muSiC AT EmorY ConCErT SEriES - Arts at Emory - Emory University

muSiC AT EmorY
ConCErT SEriES
SCHwArTz CEnTEr for PErforming ArTS
take flight
spring concert
emory university concert choir
eric nelson, director
deborah thoreson, piano
saturday, april 27, 2013, 8:00 p.m.
Emerson Concert Hall
Schwartz Center for Performing Arts
Celebrating Ten Years h 2003–2013

program
Heilig felix mendelssohn
Holy, holy holy, Lord god of Hosts.
Heaven and earth are full of thy glory.
Hosanna in the highest.
2
(1809–1847)
Sanctus from Requiem (1985) John rutter
(b. 1945)
Hosanna (2007) Dan forrest
(b. 1978)
Ein kleiner, hübscher Voge Johannes Brahms
from Liebeslieder Waltzes (1833–1897)
A little, pretty bird flew to the garden where fruit was plentiful.
if i were a pretty little bird, i’d not delay; i’d do just as he did.
Treacherous, sticky sap lies in ambush;
The poor bird could not esacape.
if i were a pretty little bird, i’d definitely delay; i’d not do as he did.
The bird was freed by a lovely hand;
no harm came to the happy little bird.
if i were a pretty little bird, i’d not delay. i’d certainly do as he did.
I Know a Bird (1990) Emma Lou Diemer
(b. 1927)
Sweet Rivers (2005) william moore
(unknown)
arr. reginald unterseher
My Flight for Heaven (2007) Blake Henson
(b. 1983)
Seek Him that Maketh the Seven Stars (1998) Jonathan Dove
(b. 1959)
Jonathan Easter, organ

Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine (2001) Eric whitacre
3
(b. 1970)
Hear My Prayer Henry Purcell
meg granum, conductor
(1659–1695)
Vox Populi (2010) giedrius Svilainis
Tyrone webb, conductor
(b. 1972)
The Blue Bird C. V. Stanford
Joel Thompson, conductor
(1852–1924)
Turtle Dove English folk Song
arr. ralph Vaughan williams
J’entends le Moulin french Canadian folk Song
arr. Donald Patriquin
Let Me Fly American Spiritual
arr. robert DeCormier

emory ConCert Choir
The Emory Concert Choir is a select fifty-voice chamber choir, considered to
be one of America’s finest collegiate choirs. The ensemble has sung at both
the Southern and national Conventions of the American Choral Directors
Association. The Emory Concert Choir has performed at Avery fisher Hall in
new York City, St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, the Berlinerdom in Berlin, the
Vatican in rome, and St. nicholas Church in Prague. The choir sings a wide
variety of sacred and secular repertoire from the middle Ages to the present,
from chant to folk song. recent performances have included the Vivaldi
Gloria, the Bach Magnificat, Dove’s Seek Him Who Maketh the Seven Stars,
and whitacre’s Cloudburst. The ensemble also joins with the Emory university
Chorus to sing large-scale works such as the Brahms Ein Deutsches Requiem,
mozart’s Coronation Mass, and orff’s Carmina Burana.
eric nelson, director
Eric nelson is director of choral studies at Emory, where he conducts the Emory
Concert Choir and the Emory university Chorus. He also teaches graduate Choral
Conducting, methods, and Literature. in addition, nelson is artistic director of
the Atlanta Sacred Chorale, a professional chamber choir specializing in sacred
a cappella repertoire, and the minister of music at the historic 2nd-Ponce de
Leon Baptist Church in Atlanta.
nelson has conducted choirs throughout north America and Europe,
including performances in London; rome; Krakow; Berlin; Leipzig; Prague;
moscow; washington, D.C.; Carnegie Hall; Lincoln Center; and the Sydney opera
House. His choirs have appeared at six American Choral Directors Association
conventions, including the Concert Choir’s performance at Chicago’s orchestra
Hall for the national Convention in 2011 and the Atlanta Sacred Chorale’s
performance in winston-Salem for the Southern regional Convention in 2012.
His ensembles have been praised for their ability to combine a high level of
technical precision with warmth of musical expression.
nelson’s compositions have been sung by choirs throughout the united
States, including performances for the American Choral Director’s Association,
the music Educators national Conference, the Association of Lutheran Church
musicians, the Presbyterian Association of musicians, the American guild of
organists, and for numerous churches, colleges, and universities.
nelson is past president of the georgia chapter of the American Choral
Directors Association and is the recipient of a “Crystal Apple” award for
excellence in teaching at Emory and the “American Prize” in choral conducting.
He has degrees in voice and conducting from Houghton College, westminster
Choir College, and indiana university.
deborah thoreson, piano
Pianist Deborah Thoreson has been a member of the music faculty of Emory
since 1978 where she teaches piano and collaborative piano, and she serves as
4

director of undergraduate studies. An active performer, Thoreson has appeared
as a collaborative pianist in major concert halls in the united States and Europe,
including in concerts in England, wales, russia, and Hungary. She has worked
with principal players of the Atlanta Symphony orchestra and the Los Angeles
Philharmonic and performs regularly with faculty artists at Emory.
Thoreson’s performances have been heard on nPr’s Performance Today, and
she has recorded works by olivier messiaen on the ACA Digital label. An active
choral accompanist, she performs regularly with the Atlanta Sacred Chorale
under the direction of Eric nelson. She has worked with the Atlanta Symphony
orchestra Chorus, performed with the Atlanta Boy Choir on European tours,
and appeared in concert with many of Atlanta’s well-known choruses. During
the past twenty years, she has accompanied the Emory Concert Choir and the
university Chorus in numerous performances at Emory and throughout the
united States, including concerts under the direction of the late robert Shaw.
in 2008, Thoreson appeared as piano soloist in Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy for
Piano, Orchestra, and Chorus under the baton of conductor richard Prior.
emory concert choir
soprano i
minyung Cheong
Donae fourth
meg granum
Lauren Henrickson
Julia Hudgins
meredith Sharps
soprano ii
Katie Boice
Terri fleming
Kristen nelson
naomi newton
zoë Pollock
Chonise Thomas
Laura withers
alto i
maggie Bertrand
Hannah rose Blakely
Lydia Popp
Kelly Spicer
Laurie Ann Taylor
natalie weiss
alto ii
nour El-Kebbi
Lauren foxman
Erica morris
Kira Snyder
Julia wahl
5
tenor i
michael Del gaudio
Harris gessner
Ben Leiner
Tyrone webb
tenor ii
Thomas Daniels
Sean Lannon
Alex riddle
Eric rottman
C. J. Shepherd
Bass i
roy Atwood
michael Cranford
forrest flemming
Daniel
Holland-moritz
noah Levy
Devin Porter
Alex rogers
matthew Sorrells
Bass ii
Caleb Lewis
Jeffrey meng
Benito Thompson
Joel Thompson
Evan wichman
Arts at Emory Box office/Audience information
404.727.5050 • arts.emory.edu
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Photographs and recordings may not be made during a performance without advance permission.
the cough drops in the lobby are courtesy of margery and robert mcKay.
ushers are memBers of music at Emory Volunteers and Alpha Phi omega, a national service and
social fraternity. Call 404.727.6640 for information about ushering.
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