Acknowledgements

Special thanks to: Laney College, Oakland Dale Tsang, accompanist Jana Jarosz, Design Consultant OCC Board Members John Reager, President Mohammad Hooshmand, Treasurer

Marion Atherton, Secretary Terry Amgott-Kwan

Friends of the OCC Board Kelvin Gong Margaret Hegg

Bob Kridle Yi Triplett

OCC Donors This concert would not be possible without the generosity of our donors. Our apologies to those whom we have inadvertently left out; please notify us so that we can correct our records. $1,000+ Mohammad Hooshmand $250-999 Marion Atherton and John Reager · Kelvin Gong and Joyce Hee · Bob Kridle · Margaret Hegg · Carol Thornton · David and Yi Triplett $100-249 Meei-lih and Wagar Ahmad · The Ashman Family · Susan Baurmann · Vina Cera · Eve Tolmach $0-99 Nicholas Brown · Phillip and Amelia Daly · Valerie Gross· Beverly Norris · Diane di Lee· Beverly Norris · Karolyn van Putten · Christine Olsen · Jay Roller · Christine Scobee· Leisa Thornton

May 21, 2017

Laney College’s

Oakland City Chorus

Music Without Borders

Design donated by Jana Jarosz, Design Consultant

Program I

Live a Humble .................................................... Negro Spiritual (arr. Paul von Hippel) Rindu Ilaah (Indonesia) ......................................................... Hendra Agustinian (2005) Hamisha Asar (Ladino) ....................................................... Traditional (arr. Nick Page) Dale Tsang, piano

II Noya Na (Xhosa) ........................................................ Traditional (arr. E. T. Marokana) Terry Alvord, guest conductor

III Toro Nagashi (Japan) .............................................................................. Peter Bird (2011)

IV

Down in the River ............................................................................................. Traditional Marianne Barlow, Zachary Donaldson, Dorian Ellison, Brienna Smith

V Gabhaim Molta Bhríde (Gaelic) ................................................. Irish (arr. Wim Verkaik) Vivian Huang, soprano Oror (Armenian) ......................................................... Barsegh Kanachyan (1885-1967) Brieanne Martin, soprano Hanacpachap (Quechua) ............................................... Traditional (16th Century Peru) Ronald Cohen, Cornetto; Scott Sterling, Brendan Lai-Tong, Sackbut; Adan Ortega, Drum

Intermission (about 10 minutes)

VI Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep (World Premier) .................. John Reager (2017) Dedicated to the memory of Denalda Siegrist and all the victims of the Ghost Ship Fire

(Brief pause for stage set up)

VII Misa Criolla (Argentina) ........................................................ Ariel Ramírez (1921-2010) Tenors: Jorge Gomez, Mark Hernandez; Guitars: Howard Kadis, Ross Thompson; Double Bass: Achille Bocus; Percussion: Ayden Bradley, Adan Ortega

Texts/Translations

Live a Humble

Live a humble, Humble yourself, the bells done rung. Glory and honor. O My Lord done just what He said, He healed the sick and He raised the dead. Did you ever see such a humble God who gave up His Son for to come and die, Just to save my soul from a burning fire.

Rindi Ilaah

God's love is coming forth.

Hamisha Asar

Feast of fruits, come and see us, we'll sing. The hostess is waiting for us with fifteen plates of fruit. Blessed is Thy name, Lord of the world, fruits of Israel, The hostess is waiting for us with baklava and coffee.

Noya Na

We are on the road to the land of the living, To the home of the people who dwell there happily. You differ from God by sinning. What do you say? Are you going? Are you going up? Sadness will never exist there. Into this world only the saints go. You’ll walk in your sufferings, destroyed by your despicable deeds. What do you say? Are you going? Are you going up?

Toro Nagashi In a mountain stream there is a tangled barrier built by busy wind. Yet it’s only maple leaves, powerless to flow away. Like a driven wave, dashed by fierce wind on a rock, so am I alone. Crushed and broken on the shore, thinking of what used to be. Over the wide sea, toward its many distant isles, sailing to the door. Those ahead will lead me on; heavenly fleet of stars. Swiftly rushing stream divided by a boulder in its headlong flow, Though divided, on it runs and at last unites again. Though we are parted, if on Mt. Inaba’s peak I should hear the sound of the pine trees growing there, I will come back to you.

Gabhaim Molta Bhríde Let us praise Brigid, revered she is in Ireland, Revered she is in every land. Let all sound her praises. Lantern bright in Leinster, shining throughout our land. Gentlest of all women, best of Ireland's virgins Comes winter black and fierce, cutting with its keenness. But come Saint Brigid's Day, near is spring in Ireland.

Oror Sleep my sweet child, close your eyes, let sleep set on those lovely eyes, I’m singing lullaby and rocking the cradle, a peaceful sleep will lull my bundle. Sleep my child, and let me sleep, o Holy Virgin, give my child a peaceful sleep, I’m singing lullaby and rocking the cradle, a peaceful sleep will lull my bundle.

Hanacpachap Heaven's joy! A thousand times shall we praise you. O tree bearing thrice-blessed fruit, O hope of humankind, Helper of the weak, hear our prayer! Attend to our pleas, o column of ivory, Mother of God! Beautiful iris, yellow and white, receive this song we offer you. Come to our assistance, show us the Fruit of your womb!

Do Not Stand at My Grave and Weep Do not stand at my grave and weep, I am not there, I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glits of snow. I am the sunlight on ripened grain, I am the gentle Autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning’s hush, I am the swift uplifting rush of quiet birds in circled flight. I am the soft stars that shine at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there, I did not die.

Misa Criolla I. Lord have mercy on us, Christ have mercy on us, Lord have mercy on us. II. Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will towards men. We praise Thee. We bless Thee. We worship Thee. We glorify Thee. We give thanks to Thee for Thy great glory. O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty. O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ. O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us. For Thou only art holy. Thou only art the Lord. Thou only, O Christ, with the Holy Ghost, art most high in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

III. I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God. Begotten of his Father before all worlds. God of God, light of light, very God of very God. Begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father: by whom all things were made. Who for us men, and for our salvation came down from heaven. And was incarnate by the Holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary; and was made man. And was crucified also for us; under Pontius Pilate, he suffered and was buried. On the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven; and sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And He shall come again with glory, to judge the living and the dead: Whose Kingdom shall have no end. And in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life, who proceedeth from the Father and the Son. Who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified: who spake by the prophets. And in one holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I acknowledge one Baptism for the remission of sins. And I look for the Resurrection of the dead. And the Life of the world to come. Amen. IV. Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God of Sabaoth. Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is He who cometh in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. V. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world, grant us peace.

Artist Bios JOHN REAGER directs the Oakland City Chorus and is a faculty member at at Laney College. A member of ASCAP, he is published by G.I.A. in Chicago and self published on cpdl.org. A professional member of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus for eight seasons, he performed the role of Remandado in Bizet’s Carmen with Victor Borge, and was tenor soloist for the premier of Anthony Korf’s Requiem. Sacred music positions include: St. Mary’s Cathedral (S.F.), Congregation Rodef Beth Shalom (San Rafael), and All Souls Episcopal Church (Berkeley). He holds Master of Music degrees in Composition and Vocal Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Composition from Cal Poly Pomona.

DALE TSANG is currently a faculty member at Laney College, accompanies the Oakland City Chorus, and performs frequently in concerts throughout the Bay Area and beyond. She earned her BM from the University of Southern California, studying with Professor John Perry, her MM at the University of Michigan, studying with Dickran Atamian, and her DMA from Rice University, studying with Professor John Perry. She won first place in the 2001 Carmel Music Society Competition. She was a solo-round competitor in the 1997 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition and a semi-finalist in the 1999 Washington International Competition, and has taken numerous other prizes.

TERRY ALVORD Ms. Alvord will be seen as a featured conductor in a concert of sacred music in Sarteano Italy, for the second time, this coming July. She has conducted the San Francisco Symphony Chorus in rehearsals of Brahms “Requiem” and Mahler Symphony #3 and has conducted the San Francisco Conservatory’s chamber vocal ensemble, assisting Maestro Ragnar Bohlin. She has also been one of 4 assistant conductors for the San Francisco Symphony’s Community of Music Makers, “Sing Out Davis” program since its inception in 2011. Ms. Alvord recently finished a one year term as interim artistic director for “Resound Ensemble”, a 46 member, mixed voice choir based in San Francisco. She is currently music director at Trinity United Methodist Church in Berkeley. In addition to conducting, Ms. Alvord is an active soloist and choral singer.

JORGE GOMEZ Jorge Orlando Gomez (Tenor) Jorge is a native of Santiago, Chile. Among his operatic roles, Mr. Gomez has appeared most recently as Pinkerton in Madame Butterfly with Arizona Opera and Rodolfo in La Boheme with The Taipei National Theater. He portrayed Tamino in Die Zauberflöte with the Deutsche Oper Berlin. In the summer of 1999, he sang the roles of Polione in Norma, and Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni with the Washington Summer Opera, with whom he sang Rodolfo in La Boheme in 1998. From 1996-1998, Mr. Gomez was invited to perform with the Deutsche Oper Berlin, in Germany. Mr. Gomez performed in the Rossini Festival in Wildbad, singing the roles of Edoardo in La Cambiale di Matrimonio and Atlei in the première of Eduardo e Cristina. From 1995-1996, Mr. Gomez was a member of the Chicago Lyric Opera Center for American artists. He made his debut with the Chicago Lyric Opera in The Ghosts of Versailles, and sang the role of Alfredo in their 1995 production of La Traviata. From 1993-1994, Mr. Gomez participated as a member of the Florida Grand Opera Apprenticeship program. During his apprenticeship, he was awarded the prestigious Panvini-Rice Artist award for singers. In the summer of 1993 he was awarded a fellowship in the in the Pacific Music Festival in Japan, where he appeared in the title role of Berstein's Candide with the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra.

MARK HERNANDEZ has performed over 60 roles with Northern California companies such as Mendocino Music Festival, Pocket Opera, Thick Description, and West Bay Opera. Most recently, he appeared as the Ring Announcer in Champion and Motorcycle Cop/Inmate in Dead Man Walking, both with Opera Paràlelle. For several years Mark was associated with San Francisco Opera, performing in dozens of main stage productions with the Opera Chorus, and leading youth education programs for the Opera Guild. Away from the stage, he is a non-profiteer and writer. Learn more at blazingstage.com.

HOWARD KADIS has been an active performer in the Bay Area for over 40 years. He has been a frequent performer with the San Francisco Opera orchestra as both a guitarist and lutenist, having participated in performances of several Baroque Operas (Handel’s “Julius Ceaser,” and “Alcina,” Monteverdi’s “Coronation of Poppea,” and “The Return of Ulysses”) as well as productions of “Don Pasquale,” “The Barber of Seville,” “Otello” and “Falstaff.” He has performed as a mandolinist and guitarist for the Joffrey Ballet, The Sacramento Ballet, and the San Francisco Ballet orchestras. Mr. Kadis has also appeared with the San Francsico Symphony, having participated in their Grammy-winning recordings of Prokofiev's “Romeo & Juliet,” Mahler’s Symphony No. 7 and Symphony No. 8, as well as “Das lied von der erde” at Davies Hall. He also participated in their 2006 and 2007 European tours. In addition, he has worked with the Santa Fe Opera, the San Jose, Napa, and Santa Rosa Symphonies. As a lutenist, he performed several times as a guest of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, and locally in numerous solo recitals and chamber music concerts.

ROSS THOMPSON English-born composer and international concert guitarist Ross Thompson (b. 1967) spent his childhood in Puerto Rico before moving with his family to the United States. Mr. Thompson has been invited by a number of international festivals and schools to perform including the International Festival of Contemporary Classical Music (Lima, Peru FIMCCL), Leo Kestenberg Musikschule Berlin TempelhofSchöneberg (Germany), Mozarteum of Uruguay (Montevideo), Seoul National University (South Korea), National Conservatory of Music (Rio Gallegos, Patagonia, Argentina), Peruvian North American Cultural Institute, Lima (ICPNA), San Francisco Performances (USA), and the National Conservatory of Peru (Lima).

Mr. Thompson serves on the faculty of the San Francisco Conservatory of Music preparatory division. He completed his masters and post-graduate degrees at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music and at the Royal College of Music in London. Most recently he and concert flautist Natalia Kaminska-Palarczyk travelled to Korea for series of concerts in Seoul. Highlights of the 2012-2013 seasons included a performance of his first symphony for orchestra, a work for guitars and strings dedicated to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. In May of 2011 his Kestenberg Guitar Quartet was performed in Berlin at the Ibero-Amerikanisches Institut and the Festival of Contemporary Music (Original Töne Festival) (Musikschule Paul Hindemith).

ACHILLE BOCUS grew up in Milan, Italy. He played the piano at age seven, and later, the mandolin. He studied Double Bass in the Civica Scuola di Musica di Milano and performed in classical orchestras in Milano area for 20 years from 1988 to 2008. He moved to the Bay Area in 2009 to join Nicola Swinburne’s Mandolin Serenade and to conduct the San Francisco Mandolin Orchestra. In 2013 he founded Il tremolo.

AYDEN BRADLEY is a Laney College student transferring to San Francisco State University to pursue percussion performance. He was first introduced to the world of percussion in high school where his concert percussion ensemble placed 3rd at WGI World Finals his freshmen year. Ayden has shared his love for percussion through education, teaching marching percussion and visual concepts at a high school level for marching bands throughout the Central Valley, Bay Area, and Idaho. After graduating with a BA in Music Performance, he hopes to continue his passion for education by obtain a Director of Bands position at a local high school.

ADAN ORTEGA completed his AA in Music from Laney College in 2016 and will be attending CSU East Bay as a Jazz Studies Major begining Fall 2017. An active musician in the Bay Area, Adan has worked as a member in many bands including co-founding Little Sister and as a recurring participant in the Global Street Dance Masquerade. In addition to the choir, he is also a member of the Laney Big Band and Jazz Ensemble.

OAKLAND CITY CHORUS:

Sopranos: Nercy Arias, Gabbie Ashman, Jessica Ashman, Susan Baurmann, Victoria Cantrell, Vina Cera, Ashley Chernosky, Margaret Daly, Vivian Huang, Kseniya Husak, Dawn Isaacson, Anastasia Malanche, Brieanne Martin, Beverly Norris, Natasha Nowicka, Dayva Segal, Holly Sheld, Maryanis Silveira, Brienna Smith, Emily Steelhammer, Eve Tolmach, Leah Slyder Voss, Yue Xi, Danielle Zotter Altos: Meei-lih Ahmad, Marianne Barlow, Sylvia Carrington, Yi-wen Chen, Margaret Hegg, Diana Kuderna, Jungmin Lee, Pepper Luboff, Francesca Manning, Chika Okoye, Jasmin Otaki, Debra Runyan, Ji-Young Shin, Ana Solano, Naoko Sumii, Bria Swenson, Carol Thornton, Alyssa Thunberg, Karolyn van Putten, Hallie Williams, Olivia Wong Tenors: Zachary Donaldson, Dorian Ellison, Pamela Hampton, Terry Ricks, Vann Shuttleworth, Scott Sterling Bass: Ian Bailey, Nicholas Brown, Charlie Chawalit, Kelvin Gong, Dominic Jeffreys, Bob Kridle, Nate Pearson, Osborne Reager, Ronald Thompson

Bold Love EventsEVENT PLANNING AND DESIGN

FLORAL

PAPER GOODS

COORDINATION

www.boldloveevents.com

Danielle@boldloveevents.com

510.244.1946

Next semester: Holiday Music

With Organist Jonathan Dimmock Auditions: August 21-23 oaklandcitychorus.org

“Sing On: Oakland City Chorus!”

Dee and Stony Burk