Wellesley Choral SocietyOur 78th Season, 2025-2026Edward Whalen, Music DirectorHisako Hiratsuka, AccompanistCelebrating 32 years Togetherwww.wellesleychoralsociety.orgCabaret ConcertAround the WorldSaturday, January 31, 20267:00 p.m.Pops Concert Sing-alongSilent Auction Food and DrinkWellesley Hills Congregational Church207 Washington Street, Wellesley Hills
2Birch Hill is proud to supportWellesley Choral Society’s2025-2026 SeasonPersonalized wealth management services forprivate clients, trusts, and endowments_____________________________________________One International Place, Suite 770, Boston, MA 02110617.502.8300 ● BHBoston.com
3THE WELLESLEY CHORAL SOCIETY DEPENDS IN PART ON THEGENEROSITY OF ITS FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS.THE SOCIETY WISHES TO ACKNOWLEDGE CONTRIBUTIONSFROM THE FOLLOWING DONORS AND TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR SUPPORT OF OUR ANNUAL FUND CAMPAIGN OF JANUARY, 2025– JANUARY, 2026Anonymous (x 3)Irene AxelrodKate and Gordon BatyCharity Navigator Giving BasketMatthew ChernickPatricia G. and Peter V. CooperRebecca Crane and FamilyFrancesca D'ArcangeloSue D’Arcangelo: In honor of Francesca D’ArcangeloLinda DerezinskiJenn EdwardsWayne EverettTed and Anastacia FeldmanMiguel GarciaCarolyn GayleGreen’s Hardware & Paint, Inc.Emily GronlundCeleste HarringHisako HiratsukaLinda HirschMax HobartDr. and Mrs. Stephen K. HollandLeslie M. HolmesChris and Klaus JensenSara JohnsonRuth Kasten: In honor of Bob FeldmanChloe KingNancy and Jonathan LippincottKaren LourenceJettora LundquistKate MeanyGary Mikula and Holly Burnet MikulaMaryEllen MillinGyöngyi MolnárNancy NicholsLucy and Bob O’MaraMary Anne ParadiseMichelle PetterutiDennis and Ann PioppiEllen ProttasGillian RogellJerry T. Sherman: Speedy Recovery to Ted FeldmanVera ShumanLora SimonBenjamin SingerCarol and Danny SingerSkylark Vocal EnsembleKatie SmallTom SmithHeather TurnerMartha von MetzschMandy WaddellTed and Corrie WhalenDana and Kathleen WinikatesJo Ann Wong
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5Wellesley Choral SocietyOur 78th Season, 2025-2026Music Director, Edward WhalenAccompanist, Hisako HiratsukaChorus LeadershipRebecca Crane, PresidentKathleen Rowe, Vice -PresidentLora Simon, TreasurerCarolyn Gayle, SecretaryJettora Lundquist, Immediate Past President, Program BookletsMatthew Chernick, Concert FlyersChris Crowley, Social Media CoordinatorFrancesca D’Arcangelo, Annual FundLinda Derezinski, Web MasterAnastacia Feldman, Grant WriterRobert Feldman, Advertising DrivePaul Merry, Music Committee ChairHolly Mikula, PublicityGyöngyi Molnár, Music LibrarianNancy Nichols, Annual FundCarol Singer, Concert ManagementCorrie Whalen, Membership, CommunicationsThe Wellesley Choral Society is a member of the Greater Boston Choral Consortium, a cooperative association of diverse choral groups in Boston and the surrounding areas.Honorary BoardThe Wellesley Choral Society is a nonprofit organization, open to all singers, dedicated to studying and performing the world’s great choral music, both sacred and secular. The Society was founded in 1947 after several choruses in the town of Wellesley joined forces for a holiday festival. Edward Whalen became the Society’s tenth music director in 1994. WCS rehearses at the Unitarian Universalist Society of Wellesley Hills, 309 Washington St., Wellesley, MA, on Monday evenings from September to May, performing three concerts every year.All singers of high school age and over are welcome!Wellesley Choral Society, P.O. Box 81060, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481-0001http://www.wellesleychoralsociety.org Please LIKE our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/wellesleychoralsociety/Suzanne Cartreine Leslie HolmesWilliam Cooper Sara L. JohnsonMax Hobart
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7 Edward “Ted” Whalen was appointed Music Director of the Wellesley Choral Society in 1994. During his tenure with the ensemble, he has led the chorus in a wide scope of repertoire including Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas,Handel’s Coronation Anthems, Mozart’s Requiem and Great Mass in cminor, Bloch’s Sacred Service, Rachmaninoff’s Sacred Vespers, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, requiems of Brahms, Fauré, and Duruflé, and Poulenc’s Gloria. In May of 2015 the chorus presented a program of Mr. Whalen’s own compositions including Dialogues, a piece written especially for the group. In Spring 2018, the ensemble premiered his composition Stars, written in honor of their 70th anniversary season, and for the Spring 2019 concert, held on Mother’s Day, the chorus premiered a special work entitled Love and Prayers in honor of Mr. Whalen’s mother, Janet Whalen. Ted is a graduate of New England Conservatory, University of Rhode Island, and studied at Tanglewood Music Center and the Aspen Music Festival. He has appeared as conductor with the Boston Aria Guild’s performances of Humperdinck’s Hansel und Gretel, the Wakefield Festival Chorus, King’s Chapel, Waltham Philharmonic Orchestra, Rhode Island Gilbert and Sullivan Society, University of Rhode Island, and other ensembles. He has prepared choruses for performances at Monadnock Music Festival and conducted gala celebration performances for Boston Baroque. As a vocal soloist, Mr. Whalen has performed with such groups as the Boston Lyric Opera, The Des Moines Metro Opera, Lake George Opera Festival, and Boston Aria Guild. He made his Boston Symphony Hall debut singing the role of Dancairo in the critically acclaimed Chorus pro Musica performance of Carmen. Mr. Whalen also sang with Boston Baroque (Banchetto Musicale) for 25 years, appearing on all of the ensemble’s Grammy-nominated recordings. Since 1995, Ted has been the director of Upper School Choruses at Milton Academy. Hisako Hiratsuka joined the Wellesley Choral Society in 1990 as a singer and became our accompanist in 1993. She is a graduate of the Tokyo University of Arts and Music. Her teachers include Yasuko Tani and Victor Rosenbaum. Ms. Hiratsuka is an active chamber music player and accompanist. In recent years she has performed in the Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Boston areas as well as in Tokyo, Yokohama, Osaka, Zushi, Chiba, and Kamakura, Japan. She also has accompanied flutists for music festivals in Ecuador and Columbia. Ms. Hiratsuka has been a featured soloist with the WCS, performing such works as Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy and the two-piano arrangement of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, accompanied by her daughter. Prior to coming to the United States in 1989, Ms. Hiratsuka taught piano in Japan. She currently teaches piano and coaches chamber music groups at Tufts University.
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9Wellesley Choral Society 78th Season SOPRANO ALTOFrancesca D’ArcangeloLinda DerezinskiAnastacia FeldmanCeleste HarringRebecca MayerKate MeanyHolly MikulaGyöngyi MolnarNancy NicholsCarol SingerKatie SmallJo Ann WongIrene AxelrodKate BatyRebecca CraneAmanda D’AiutoElinor DulitCarolyn GayleLinda HirschAnne KottJettora LundquistLavonne McKeownMary Ellen MillinMary Anne ParadiseCascia PartenskyMichele PetterutiEllen ProttasKathleen RoweHannele Saramo-RajaAlice ShabecoffLora SimonAlexia SontagAubrey StineMandy WaddellCorrie WhalenMarlene WilliamsonErin ZiomekTENOR BARITONE/BASSJason ChenMatthew ChernickLucas ClemensJenn EdwardsTed FeldmanPeter JuhaszEllen StrausChris CrowleyRobert FeldmanMiguel GarciaKlaus JensenBert JuhaszStephen Maack Paul MerryDennis Pioppi
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14Around the WorldPart OneSentimental Journey Green, Brown and Homer; Arr. WhalenGauntanamera Traditional Cuban; Arr. EmersonLinda Derezinski, Miguel Garcia, Celeste Harring,Holly Mikula, Dennis Pioppi, Lora Simon, Aubrey Stine, Ted WhalenSanta Fe from “Newsies” Menkin & FiersteinMatthew ChernickThat Lonesome Road James TaylorMountains of Mourne Carigdoon Arr. WhalenMassachusetts The Bee GeesFrancesca D’Arcangelo, Lora Simon, Corrie WhalenNew York’s Not My Home Jim CroceTed WhalenThis Land Is Your Land Woody GuthrieRed River ValleyAmerican Folk Song; Arr. WhalenPart TwoLos Mandados Vincente FernándezMiguel GarciaThere is a Balm in Gilead William DawsonLucas Clemens, Francesca D’Arcangelo, Linda DerezinskiTed Feldman, Holly Mikula, Lora SimonBali Ha’i from “South Pacific” Rodgers & Hammerstein; Arr. WhalenSong of the Volga Boatman Alexander Glazunov; Arr. WhalenO Isis und Osiris from “Die Zauberflöte” Wolfgang Amadeus MozartPaul MerryLucas Clemens, Ted Feldman, Miguel GarciaSeguidilla from “Carmen” George BizetJettora LundquistCharlie and the MTA Steiner & Hawes
15South African Medley Traditional; Arr. WhalenSoweto (Is Where It’s At)ShosholozaThe Lion Sleeps TonightIrene Axelrod, DrumPart ThreeOklahoma from “Oklahoma” Rodgers & HammersteinOn the Street Where You Live from “My Fair Lady” Lerner & LoeweDennis PioppiKokomo The Beach BoysI Left My Heart in San Francisco Cross & CoreyManhattan from “Garrick Gaieties” Rodgers & Hart Kathleen RoweConey Island Baby / We All Fall Applegate, Goodwin, & MayerNatsu no Omiode Ema & Nakata Natsu no Omiode The Memory of SummerNatsuga kureba omoidasu When the summer comes around,Harukana Oze toi sora I always remember my old Oze and the sky so far awayKirino nakani ukabikuru Tender shadows appear in the fogYasashii kage nono komichi Along the lane in the field.Mizubashou no hana ga saiteiru The Mizubashos are bloomingYumemite saiteiru mizu no hotori Blooming dreamily on the waterfrontShakunage ironi tasogareru The sky turns to the orange twilightHarukana Oze toi sora In the distant Oze and the sky so far away.Country Roads John Deutschendorf, Jr. (AKA John Denver)Overture to “Il Barbiere di Seviglia” Gioachino Rossini; Arr. Whalen (with homage to Runswick) Matthew Chernick, Lucas Clemens, Rebecca Crane,Francesca D’Arcangelo, Linda Derezinski, Jenn Edwards,Ted Feldman, Miguel Garcia, Celeste Harring, Jettora Lundquist,Paul Merry, Holly Mikula, Dennis Pioppi, Lora Simon,Aubrey Stine, Corrie Whalen, Ted WhalenShenandoah Traditional; Arr. Whalen
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18Music is an essential part of all our lives, and making music is an essential part of our community. The Wellesley Choral Society has been making music in Wellesley for 78 years!To contribute to the Wellesley Choral Society,please send your checks made out to:Wellesley Choral Societyc/o Lora Simon, Treasurer8 Maurice RoadWellesley, MA 02482Or go to wellesleychoralsociety.org and click the “donate” linkThank you so much for supportingthe Wellesley Choral Society!Please support us byadvertising your businessin our programsAdvertising your business in our programs allows you to reach a prime local population. Ads appear in all three concert programs throughout our season, as well as on our website.Ads also provide a major source of revenue for the Wellesley Choral Society. Your ad demonstrates support for your community choir.For more information, contact ourAd Campaign Manager Bob [email protected]
19WOULD YOU LIKE TO JOIN US FOR OUR NEXT CONCERT?All singers of high school age and over are welcome!The Wellesley Choral Society is a no-audition chorus, open to all who love to sing.Come visit us during open rehearsals, and see if we are the chorus for you!REHEARSALS for the third concert in our2025-2026 season will start on Monday, February 2,with Open Rehearsals continuing on 2/9 and 2/16.We rehearse on Monday nights from 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. in theUU Wellesley Sanctuary (participation via Zoom is also available).ALL VOICE PARTS ARE WELCOME.Please contact Rebecca Crane, President, for more information: ([email protected])Wellesley Choral SocietyP. O. Box 81060Wellesley Hills, MA 02481-0001http://www.wellesleychoralsociety.org
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21Morgan Stanley is proud to supportWellesley Choral SocietyThe Wellesley Horizon Group at Morgan StanleyShaun Fitzpatrick CPWA®Portfolio Management DirectorSenior Vice PresidentFinancial Advisor112 Worcester StreetWellesley, MA [email protected]://advisor.morganstanley.com/the-wellesley-horizon-groupMA Insurance # 8232219NMLS# 1293884© 2025 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. SUP001 CRC 5709449 06/23 CS 711289 06/23
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23OUR 2025-2026 Season . . .. . . and OTHER CONCERTS that may be of interest to you!All concerts Saturday evenings, 7:30 PM First Church Congregational, 11 Garden St., CambridgeTickets and more information: www.spectrumsingers.orgMARCH 14, 2026The Great EqualizerMusic that references natural and man-made equalizersMAY 16, 2026A New EraMarking a new chapter of Spectrum music-making and featuring a locally commissioned workThe Spectrum Singers 2025 - 2026 Seasonwith new Music Director, Max HolmanNOVEMBER 22, 2025To Saint CeciliaA celebration of St. Cecilia on her feast day with music by composers who epitomized her spiritFor more information, see www.wellesleychoralsociety.org“Mysterious Unknowns”Music of Brahms, VaughanWilliams, and WhalenSunday, November 16, 2025, at 3;00 p.m.Wellesley Hills Congregational ChurchWinter Cabaret\"Around the World”Food, Drink, and Silent AuctionSaturday, January 31, 2026, at 7;00 p.m.Wellesley Hills Congregational Church“Songs of a Century”British and American 20th Century Choral Musicincluding works by Thompson, Barber, Copeland, Shearing, Bernstein, and othersSunday, May 10, 2026, at 2:00 p.m.St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, WellesleyWellesley Choral Society Proudly Announcesits 2025-2026 SeasonCaroling at the Festival of TreesSat., Dec. 6 & Sat., Dec. 13, 1 p.m.Massachusetts Horticultural Society900 Washington Street, Wellesley
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262025September 27, 2025 Exotic NightsRimsky-Korsakov | ScheherazadeScott Moore, violinHindemith | Symphonic Metamorphosis on Themes by Carl Maria von WeberOctober 25, 2025 Passionate DialoguesMascagni | Intermezzo from Cavalleria Rusticana Brahms | Piano Concerto No. 2Clayton Stephenson, pianoSchumann | Symphony No. 3 “Rhenish”December 5 & 7, 2025 Holiday POPS! Kids POPS!Lexington Symphony’s Annual Holiday CelebrationFebruary 14, 2026 Celebrating CoexistenceSheng | China Dreams: II. FanfareAnger | Morin Khuur Concerto No. 2Monkho, morin khuurMcPhee, Colin | Tabuh-Tabuhan Toccata for 2 pianos and orchestraStravinsky | PetrushkaMarch 28, 2026 Pushing the LimitsStill | BellsShostakovich | Violin Concerto No. 1Callum Smart, violinBartok | Concerto for OrchestraApril 25, 2026 An Evening with ShakespeareMendelssohn (McPhee arr.) | A Midsummer Night’s Dreamwww.LexingtonSymphony.orgCary Hall, 1605 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA2026
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28Flowers for this evening’s concert generously provided byPetal Pushers Floral Studio