GSU School of Music presents...
TENOR-BASS CHOIR
Dr. Patrick K. Freer, conductor
Liana Perlman, Nathan Schreer, graduate conductors
Dr. Andrew Choi, piano
Ad Amore
LEE R. KESSELMAN
Dr. Bryan Nichols, guest conductor, Penn State University
Lee Kesselman has created a stunning fanfare-like concert opener of short duration, specifically intended for the Allegro Con Brio's (Kansas City area) tour to Italy. Non-pitched bells are added to announce the choir in the age-old tradition of church bells. The Italian text, based on lines from Dante's Divine Comedy, speaks of the qualities of Goodness.
Maybe
ROBBIE SMITH
ARR. MARK SIRETT
NAMING THE TWINS – the Robbie Smith and Kathleen Glauser duo – delighted audiences for over ten years. Their energy, casual banter, wide variety of song styles and remarkably well matched voices captivated audiences wherever they performed.
Robbie Smith was a songwriter, singer and player of stringed instruments all his life. He passed away suddenly in 2019. Kathleen made a promise that the music would not be forgotten. So she contacted Tim Callahan-Cross at the Nova Scotia Choral Federation and a wonderfully invigorating project was born: Robbie Smith songs for choirs!
Mark Sirett is an award-winning composer and arranger whose works have been published in Canada, USA, UK, Germany and Sweden. On two occasions he has been awarded Outstanding Choral Composition by Choral Canada. His works have been performed and recorded by choirs worldwide, including Chanticleer, Vocalessence and the Elora Singers.
CHORAL UNION
Meghan Stoll, conductor
Allie Berze, Trevor Kytola, graduate conductors
Dr. Kyung-Mi Kim, piano
We Shall Walk Through the Valley in Peace
UNDINE SMITH MOORE
Allie Berze, conductor
We shall walk through the valley in peace. And if Jesus himself shall be our leader, we shall walk through the valley in peace. There will be no trials there;And if Jesus himself shall be our leader;we shall walk through the valley in peace. - Spiritual
Born on August 25, 1904, in Jarratt, VA, the “Dean of Black Women Composers” Undine Smith Moore was an African-American music educator and composer. She was the granddaughter of slaves and took to the piano at a young age. Her post-secondary education began at historically Black college Fisk University where she studied piano, organ, and music theory, earning her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1926. From there, she obtained her Master of Arts at Columbia University Teachers College in 1931. Additionally, Moore studied at the Juilliard, Manhattan, and Eastman Schools of Music, and was notably the first Fisk graduate to receive a scholarship to Juilliard.
Lovely Day
BILL WITHERS
ARR. ROBERT T. GIBSON
Trevor Kytola, conductor
Houston native Robert T. Gibson is a conductor, clinician, composer/arranger, lecturer, and educator who desires to develop future music educators for the next generation. His love and passion for music and any student he conducts continues to leave lasting impressions on those he encounters. Gibson received a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of North Texas and a Master of Music at Missouri State University.
TREBLE CHOIR
Meghan Stoll, conductor
Allessandra Roberson, Rebecca Simantov, graduate conductors
Fernanda Miranda, piano
Sing Gently
ERIC WHITACRE
Allessandra Roberson, graduate conductor
"Ten years ago we created the Virtual Choir with a simple question: is it possible to make beautiful music together, no matter how far apart we are? After multiple virtual choir projects featuring over 20,000 singers from 124 different countries, the answer is a resounding yes." – Eric Whitacre
Music Down in My Soul
MOSES HOGAN
Traditional Spiritual
Rebecca Simantov, graduate conductor
"Until his untimely death in 2003, Moses Hogan was one of the most celebrated contemporary directors and arrangers of spirituals. In his short life, he created dozens of new original arrangements of classic spirituals, and formed several choirs that performed them with new vitality." - Song of America
Patrick K. Freer
Patrick K. Freer is Professor of Music at Georgia State University where he conducts the Tenor-Bass Choir and directs the masters & doctoral programs in music education. Dr. Freer has held Visiting Professorships at the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg (Austria) and Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain). He has been conductor-in-residence conductor for the Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra (Colombia). His degrees are from Westminster Choir College and Teachers College-Columbia University. Dr. Freer has guest conducted or presented in 40 states and 30 countries.
Dr. Freer is Editor of the International Journal of Research in Choral Singing and former longtime editor of Music Educators Journal. He serves on ACDA’s National Standing Committee for Research and Publications and has chaired all three of ACDA’s International Symposia for Research in Choral Singing. He was elected to three terms as National Chair for NAfME’s Special Research Group on Gender & Sexuality. He also chaired the philosophy sub-group within the task force responding to COVID-19 concerns for the National Collegiate Choral Organization (USA). Dr. Freer’s research and pedagogical expertise centers on working with adolescent males and their changing voices, from prepubescence to young adulthood. Dr. Freer is a recipient of the Outstanding Senior Faculty Award for Research & Creative Activity in GSU’s College of the Arts, and he holds multiple elected leadership roles in the University community.
Meghan Stoll
Meghan Stoll is Visiting Lecturer and Associate Director of Choirs at Georgia State University School of Music where she conducts Treble Chorus, Choral Union, and teaches conducting and choral literature. She also serves as Associate Conductor with the GRAMMY® Award-winning National Children’s Chorus.
Prior to her appointment at Georgia State University, Ms. Stoll served as guest conductor with the Richmond Symphony Chorus, Director of Choral Activities at the National Cathedral School and St. Alban’s School, Director of Choral Activities at St. Catherine’s Episcopal School in Richmond, Virginia, Director of Music at the University Church at Yale, and Conductor of the Yale Chamber Orchestra. She has also held Assistant Conductor positions with the Yale Camerata and Georgia State University Singers, along with teaching appointments in Aural Skills at the collegiate level.
While at Yale, Meghan received the Richard Paul DeLong Prize for excellence in church music. As a mezzo-soprano, she has performed roles such as Mère Marie in Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites and Dinah in Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti with Oberlin Opera Theater. Meghan regularly performs as an ensemble artist with groups including Ensemble Altera, Norfolk Chamber Music Festival, Servire, The Thirteen, Yale Choral Artists, and New Muses Project. She sings with the choir of the Basilica of the National Shrine and can also be seen singing with the choir of the Washington National Cathedral.
Meghan holds an Artist Diploma (AD) from Georgia State University, a Master of Music (MM) from Yale School of Music, and a Bachelor of Music (BM) from Oberlin Conservatory. She has trained in conducting under esteemed professionals such as David Hill, Masaaki Suzuki, Greg Ristow, Deanna Joseph, Jeffrey Douma, Marguerite Brooks, and Raphael Jiménez.