THE WHITWORTH CHOIR
Xiaosha Lin, Director
PRE-NORTHWESTERN ACDA CONFERENCE CONCERT
Grace Amazing
TUESDAY, MARCH 3, 2026, 7:30 P.M.
211 E. Desmet Ave., Spokane, Wash.
MYRTLE WOLDSON PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
THE WHITWORTH CHOIR
Xiaosha Lin, director
Amazing Grace
Tuesday, March 3, 2026, 7:30 p.m.
Pre-Northwestern ACDA Conference Concert
Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center, Gonzaga University
PROGRAM
Amazing Grace Hyowon Woo (b. 1974)
Grace Kaiserman, soprano
Virga Jesse Anton Bruckner (1824-96)
Ku‘u Pua I Paoakalani
Queen Lili‘uokalani (1838-1917) arr. R. Cazimero (Living)
Special thanks to Kamehameha Schools in Honolulu for providing the manuscript of this piece.
Abendlich Schon Rauscht der Wald Fanny Hensel (1805-47)
Blessed Assurance Traditional Hymn arr. Byron J. Smith (b. 1960)
TEXT AND TRANSLATIONS
Amazing Grace Text: John Newton (1725-1807)
[The sounds of nature: birds, flowing water and soft wind.]
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now I’m found; Was blind, but now I see.
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, And grace my fears relieved. How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed.
Thro’ many dangers, toils, and snares We have already come; ’Tis grace brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead us home.
Amazing grace, amazing grace. Amazing.
Virga Jesse
Virga Jesse floruit:
Virgo Deum et hominem genuit: pacem Deus reddidit, in se reconcilians ima summis. Alleluja.
The branch from Jesse blooms: a Virgin brings forth God and man: God restores peace, reconciling in himself the lowest with the highest. Praise the Lord.
Ku‘u Pua I Paoakalani
E ka gentle breeze e pā mai nei
Ho‘ohāli‘ali‘a mai ana ia‘u
E ku‘u sweet, never fading flower
I pua i ka uka o Paoakalani.
‘Ike mau i ka nani o nā pua
O ka uka o Uluhaimalama
‘A‘ole na‘e ho‘i e like Me ku‘u pua i ka la‘i o Paoakalani.
Text: Queen Lili‘uokalani (1838-1917)
O gentle breeze, blowing hither
Bringing sweet memories to me
O my sweet, never fading flower
Blossoming in the upland of Paoakalani.
Often is seen the beauty of the flowers
In the upland of Uluhaimalama
But there is none there to compare With the blossom in the calm of Paoakalani.
Abendlich Schon Rauscht der Wald Text: Joseph von Eichendorff (1788-1857)
Abendlich schon rauscht der Wald
Aus den tiefen Gründen,
Droben wird der Herr nun bald
An die Sterne zünden.
Wie so stille in den Schlünden,
Abendlich nur rauscht der Wald.
Aus den tiefen Gründen.
Alles geht zu seiner Ruh,
Wie die Welt verbrause,
Schauernd hört der Wandrer zu,
Sehnt sich tief nach Hause.
Hier in Waldes grüner Klause,
Herz geh endlich auch zur Ruh.
Evening breeze rustles yet in the wood
From its deep grounds,
Above the Lord will now soon
Light the stars.
How silent the chasms!
Just evening breezes in the wood, From its deep grounds.
Everything goes to rest, As the world fades away.
Shuddering, the Wanderer listens, Yearning deeply for home.
Here in the green hermitage of the forest, Heart, at last, you too go to rest.
Blessed Assurance; Jesus is mine.
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine. Heir of salvation. Purchase of God.
Born in His everlasting spirit and His ever-flowing blood. Perfect submission. All is at rest.
I in my savior am happy and blessed. Watching and waiting, Looking above; Filled with His goodness, lost in His love.
This is my story; this is my song:
I’m praising my Prince of peace almighty God. (Praise God from whom all blessings flow.)
Praise all the day long.
This is my story; this is my song.
I’m praising my ever-loving Savior, We will always sing His praises all day long. (Lord and Savior Jesus Christ all day long.)
This is my story; this is my song.
I’m praising my Savior all the day long.
Blessed assurance, all the day long.
ABOUT THE CONDUCTOR
Xiaosha Lin serves as the director of choral activities at Whitworth University. Known as a dynamic conductor with an efficient and engaging rehearsal approach, her choirs are often praised as “sang with strength, beauty, creativity and such musicality.”
Under her direction, the Whitworth Choir was named the winner of the 2024 American Prize in Choral Performance and was recently selected as one of the invited performing choirs for the 2026 NWACDA conference.
Lin’s conducting career includes being selected as a conducting fellow in several prestigious programs in the United States, where she worked with Simon Carrington, Edith Copley, David Hayes and Lucinda Carver; she was named a finalist for multiple conducting competitions. As a singer, she had performed regularly at the Kimmel Center, Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center under the batons of Yannick Nézet Séguin, Alan Gilbert, Simon Rattle and Jane Glover. Lin is a sought-after conductor, adjudicator and choral clinician in both the U.S. and China, where she was invited to workshops and clinics for all levels of choirs. As a scholar, her research presentation topics focus on rehearsal techniques, programming strategies, Asian choral music and the discovery of unknown choral music by underrepresented composers.
Lin’s international background makes her an open-minded, sensitive and wellrounded educator. She is passionate about building human connection and community through the art of music and is committed to motivating students to achieve the highest standards and best versions of themselves while providing an open and encouraging learning environment. Under her tutelage, her student was selected as a conducting fellow for the NWACDA Undergraduate Conducting Masterclass (2024).
Lin received graduate degrees in choral conducting at Michigan State University, Westminster Choir College and Hong Kong Baptist University.
ABOUT THE WHITWORTH CHOIR
The award-winning Whitworth Choir, regarded as one of the premier university choirs in the Pacific Northwest, continues to build upon a 90-year heritage of fine choral singing. The members of the choir represent a variety of academic majors, commit themselves to daily rehearsals, and celebrate the joy of singing and community through the study and performance of a wide variety of music. The Whitworth Choir has performed by invitation at Northwest Division conventions of the American Choral Directors Association and the National Association for Music Educators; repertoire selection ranges from chamber music to orchestral-choral works. The choir was recently named the winner of The American Prize in Choral Performance (2024).
Find us online: instagram.com/whitworthchoirs youtube.com/@WhitworthChoir
THE WHITWORTH CHOIR
Xiaosha Lin, director
SOPRANO
Katelyn Booth ’27
Ella Davis ’26
Natalie Ellis ’27
Audrey Goins ’26
Grace Kaiserman ’29
Lizzie Krieg ’28
Anzhela Tymofiienko ’26
Eleanor Van Mieghem ’29
ALTO
Erika Armstrong ’26
Zoey Byrd ’27
Madeline Davis ’27
Health Science Mukilteo
Environmental Science Spokane
Journalism & Media Studies Missoula, Mont.
Health Science Richland
Music Spokane Valley
Piano Pedagogy Sumas
Music Composition Spokane Valley
Health Science Edmonds
Sociology
Spokane
Music Education Columbia Falls, Mont.
Elementary Education Spokane
Ava Lynn Goins ’28 Psychology Richland
Moriah Irish ’28
Sophie Lamer ’29
Music Happy Valley, Ore.
Criminology & Criminal Justice Bothell
Mekenna Simpson ’27 Psychology Milton-Freewater, Ore.
Olivia Smith ’26 Communication Lake Tapps
TENOR
Jim Brandon ’28
Music Composition Athol, Idaho
James Fischer ’28 Clarinet Performance, Music Education Spokane
Gabriel Gaines ’29
Liam Getzin ’27
Zeke O’Donnell ’27
BASS
Dakota Bair ’28
Theology, Philosophy Spokane
Music Education Port Angeles
Music Education Ephrata
Music Ministry Lake Stevens
Chris Byrd ’26 Criminology & Criminal Justice Tacoma
Trace Ferguson ’29 Biology Spokane
Kyle Gilbert ’27
William Strauch ’28
Music Composition Spokane
Music Spokane
Zaden Yangas ’29 Computer Science Ellensburg
LEADERSHIP TEAM
President: Mekenna Simpson ’27
Social Coordinators: Natalie Ellis ’27, Olivia Smith ’28
Logistics: Jim Brandon ’28, Zoey Byrd ’27 Spirit & Life: Erika Armstrong ’27, Moriah Irish ’28
Section Leaders: Audrey Goins ’26, Mekenna Simpson ’27, Zeke O’Donnell ’27, Kyle Gilbert ’27
Social Media Handler: James Fischer ’28
MUSIC AT WHITWORTH
The Whitworth University Music Department, accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, provides superb training in music as well as a thorough introduction to this essential element of the liberal arts. Whitworth music majors have gone on to prestigious graduate schools, fulfilling performance careers and successful teaching positions. Also, many non-music majors participate in the university’s renowned touring ensembles and enroll in private lessons through the music department. Whitworth University offers bachelor of arts degrees in composition, music production & songwriting, instrumental performance, jazz performance, string pedagogy, voice performance, and music education. Music scholarships are available to both music majors and non-majors.
For more information about the music program or scholarship auditions, please contact us:
Music Department
Whitworth University Spokane, WA 99251
509.777.3280 | whitworth.edu/music
facebook.com/whitworthmusic
instagram.com/whitworthmusic
youtube.com/whitworthuniversitymusicdepartment
Scan to learn about Whitworth’s music program.
WHITWORTH UNIVERSITY
Since 1890, Whitworth has held fast to its founding mission to provide “an education of mind and heart” through rigorous intellectual inquiry guided by dedicated Christian scholars. Recognized as one of the top regional colleges and universities in the West, Whitworth University has an enrollment of about 2,500 students and offers more than 100 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Whitworth University’s 200-acre campus of red-brick buildings and tall pines offers a beautiful, inviting and secure learning environment. More than $135 million in campus improvements have been made in recent years, including an expanded music center, a renovated auditorium stage, an expanded dining hall, a rec center, a science hall, an athletics leadership center and a graduate health sciences building.
In all of its endeavors, Whitworth seeks to advance its founder’s mission of equipping students to “honor God, follow Christ and serve humanity.”
For application information: Office of Admissions
Whitworth University
300 W. Hawthorne Road Spokane, WA 99251
509.777.3212
admissions@whitworth.edu whitworth.edu/admissions
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Kamehameha Schools Performing Arts Department and Kalua Leong
Meg Stohlmann, Director of Choral Activities at Gonzaga University
Myrtle Woldson Performing Arts Center
Whitworth Marketing & Communications Office, Poster and Program Design
Kyle Gilbert ’27, Choral Librarian and Program Assistance
