ABOUT THE ARTISTS

COREEN DUFFY, CONDUCTOR
Coreen Duffy is director of choral activities at the University of Montana School of Music, where she conducts Chamber Chorale and University Choir, teaches conducting, choral methods, and supervises student teachers. She serves as Artistic Director for the UM-Missoula Community Chorus. Under her direction, the UM Chamber Chorale has performed at the Marktoberdorf International Chamber Choir Competition and served as the masterclass choir for the International Conducting Competition, Germany (2022).

Duffy is an active clinician and composer; her works are published by Walton Music, ECS, Pavane Publishing, and Hinshaw Music. A specialist in Jewish choral music, Duffy has presented sessions on the subject at national and regional ACDA conferences, as well as the National Collegiate Choral Organization (NCCO), the National Association for Music Education (NAfME), the College Music Society (CMS), and at the international conference of the European Center for Jewish Music (EZJM) in Hannover, Germany. Duffy serves as Vice President of NCCO and President-Elect of the Northwest ACDA, which she previously served as Co-Chair for World Musics and Cultures.

JACE KAHOLOKULA SAPLAN, CONDUCTOR
Dr. Jace Kaholokula Saplan serves Artist in Residence at the University of Redlands where they conduct the Vocal Chamber Music Program, and teach courses in choral literature and pedagogy.

In addition to Dr. Saplan’s work in academia and classical music, he is known as a national thought leader and consultant in enacting social change and equity-driven practice through the choral arts. He serves as a Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Access, and Belonging consultant for arts organizations throughout the country, such as Choral Arts Northwest, The Phoenix Chamber Choir, The Guitar Federation of America, The Columbia University School of Education, The Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, The Asian Pacific Islander Coalition, and Native Arts.

JAMIE SPILLANE, CONDUCTOR
Dr. Jamie Spillane is Director of Choral Studies at the University of Connecticut where he directs the UConn Concert Choir and Chamber Singers and teaches undergraduate through doctoral choral conducting and choral literature classes. Dr. Spillane's research lies in the study of choral festival music and his article on All-State Choral Music of the Fifty States appeared in the Spring 2018 issue of The Choral Journal. Recent highly acclaimed performances of UConn Choirs include conducting a collaboration of performances throughout New England with CONCORA of Craig Hella Johnson’s Considering Matthew Shepard and the world premier of Steven Sametz’s A Child’s Requiem.  

Dr. Spillane holds degrees from Ithaca College, the University of Connecticut, and the University of Arizona where he directed the Symphonic Choir, the premier undergraduate vocal ensemble. He has also been very active in leadership roles of ACDA and MENC/NAfME. He has been on the NAfME - National Advisory Board for Choral Music Education and is a Past-President of the Connecticut Chapter of ACDA and well as being selected as CT-ACDA Choral Director of the Year. 

LEE NELSON, CONDUCTOR
Dr. Lee Nelson holds the Patricia R. Zahn Chair in choral conducting and serves as the Director of Choral Activities at Wartburg College in Waverly, IA. Nelson conducts the Wartburg Choir and Ritterchor (tenor/bass choir) and teaches choral literature, beginning conducting and advanced conducting courses at Wartburg College. He also serves as the artistic director of Christmas with Wartburg, which celebrated 75 years in 2021. Wartburg College recognized Nelson’s work as an educator by awarding him the John O. Chellevold Award for Excellence in Teaching and Service.

A highly sought-after conductor, clinician and adjudicator, Nelson has conducted at Carnegie Hall on multiple occasions and has directed all state and honor choirs throughout the United States and internationally. Earlier in his career, Nelson won the National ACDA Graduate Conducting Competition in Los Angeles and he received the Outstanding Young Choral Conductor of the Year, awarded by ACDA of Minnesota. 

KYLE PEDERSON, Composer-in-Residence
Kyle Pederson is a Minneapolis-based composer, lyricist, pianist, and educator.  He enjoys working at the intersection of the sacred and secular, and his lyrics and music invite the choir and audience to be agents of hope, grace, and compassion in the world.  Pederson was awarded the American Prize in Choral Composition in 2019, and the ACDA Genesis Prize in 2020. 

Pederson has an undergraduate degree from Augustana University, a Masters Degree in Education from University of St. Thomas, and an MFA in Music Composition from Vermont College of Fine Art.  His work is commissioned, performed, and recorded by community, school, and professional choirs around the world and is published by Walton, Santa Barbara, ECS, Hal Leonard, Beckenhorst, Carl Fischer, Alfred, Gentry, and Hinshaw.  Additional information and links to Kyle’s music can be found at kylepederson.com.

PROGRAM 

I CHOOSE LOVE

UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA CHAMBER CHORALE
COREEN DUFFY, Conductor 

REENA ESMAIL The Unexpected Early Hour (Lauds - Raag Ahir Bhairav) 
EDIE HILL We Bloomed in Spring
AURORA Apple Tree arr. Katerina Gimon
HYO-WON WOO Alleluia

NATIONAL CONCERT CHORUS
COREEN DUFFY & JACE KAHOLOKULA SAPLAN, Guest Conductors
KEVIN TISON, Collaborative Pianist
SUSAN & BRIAN GAUKEL, Projection Designers

PASIFIKA FOLKSONG E Papa Waiari arr. Jace Kaholokula Saplan
NEGRO SPIRITUAL Rise, Shine! arr. Marques L. A. Garrett & Tom Trenney
SUSAN LABARR Where the Light Begins
KO MATSUSHITA Ima Kokoni
COREEN DUFFY Siman Tov (World Premiere)
DANIEL AFONSO, JR. Para los tin-tun-teros!
AFRICAN-AMERICAN SPIRITUAL Long Fare You Well  arr. Undine Smith Moore 

JORDAN HIGH SCHOOL SYMPHONIC ORCHESTRA
AMANDA CHAVEZ, Conductor

BRIAN BALMAGES Opening Night
ROSSANO GALANTE Cadence Everlasting
ROBERT W. SMITH Into the Storm 
DMITRI SHOSTAKOVICH Waltz No. 2 (from Suite No. 2 for Jazz Orchestra)

NATIONAL SYMPHONIC CHORUS
JAMIE SPILLANE & LEE NELSON, Guest Conductors 

JOSÉ MAURÍCIO NUNES GARCIA Dies Irae (from Requiem 1816)
KYLE PEDERSON Choose Love
KYLE PEDERSON, Handpan
ELAINE HAGENBERG Splendor (from Illuminare)
REENA ESMAIL TaReKiTa
RUTHIE FOSTER Death Came A-Knockin’ (Travelin’ Shoes) arr. Paul Rardin
KYLE PEDERSON Be the Love (World Premiere) 

Tuesday March 12th, 2024 at 8:00pm 
CARNEGIE HALL