2015SpringProgramd

2015 SPRING CONCERT SERIES

the vast

www.MagicCityChoralSociety.org www.Facebook.com/MagicCityChoralSociety

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WELCOME

MAGIC CITY CHORAL SOCIETYSTATEMENT OF MISSION

Creating an inclusive communityof singers and supporters

united around the performance of choral music

that entertains, educates, and inspires.

&

Committed to advancing the art of choral music by performing great works of the past, commissioning and performing new literature, and sharing the joy and power of choral music with new and existing

audiences and singers.

MAGIC CITY CHORAL SOCIETYABOUT MAGIC CITY CHORAL SOCIETY

IN THE BEGINNINGThe Magic City Choral Society (MCCS) is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit community-based organization that was founded in October 2006. The founders recognized a need in the Birmingham metropolitan area for an inclusive community-based choral organization that could provide high quality choral/music education and performance opportunities to any male or female over 18 without audition. In addition, the founders desired that this organization would combine artistic excellence and social/community impact. Therefore, access to excellent choral music and community service became the focus for MCCS to achieve its mission. The MCCS began to fulfill its mission by

employing part-time, highly-degreed musicians/educators, establishing non-auditioned men’s and women’s choruses, providing scholarships, offering music and vocal education to members, providing free concerts, seeking out collaborations

and partnerships, engaging in community service, and performing at

community and civic events.

CURRENT PROGRAMEvery year more than 100 people participate without audition in the Magic City Choral Society’s (MCCS) men’s and women’s choruses and the MCCS Chorale. The MCCS makes up to $5,000 of scholarships available to people in need who desire to sing with the MCCS. The choruses present three to four

Maintaining one of the nation’s finest non-auditioned men’s and

women’s choruses

A donation has been made in Brad LaMonte’s honor due to his fearless and long-term social

justice activism and relentless work to ensure full inclusion of all people.


MAGIC CITY CHORAL SOCIETYABOUT MAGIC CITY CHORAL SOCIETY

free concerts each year and each concert is performed at least twice and often more. Each concert series costs MCCS an average of $15,000 to produce and represents a total of 12-16 hours of live concerts. Our concerts are choral masterworks of the highest caliber that entertain, educate, and inspire more than 2000 concert attendees from across the region. MCCS features Birmingham’s greatest cultural distinctions at each performance: our singers in some of Birmingham’s finest concert venues. Each performance represents more than 60 hours of music and vocal education, which members receive during weekly rehearsals August through May.

While the quality of performance is immediately observable,

participants possessing more singing experience and those with

degrees in music liken the kind of education received through MCCS as equivalent to that offered in their collegiate studies. MCCS is also committed to good citizenship and the community. We pay forward the good will and generosity we

receive by singing an additional 10-11 outreach concerts for other nonprofits, community groups, and organizations

throughout the year. In the past six years, dedicated volunteers have managed the administrative needs of MCCS, however, because of our steady growth, MCCS has

Highlighting Birmingham’s cultural distinction

Providing educational outreach to members and the

community

“Band of Angels” performance on 10/13/2013 - The Magic City Choral Society and the choirs of UAB, Ramsay High School , and Alabama A&M University

MAGIC CITY CHORAL SOCIETYMAGIC CITY CHORAL SOCIETY

grown beyond the ability of only our volunteers to manage the organization without professional assistance. During 2013-2014 fiscal year, MCCS has hired a part-time general manager and development coordinator to meet these needs and usher MCCS into the next phase of its service to the community. MCCS is a catalyst for many good and profound things for its members and for community.

Since 2007, the Magic City Choral Society has performed concerts in the following venues: Gadsden’s Wallace Hall, the Southside Baptist Church, the Alys Stephens Center, Samford’s Wright Center, the BJCC Concert Hall, Bluff Park United Methodist

Presenting free and live concerts of choral masterworks

Music by the community, for the

community

Church, Grace Episcopal Church, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, the Pell City Center for Performing Arts, the Montgomery Convention and Visitors Bureau and River Walk, the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, and Covenant UMC in Dothan Alabama. The MCCS has also collaborated with the following entities: Red Mountain Chamber Orchestra, Magic City AIDS Walk, the Nature Conservancy’s Earth Day Celebration, PFLAG regional conference, First Light Women’s and Children’s Shelter, the Apollo Bal, Integrity Alabama, Alabama American Choral Directors Association, the Seasoned

Performers, Birmingham AIDS Outreach, Episcopal

Place, Pepper Place, Sloss Real Estate, Central Alabama Pride, AIDS Alabama, Southside Baptist Food Bank, West Alabama AIDS Outreach, the 1917 Clinic, Whatley

Middle School, Ramsay High School Choir, UAB Choir, Macy’s Galleria, SAKS 5th Avenue at the Summit, and most recently,

the grand opening of the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center.


Applause: When the conductor drops his/her hands, it usually indicates the end of a piece: applaud then. If the conductor’s hand(s) remain still/frozen at the end of a piece of music, wait until he/she drops them.

Electronic Devices: Cell phones, watch alarms, pagers, cameras, and other electronic devices should be turned off prior to performances in the concert hall. These devices could cause a disturbance and are a distraction to musicians and other patrons.

Dress: There is no set dress for concerts. Some patrons like to dress more formally and wear suits and dresses, while others opt for the comfort of jeans and t-shirts. Wear what makes you comfortable and best represents yourself.

Talking: Even the quietest whispers can be heard in the concert hall and can prove to be a distraction to patrons and musicians alike. Save your comments until intermission or after the concert; it will give you and your friends much more to discuss.

MAGIC CITY CHORAL SOCIETYCONCERT ETIQUETTE TIPS

B e c o m e P a r t o f t h e M a g i cDONATE

Help MCCS Offset Concert Expenses AndContinue Offering Free Concerts

Make a Tax-DeDucTible DonaTion To MccS

MAGIC CITY CHORAL SOCIETYPROGRAM

Men’s Chorus

Bonse Aba Andrew FischerRhett Ryder, baritone

WoMen’s Chorus

Arise My Love Joan Szymko

CoMbined Choirs (The MasTer Chorale)And This Shall Be For Music Mary Lynn Lightfoot

The Chorale

Five Mystical Songs Ralph Vaughan Williams No. 1 No. 5

Clay McCollum, baritone

Homeward Bound Marta Keen/Mack Wilberg

CoMbined Choirs (The MasTer Chorale)Across The Vast Eternal Sky Charles Silvestri/Ola Gjeilo

Famine Song Vida/Matthew CullotonJohn Woods, Shun Reddock, Ami Goodnough, Julie Borden,

Kelly Duvall, and Julie Guier, soloists

Dona Nobis Pacem Ralph Vaughan Williams No. 6, Nation Shall Not Lift Up A Sword Against Nation

Laura Graves, soloist

The Wind Beneath My Wings Tom Fettke & Thomas Grassi

Across

the vastEternal Sky


MAGIC CITY CHORAL SOCIETYLYRICS

Bonse Aba, Andrew FischerBonse aba mu pokelela balipele maka akuba bana.

Kuba bana bakwa lesa. Muyayaya bakwa lesa.Kubana eh!

Translation: All that sing have the right to be called the children of God.

Arise, My Love, Joan SzymkoArise, my love, arise, my fair one, come away.

The winter is passed, the rains are all over and gone;And the flowers appear on the earth,

And the time of our singing has come,And a band of many colors is riding the sky.

Arise, my love.Our winter is passed, the rains are all over and gone.

And we’ll gather at the river, that beautiful river;And there’s just one river of Love,Yes there’s just one river of Love.

Arise, arise, arise.

And This Shall Be for Music, Mary Lynn LightfootI will make you brooches and toys for your delight of birdsong at morning and starshine at night.And I will make a palace that’s fit for you and me, of green days in the forest and blue days at sea.

And this shall be for music when no one else is near, Such a fine song for singing, the rare song to hear!

That only I remember, that only you admire, of the broad road that stretches and the roadside fire.And this shall be for music, and this shall be for song. Brooches and toys for your delight,

Birdsong at morning and starshine at night. And this shall be for music when no one else is near, Such a fine song for singing, the rare song to hear! That only I remember, that only you admire,

And this shall be for music!

Five Mystical Songs No.1 - Easter, Ralph Vaughan WilliamsRise, heart; thy Lord is risen. Sing his praise

Without delays,Who takes thee by the hand, that thou likewise

With him may’st rise: That, as his death calcined thee to dust,His life may make thee gold, and much more, just.

Awake, my lute, and struggle for thy part With all thy art.The cross taught all wood to resound his name, Who bore the same.

His stretched sinews taught all strings, what key Is best to celebrate this most high day.Consort both heart and lute, and twist a song Pleasant and long:

Or since all music is but three parts vied,And multiplied; O let thy blessed Spirit bear a part,

And make up our defects with his sweet art.

MAGIC CITY CHORAL SOCIETYLYRICS

Five Mystical Songs, No. 5, Antiphon, Ralph Vaughan WilliamsLet all the world in every corner sing, My God and King.The heavens are not too high, His praise may thither fly:

The earth is not too low,His praises there may grow.

Let all the world in every corner sing, My God and King.The Church with Psalms must shout, No door can keep them out:

But above all, the heartMust bear the longest part.

Let all the world in every corner sing, My God and King.

Homeward Bound, Marta Keen/Mack WilbergIn the quiet misty morning when the moon has gone to bed,

When the sparrows stop their singing and the sky is clear and red,When the summer’s ceased its gleaming, when the corn is past its prime,

When adventure’s lost its meaning, I’ll be homeward bound in time.Bind me not to the pasture; chain me not to the plow.

Set me free to find my calling and I’ll return to you somehow.If you find it’s me you’re missing, if you’re hoping I’ll return,

to your thoughts I’ll soon be list’ning, in the road I’ll stop and turn.Then the wind will set me racing as my journey nears its end,

and the path I’ll be retracing when I’m homeward bound again.Bind me not to the pasture; chain me not to the plow.

Set me free to find my calling and I’ll return to you somehow.

Across The Vast Eternal Sky, Ola GjeiloSunlight shines on my face;

This is my grace, to be restored, born again, in flame!When I was young, I flew in the velvet night;

Shining by day, a firebird bathed in light!Grey now my feathers, which once were red and gold;

My destiny to soar up to the…Sunlight shines on my face;

This is my grace, to be restored, born again, in flame!Do not despair that I am gone away;

I will appear again when the sunset paints flames across the vast eternal sky.

Famine Song, Matthew CullotonEase my spirit, ease my soul, please free my hands from this barren soil.

Ease my mother, ease my child, earth and sky be reconciled.Rain, rain, rain. Rain, rain, rain.

Weave, my mother, weave, my child, weave your baskets of rushes wild.Out of heat, under sun, comes the hunger to ev’ry one.

Famine’s teeth, famine’s claw on the sands of Africa.


MAGIC CITY CHORAL SOCIETYLYRICS MAGIC CITY CHORAL SOCIETYMCCS ARTISTIC PERSONEL

Dona Nobis Pacem - the final movement, Ralph Vaughan WilliamsNation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

And none shall make them afraid, neither shall the sword go through their land. Mercy and truth are met together, righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven.Open to me the gates of righteousness, I will go into them.

Let all the nations be gathered together. And let the people be assembled; and let them hear and say, it is the truth.

And it shall come, that I will gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and see my glory.

And I will set a sign among them, and they shall declare my glory among the nations.For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me,

So shall your seed and your name remain forever.Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.

Dona nobis pacem.

The Wind Beneath My Wings, Larry Henley & Jeff Silbar/Tom Fettke & Thomas GrassiIt must have been cold there in my shadow, to never have sunlight on your face.

You were content to let me shine. You always walked a step behind.Now I was the one with all the glory, while you were the one with all the strength.

A beautiful face without a name, I never once heard you complain.Did you ever know that you’re my hero, and ev’rything I’d like to be?

I can fly higher than an eagle, ‘cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

It might have appeared to go unnoticed, but I’ve got it all here in my heart.I want you to know I know the truth, I would be nothing without you.Did you ever know that you’re my hero, and ev’rything I’d like to be?

I can fly higher than an eagle, ‘cause you are the wind beneath my wings.I can fly.

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Dr. Joseph Paul Dease is a native of Dothan, AL. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Choral/Vocal Music from the University of Montevallo (1995),

a Master of Music in Choral Conducting with advanced studies in Vocal Pedagogy from East Carolina University (1997), and a Ph.D. in Choral Conducting/Choral Music Education from the Florida State University College of Music (2006). Currently, he is the Founding Artistic Director and Conductor of the Magic City Choral Society where he is the principal conductor of the Men’ Chorus, Women’s Chorus, and Chorale. His conducting and teaching experiences include The University of Alabma, The Red Mountain Chamber Orchestra, members of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, the Red Mountain Theatre Summer Youth Workshop, Opera Birmingham, The Florida State University College of Music, the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra Chorus, East Carolina University, and the Greenville Choral Society and New Carolina Sinfonia. Dr. Dease has studied under André Thomas, Judy Bowers, Kevin Fenton, Cliff Madsen, Rhonda Fleming, and Brad Logan. His early music mentors include Gilda Wilkerson, Kathryn Foster, and Judy and Gene Montgomery. Dr. Dease is an active adjudicator and guest conductor, and is a member of the American Choral Directors Association, the National Association for Music Education, the Voice Care Network, Chorus America, and the Alabama Association of Nonprofits.

PRINCIPAL ACCOMPANIST

Ty Robert Thornton began his piano studies at the age of 6. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Piano Pedagogy in 1978 and a Master of Arts

degree in Piano Performance in 1980, both from Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina, where he studied with Mr. Warren Mack. Mr. Thornton holds a Master of Music in musicology from Florida State University (1988), where he also completed the Certificate in Early Music and pursued doctoral studies in musicology. His post-graduate piano teachers include Julia Benfer, Dr. John Salmon, and Robert Sherwood. He studied piano and harpsichord with Dr. Karyl Louwenaar, and organ with Dr. Ronald Sider. He taught on the music faculties of Pensacola Christian College, the University of Alabama, and the Conservatory of Fine and Performing Arts at Birmingham-Southern College. He also worked as musical director with Terrific New Theatre, Birmingham Festival Theatre, the Drama department of Canterbury United Methodist Church, and Dane Peterson’s Theater, and served as accompanist for the Opera and Musical Theatre Departments of Birmingham-Southern College, the Pensacola Opera, the Pensacola Choral Society, the music department of the University of West Florida, the Music and Drama Departments of Pensacola Junior College, the Alabama Ballet, and Opera Birmingham.

SUMMER SOIREE 2015Sunday, July 12, 2015, 3-6 p.m.

Bridge Street Gallery & Loft

Join us for our annual summer fundraiser and special concert featuring the MCCS combined choirs as the Master Chorale before they go to

the Alabama American Choral Directors’ Summer Conference as the featured choir to represent YOU and the Magic City.


MAGIC CITY CHORAL SOCIETYMAGIC CITY CHORAL SOCIETY MAGIC CITY CHORAL SOCIETYMCCS LEADERSHIP & MEMBERS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Trynna BrownBoard ChairFedEx

Robert NoahViCe-Chair

SteinMart

Brian WhiteSeCretaryThe Outsource Group

Jeremy HolleytreaSurerTitle Source, INC of Alabama

Dr. Joseph Paul DeaseFounding artiStiC direCtor

Kelly DuvallEBSCO

Pat Floyd,Cathead Vodka

Laura GravesJefferson County Schools

Travis HarrellBlue Cross Blue Shield

Lisa VenableEvent Coordinator

CHORUS LEADERSHIP

Lisa Abele VenableWC President

Kat MartinWC Vice-President

Shun ReddockWC Secretary

Lynda Lollar-GoldsteinWC Treasurer

Terri StaplesWC Librarian

Travis HarrellMC President

Jeremy HolleyMC Vice-President

Brian WhiteLibrarian

WOMEN’S CHORUS

SOPRANO IJulie BordenPatty ClineKelly DuvallLaura GravesJulie Guier*Susanna HunterKat MartinJudith MichaelsonTerri Staples

Lisa Abele Venable

SOPRANO IIRobyn E. ArnoldMarsha BordenAnna Flemming*Lynda Lollar-GoldsteinAmi Goodnough Karen HarrisMissy Hayes

ALTO ISusan BradleyTrynna BrownAshley H. CoutchAmber JohnsonAlice JohnstonMichele SantiagoRita Williamson*

ALTO IIMegan CooperDonna DavitteCarol MartinThea OstroyMartha Jane PattonLeshundra ReddockCharlotte Rush*

*denotes section leader

MEN’S CHORUS

TENOR IDavid CantrellRobert NoahPaul OdemGeorge RushPaul Warnke*Brian White

TENOR IITravis HarrellJeremy HolleyBrad LaMonteMicha SaundersBrad Smith

BARITONEAlan C. DavisBruce McClanahanClay A. McCollumRhett Ryder*John WoodsRobby Wright

BASS IIAaron Paul BrownTony CoxXavier RobersonZach Spitzer

In MemoriamStephen ElrodMichael ClarkJohn Johnson

MCCS LEADERSHIP & MEMBERS


Thank YouThe Magic City Choral Society is fortunate to have so many friends whose committment to the arts

over the past year enables us to present the quality and free concerts

MAGIC CITY CHORAL SOCIETY MAGIC CITY CHORAL SOCIETYMCCS SUPPORTERS MCCS SUPPORTERS

Benefactor ($2,500-$4,999)Anonymous

Conductor’s Circle ($1,000-$2,499)Title Source, Inc. (Quicken Loans)Katherine and Robert MasonDavid Gary

Cantata ($500-$999)Rebecca LancasterMartha Jane PattonJim Barron Meredith SmithCharlotte RushTrynna BrownMegan CooperTony Cox and Joe KojisDavid CantrellTravis HarrellLisa and Charlie VenableRobert and Missy HayesAnna Fleming

Octavo ($250-$499)IlluminationsSam JacksonJames B. KnightGeorge Rush

Donna DavitteKat MartinRobyn E. ArnoldGorman R. Jones and Gerald LaSuerFrancis Greg BrinksEdward and Ruth LaMonteMichael FortsonTerri C. StaplesPaul WarnkeJeff SolomonJohn WoodsLaura GravesJennifer F. KelleyRita WilliamsonStan KilgorePatty ClineSusanna HunterChris FeaginJulia GuierKaren HarrisMarsha BordenRhett RyderAshley H. CoutchSarah HaysLynn HedlClaude BradleySusan BradleyAmanda PerryLynette PopeKelly DuvallTim LybargerAndrew Duxbury and Tommy Thompson

Jeremy HolleyDavid C. YoungLinda WilliamsAmber JohnsonAndrew SimsBruce McClanahanRobert NoahBrad LaMonteRosa HooperMatthew Parker

A Cappella ($100-$249)Justin DyarKaren SalterThomas WatersJoseph and Gloria DeaseJonathan BarrIra and Anne MitchellSam AkridgePaul Billings and John Hurley King and Queen Apollo XXXIXBarbara SilorH. Mack JollyLynn LongMelissa GodwinB.J. CreelAmi GoodnoughGreg CarrollDiane LitseyKevin WeaverLynda Lollar-GoldsteinAlice Johnston

Billy JenkinsMicah SaundersDeedra Atkisson and Amy AtkissonRobert KellerMargie MillerBunky WrightEddie MerrellZachary Spitzer/Coldwell BankerClint MarbutJohn StuckeyLeshundra Y. ReddockThea K. OstroyHugh ComerCandace N. CainePaul OdomClay McCollumCarmen W. PrestonMichael DunnavantAnna MomanUrban Home MarketJeff Roberts & AssociatesMichele SantiagoTommy SpinaSteven SiscoPeter SimsRon OwenMichael FinnBecky LawsonJulie BordenJudith MichaelsonJim GarnerJacqueline Auer

Carol MartinBrad SmithAlan C. DavisJoe EstradaRobby WrightDavid LawshePhyllis NeillStephanie Perry

Friend (Up to $99)Urban LegendzEbonie HowardRalph SokolBrian WhiteNancy BurlesonJohn Stanley RichJudith and Shawn GittonsEllen G. JohnstonMary E. JonesWilliam LockhartFrank A. RomanowiczRalph PeckHarriet B. SchafferRichard Tucker and Walter LoganJim CalhounAnna W. TrefethenCliff ThompsonChelsea Meadow GirlsKevin DobbinsDebby and Bob KristofcoBrian GeigerMelanie TalbotJerry and Wendy MarcecAustin HaleyBarbara LawsonBetty LawsonTommy Burroughs

Don PetersonMarion HicklinMaria CabretDale SandersKyle HendersonBritton AshmoreBrian PondsMichael D. ParkerHerman Jeff RichardsRichard HicksDamian PocheJudy BridgersJudy PerryKenneth G. HuntJason WalkerAT&TJames & Carla HillIna R. SimsWes OwensDerrick GriffeySteven C. ParkerNona LocklandAmanda MeisnerMarilyn J. MajerikS. Marion HicklinBrackie ZitoHenrietta SpeaksSteven BearceWanda CantrellKaren E. MusgroveAshley RheaMatthew GellerEllis M. FilesLisa MaloneDavid PerryElizabeth BrickellSamuel PattonBillie Sue Hulsey

TRIBUTES

In honor of Brad LaMonteDavid Gary Edward and Ruth LaMonte

In honor of Ms. Joy ThomasRalph Sokol

In honor of The Sims BoysDebby and Bob Kristofco

In honor of Rita WilliamsonJerry and Wendy Marcec

In honor of Zach SpitzerSherry Staggs

In memory of Louise Hall GaryDavid Gary

In memory of Roy & Doris Higginbothamand Joseph VetranoDianne Higginbotham-Vetrano

In memory of John Charles Fay, Jr.Chelsea Meadow Girls

In memory of Lynn Daniel Harriet B. SchafferIra and Anne MitchellMarilyn J. MajerikNancy Burleson

In memory of Sandra HarrisJoseph and Gloria Dease

Thank You

16 | www.magiccitychoralsociety.org

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2015SpringProgramd

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