ORANGE COUNTY SCHOOL OF THE ARTS
CLASSICAL VOICE CONSERVATORY
PROUDLY PRESENTS
NOVEMBER 21, 2025 7 PM
KATHY & GARY CONRAD CHORAL ROOM | DMS 101
CLASSICAL VOICE CONSERVATORY PRESENTS
Featuring the 9th grade Art Song Collaboration Singers and Pianists with Ms. Kelly Neff, pianist
NOVEMBER 21, 2025 | 7:00 PM Kathy & Gary Conrad Choral Room DMS 101
2025-2026 Murdy Foundation Concert Series
“Come Again, Sweet Love”
Michael Jun Yang
John Dowland (1563-1626), Arr. Lawrence Henry Carissa Hahn
Text Anonymous
This song is about a man missing the love of his life and how he wants her back. He wants her to know what he felt like during the times she left and the times when she was here. A lyrical melody is found in the first verse when it says, “To see, to hear, to kiss, to die”. That part has a rising melody and it pauses every time between to show the emotion and the exciting moment to what it will lead to. The rhythm on the words starting on “To see” is interesting and a fun jump in the song. The song is all connected and legato until that section, and it becomes a whole different color and makes the song more exciting. - Michael Jun Yang
“Nymphs and Shepherds”
Chelsea Yang
Henry Purcell (1659-1695) Maxwell Tran
Thomas Shadwell (1688-1692)
Henry Purcell died at 36, potentially by chocolate poisoning. The song, “Nymphs and Shepherds,” is about celebrating a holiday for Flora, the Roman goddess of flowers, by having nymphs and shepherds leave their duties to enjoy music, dancing, and games in a pastoral setting. The rhythm has a gentle, dance-like feel that keeps the music lively and elegant. One thing I like about the song is how the melody and harmony blend together to create the peaceful mood of a pasture. - Chelsea Yang
Thomas Shadwell was appointed as the Poet Laureate during his lifetime. The song is about the celebration of Flora’s holiday in a pastoral setting with dancing and music. There is an example of text painting with a melisma on the word, “ease,” creating a sense of flowing easiness. One thing I like about this song is the very consonant sound overall of the piece and how playful and melodic it is throughout. - Maxwell Tran
“If
Music be the Food of Love”
Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Henry Heveningham (1651-1700)
Jamie (Jintian) Ma
“The Mermaid’s Song” Eve Stone
Franz Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) Sterling Tran Anne Hunter (1742-1821)
In this song, I am a mermaid inviting you to journey through the waters to find the treasure. One interesting feature in the rhythm is the sixteenth notes throughout the whole song. As a kid, I always loved whimsical things, such as unicorns, fairies, and mermaids. This song is very reminiscent of that time of my childhood. - Eve Stone
“Love Has Eyes”
Sir Henry Bishop (1786-1855)
Charles Dibdin (1768-1833)
Teresa Zhu
The English composer, Sir Henry Bishop, is the first ever musician to be knighted, being known for writing operas, as well as the famous piece “Home, Sweet Home.” The English poet Charles Dibdin was also an actor, author, and composer, specializing in writing for the voice. The song, “Love Has Eyes,” is about how true love is very perceptive, acknowledging the other side, both their good and bad, and staying with them despite that knowledge. When the lyrics are “Love’s blind they say,” the melody line is a motive that repeats itself many times throughout the song to show how firmly they believe that love has eyes. The tonality of my song is diatonic, which the composer used to create a lighthearted happy tone, setting the mood for this piece from the very beginning. From the beginning of my piece, my tempo marking is “Allegretto moderato,” translating to “moderately fast,” which the composer used to give the song an upbeat mood from the start. One thing I personally like about this song is the light and buoyant mood. It makes the song very fun and enjoyable to both sing and listen to.
“Passing By” Romeo Dodi
Edward Purcell (1853-1932)
Robert Herrick (1591-1674)
This song is about a man who saw a perfect lady passing by, and he fell in love with her at first sight. The melody often highlights romantic motives, specifically on “yet I’ll love her till I die,” signifying the emotional connection the composer has toward the lady. The harmony uses consonance, particularly on the line, “see her passing by.” These words are the cornerstone of the piece as they show how significant this girl is to the poet. The consonance adds strength and completeness to this line. An interesting aspect of the rhythm is the ritardando on the words “love her.” This makes these words
stand out in the straightforward rhythm, emphasizing how deeply the poet loves this woman. I like the story-telling of this piece. Each verse tells a different part of how amazing this lady is, while still keeping a simple but rich melody.
“Midsummer Lullaby”
Edward MacDowell (1860-1908)
Text Anonymous
Jayden Thi
Edward MacDowell was an American composer and pianist, and one of the first seven members of the American Academy of Arts and Letters in 1904. This song is about a peaceful scene on a sunny day at a lake surrounded by nature. The melody uses range to paint the text when the word “lightly,” a very airy and light word, is on the highest note in the song, and the word “feet” is set within the lowest range, since it is associated with looking down or low. The constant repeating chords in the 6/8 compound meter create a very dreamy, enchanting feeling. For example in the first verse: “Silver clouds are lightly sailing”, the rhythm of the chords reflects the clouds sailing in the sky. I like how peacefully mesmerizing the scene described in the song is.
“The Sea”
Keanu Ho
Edward MacDowell (1860-1908) Sterling Tran William Dean Howells (1837-1920)
An interesting fact about William Dean Howells is that his deep impact as a literary editor and mentor earned him the nickname “The Dean of American Letters.” This song describes a vivid picture, depicting the oceans swaying moods, moving from peaceful to a thundering intensity, undertoned by deep, rich, melodies. The tessitura of the melody, where the voice mostly sits, lives within a perfect fifth, reflecting the rise and fall of ocean waves and perfectly matching the theme of the song. Within the rhythm, listen for the gentle sway that the compound meter creates, mimicking the natural rocking rhythm that a ship and the waves face at sea. I like this song particularly for how the melody shifts between calm and tension, reflecting the changing mood of the sea, growing from a peaceful stillness to a surging intensity. - Keanu Ho
MacDowell was one of the great American composers in the Romantic period. He is best known for his piano works, especially his 2nd Piano Concerto in d minor. Towards the end of MacDowell’s life, he unfortunately suffered from psychiatric disorders, which eventually led to his death at the age of 47. This song describes someone whose lover has died in a shipwreck, waiting at the shore for him to return, even though he never will. Chromaticism is present throughout the piece (especially flat thirds instead
of the otherwise expected Major third) to highlight the emotional tension and irony of the subject’s actions. I really like the cool harmonies and chromaticism that are present throughout this piece, especially the tension between the major and minor tonalities. The ending is also interesting in the sense that it would otherwise be interpreted as a peaceful ending if the context of the piece is not known; rather, it is a very ironic and tragic conclusion, despite ending in D Major. -Sterling Tran
“All through the Night”
Traditional Welsh, Arr. Bettye Ware (1933 - 2016)
Text Traditional
Alice Hu
This song is a Welsh folk song that was translated into English for this particular arrangement. In this song, the singer has travelled far from her lover whom she has loved since their youth, and although they may be apart in distance, the love they share shall stay close and remain. The melody is in a relatively simple middle tessitura until the song jumps up on the words, “Love’s young dream alas if over. Yet my strains of love shall hover,” signifying that, even though the love they shared in their youth is gone, there is still an active effort made by the singer to continue that relationship. Within the harmony on the word “praise,” there is chromaticism, which signifies that no matter what the singer sings for others, the true music is in their heart being sung to their lover. On the word “slumber,” there is the tempo marking poco rit. This represents the singer slowing down to not disturb the slumbering hills and vales. I like this song because it is very relaxing and cleverly portrays the story it is trying to tell, using both lyrics and melody.
“Spring Sorrow”
Joel Lee
John Ireland (1879-1962) Carissa Hahn
Rupert Brooke (1887-1915)
John Ireland was famous for his piano concertos during his time, and he was also known for his unique style of songwriting. I like this song because it is very calm and gorgeous. - Joel Lee
“O Mistress Mine”
Vincent Yang
Roger Quilter (1877 -1953) Maxwell Tran
William Shakespeare (1564 -1616)
The British Composer, Roger Quilter, had many of his pieces performed by the best vocalists and pianists in all of Britain, and from his success, he often used the proceeds to support his fellow colleagues and musicians in their musical endeavors. This song is a message to indulge in the present moment, and take in all there is, for love is most precious here, and the future will not contain your desires. One example of text painting can be seen on the words “high and low.” On the word “high,” the notes sit in a higher range than on the word “low.” The composer put “Poco meno mosso” at the final“O Mistress Mine, where are you roaming” to drive home how strongly he feels. I have a deep connection with this song because many of the aspects of life and love are still present, despite the vast time difference in humanity. - Vincent Yang
“Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes” Jackie (Guoming) Li
Arr. Roger Quilter (1877 -1953) Carissa Hahn
Ben Jonson (1572 –1637)
Ben Jonson was one of Shakespeare’s greatest rivals and is well-known for his poem, “To Celia,” which is what this song is from. Roger Quilter was a British Composer who did not write large symphonies and operas but wrote smaller, intimate, lyrical art songs. This song is about a spiritual love that is fulfilled through small gestures, such as a glance or a breath, rather than through gifts or physical pleasure. The song’s melody paints the words with a sense of sadness and longing, especially on the word ‘divine,’ where the melody descends by a whole step in the phrase ‘Doth ask a drink divine.’ The song is written in compound meter, which gives it a soothing quality, reminiscent of music you might hear in a ball. I really like the semi-complex feeling of this song which conveys a lot of emotions, despite having the same melody for most of the song. - Jackie Li
This song is about a person who longs for the attention of his lover. I really like the melodic line and the flow of this work. - Carissa Hahn
“Weep You No More” Samantha Shelly
Roger Quilter (1877 -1953) Angela Song
Text Anonymous
Roger Quilter (1877–1953) was a British composer best known for his beautiful art songs. He was part of a group of composers called the “Frankfurt Group,” who studied together in Germany. Quilter is especially famous for his sensitive settings of English poetry, including works by Shakespeare and Elizabethan poets. This song is about gently comforting someone who is sad, encouraging them to stop crying and find peace and rest instead. An interesting feature in the melody is the use of melismas on the word “sleeping” to enhance the song’s gentle, consoling character. An interesting feature in the harmony is underneath “heavenly,” the harmony uses consonance to evoke a feeling of peace and calm, like how many feel when they think about their loved one in heaven comforting them. The rhythm of “Weep You No More” has a slow tempo in simple meter, creating a calm, steady flow that highlights the gentle emotion of the song. One thing I like about this song is its gentle and soothing melody, which beautifully matches the comforting message of the lyrics and makes the song feel calm and emotional. - Samantha Shelly
“The Salley Gardens” Van Mai Arr. Benjamin Britten (1913-1973)
W.B. Yeats (1865-1939)
“Linger in Blissful Repose” Oliver Stewart
Stephen Foster (1826-1864) Sterling Tran
Stephen Foster is known as “the father of American music” because of his talent for writing songs. He has more than 200 songs written. This song is a lullaby being sung to a loved one. The rhythm involves a lot of repeating triplets, giving a feeling of swift movement. One thing I like about this song is the calm, soft melody with the rhythm being different from many other songs. -Oliver Stewart
“Simple Gifts” Emma (Hanyin) Zhang
Arr. Aaron Copland (1900-1990)
Joseph Brackett (1797-1882)
Joseph Brackett was an elder of The United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, also known as the Shakers. The song “Simple Gifts” is about finding contentment, freedom, and happiness through simplicity and living in harmony with life. The word “right” sits on the highest note in the range of the melody and even includes a fermata to elongate the note, highlighting just how happy the person is about their current situation and how right it feels. The harmony uses consonance throughout the whole song to feel very stable and complete and to reflect the importance of life being simple and free, especially in the first phrase, “Tis the gift to be simple, ‘tis the gift to be free.” The composer uses simple meter in the rhythm to match the plain, easygoing message of the lyrics. It also reflects the simplicity and joy described in the lyrics. I like how “Simple Gifts” is about appreciating the simple yet meaningful things in life.
“At the River”
Devin Posos
Aaron Copland (1900-1990) Angela Song Robert Lowry (1826 - 1899)
Aaron Copland is famous for arranging many American spirituals and folk songs. The literal meaning of this song is just describing a river; however, the deeper meaning is the journey and destination of spiritual enlightenment and peace. One interesting feature of the melody is that the very steady vocal range emphasizes the themes of noble peace, calmness, happiness, and enlightenment/knowledge. The composer uses text painting in the harmony on the word “God” with a grand five note chord, which emphasizes the positivity of God in this Christian context. The composer utilizes the power of rhythm to again emphasize the importance of God in this theme of the road to spiritual enlightenment when note value of the word “God” is held out for much longer than any previous word. One thing I like about the song is how noble the lyrics are. The words just make me feel at peace after I’ve sung it. - Devin Posos
Copland was known as the “Dean of American Composers” because he wrote pieces with a uniquely American style that fused aspects of jazz and folk music. The song is about a river with an extremely important religious connotation--inspired by the book of Revelation---and the lyrics encourage believers to gather there in order to achieve peace. Throughout the song, there are some places where small melismas are used, like words including “cease.” The change (rise) in pitch during the word “cease” shows the thrill that the person feels when they’re anticipating the stop of their pilgrimage, so that they will be able to see the beautiful river. Syncopation is utilized in the pianist’s part to help contribute to the building excitement for the lyrics, “Soon we’ll reach the shining river; Soon our pilgrimage will cease.” The composer did this not only to convey the importance of finally arriving at their final destination, but also to show the build up of emotions akin to exhilaration or excitement when the character mentions that moment.
I like how, although the voice stays mostly in a low tessitura, which helps support the dignified emotion of the song, the range eventually widens as the pitch increases to the highest point of the entire song on the words, “saints” and “gather,” conveying the excitement of finally reaching the river and everyone gathering to appreciate its connection to God. - Angela Song
“The Daisies”
Samuel Barber (1910 - 1981)
James Stephen (1880 -1950)
Brandon Chang
This song is about the narrator being in a daisy field with their dear. One thing I like about the song is that the feelings are expressed really well.
“It’s All I Have to Bring” Delila George Ernst Bacon (1898-1990)
Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)
Emily Dickinson is famous for living most of her life at home and wearing white dresses. She liked to stay in her room and write poetry, sending some of her poems in letters to her friends. Even though she didn’t travel or meet many people, she wrote poems that touched the hearts of millions around the world. This song is about someone who doesn’t have much to give, but still offers their love, heart, and feelings with all their love and care, which shows that even the smallest gift can be very special when it comes from love. I like this song because it is simple but really emotional. It feels peaceful and kind, and it makes me think about giving love to someone even if you do not have much else to give. When I sing it, I feel calm and connected to the words. It is a really pretty and meaningful song.
“My House”
Leonard Bernstein (1918- 1990)
Claire Jeong
Leonard Bernstein composed across many genres, including symphonies, ballets, operas, film scores, choral music, and musicals. He composed the songs of many famous musicals, including “On the Town,” “West Side Story,” and more. This song is about Wendy’s dream house (from Peter Pan), how she wants it to be built, and what’s
most important to her about it. An interesting feature of the melody is the range. The song starts with middle C and ends in high F. I think that the composer does this to show how Wendy gets more excited and focuses on more important things towards the end, which is love. The composer uses a lot of harmonic consonance throughout the whole piece to show Wendy’s pure heart and desire for only good thoughts and feelings. Within the rhythm, the composer uses “poco piu mosso,” which means “with a little more motion” or “a little faster” to give more excitement as Wendy starts to sing about her house. I love the meaning behind this song, and how the most important thing for Wendy about her house was not material, but it was love.
THANK YOU
To the Classical Voice Faculty and Parent Volunteers
Technical support by the Production & Design Conservatory
Director of Classical Voice: Dr. Ryan Reithmeier
Box Office Coordinators: Alyssa Felix Garcia, Nichole Smith
