Soman

Eight Days of Lights

Judith Clurman with David Chase

Sleigh Ride

Leroy Anderson

Our Donors Aria Avenue ($5-$99) Asim Ahmed Cynthia Caples Jane DiSalvo

Susan Kapsis Suneeti Kulkarni Mae Pattison

Alyce Phinney Carolyn Ramsey Sarah & Dennis Shannon

Cantabile Court ($100-$249) Solveig Eggerz Elaine & Michael Gallo

Carolyn Harris Jessica Kassa

Diva Circle ($500+) Anonymous (2x)

Our Sponors Professional Dermatology Care, PC ArtsFairfax

Our Board of Directors Pamela Moyer, Chair Adrienne Neal Radha Rangarajan Dennis Shannon Sarah Shannon

Meet The Divas

Bharati Soman Soprano Director of Operations

Nicole Lamm Soprano Artistic Director

Maggie Ramsey Mezzo-Soprano Dir. of Communications & Outreach

Emily Davis Soprano

Hannah Leeper Soprano

Jenna Stein Soprano

Kathleen Allen Soprano

Zoe McCray Soprano

Ruth Locker Pianist Unsung Hero

Save the Dates

F airy Tales & Fables

Sunday, February 18, 2024 @4:00pm St. Alban’s Episcopal Church

Muldoon Concert Series 6800 Columbia Pike • Annandale, VA 22003

Spring Benefit Concert

in support of The Arc of Northern Virginia

Saturday, May 18, 2024 @3:00pm The United Baptist Church • 7100 Columbia Pike • Annandale, VA 22003 The Arc of Northern Virginia is a 61-year old nonprofit organization that represents and serves over 39,000 people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) — such as autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and rare chromosomal disorders—of all ages and their families. The Arc of Northern Virginia provides guidance and support for families, connecting them to services, supports, and solutions as they navigate the challenges and concerns throughout each stage of life for their loved ones with IDD.

To become a sponsor, advertiser or donor for this benefit, visit

www.sopranessence.org