Presented by the GSU Repertory Singers
April 10, 2024
12 p.m.
Kopleff Recital Hall
I. Introitus
a. Requiem
Madie Hendrix, soprano
II. Kyrie
Juliana Bolaño, conductor
III. Sequentia
a. Dies Irae
Elizabeth Daly, conductor
b. Tuba mirum
Madie Hendrix, soprano
Allessandra Roberson, alto
José Montañez, tenor
David Champion, bass
c. Rex tremendae
Caleb Cole, conductor
d. Recordare
Blair Lipham, soprano
Emily Halbert, alto
Trevor Kytola, tenor
Andrew Kapsar, bass
Elizabeth Daly, conductor
c. Confutatis
d. Lacrimosa
José Azurdia Lamadrid, conductor
IV. Offertorium
a. Domine Jesu
Madie Hendrix, soprano
Allessandra Roberson, alto
José Montañez, tenor
Jacob Thatch McDonald, bass
Anneliese Depenthal, conductor
b. Hostias
Jacob Thatch McDonald, conductor
V. Sanctus
VI. Benedictus
Elizabeth Daly, soprano
Juliana Bolaño, alto
José Montañez, tenor
Andrew Kapsar, bass
Emily Rebecca Halbert, conductor
VII. Agnus Dei
Peyton Fleming, conductor
VIII. Communio
a. Lux Aeterna
Allessandra Roberson, soprano
Austen Smith, conductor
In what would become the final year of Mozart’s life, he was commissioned to write a Requiem by Count Walsegg-Stuppach, in memory of the Count’s wife. Mozart, who had recently taken on the role of Kapellmeister at St. Stephens, received an anonymous donation and a visit from the “grey messenger,” as the story goes. The secrecy may have been due to the Count’s habit of taking other composer’s works and claiming them as his own. The price they offered for this “anonymous” project was notably high for the time and Mozart, in deep financial trouble, was in no position to reject the proposal. Whether this was serendipitous or strictly a financial obligation, Mozart accepted the commission during an extraordinarily busy season of his life.
Work on the Requiem probably began in June or July of 1791 and continued until he traveled to Prague for the premiere of La Clemenza di Tito in late August. During this time, he wrote his famous Ave Verum Corpus as a gift to the choir master at the church in Baden and worked on the instrumentation for Die Zauberflöte. While the baths at Baden improved his health enough to complete the Little Masonic Cantata, Mozart was bedridden by December and was unable to continue working on the Requiem. Mozart left behind a completed Introit and Kyrie, with sketches for the Sequence and Offertorium.
Whatever beliefs Mozart may have had about the afterlife, the Requiem Mass was an important part of Mozart’s last days. The Introit opens with a fugue on the text “Rest eternal grant to them, O Lord, and let light perpetual shine upon them.” Per Mozart’s instructions, the fugue was repeated in the final movement. Completed by Franz Xaver Süssmayr, one of Mozart’s students, perhaps this was a musical farewell to the great composer. Thanks to the efforts of Mozart’s widow, Constance, Süssmayr, Joseph Eybler and others, the piece was completed and premiered in 1793: once under the name of Count Walsegg-Stuppach and once under Mozart’s name. Appropriately, the version used by the Count has been lost and the version used most commonly today can be traced back to Mozart’s own hand. By December 4th of 1791, Mozart lay bedridden and sang through the Requiem with his friends. It is believed he passed shortly after.
Program Notes by Caleb Cole
Juliana Bolaño
Juliana Bolaño is a second-year graduate student at Georgia State University pursuing a M.M. in Choral Conducting. As well as working with Dr. Jennifer Sengin and Dr. Deanna Joseph in the choral conducting program, she also works at the Cathedral of Christ the King as a staff singer. Juliana has recently branched out into research - she has presented at the Georgia State University Graduate Conference, the University of Toronto Graduate Music Conference, and the Tennessee ACDA Conference on her research on Nun-Composers of the Italian Renaissance. Prior to starting at Georgia State, she lived in Deland, Florida, where she studied Music Education at Stetson University.
Elizabeth Daly
Elizabeth Daly is a second-year graduate student in choral conducting at Georgia State University. Originally hailing from Syracuse, NY, Elizabeth recently graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in Music Education with Performance honors. At SU, Elizabeth was a Research Assistant with Chorosynthesis, collaborating on their ESV (Empowering Silenced Voices) Database for music on topics of social consciousness, was the recipient of the Frances and William Buecheler Scholarship, and was a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, the national music honor’s society. Here in Atlanta, Elizabeth teaches fundamentals of aural skills at GSU, is a music intern with Central Presbyterian Church, Assistant conducts the Georgia Festival Chorus, works for the choral area as a graduate assistant, and sings/conducts with Voces Amicis. During her first year, she also presented her research on Italian nun composers of the Italian Renaissance at the University of Toronto Graduate Music Conference and the Georgia State University Graduate Conference for Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity. Elizabeth lives with her Husband in Decatur, GA.
Caleb Cole
Caleb Cole is a Masters student in Choral Conducting at Georgia State University, where he serves as a Graduate Assistant. In this capacity, he co-conducts the Repertory Singers and teaches Aural Skills. He is the Bass Section Leader at St. Martin in the Fields Episcopal Church in Brookhaven, Ga, and is the chair of production for Orpheus Men's choir. He is also the facilitator for Voces Amicis, a choir of GSU students and alumni.
He has previously served as the Choral Director at Rabun County High School in Tiger, Ga where he taught choir, piano, guitar, and music appreciation. While there, he began the Rabun County Middle School Chorus and music-directed “Into the Woods Jr.” Caleb Cole is a graduate of the Schwob School of Music at Columbus State University.
José Azurdia Lamadrid
Originally from Guatemala, José began his musical journey as a choral singer with Coro Victoria. Conducted the choirs of the Pre-University Program at Universidad Nacional in Costa Rica and also served as a guest conductor with Vocalis choir, Guatemala, during their seasons titled "First Love" and "Bajo La Noche.". Currently, he's pursuing a master's in Choral Conducting with Dr. Deanna Joseph at Georgia State University.
Anneliese Depenthal
Anneliese Depenthal is a second-year master student in Choral Conducting at Georgia State University (GSU). She originally hails from Orlando, FL, where she discovered her love of singing as a chorister in the Orlando Deanery Girls Choir. A graduate of Valparaiso University, she was a member, section leader, and eventual president of the Valparaiso University Chorale. Before beginning her time at GSU, Anneliese interned with the music ministry at the Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany before starting her employment as the Music Minister, Children’s Ministry Coordinator, and Tech Coordinator at St. Michael Lutheran Church in Wellington, FL. When not making music, Anneliese enjoys long walks, coffee with friends, traveling, reading, and sailing with her family.
Jacob Thatch McDonald
Jacob Thatch McDonald is a Georgia native, Atlanta-based musician currently enrolled in a Dual-Track Master of Music program at Georgia State, concentrating in Vocal Performance and Choral Conducting. He has been a member of Voces Amicis since its inception in the fall of 2021 and looks forward to the future and evolution of the group. Born in Macon, GA, Jacob began his performing career in choirs and community theatres in middle Georgia before pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Music from Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville. There, he developed a fondness for performing dramatic music, whether that music is choral, operatic, musical theatre, or even particularly rousing art songs. Outside of his musical pursuits, Jacob loves playing tabletop games, storytelling, and spending time with his wife Sara and their adorable cat, Percy.
Emily Rebecca Halbert
Emily Rebecca Halbert, a native of Nashville, TN, is a music educator, conductor, and mezzo-soprano currently pursuing a Master of Music in Choral Conducting at Georgia State University. At GSU, she teaches Aural Skills I and is the graduate assistant at North Decatur Presbyterian Church where she directs the children's choir and has conducted the Atlanta Philharmonic Orchestra. Recently, she was selected as a Choral Scholar for the Chorus America Choral-Orchestral Conducting Academy and, along with her two of her lovely graduate school colleagues, their collaborative lecture recital, Defiant Divas, was selected for various local and international conferences, such as the University of Toronto Graduate Music Conference. Prior to her graduate studies, she was the Director of Music Education and Performing Arts at St. Peter’s Episcopal School and was the Associate Conductor for the Chattanooga Girls Choir and directed the ensemble, Cantilena.
Peyton Fleming
Peyton Fleming is a Vocalist, Music Educator, Conductor, hailing from Gooding, ID. He is a second year Graduate student at Georgia State University seeking a Master of Music - Choral Conducting. Peyton is an alumnus of The College of Idaho, earning a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education and Mathematics-Physics, with minors in Vocal Performance and Education. As a Baritone/Tenor, he sang with the C of I Chamber Singers for four years, including a tour of Italy, and performed title roles in The College of Idaho’s productions of Gianni Schicchi and The Pirates of Penzance. Professionally, he sings with the Atlanta Master Chorale (Alto/Tenor) and previously performed with Opera Idaho in Franz Lehár’s The Merry Widow, Georges Bizet’s Carmen (Chorus) and J.S. Bach’s Mass in b-minor (Baritone). His aspirations for the next few years include teaching music and furthering his passions for music education, joining professional choirs and opera companies, and eventually becoming a DMA candidate for Choral Conducting.
Austen Smith
Austen Smith is a music educator, conductor, pianist, and vocalist. A second-year master's student in Choral Conducting at Georgia State University, he serves as a graduate assistant, a choral intern at All Saints Episcopal Church, and as pianist to GSU's treble choir. He received his bachelor's degree in music education with a choral emphasis from the University of South Carolina in 2019 where he was awarded the Theodore Presser Scholar award. Prior to his studies at GSU, Austen served as the director of choirs at Pelion Middle School in South Carolina for three years.