Distinguished Concerts International - New York

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J. Eakin

G. Gilpin

C. Aiken

Monday, February 20, 2012
7:00 PM

Presidents' Day

Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage, Carnegie Hall

Reflections of Life

Timothy Seelig, Conductor Laureate
James Eakin: Flowers Over the Graves of War (World Premiere)
Ida Nicolosi, Soprano
Kirsten Allegri, Mezzo-soprano
Gregory Warren, Tenor

Featuring Distinguished Concerts Orchestra International and Distinguished Concerts Singers International

Greg Gilpin, Composer/Conductor
Clay Aiken, Special Guest
The Music of Greg Gilpin
Including A Child's Credo/In Virtute Tua (World Premiere), The Wizard of Oz Choral Revue, There's Room for Many-a More!, Through the Eyes of A Child, Why We Sing

Featuring Distinguished Concerts Singers International

Distinguished Concerts Singers International: Centenary College Choir (LA), Concordia Chorale and Concordia Youth Chorale (NJ), Crowley I.S.D. Honor Choir (TX), Discovery Canyon High School Chamber Choir (CO), Ensemble Imaginare and Pepperdine University Choirs (CA), Friends' Central School Chorus (PA), Grantsburg Chorale (WI), Indian Mills Memorial School Choir (NJ), The Manual Aires (IN), Saint James School High School Chorus (AL), San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus (CA), Slippery Rock University Choir (PA), South Ripley High School Concert Choir (IN), West Central Singers (MN)

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Ensemble bios

Centenary College Choir (LA)

Hailed as "America's Singing Ambassadors" by the press, the Centenary College Choir has traveled the world for seven decades, constantly exploring new and productive avenues in the world of collegiate choral music. This innovative spirit has been evidenced in the Choir's unique and diverse manner of programming, a repertoire that ranges from Bach to Broadway, world folk music to contemporary church music, and oratorio to opera. Organized in 1941 by Dr. A.C. "Cheesy" Voran, Centenary College Choir has concertized throughout the world, giving concerts in 32 nations on six continents. The Choir recently returned from a tour to Australia and New Zealand in 2009.

David Hobson began directorship of the Centenary College Choir in the fall of 2007, becoming only the fourth conductor in the choir's 70 year history and the second to hold the prestigious A.C. Cheesy Voran Chair. He also serves as full-time faculty in the Hurley School of Music, heading the Sacred Music program among other teaching responsibilities. Hobson is a 1998 alumnus of Centenary College and the Choir, earning a Bachelor of Music degree with honors. He later completed the Master of Sacred Music program at Emory University and the Doctorate of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting at Louisiana State University.

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Crowley I.S.D. Honor Choir (TX)

This is the tenth year for the Crowley I.S.D. Honor Choir. The 100-voice choir rehearses once a week for an hour and a half at SH Crowley Intermediate School. These fifth and sixth grade students are from the ten elementary schools and four intermediate schools of the Crowley Independent School District in Crowley, Texas. The choir members are selected during auditions in the spring semester of the previous school year. These outstanding boys and girls maintain an A/B average and are model citizens of their schools and community. As ambassadors for the school district, the Crowley Honor Choir singers perform for many community events and dedications.

Kathy Chiles has a Master's degree in Music Education, and has done post graduate work with Joan Wall at Texas Woman's University. She taught elementary music in her home state of Mississippi before coming to Texas where she taught choir on the junior high level. She taught choirs in the Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD and in the Burleson ISD. During her teaching career, her choirs have been awarded numerous U.I.L. Sweepstakes and many Outstanding and Best of Class in Festivals. She has served as an adjudicator and clinician for many choirs and presents workshops throughout the Dallas Fort Worth area. Ms. Chiles founded the Crowley ISD Honor Choir in 2001.

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Discovery Canyon High School Chamber Choir (CO)

The forty-four member audition Canyon Chamber Choir is one of five vocal performance groups at Discovery Canyon High School. Opened in 2007, with twelve singers, the program now has 160 members. The choirs have received top honors in the Colorado Springs Cavalcade of Music Competition, Walt Disney World Magic Music Days, Elitch Gardens Music Festival, and Colorado large group competitions. Thirty DCC singers have been selected for Colorado All State Choir. This spring, Canyon Chamber choir will perform at The United States Air Force Academy Chapel and in a performance of Carmina Burana at Pike's Peak Center in Colorado Springs.

MaryAnn Brilleslyper received a D.M.A. in Choral Music from Arizona State University in 1997. She has performed twice at Carnegie Hall with Robert Shaw and with two European choral tours. Dr. Brilleslyper has been a music educator for eighteen years in Indiana, Arizona, and Colorado. Currently she is director of choirs at Discovery Canyon High School in Colorado Springs. She is a finalist for the 2011-2012 Colorado Springs Choral Educator of the Year. Dr. Brilleslyper is also Choir Director at Tri-Lakes United Methodist Church.

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Friends' Central School Chorus (PA)

Friends' Central School Chorus is open to all students in grades 9-12. Over 100 students participate in the chorus, which studies and performs music from a wide range of genres, including classical, multicultural, and contemporary choral works. Friends' Central also offers the opportunity for chorus members to participate by audition in six select vocal groups, each of which focuses on a particular style of music.

Friends' Central School, located in Wynnewood, PA, is a Quaker, independent, co-educational, college preparatory day school for students in nursery school through grade 12. Established in 1845 by the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), Friends' Central blends a rigorous curriculum with enduring Quaker principles of kindness, compassion, and generosity of spirit.

Michele Zuckman joined the faculty of Friends' Central School in September, 2011. She is the Upper School choral director, where she conducts the Upper School Chorus, as well as three auditioned vocal ensembles. Prior to her appointment at FCS, Ms. Zuckman was a Choral/Vocal Music Teacher at the Lehigh Valley Charter HS for the Performing Arts in Bethlehem, PA. Ms. Zuckman is also the Music Director/Conductor of the Hopewell Valley Chorus in Pennington, NJ. She holds and a BFA in Voice Performance/Music Education from Carnegie Mellon University and an MM in Choral Conducting/Music Education from Westminster Choir College of Rider University.

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Linda Benge, Grantsburg Chorale director, teaches vocal music and theater to Middle and High School students in Grantsburg, Wisconsin. Her successful choir program consistently receives the highest ratings possible at district and state competitions. A graduate of Concordia College, Moorhead MN, Linda has been teaching for over 35 years, and considers directing the most enjoyable job possible.

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Indian Mills Memorial School Choir (NJ)

The Indian Mills Memorial School Choir has quadrupled over the last eight years. Students in grades five through eight can participate in this performing ensemble by attending rehearsals during the school day and after school. Recently, the ensemble has performed in the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Day parade and during minor league baseball games of the Camden Riversharks. Select students have also participated in the All South Jersey Elementary Chorus Festival held in March. Ten students from this ensemble were auditioned and selected to participate in this DCINY event. They are thrilled to have the opportunity to perform at Carnegie Hall.

Susan M. Styers has been a music educator for eight years. After graduating from West Chester University of Pennsylvania, she taught elementary music for one year before her tenure at Indian Mills Memorial School in Shamong. Her teaching duties include general music for grades five through eight as well as directing the middle school choir. She is also the assistant director for the Seneca High School marching band, vocal director for the high school musicals and maintains a private music studio teaching voice, piano and flute. She lives with her husband and newborn in Marlton, New Jersey.

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The ManualAires (IN)

In two short years, the MaunualAires have quickly become a sought-after high school performing arts group in and around Indianapolis. They have been featured onstage with Foreigner, at Verizon Wireless Music Center, performed at Dr. Bennett's State of Education Address, will perform with the Indianapolis Women's Barbershop Chorus, and in February will appear onstage in Carnegie Hall. The ManualAires count it a high honor to be invited to share the stage with the Indianapolis Symphonic Choir, and believe this will be the beginning of a long and prosperous relationship between two choral ensembles who embrace excellence as a core value as we strive to reassert the arts and their importance in the daily lives of the people of Indianapolis.

Spencer Lloyd, a native of Indiana, attended a small rural high school where he was involved heavily in choir and theatre. By his sophomore year he started taking music more seriously. Two years later, in 2002, he graduated and attended Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana. While there he decided to pursue Music Education. He studied conducting for most of his time at IWU with Dr. Todd Guy, who was also the conductor of the Indiana Wesleyan University Chorale. Spencer was the assistant conductor of the Chorale for two years. After student teaching in IPS, Spencer decided that this would be a great fit for his teaching style.

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Slippery Rock University Choir (PA)

The Slippery Rock University Choir consists of 60 music and non-music majors who share a love for singing and being a part of an excellent choral group. This ensemble performs all types of music, from the Renaissance to 21st century, from classical to jazz, and from a cappella to full orchestral accompaniment. The group performs several concerts each semester in addition to outreach performances throughout the Pittsburgh region. Recent highlights include performances of choral masterworks by Fauré, Rutter, and Duruflé, and Mozart.

Stephen Barr is Director of Choirs at Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, where he directs a dynamic program of three choral ensembles. He serves as an adjudicator, clinician, and guest conductor throughout the western Pennsylvania area. Stephen is an active composer working in a variety of mediums, with music performed by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and the Florida Orchestra,among others. He holds music degrees from Westminster College, University of South Florida, and West Virginia University, and has been a resident at the Atlantic Center for the Arts and Aspen Music Festival. For more information about Stephen, please visit www.stephenbarr.com.

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South Ripley High School Concert Choir (IN)

The South Ripley High School Concert Choir, under the direction of Mrs. Patsy Holdsworth, reigns from a rural community in Versailles, Indiana, which is located in the southeastern part of the state. The group has a tradition of excelling at District and State Solo and Ensemble Competitions and also provides entertainment for street festivals, clubs, churches, and other organizations. Having toured and performed at Disney World, Washington D.C. and the United Nations Building in New York City, the ensemble is known for being South Ripley's Goodwill Ambassadors.

Mrs. Patsy Holdsworth, currently the director of the South Ripley High School Concert Choir, has served the school and community of Versailles, Indiana for 35+ years. Holdsworth holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree and a Master of Arts degree from Eastern Kentucky University. Having retired from South Ripley High School in 1999, after 32 years of service, she resumed her career as the South Ripley's Choral Director in 2009. Holdsworth served and continues to serve as the pianist for the Tyson United Methodist Church, the Children's Choir Director, and the accompanist for the adult choir. Holdsworth has been chosen on two occasions as Teacher of the Year at South Ripley.

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West Central Singers (MN)

West Central Singers is a mixed community chorus based in Willmar, MN. Willmar is located 90 miles west of Minneapolis. The membership of the group is approximately 35 and includes singers from Willmar and the surrounding areas. West Central Singers celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2011. Highlights of the group's history include singing at the St. Paul Cathedral, and singing the National Anthem for a Minnesota Twins game. West Central Singers presents two concerts each year, and also sings for other events. West Central Singers is directed by John D. Jahr.

John D. Jahr has directed the West Central Singers since the fall of 2009. He is also Director of Worship and Music for Vinje Lutheran Church (ELCA) in Willmar, MN. John received his undergraduate degree in Music from Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, where he studied choral conducting with Rene Clausen; he also earned the Master of Sacred Music degree from Luther Seminary, where he studied with Robert Sholz, John Ferguson and Anton Armstrong. John recently completed a certification through Choristers Guild Institute, and serves on the faculty of the Leadership Program for Musicians. John has served congregations in Fargo, ND; Columbia Heights, MN; and Dallas TX.

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