The Heavens Unfastened

The Heavens
Unfastened
DECEMBER 12+13, 2014
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The Heavens
Unfastened
CO N S P I R A R E YO U T H C H O I RS
Nina Revering, Artistic Director
Maimy Fong, Kantorei Accompanist
Friday, December 12, 2014 7:30pm
St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, Austin, Texas
Austin Haller, Allegro Accompanist
Saturday December 13, 2014 7:30pm
Tom Burritt, Percussion
St. Martin’s Lutheran Church, Austin, Texas
Charlotte Daniel, Flute
Delaine Fedson, Harp
Ying Zhang, Cello
Conspirare Youth Choirs
505 East Huntland Drive, Suite 155
Austin, Texas 78752
512.476.5775
We love you always and unconditionally. We are very
proud of the choices you make and the effort you put in.
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conspirare.org/youth-choirs
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W ELCO M E
Dear Conspirare supporters, friends, & families,
Ten years ago, thirty-seven children performed
Conspirare’s first youth choir concert. At
that time, we were only one ensemble called
Conspirare Children’s Choir. The performance
lasted 35 minutes, and none of the music was
memorized. The singers were younger, and for
many of them, it was their very first performance with a children’s choir.
Ten years later, we are now over 100 singers strong in two ensembles. We have a
sizable library of music, with repertoire that has gradually grown in complexity
since our beginning. Thinking on those inaugural members creates a joyful song in
our hearts as we observe their graduation from colleges throughout the nation and
launch of their adult careers.
Tonight’s program represents some beloved favorites from our past nine seasons as
well as works that are new to us. As we reflect back upon our ten years, we look to
the future with hope and gratitude. To be engaged in the work of sharing music
with these young artists and putting this kind of beauty into our world is a gift to
us at CYC.
I personally thank you and want to share the splendid words of Pablo Neruda’s
poem “Something Started in my Soul,” which seem so fitting for the emotion I
have for this work with our singers.
Enjoy your evening, and your season.
Nina Revering
FOUNDING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
CONSPIRARE YOUTH CHOIRS
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And it was at that age ... Poetry arrived
in search of me. I don’t know, I don’t know where
it came from, from winter or a river.
I don’t know how or when,
no they were not voices, they were not
words, nor silence,
but from a street I was summoned,
from the branches of night,
abruptly from the others,
among violent fires
or returning alone,
there I was without a face
and it touched me.
I did not know what to say, my mouth
had no way
with names,
my eyes were blind,
and something started in my soul,
fever or forgotten wings,
and I made my own way,
deciphering
that fire,
and I wrote the first faint line,
faint, without substance, pure
nonsense,
pure wisdom
of someone who knows nothing,
and suddenly I saw
the heavens
unfastened
and open,
planets,
palpitating plantations,
shadow perforated,
riddled
with arrows, fire and flowers,
the winding night, the universe.
And I, infinitesimal being,
drunk with the great starry
void,
likeness, image of
mystery,
felt myself a pure part
of the abyss,
I wheeled with the stars,
my heart broke loose on the wind.
-Pablo Neruda
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W ELCO M E
PROGR A M
This concert is dedicated to all present and past CYC singers and families,
who have brightened our rehearsal halls and shared their passion for singing.
To our dear listeners,
Ten years ago, my dear friend, Nina Revering,
approached me with the idea of beginning a
children’s choir for Conspirare. While we were
both already working as choir teachers in the
Austin public schools, I wondered how this choir
program might be different. That first season
was a very steep learning curve imbued with
many questions. Some questions were about forming a strong children’s choir program, finding the right venue in which to rehearse and perform, and most importantly, seeking families that might share the same passion for building a new community
of young singers. While often times neither of us could say with full conviction that
we knew the correct answers to these questions, we were always led by the unwavering
belief that what we were doing was building something beautiful.
COMBINED CHOIRS
Sing, Sing a Song........................................................................................ Joe Raposo (1937-1989)
Soloist: Lara Murray-Palma
Away in a Manger................................................................................................... Trad. Normandy
Stand Together............................................................................................................... Jim Papoulis
KANTOREI
Velvet Shoes world premiere.................................................................. Daniel Kallman (b. 1956)
Gloria Tibi.......................................................................................... Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990)
Soloist: Emily Mulva
Mid-Winter......................................................................................................Bob Chilcott (b. 1955)
Winds of Peace.................................................................................. Arr. Nancy Grundahl (b. 1946)
Al Shlosha D’Varim................................................................................. Allan E. Naplan (b. 1972)
Soloist: Jessie Lucas
While it’s certainly difficult to name one moment or one event that clearly defined the
path of the Conspirare Youth Choirs, one thing I do know with unwavering certainty
is that the CYC has drawn its life’s breath from each of the hundreds of singers that
have called themselves members of our choirs. As each singer moves through our
program, they leave a legacy of their spirit and the imprint of their passion. Each
parent that is willing to take the journey with us leaves a trail for other young families
to follow. Perhaps at the end of it all, one can say that the artistry of the Conspirare
Youth Choirs is driven by the strength of human beings all sharing one goal: to seek
something beautiful. So ten years later, after gaining much wisdom and making beautiful music and memories, we find ourselves this evening, this moment, filled with
gratitude and filled with light.
ALLEGRO
Sir Christëmas.............................................................................................Derek Hollman (b. 1931)
I. Proface, welcome!
II. Sir Christëmas
III. The Wassail
Soloists: Ainsley Gamble & Alyssa Wixson
IV. Omnes gentes plaudite
V. Here Comes Holly
Soloist: Claire Dugan
VI. Ivy, Chief of Trees
Soloist: Gabrielle Sanchez (Friday), Seren Villwock (Saturday)
VII. Nay, Ivy, Nay
VIII. How have good day!
Rick Gabrillo
COMBINED CHOIRS
Mad World/O Come Emmanuel ............................Roland Orzabal (b. 1961) & Trad. English
An Irish Blessing........................................................................................... Eleanor Daley (b.1955)
Welcome to Our World..................................................................................Chris Rice (b. 1970)
Soloists: Keely McNab & Clare Edgar (Friday)
Gracie Vogel & Sesha McMinn (Saturday)
MANAGER
CONSPIRARE YOUTH CHOIRS
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T E X TS A N D T R A N S L AT I O N S
Sing, Sing a Song
Sing, sing a song, / sing out loud, / sing out strong,
sing of good things, not bad, / sing of happy, not sad.
Sing, sing a song, / make it simple to last your whole life long,
don’t worry that it’s not good enough for anyone else to hear,
just sing, sing a song.
-J o e R a p o s o
Away in a Manger
Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where he lay,
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.
Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask you to stay
Close by me forever, and love me, I pray
Bless all the dear children in thy tender care,
And fit us for heaven to live with thee there.
-T r a d i t i o n a l
Stand Together
Stand alone, see the rain that’s falling down below, where I’m reaching.
Joining hands, slowly takes us to a place we all can believe in.
Side by side we could be growing hopes and dreams.
If we stand together we will sing forever of the dreams growing in our
hearts.
If we stand together we will see forever,
Side by side, hope will find a way to our hearts.
One by one, we will follow with our hearts a place we can dream of.
Open hearts, slowly lead us to a place we all can believe in.
We will stand side by side, with our dreams we will sing.
We will sing for freedom when we sing,
With our hearts we will stand side by side and believe.
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Velvet Shoes
Let us walk in the white snow / In a soundless space;
With footsteps quiet and slow, / At a tranquil pace,
Under veils of white lace, / Under veils of white lace.
I shall go shod in silk, / And you in wool,
White as white cow’s milk;
More beautiful than the breast of a gull.
We shall walk through the still town / In a windless peace;
We shall step upon white down, / Upon silver fleece,
Upon softer than these, / Upon softer than these.
We shall walk in velvet shoes: / Wherever we go
Silence will fall like dews / On white silence below.
We shall walk in the snow.
-E l i n o r W y l i e , 1885-1928
Gloria Tibi from Mass
Gloria tibi
Gloria patri
Gloria filio
Et spiritui sancto
Laudamus te
Adoramus te
Glorificamus te
Benedicimus te
-from Liturgy
of the
Roman Mass
Glory to You
Glory to the Father
Glory to the Son
And to the Holy Spirit
We praise You
We adore You
We glorify You
We bless You
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Mid-Winter
In the bleak mid-winter frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone,
Snow had fallen, snow on snow,
In the bleak mid-winter, long ago.
Our God, heav’n cannot hold him nor earth sustain:
Heav’n and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign:
In the bleak mid-winter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty Jesus Christ.
Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But only his mother in her maiden bliss
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.
What can I give him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb;
If I were a wise man I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give him - Give my heart.
-C h r i s t i n a R o s s e tt i , 1 8 3 0 - 1 8 9 4
Winds of Peace
Winds of peace blow gently through us,
Gently now with love renew us.
Blow away the world’s deep pain,
Bringing peace on earth to reign.
Ruach, Ruach, Ruach, Ruach,
Lama lo tishkav la nuach
Min haboker tishtolel
Vehine k’var bahaleil
Spirit, spirit, spirit, spirit,
Why don’t you lay down to rest?
From the morning you are agitated
And now the night is coming on.
Al Shlosha D’Varim
Al shlosha d’varim halolam kayam
Al haemet v’al hadin
V’al hashalom, hashalom
The world is sustained by three things:
By truth, by justice,
By peace.
-P i r k e i A v ot
Sir Christëmas
I. Proface, Welcome!
Proface!
May it do you much good!
Welcome, welcome, welcome!
This time is born, a child of grace,
That now for us mankind hath take
Proface!
A king’s son and an emperor
Is come out of a maiden’s tower,
With us to dwell in great honour.
Proface!
This holy time of Christëmas,
All sorrow and sin we should release.
And cast away all heaviness.
Proface!
The good lord of this place entire
Saith welcome all that now appear
Unto such fare as ye find here.
Proface!
Welcome be this new year!
And look ye all, be of good cheer.
Our Lord God be us ever near!
-T r a d . H e b r e w
Proface! Welcome! Proface!
-P e r i o d
10
of
H e n r y VII
or
VIII
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II. Sir Christëmas
Good day, my Lord Sir Christëmas, good day!
Good day, Sir Christëmas our King,
For every man both old and ying (young)
Is glad of your coming!
Good day!
Godes Son so much of might
From heaven to earth down is light,
And born is of a maid so bright.
The King of heaven his birth hath take,
Now joy and mirth we ought to make,
Say each to other for his blessed sake,
I tell you with heart so free,
Right welcome be ye all to me.
Be glad and merry for charity!
The goodman of this place in fere
You to be merry he prayeth you here;
And with good heart he doth to you say
Heaven and earth and also hell
And all that ever in them dwell
Of your coming they be full snell,
Good day!
-15 t h -16 t h
centuries
III. The Wassail
GIve way, give way, ye gates, and win
An easy blessing to your bin
And basket by your enterin,
May both with manchet [loaf of fine wheat bread] stand replete;
Your larders too so hung with meat
That, though a thousand thousand eat,
Yet ere twelve moons shall whirl about silvery spheres,
There’s none may doubt but more’s sent in than was served out
All manner of mirthes we will make
And solace to our heartes take
My seemly lorde for your sake.
Good day!
Let no man come into this hall,
Groom, page, nor yet marshall,
But that some sport he bring withal
For now is the time of Christëmas.
Next may your dairies prosper so
As that your pans no ebb may know;
But if they do, the more to flow,
Like to a solemn sober stream
Banked all with lilies and the cream
Of sweetest cowslips filling them.
If that he say he cannot sing
Some other sport then let him bring,
That it may please at this feasting,
For now is the time of Christëmas.
Then may your plants be pressed with fruit,
Nor bee nor hive you have be mute,
But sweetly sounding like a lute.
If that he say he naught can do
Then for my love ask him no more,
But to the stocks then let him go,
For now is the time of Christëmas.
What cheer? What cheer?
Good cheer!
Be merry and glad this good New Year.
Lift up your heartes and be glad!
In Christes birth the angel bade
Say each to other, if any be sad.
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Next may your ducks and teeming hen
Both to the cock’s tread say Amen,
And for their two eggs render ten.
Last, may your harrows, shares and ploughs,
Your stacks, your stocks, your sweetest mows,
All prosper by your virgin vows.
Alas! We bless, but see none here
That brings us neither ale nor beer:
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In a dry house all things are near.
Let’s leave a longer time to wait,
When rust and cobwebs bind the gate,
And all live here with needy Fate.
Where chimneys do forever week For want of warmth,
And stomachs keep with noise the servants’ eyes from sleep.
It is in vain to sing or stay
Our free feet here; but we’ll away:
Yet to the Lares (household gods) this we’ll say
The time will come when you’ll be sad
And reckon this for fortune bad
T’ have lost the good ye might have had.
-R o b e rt H e rr i c k , 1 5 9 1 - 1 6 7 4
IV. Omnes Gentes Plaudite
Omnes gentes plaudite (Oh clap your hands all ye people)
I saw many birds sitting on a tree;
They took their flight and flew away,
With, ego dixi [I have said], have good day!
Many white feathers hath the pie
I amy no more sing, my lips are so dry.
Many white feathers hath the swan
The more that I drink the less good I can.
Whosoever against holly call,
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Whosever against holly do cry,
In a leap shall he hang full high,
Alleluia, Alleluia.
Whosever ‘gainst holly do sing,
He may weep,
he may weep and his handes wring.
Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia, now sing we!
-15 t h
c e n t u ry
VI. Ivy, Chief of Trees
Ivy, chief of trees it is,
Veni, veni coronaberis [come, you shall be crowned].
The most worthy she is in town,
He that saith other doth amiss;
And worthy to bear the crown;
Veni coronaberis.
Ivy is soft and meek of speech
Against all bale she is bliss;
Well is he that may her reach;
Veni coronaberis.
Lay sticks on the fire, well may it burn;
Give us once to drink ere away we turn.
Ivy is green with colour bright
Of all trees best she is;
And that I prove well now by right;
Veni coronaberis.
Omnes gentes plaudite
I saw many birds sitting on a tree;
They took their flight and flew away,
With, ego dixi, have good day.
Ivy beareth berries black;
God grant us all his bliss!
For there shall me nothing lack,
Veni, veni coronaberis.
-15 t h
c e n t u ry
Ivy chief of trees it is
Veni, veni coronaberis.
V. Here Comes Holly
Alleluia, Alleluia, now sing we!
-15 t h
c e n t u ry
Here comes holly that is so gent,
to please all men is his intent,
Alleluia, Alleluia,
But, lord and lady of this hall,
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VII. Nay, Ivy, Nay
Nay, ivy, nay, / it shall not be ywis [certain].
Let holly have the mastery as the manner is.
Holly stands in the hall, / fair to behold,
Ivy stands without the door, / She is full sore acold.
Holly and his merry men, / dancen and sing,
Ivy and her maidens they / weepen and they wring.
Ivy hath a kibe, / she caught it with the cold;
So may they all have one that with Ivy hold:
Holly hath berries, / as red as any rose.
The forester, the hunters keep them from the does.
Holly hath full many birds, / a full fair flock,
The nightingale, the popinjay, the gentle laverock.
Good Ivy, what birds hast thou?
None but the owlet that cries “How, how!”
-P e r i o d
of
H e n r y VI
VIII. Now Have Good Day!
Now have good day, now have good day!
Now have good day, now have good day!
I am Sir Christëmas, and now I go my way.
Here have I dwelled with more and less
From hallowtide to Candlemas,
I now I must from you hence pass;
That often biddeth ‘have good day;’
Now have good day!
Now fare ye well, all in fere!
Now fare ye well for all this year!
Yet for my sake have good cheer;
-B e f o r e 1536
Mad World/O Come Emmanuel
All around me are familiar faces, worn out places,
Bright and early for their daily races, going nowhere,
O come, Emmanuel, and ransom captive Israel,
Who mourns in lowly exile here, until the son of God appear.
Their tears are filling up their glasses, no expression
Hide my head, I wanna drown my sorrow, no tomorrow
And I find it kinda funny, I find it kinda sad,
That dreams in which I’m crying are the best I’ve ever had,
I find it hard to tell you, I find it hard to take,
When people run in circles it’s a very, very…
Mad world, mad world.
Oh come, thou dayspring, come and cheer
Our spirits by thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death’s dark shadows put to flight.
I take my leave of king and knight,
And baron, earl and lady bright,
To wilderness I must me dight;
Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel
And at the good lord of this hall
I take my leave of guestes all.
Methinks I hear Lent doth call;
An Irish Blessing
May the road rise up to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rain fall soft upon your fields.
-R o l a n d O r z a b a l & T r a d i t i o n a l
Another year I trust I shall
Make merry in this goodly hall,
If rest and peace in England fall;
But often times I have heard say
That he is loth to part away,
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
-T r a d i t i o n a l I r i s h
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CO N S P I R A R E YO U T H C H O I RS
Welcome to Our World
Tears are falling, hearts are breaking;
how we need to hear from God.
You’ve been promised, we’ve been waiting,
welcome, holy Child.
Hope that You don’t mind our manger,
how I wish we would’ve known.
But long awaited holy Stranger,
make Yourself at home.
Bring your peace into our violence,
bid our hungry souls be filled.
Word now breaking heaven’s silence,
welcome to our world.
HOLLY DAWSON PHOTOGRAPHY
Conspirare Youth Choirs (CYC) was formed in 2004-2005 as an educational
outreach program of Conspirare. Under the direction of Founding Artistic
Director Nina Revering, CYC seeks out and trains young musicians who share
a love and commitment for creating music at a high level of excellence.
So wrap our injured flesh around You,
breathe our air and walk our sod.
Rob our sin and make us holy,
perfect Son of God.
-C h r i s R i c e
Conspirare Youth Choirs’ two ensembles, Kantorei and Allegro (previously
Conspirare Children’s Choir), accommodate young singers’ varying levels of choral
skill and experience. Both provide a combination of rigorous vocal training, music
theory, and sight-singing instruction in a nurturing environment that allows the
young singer to explore the depth and beauty of choral music.
CYC has performed throughout the Austin community for high-profile events
and organizations including the Round Rock Express, Greenlights Nonprofit
Summit, St. John’s College Choir of Cambridge, Austin Lyric Opera, Austin
Symphony, Austin Museum of Art, Austin Children’s Shelter, Abraham Walk, and
Austin City Limits. The young singers have also performed nationally in Hawaii
and Washington D.C. and will be taking a tour to Quebec in summer 2015.
The choirs’ most recent accomplishments in the 2013-2014 season included
Allegro’s invited performance at the American Choral Directors Association
Southwestern Division Convention in Little Rock, Arkansas, in March 2014.
Members of Kantorei recorded a track for the latest CD by Grammy® winning
artist Christopher Cross, and they also sang on a nationally-televised episode
of the NBC series “Revolution.”
HOLLY DAWSON PHOTOGRAPHY
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CO N S P I R A R E YO U T H C H O I RS
Nina Revering, artistic director and conductor
Austin Haller & Maimy Fong, accompanists
KANTOREI
Grace Aggen
Madisyn Andrews-Moreno
Amelia Azadi
Sapna Bhatt
Maya Borowicz
Arden Bostwick
Andrew Boyacigiller
Emma Carlson
Mia Chamoun
Sarah Collins
Clara Cooklin
Eliza Fleming
Ellen Gernert
Paxton Gunn
Alyssa Holcombe
Audrey Huber
Ella Jarnigan
Jessie Lucas
Emma Mattie
Keely McNab
Caleb Melville
Emily Mulva
Claire Murray
Maximo Murray
Lara Murray Palma
Emanuele Olivieri
Raquel Ordaz
Julia Quilici
Anabel Radtke
Maya Ravi
James Rutherford
Natalie Rychlikova
London Samiloglu
Aurelia Schaeffer-Preston
Arielle Sher
MeiYin Steadman
Lucy Sugawa
Iliana Tangarova
Sarah Traphagan
Molly Van Ackeren
Gracie Vogel
Aniston White
Sarah Whorton
ALLEGRO
Tara Ahuja
Urvi Alamela
Elena Alcala
Chiara Alvisi
Lexi Anderson
Nolan Bader-Saye
Mary Barnett
Martha Beaty
Lauren Datres
Avery Davis
Caitlyn Diehl
Miles Dintzner
Elizabeth Driggers
Claire Dugan
Clare Edgar
Ainsley Gamble
Isabella Grossling
Daryl Hale
Simone Heim
Sarah Helmbrecht
Sofia Hsu
Eva Legge
Maya Lyles
Nikhil Lyles
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Alyx Madera
Juliana Marshall
Kay McAnally
Kate McClellan
Sarah McDonald
Sesha McMinn
Jonathon Miller
Isabel Moring
Raiya Myren
Jacob Ordaz
Raina Parsons
Ella Pettichord
Ella Rutman
Lucy Pickens
Asha Rao
Libby Rayos
Rachel Rowe
Gabrielle Sanchez
Aditya Sankaran
Lavanya Sankaran
Shilpa Saxena
Molly Snodgrass
Sidharth Srinivasan
Kathleen Stansbury
Anne Marie Stapper
Abigail Stewart
Maria Tangarova
Seren Villwock
Christy Vineis
Anastasia Weger
Lily Wendt
Alyssa Wixson
Angela Zhang
C YC S TA FF B I O S
NINA REVERING, FOUNDING ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Nina Revering’s choral music experience began at an early
age with chorister experience in the Coro Infantil do Teatro
Municipal of Brazil under the direction of Elsa Lakschevitz
and the Toronto Children’s Chorus, directed by Jean
Ashworth-Bartle. Her musical training includes Toronto’s
Royal Conservatory of Music, the Youth Performing Arts
School in Louisville Kentucky, Boston University, The
New England Conservatory, and studies in baroque recorder with John Tyson.
Ms. Revering has performed throughout the country as both a soloist and chorister. She
has sung under noted conductors Seiji Ozawa, John Williams, John Oliver, Andrew Davis, and Sir David Willcocks. Ms. Revering has also been a member of the Conspirare
Chamber Choir since 1995 and was a soloist in the Grammy®-nominated CDs Requiem
and Threshold of Night, both released under the Harmonia Mundi label.
Ms. Revering was one of eight conductors selected for participation in the International
Symposium for Children’s Choir Directors held in Toronto, Canada in May 2005. She
was a clinician for the 2012 Elementary Honor Choir of the Georgia Music Educators
Association, and she was recently invited to present workshops at the Dallas Chapter
Choristers Guild Festival. In addition to her work with the CYC, Ms. Revering has been
teaching music in Eanes schools since 1996.
MAIMY FONG, KANTOREI ACCOMPANIST
Maimy Fong, pianist & vocal coach, has been with CYC
since its inception. She has played everywhere from Weill
Hall at Carnegie Hall to Dell Hall at the Long Center. In
2009 she helped co-found and now is Artistic Director for
the “Feed Your Soul” music series at Dell Children’s
Medical Center. She is also pianist for Triple Take, a
classical trio with violinist Javier Chaparro and cellist
Jonathan Carbin. In Austin, she maintains an active schedule of playing chamber
music, instrumental and voice recitals, teaching, and vocal coaching.
AUSTIN HALLER, ALLEGRO ACCOMPANIST Austin Haller can be seen as an organist, pianist, conductor, and vocal coach in Texas and beyond. He serves as
Organist and Associate Director of Music at St. David’s
Episcopal Church, where he plays for over 140 services and
concerts annually and conducts the St. David’s Singers, one
of the parish’s adult choirs. As a recitalist and accompanist,
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C YC S TA FF B I O S
he has performed throughout the United States, and he has played with many
Central Texas ensembles, including the Conspirare Company of Voices and
Symphonic Choir, Austin Symphony, Austin Children’s Choir, Texas Choral
Consort, Austin Cabaret Theatre, and Amphion Youth Choir. Austin also serves as
music director of regional theatre productions; his favorite shows include TexArts’
[title of show], which received an Austin Critics Table nomination for music
direction; Zilker Theatre Productions’ The Music Man and My Favorite Year; and
Zach Theatre’s Present Laughter, which received a B. Iden Payne nomination for
music direction. In addition, his cabaret performances with singer Kara Bliss and
band have been described as “a touch of old school with a modern insouciance” and
are featured at a variety of local venues.
RICK GABRILLO, CYC MANAGER
Rick Gabrillo has been associated with the Conspirare
Youth Choirs since the beginning of the organization in
both artistic and management positions. He has been a
music educator for over sixteen years in the Austin area,
working in Austin ISD, St. Mary Cathedral School, St.
Louis Catholic School, and St. Stephen’s Episcopal School.
He has been an invited lecturer on current topics of music
education at regional, state, and national music conventions, including the Texas
Music Educators Association and the American Choral Directors Association. Mr.
Gabrillo is a published composer with Alliance Music. Most recently, in November 2014 he was the Junior High Honor Choir Conductor for the North Central
Directors Association in Tulsa, OK. In the 2012-2013 season, he was a guest conductor for the Canto choral ensemble of Fredericksburg, TX, and the Crossroads
Children’s Choir Festival in Nashville, TN. He was also a conducting fellow for the
Chorus America Masterclass series in 2010. In addition to his work with the CYC,
he is the Associate Conductor and a singer in Conspirare’s professional Company of
Voices. Mr. Gabrillo is also the choral director of the Traditional Choir and Children’s Choir at St. Louis Catholic Church in Austin.
CHRISTINA TANNERT, CYC ASSISTANT
Christina Tannert is a native of Austin who graduated in May
2013 with a Master of Arts in Teaching Music degree from
Trinity University in San Antonio. She has sung with choirs
in Austin and San Antonio as well as Prague, Vienna, Beijing,
and Kunming. She is a contributing author to the “Music
Memory” curriculum materials that are used in many elementary schools throughout the US. Ms. Tannert is currently the
music teacher at Doss Elementary School in Austin ISD. 22
AC K N OW L ED G E M EN TS
Conspirare Youth Choirs gratefully acknowledges the contributions and generosity
of the following individuals and organizations:
CYC Singers, Parents, and all other supporters of CYC
Craig Hella Johnson & Paul Melroy
Camille Atkins, Wraven Godsoe, Tamara Blanken, Melissa J. Eddy
Elle Mahoney, Robert Harlan, Ann McNair, and the Stage Crew
Meredith Thomas, Kelly Brownlee, Meri Krueger
Kathy Leighton and the Ushers
Conspirare Board of Directors
Hornaday Design
Christopher Novosad
Rev. Bobbi Kaye Jones, Jan Stovall and Tarrytown United Methodist Church
Thomas Pavlechko, Steve Wager, Chris Baker & St. Martin’s Lutheran Church
AU D I T I O N I N G F O R T H E C YC
The Conspirare Youth Choirs are auditioned treble ensembles for boys and girls ages
9-18 who are passionate about singing. A musical background is preferred, but not
required. Auditions take place in the spring semester for the following concert season.
If your child is constantly singing at home, writing their own music, playing an
instrument, or singing in their school or community choir and want an even deeper
experience with choral music, then the CYC may be a wonderful guide in their musical journey. If you have questions about our program, please feel free to contact us at
512.476.5775. We are interested in learning more about your child.
For more information and to schedule an audition, please submit an
audition request at conspirare.org/youth-choirs/join-us/audition/
Auditions for Kantorei only for the spring 2015 semester will be held on January 12,
2015, at Tarrytown United Methodist Church. Advance applications and individual
appointments are required. Please go to the link above for further information and to
submit an audition request.
Auditions for Allegro and Kantorei for the 2015-2016 season, beginning in fall 2015,
will take place monthly from April 2015 to August 2015. Please go to the link above
for further information and to submit an audition request.
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S U P P O RT T H E C YC
WHY YOUR HELP MATTERS
Our work with young singers can only continue with the support of our
CYC families and those who believe in what we do.
A B O U T CO N S P I R A R E
Sixth Grammy® nomination received December 2014!
BECOME INSPIRED
“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”
-Winston Churchill
“Giving of any kind…taking an action…begins the process of change and
moves us to remember that we are part of a much greater universe.”
-Mbali Creazzo
BECOME AN ARTIST’S ADVOCATE-DONOR
SHINING STAR SCHOLARSHIP (Donation of $850)
The Shining Star Scholarship Program assists young singers in financial need with
a full scholarship for tuition for one year in the CYC. Singers are able to build a
unique bond with the donor of their scholarship, and donors are able to take pride
in seeing their young singer grow and thrive in the CYC.
The CYC greatly thanks our Shining Star Scholarship patrons for 2014-15:
Lois VanLaningham in honor of her son, Todd VanLaningham
The Saxena Family in honor and celebration of their daughter, Shilpa
DISCOVERY PROGRAM (Donation of $100 or greater)
This new program beginning in 2014-2015 will build relationships between CYC
and school choirs in the greater Austin area. By making connections with local music teachers, voice teachers, and choir directors, we seek to identify top singers from
their programs to join CYC. A donation to the Discovery Program allows CYC to
immediately offer these singers an incentive scholarship of $100 to join CYC for
one year. By giving to this program, you are helping build a broader base of new
and talented singers who would benefit from instruction with the CYC.
FINANCIAL AID PROGRAM (Any amount)
Each year, CYC is able to provide a limited amount of tuition assistance for our CYC
families in need. Your contribution to CYC towards our general financial aid program will help us be of even greater help to our current singers and their families.
OTHER GIFTS
To assist CYC with any other specific programs or to make a general contribution,
please contact us at cyc@conspirare.org. We will be happy to assist you with making
your tax-deductible donation in support of our talented young artists.
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Latin con + spirare = to breathe together
Inspired by the power of music to change lives, Conspirare engages audiences in extraordinary musical experiences through world-class choral performances and recordings.
Conspirare is an internationally recognized, professional choral organization now in
its twenty-second season. Led by founder and artistic director Craig Hella Johnson,
Conspirare includes two adult performing ensembles and an educational program.
Our flagship ensemble Conspirare Company of Voices is a fully professional, multiple Grammy®-nominated chamber choir of extraordinarily talented singers from
around the country. Company of Voices performs an annual concert series in Austin
and other Texas communities, and also tours in the U.S. and abroad.
Three other ensembles complete the Conspirare family. Conspirare Symphonic
Choir, a large ensemble of both professional and volunteer singers, performs choral/
instrumental works, often in collaboration with other organizations such as the
Austin Symphony Orchestra. Conspirare Youth Choirs is an educational program
for singers ages 9-18, who learn and perform in two separate ensembles, Kantorei
and Allegro.
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Conspirare Company of Voices made its first commercial recording through the
green fuse in 2004. Its second CD Requiem was released in 2006 and received two
Grammy® nominations, followed in 2008 by Threshold of Night (Conspirare’s first
recording for the distinguished international label Harmonia Mundi), which also
received two Grammy nominations. Harmonia Mundi’s international re-release of
Requiem in 2009 won the Netherlands’ prestigious 2010 Edison Award for choral
music, the Dutch equivalent of the Grammy. Conspirare’s 2009 PBS television
special “A Company of Voices: Conspirare in Concert,” available on both DVD
and CD, received one Grammy nomination. Its 2014 release The Sacred Spirit of
Russia just received a Grammy® nomination for Best Choral Performance. Conspirare’s complete discography to date includes nine commercial CDs as well as eleven
self-produced live recordings of its popular holiday concerts.
The Conspirare organization and ensembles have received numerous honors and
awards. All four ensembles have received local awards from Austin Critics Table. In
2005 Conspirare received the Margaret Hillis Award for Choral Excellence from
national service organization Chorus America. In 2007, as one of the select choral
organizations to receive a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts under
its American Masterpieces initiative, Conspirare presented a four-day festival with a
distinguished gathering of composers and conductors, three world premieres, and a
gala closing concert with a 600-voice choir.
In July 2008 Company of Voices represented the U.S. at the Eighth World Symposium on Choral Music in Copenhagen, joining invited choirs from nearly forty
countries. The choir has performed at the American Choral Directors Association annual convention and for several regional ACDA conventions. Conspirare
received the 2010 Dale Warland Singers Commission Award from Chorus America
to support the commission of a new work by Seattle composer Eric Banks, to be
premiered in May 2015. In February 2011 Company of Voices gave three invited
performances in New York City under auspices of the Weill Music Institute of
Carnegie Hall, and in fall 2012 traveled to France for six invited performances at
the Polyfollia Festival and a public concert in Paris. Conspirare became a Resident
Company of the Long Center for the Performing Arts in 2013.
CO N S P I R A R E B OA R D & S TA FF
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ARTISTIC &
ADVISORY BOARD
Director of Marketing
ADMINISTRATIVE
Robert J. Karli, CHAIR
Toya Cirica Bell, VICE CHAIR
Craig Hella Johnson
Mary Anne Connolly, SECRETARY
Artistic Director
Larry Collmann, TREASURER
Susanna Finnell, CHAIR-ELECT
Melroy
Ken Beck Paul
Managing Director
William C. Bednar
Michael Blair
Camille Atkins
Fran Collmann
Financial Manager
Robert Harlan
Tamara Blanken
David Rust
Online Services Manager
Dan Seriff
David C. Smith
Kelly Brownlee
Marion Lear Swaybill
Annual Fund & Grants Manager
Patrick Willis
Sheila Youngblood
Melissa J. Eddy
Stephen Aechternacht Rick Gabrillo
Associate Conductor
John Aielli
Manager, Conspirare Youth Choirs
Sue Barnes
Mark Bierner
Wravan Godsoe
Ray Brimble
Office Manager
David Burger
Ben R. King
David Claflin
Production Assistant
Tom Driscoll
Virginia Dupuy
Meri Krueger
Maydelle Fason
Artist Relations
JoLynn Free
Billy Gammon
Kathy Leighton
Vance George
House Manager
Helen Hays
Dan Herd
Elle Mahoney
William B. Hilgers
Production Manager
Wayne Holtzman
Judith Jellison
Ann McNair
Bob Murphy
Executive Assistant to the Artistic Director
Director of Program Fulfillment & Artistic Operations
Lynn Murphy
Gayle Glass Roche
Nina Revering
Nancy Scanlan
Director, Conspirare Youth Choirs
Angela Smith
Bernadette Tasher
Christina Tannert
Louann Temple
Administrator, Conspirare Youth Choirs
Eva Womack
Meredith Thomas
Director of Development
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STAFF
27
S U P P O RT ERS
Dear Jessie,
Your beautiful singing has given my life so
much joy. Words cannot express how proud
of you I am. Your fearless confidence is
inspirational. Now you can share your
gift with the world! Congratulations on
an exciting start to a lifelong passion!
Season Sustaining Underwriter
We are so proud of you Arden Blair!
We know you will sing your heart out!
Love you,
Mom, Dad, Nona, Poppi and Hunter
Love,
Mom
Business & Foundation Supporters
Butler School of Music,
University of Texas
The Aaron Copland
Fund for Music
The Keating Family
Foundation
The Ann & Gordon
Getty Foundation
The Kodosky Foundation
The Mattsson McHale Foundation
The Still Water Foundation
Sarah,
We love to hear you sing and are so happy
you have such a great group to sing with!
Jenny Fleming
To my wonderful grandparents-Nana,
Grandpa, Meme, and Jack:
Love,
Thank you for all of your support.
Mom, Dad, and Joshua
Love,
Eliza
The Rachael &
Ben F. Vaughan Foundation
Public Funding Agencies
This project is funded and supported in part by a grant from the National
Endowment for the Arts, Texas Commission on the Arts, and the City of
Austin through the Cultural Arts Division, believing an investment in the
arts is an investment in Austin’s future. Visit NowPlayingAustin.com.
-AureliaWe are so proud of your hard work
and admire your determination and
love of music & singing!
Elena,
We are proud of you!
Lots of love,
Mom & Pops
We love you, Aurelia,
Mom, Dad, and Portia
Media Sponsors
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29
Mary,
Thank you for the beautiful music you have
made and the amazing young lady you have
become! We are so proud of you and we look
forward to seeing you build on this powerful
musical foundation as you continue to grow
as an artist and person!
Dear Tara,
We love your radiant smiles and your
beautiful singing voice! Be happy,
reach for the stars, believe in yourself
and keep singing. Love you lots,
Mom, Dad, Rishi
Christy,
We love to hear you sing!
We are so proud of you.
Love,
Mom, Dad, Paul, and Mike
Love,
Mom, Dad, Caroline, and Laura
Caleb, Paxton, and Eliza invite
you to visit University United
Methodist Church.
Open Hearts, Open Minds,
Open Doors.
“The universe is big. It’s vast and complicated and ridiculous. And sometimes,
very rarely, impossible things just happen
and we call them miracles.” - The Doctor
Your talents are nothing short
of miraculous.
A&F,
Dad, Mom, Caroline, and Lorelei
Making joyful noise together since 2003
Julia and Eliza, we are so proud of you!
Your voices make our hearts sing.
With love, from your families
Christy,
We love to hear you sing! We are so prou
Love,
We are so proud of your hard work
and dedication. Continue to make
Mom,
Dad, Paul, and Mike
beautiful music!
With love,
Mom, Dad, Connor, Nana and Poppy
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31
Audrey,
We are so proud of you and your lovely voice.
You are an amazing young lady.
We love you always
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33
Congratulations
to the many current and former CYC members who
have studied Piano, Guitar, Violin and Voice at
Orpheus Academy of Music. We are so proud of you!
Like CYC, Orpheus Academy of Music
draws upon the Kodaly Method for
inspiration in our approach to education.
At Orpheus students learn singing and
solfege as the gateway into all musical
understanding and the vehicle for their
instrumental study.
“
Teach music and singing in such a way
that it is not a torture but a joy for the
pupil; instill a thirst for finer music in him,
a thirst which will last for a lifetime.
~ Zoltan Kodaly
”
Call 512.231.8999
to Schedule
a Visit & Meet
a Teacher!
Sesha, We love you soooo much. Chungu-Mungu
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3918-C Far West Blvd. • www.orpheusacademy.com • 512.231.8999
35
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