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V. George
N. Menk
P. Shumate
D. McCartney
S. Swanson
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Sunday, February 14, 2010
2:00 pm
Presidents' Day Weekend/Valentine's Day
STERN AUDITORIUM/PERELMAN STAGE, CARNEGIE HALL
Love, Lust, and Light - A Valentine's Day Concert
Vance George, Conductor Laureate
Orff: Carmina Burana
Penelope Shumate, Soprano
Dillon McCartney, Tenor
Stephen Swanson, Baritone
Nancy Menk, Guest Conductor
Lauridsen: Lux Aeterna
Featuring Distinguished Concerts Orchestra International and Distinguished Concert Singers International
Participating in Carmina Burana: Columbia Grammar School Select Chorus (NY), Jonathan Griffith Singers (US and Canada), The Nature Coast Children's Chorale (FL), Okemos High School Choirs (MI), Penn High School Symphonic Choir (IN), Vance George Carmina Burana Singers (CA)
Participating in Lux Aeterna: El Segundo High School Chamber Choir (CA), La Porte High School Treble And Mixed Chorale (IN), Northwest Indiana Symphony Chorus (IN), NorthWood High School Concert Choir (IN), South Bend Chamber Singers (IN)
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Ensemble bios |
 M. Franklin
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Columbia Grammar School Select Chorus (NY)
Under the direction of Madeline S. Franklin, The Columbia Grammar
School Select Chorus is the school's premier vocal ensemble. Student
involvement is by special invitation and audition only, and members of
the chorus commit themselves to rehearsals during both school hours and
before the start of their regular school day. Previous Select Choruses
have participated in the Kodály Organization of New York's Annual
Voices United! Choral Festival. All students at Columbia Grammar School
take part in a rich and varied music program that includes both vocal
and instrumental music instruction. This program begins in the
Preschool and continues through the sixth grade.
Madeline S. Franklin, a native of
Baltimore, Maryland, has been a children's choir director and
elementary music teacher for the past ten years. She is currently the
Grammar School Music Department Chair and the 5th & 6th Grade
General Music Teacher at Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School. In
addition to her teaching responsibilities, she directs two choirs at
CGPS-an un-auditioned 5/6 choir, as well as the Select 5/6 Choir. In
2003, Ms. Franklin received her Kodály Certification from the American
Kodály Institute, and during the summer of 2007, Ms. Franklin received
a grant to participate at the International Kodály Seminar at the
Kodály Institute in Kecskemét, Hungary.
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 G. Summers
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El Segundo High School Chamber Choir (CA)
El Segundo High School Chamber Choir is composed of the most talented students El Segundo has to offer. In the last three years, ESHS Chamber Choir has received prestigious awards from competitions. In spring 2008, the won the "Spirit of Boston" award & placed second in the Boston Heritage Festival. They performed at the National Prayer Breakfast for the LA Air Force Base the last two years and in spring 2009, won the "Judges Favorite" award and a Gold second place in the Hawaii Heritage Festival. The students all hold a 3.0 gpa or higher and volunteer in organizations in school.
Gianna Andrea Summers, director, graduated with Honors from Arizona State University in Choral Education and Opera Performance in 2003 and graduated with Honors with her Masters in 2005 in Multicultural Education from National University. She has taught choral music in El Segundo for the last 6 years. After graduating from college, Gianna spent the semester in Costa Rica singing with the Costa Rican Opera and teaching music. Gianna teaches private voice and piano as well as singing professionally in California. Gianna married the love of her life, Bobby Summers, in 2008, and they are expecting their first little girl in May 2010.
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La Porte High School Treble And Mixed Chorale (IN)
The La Porte High School Choral Program is comprised of six performing
choral ensembles and has been under the direction of Thomas Coe since
1999. Both the Treble and Mixed Chorale are select groups of advanced
singers which perform several times throughout the year in concert and
contest situations. Under their current director, the two ensembles
have consistently received superior ratings at ISSMA contest in both
performance and sight-reading and have been State Finalists for the
past eight consecutive years. Their repertoire consists primarily of
classic choral literature of various historical styles.
Thomas Coe is in his eleventh year as
choral director at La Porte High School. He holds degrees from Indiana
University and Ball State University and has been teaching music for
fifteen years. Mr. Coe taught elementary, middle school and high school
in the Valparaiso, Duneland and Penn Harris Madison school corporations
before moving to LaPorte in 1999. He has been a member of the South
Bend Chamber Singers, South Shore Choral Artists and Camerata Singers.
Mr. Coe directs five of the six choral ensembles at LPHS including the
Beginning and Intermediate Women's Choruses, Treble Chorale, Mixed
Chorale and the Show Choir.
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The Nature Coast Children's Chorale (FL)
The Nature Coast Children's Chorale was founded in 2008 by David and Sandy Pletincks. The chorale, under the direction of David Pletincks, is made up of 48 auditioned students from 14 different schools and home-school students. Over the past two years, 20 of the chorale members have been selected for Florida state honor choirs at the elementary, middle and high school levels. The Nature Coast Children's Chorale keeps a very busy performance schedule performing locally for groups like the Kiwanis, Hernando County Fine Arts Council, Hernando County School Board, the Hernando Symphony, the Nature Coast Festival Singers and the Hernando Hi-lites.
David Pletincks has been choral director at Powell Middle School MicroSociety and Performing Arts Center for the past seven years. His choirs at Powell Middle School have consistently received "Superior" ratings at the Florida Vocal Association District V Choral Festival. Mr. Pletincks is the District 5 Chairman of the Florida Vocal Association serving a five-county area of West Central Florida. He is an active member of the Florida Elementary Music Educators Association and the American Choral Directors Association. Mr. Pletincks was selected as the "Teacher of the Year" by the faculty of Powell Middle School MicroSociety and Performing Arts Center for the 2008-2009 school year.
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NorthWood High School Concert Choir (IN)
The NorthWood High School Concert Choir is from Nappanee, IN. The
choral program at NorthWood consists of 5 different ensembles and more
than 150 students in grades 9-12. The NorthWood choirs have
consistently received superior ratings at state contests and festivals
throughout the Midwest. In recent years they have been invited to sing
for the University of Notre Dame, Bethel College, the Indiana Pacers,
and the Cleveland Indians. More importantly, the NorthWood choirs
maintain an active schedule serving the local community with more than
20 performances throughout the school-year.
Jeff Cramer is the Director of Vocal Music
at NorthWood High School. He completed his undergraduate studies at
Bethel College with degrees in Music Education and Vocal Performance.
At NorthWood, Jeff leads a program of approximately 150 students in
four ensembles. He has been a guest conductor for the ACSI Music
Festival and is a member of ACDA and MENC. Mr. Cramer also maintains an
active schedule as a baritone soloist throughout Northern Indiana and
the surrounding area. Jeff and his wife Kristin reside in Mishawaka,
IN.
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Northwest Indiana Symphony Chorus (IN)
Established in 1986, the Northwest Indiana Symphony Chorus has
performed with the Symphony in everything from Requiems to Reggae. This
talented group is the choral component of the Symphony Society,
providing added texture and versatility to the Symphony's performance
repertoire. The Chorus performs regularly for the Halloween and Holiday
Pops Concerts, and joins the Orchestra for major works on the Maestro
Series. Recent repertoire includes Beethoven's Ninth Symphony,
Bernstein's Chichester Psalms, Requiems by Fauré, Duruflé and Verdi,
Holst's The Planets, Orff's Carmina Burana, and Strauss' Die Fledermaus
and Bizet's Carmen with the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists.
The Chorus is conducted by Nancy Menk.
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Okemos High School Choirs (MI)
The Okemos High School Choirs (Concert Choir, Treble Ensemble and
Someko Singers) present approximately 30 concerts in service to their
school and community each year. They have performed in Washington, D.C.
and New York City (at both Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center), and at
invitational choral festivals throughout Michigan. They have performed
at the Midwestern Music Conference in Ann Arbor as well as at both
state and Regional ACDA conventions. Many graduates of the program are
pursuing careers in vocal performance and music education.
Frank K. DeWald, director, earned his
bachelor's and master's degrees from Michigan State University. He has
taught vocal music in the Okemos (Michigan) Public Schools since 1973.
He has directed four Michigan School Vocal Music Association Honors
Choirs (in 1987, 1993, 1997 and 2004), the 1994 Louisiana Music
Educators All-State Choir, and in 1995 directed the Montana AA Choral
Festival in Helena. He has acted as a clinician and adjudicator
throughout Michigan. He has composed numerous choral works for church
and school (some of which are published by Boosey & Hawkes and
Walton Music), incidental music for plays and six full-length
children's musicals.
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B. Holaway
C. Holaway
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Penn High School Symphonic Choir (IN)
The Penn High School Symphonic Choir, a combined choral group of
Concert Choir and Women's Chorale, totals over one hundred auditioned
singers formed to perform extended symphonic choral works. Past
Symphonic Choir performances of major works are Beethoven's "Missa
Solemnis" and Puccini's "Messe di Gloria". This is the fourth Penn
Choir appearance in Carnegie Hall. Six Penn Choirs, totaling over 300
singers, perform annually to sell out audiences at Holiday, Classic,
and Spring Concerts. The Penn Concert Choir, Women's Chorale and
Chamber Choir have made national and international appearances in
Atlanta, Dallas, New York City, San Francisco, Toronto, Nashville and
Washington, D.C.
Brent Holaway, director, received his B.A.
in Music Education from Goshen College Goshen, Indiana. He studied
under Dr. Don V. Moses and was awarded a M.A. in Choral Conducting at
the University of Iowa. Mr. Holaway taught vocal music in West Liberty,
Ohio, Grissom and Schmucker Middle Schools, Mishawaka, Indiana and
Portage High School, Portage, Indiana where he directed the Symphonic
Choir to two consecutive State Choir competitions. Mr. Holaway is
currently in his 20th year as director of five choral organizations at
Penn High School where his choirs have received top honors in state,
national and international music festivals.
C. LaMar Holaway, director, received his
B.A. in Music Education from Goshen College and M.A. from the
University of Notre Dame. Mr. Holaway is Fine Arts Division Chairman at
Penn High School and is currently in his 46th year as choir director at
Penn High School. Mr. Holaway and choirs under his direction have been
featured in clinics and performances in state and national appearances.
Under his direction, the Penn High School Concert Choir was named the
Indiana State Champion in 1985 and 1987. The Penn-Harris-Madison School
Corporation recognized Mr. Holaway as "Teacher of the Year" in 1987.
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South Bend Chamber Singers (IN)
The South Bend Chamber Singers, an ensemble-in-residence at Saint Mary's College, is celebrating its 21st concert season this year. The choir concentrates primarily on works by living composers and regularly commissions new works and unusual and complex arrangements. The Singers have collaborated with other ensembles including the South Bend Symphony, the Chicago Chamber Orchestra, and Germany's Chamber Orchestra of the Rhine; the Chester, Cavani, and Avalon String Quartets; the Northern Illinois University Steel Band and the Irish band, Kennedy's Kitchen. From 1994 to 2001, the Chamber Singers were featured annually on The First Art, heard nationally on over 275 public and commercial radio stations. The ensemble is conducted by Nancy Menk.
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What People Said... |
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From New York Concert Review: "Love, Lust, and Light: A Valentine's Day Concert" by Harry Saltzman
Read full review
After hearing this concert, I am happy to report that high quality choral singing in the United States is flourishing. In my review of DCINY's January 18th concert
at Avery Fisher Hall, I lauded them for bringing fine amateur choruses
to New York. The sentiments expressed in that review are equally
applicable to this afternoon's concert.
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From Short and Sweet NYC: "I WAS THERE . . . Love, Lust, and Light: A Valentine's Day Concert @ Carnegie Hall, 2/14/10" by Nicole Velasco
Read full review
A flock of love birds flooded the lobby of Carnegie Hall for Love, Lust, and Light: A Valentine's Day Concert. The show opened with Morten Lauridsen's "Lux Aeterna," a 27-minute exploration of sacred Latin texts containing references to light. Guest Conductor Nancy Menk's skillful guidance allowed the orchestra and chorale to seamlessly traverse Lauridsen's unusual blend of chants, renaissance, polyphony, canons, and modern dissonance. The cohesive intermingling of unified voices and classical instruments resembled the dalliance of light itself.
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Vance George
Conductor Laureate
Yesterday [was] so amazingly special. What fun we had! I was absolutely thrilled yesterday with the performance. The rehearsals leading up to it were good, productive hard work. Sunday a.m. was especially wonderful but i had no idea that the performance would be so fine.
It was thrilling to see the house full and to experience Carmina with such high energy from beginning to end. The soloists, well, they were simply the best I've heard or worked with.
Thanks to DCINY [for] the idea and for making it all happen. They filled all 2800 seats in Carnegie Hall! I personally have never been so well treated in preparing and conducting a performance. Thanks to absolutely everyone at DCINY.
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Nancy Menk
Guest Conductor
Dear Iris and Jonathan,
Congratulations on the concert last weekend, and thank you so much for inviting me to conduct. You have a great staff and all were so helpful and concerned about getting things right. It must be really rewarding to see all of your efforts paid off in a sold-out house and with LOTS of excited and happy performers!
It is always my pleasure to be able to make great music in a great space!
Thanks again for everything, and please give your staff my thanks as well. Best of luck with your upcoming March concert...hoping for another sell-out!!
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Frank K. DeWald
Director
Okemos High School Choirs
I want to thank everyone at DCINY for a terrific concert. Everything was beautifully organized, Vance George was a superb conductor, and you totally delivered the high-level experience you promised. It was especially exciting to perform to a sold-out house - something that has not happened on previous similar trips. Kudos all around!
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