Saturday, June 24, 2023 | 2:00pm Benaroya Hall Prep Choir, Fresca, Amabile, Vivace, Amore, Ensemble, and Alum Choir
Citation Winery – Proudly sponsoring Northwest Girlchoir events since 2010! In celebration of Northwest Girlchoir’s 50th anniversary, wine ordered through our website www.citationwine.com will ship free with code NWGC2023. Happy 50th Anniversary Northwest Girlchoir!
From the Artistic Director Just over a year ago, two friends separately sent me a job posting for my consideration. I wasn’t looking to move; I had a 25-year history with a Girl Choir program I had built. They had heard me say, however, that there might be something else out there that could serve as a final chapter to my career. They knew I was dedicated to creating safe spaces where youth marginalized by gender could sing, grow, and connect, and Northwest Girlchoir sounded, to them, like a good fit for me. My thought process went something like this: “Northwest Girlchoir? That was Rebecca Rottsolk’s program when I was a young teacher – it was one of the programs I ‘tuned my ears’ to in the early days of my career. Should I apply? Well, I guess there’s no harm. I probably won't advance, but it would be a good thought experiment to see how I feel about pursuing a job search in the future.” It wasn’t until I was on a plane to Seattle six weeks later that my thoughts became, “Uh, oh - this might actually happen. What have I done?!” What I’ve done is join a choral program with a beautiful history, strong present, and exciting future. I couldn’t be more honored to lead this program into its next chapter. And while you may notice that my pedagogy and musical style are a little different, I hope you also notice that the core of what I do is the same – make beautiful music with young people while building an enduring community. Thank you for welcoming me into your fold. I promise to continue to honor the work that has been done and hope you’ll join us – as a singer, parent, audience member, donor, volunteer, cheerleader – in the years to come. With deep gratitude, Karen Bruno Celebrating 50 Years of Northwest Girlchoir! Northwest Girlchoir transforms the lives of girls and young women through outstanding music education, dynamic choral performances, and an enduring community. Our 200+ choristers in grades 1-12 collaborate with inspiring conductors, peers, and guest artists and develop as skilled musicians and confident leaders. Northwest Girlchoir performs throughout greater Seattle, as well as nationally and internationally at festivals and on tour. This season, Amore will tour to England and Scotland, and Vivace will participate in picfest in Eugene, OR. Northwest Girlchoir is committed to racial equity, creating a welcome, inclusive, and nurturing experience for all choristers, families, staff, and audiences. We honor each individual’s history, heritage, and talents. Our community is strongest when all voices are affirmed, and everyone is connected through the joy of singing. This weekend here at Benaroya Hall, we honor our 50th anniversary with an Alum Reunion and a Concert & Celebration. We welcome back alums and their families, former board and staff members, and our current families and fans to celebrate the past and future of Northwest Girlchoir. Stop in the lobby to pick up a commemorative hoodie or pin, as well as box sets of our historical CDs and our downloadable holiday album “Winter Wish.” Also stop by the Youth in Focus photo booth to capture your 50th anniversary memories! Welcome, and thank you for attending our concert today! Out of respect for our performers and audience members, please silence all cell phones and electronic devices. Please refrain from talking or noise during the performance of each piece and take crying children to the lobby. Taking photos or video during the concert is prohibited. Please model courteous concert etiquette for the next generation. Thank you! Northwest Girlchoir rehearses and performs on the traditional land of the first people of Seattle, the Duwamish People past and present. We honor with gratitude the land itself and the Duwamish Tribe. This acknowledgement does not take the place of authentic relationship with indigenous communities but serves as a first step in honoring the land we are on.
50th Anniversary Concert & Celebration Combined Choirs Corner of the Sky Stephen Schwartz (b. 1948) From Pippin We open today's celebration with an anthem from the musical Pippin, which opened on Broadway in 1972, the year Northwest Girlchoir was founded. You'll hear gendered language in the verses we sing: "men" was meant to be allinclusive in 1972. The choristers recognized that this was the norm at the time of our founding; this gave them better insight into why founding a Girlchoir was so important – and perhaps a bit revolutionary. The text, about finding one's place in the world, spoke to our singers in deep ways. One chorister was moved to tears as she shared during rehearsal that being in Girlchoir allowed her to find her place, her people, her "Corner of the Sky." May it be so for generations of singers to come! Prep Choir and Ensemble I Had a Little Nut Tree English Folk Song Rob Tucker, triangle arr. by Betty Bertaux Prep choristers are excited to share this choral arrangement of a historic English nursery rhyme, I Had a Little Nut Tree. Many children’s folk songs and rhymes are rooted in historical events; this is one example. Singers learned that in the 1500s, there was a royal marriage between Catherine of Aragon, from Spain, and Prince Arthur, heir to the English throne. Their marriage was especially valuable to Prince Arthur’s family as it meant an alliance with Spain, who had recently financed Christopher Columbus’s voyage to North America. Spain, therefore, would soon reap the monetary benefits of colonization in the Americas. Spoken from the perspective of Prince Arthur, or perhaps all of England, I Had a Little Nut Tree outlines the wealth of England that the royal family was willing to share with Spain: "nutmeg" refers to spices England was acquiring from the Far East, and "pears" signify England’s agricultural produce. Singers have enjoyed painting a picture of this storyline as they sing, employing expressive musical elements to communicate the perspective of the young Prince Arthur in advance of his complex marriage. This piece offered a wide range of musical learning for Prep Choristers. We have worked on visually following a musical score, identifying familiar rhythms, and connecting the melodic contour of our voices with the notes on the staff. As we continue our work with solfege syllables and aural skills, we have been practicing recognition of different intervals in the music as steps, skips and leaps. We continue to reflect as an ensemble on what it means to “perform”, and how we are delighted to be joined by Ensemble singing harmony with us in the latter half of the piece. Fresca and Ensemble Imbakwa Jim Papoulis (b. 1961) Rob Tucker, percussion Swahili English Translation Imbakwa moyo Sing for the heart Unaweza kusikiya You can hear me cry Nalia natia tama I cry, I touch my cheek Watoto wanalia The children cry Nakwambia , I'm telling you, Nisikia, moyoni Listen to me, hear my heart
Fresca learned this piece to sing with its New York City-based composer, Jim Papoulis, and half a dozen youth choirs in a festival earlier this month. Imbakwa was written for the score of a film about TunaHAKI, an organization benefiting orphans in Tanzania. The text underscores the empathy toward the plight of the orphans through added choreography. Fresca Banaha Congolese Folk Song; arr. by Russell Robinson Rob Tucker, percussion At the foot of the pineapple tree, Yaku ladles a banana into his aunt's red hat. This folk song from the Democratic Republic of Congo features text from the Kiluba language of the Katanga province in Southern Congo, and is a joyful outburst of silliness - pineapple trees in Congo? Bananas distributed by ladle...into a hat? A blogger in Congo writes, "Clearly, this ecstatic outburst in song is meant to transport the singer to a fanciful land where anything is possible, [which is] just the kind of song we all need from time to time." The energetic tune is set in three-part canon, or round. Developing choirs learn to hold their parts while hearing the unfolding of the polyphonic layers. The melody’s infectious rhythms make the singers dance! Amabile Palomita Traditional Lament from Peru; arr. by Randal Swiggum Zart Dombourian-Eby, flute; Alexa Chiddix, solo Spanish English Translation Palomita, donde estas? Little dove, where are you? Que tu busca mi querer. Because I am looking for you. Solitaria, talves lloras Lonely, perhaps you cry, Sin tener como volver. without a way to come back. Mi paloma, yo perdi! My dove, I’ve lost you! Y ne sé donde se fué. I don’t know where you went. Desolado, yo la busco, Desolate, I search for you Quizà nunca la vere. Perhaps never to see you. As choristers learned this haunting melody, they noted that it moves between major and minor tonalities. When asked to speculate why that might be, they immediately connected the melody to the text. Although the text itself seems hopeless, the music indicates that there is, in fact, hope that the dove and narrator will be reunited. We are indebted to Nora Uribe for her assistance with our Spanish pronunciation. El Coquí Puerto Rican Folk Song; arr. by Judith Herrington and Sara GlickThe coquí is a tiny tree frog native to the rainforests of Puerto Rico. Its name is derived from the song it sings from night to dawn: “ko-kee!” It is a cultural symbol of Puerto Rico and has been for centuries - it appears in stone carvings created by Puerto Rico’s native Taíno inhabitants and remains an “unofficial mascot” today. Listen to the constant motion of the piano accompaniment; it mimics the traditional Taíno guiro, a percussion instrument with a serrated edge that makes a raspy sound when scraped with a stick. (Choristers took turns playing a frog-shaped guiro along with the clapped rhythms during rehearsal.) The final portion of the arrangement challenges the choristers to sing harmonies with a decidedly Spanish sound. These chords, based on intervals from the Phrygian dominant scale, are tricky to tune. The
arrangement’s use of native and colonial musical influences is appropriate when describing a small animal that has remained consistently important to the environment – regardless of who has inhabited the land. Inscription of Hope Z. Randall Stroope (b. 1953) Generations of Northwest Girlchoir singers have enjoyed learning and performing this piece; in a survey of alums, it was one of the most-requested pieces to hear at this concert. Amabile choristers chose to honor the words of the anonymous individual who, while hiding from the Nazis to escape capture during the Holocaust, inscribed this text on a cellar wall. You will, therefore, hear “God language” as it was original to the author. When asked why they thought this piece was important for us to learn and perform, the choristers had a range of answers: “...because we need to keep paying attention to the terrible parts of war that happen even today – like in Ukraine”; “...because there are a lot of people out there (including my [family member]) who don’t see or feel hope and think poorly about themselves...This song is a reminder that there is hope and that you’re not alone”; so that “...people in dark places, wherever they be, can know that someone before them experienced their pain...We can remind them that others today feel their struggle, and although doubt and sorrow will always exist, we should sing this song to spark a fire of hope in us, hope for a better tomorrow.” The choristers also identified, individually, the things that give them hope – today and for the future. Vivace Moon, Are You Out There? Peter Robb (b. 1946) From Night and Day Moon, Are You Out There? is one of the pieces Vivace looks forward to performing this summer on tour at PICFEST. The piece was written by the founder and artistic director of PICFEST, Peter Robb, and we are excited and honored to be joining him in PICFEST's very last festival season. This piece offers a moody reflection on the moon and its role in our lives; during rehearsal, the choristers discussed their own perceptions of the moon and learned some of the symbolism it holds within various cultures. Musically, the piano accompaniment acts as its own voice rather than simply a support for the singers, the combination of which creates a nice musical conversation with interesting harmonies. Hamisha Asar Flory Jagoda (b. 1923); arr. By Nick Page Ladino English translation Hamisha Asar, Hamisha Asar Hamisha Asar, Hamisha Asar Ven a vermos, vamos kantar. Come to visit us, we will sing La balabaya mos asperra The hostess awaits us Kon kintze platos de fruta. With fifteen platters of fruit. Bendicho su nombre Blessed be his name, Sinyor del mundo Lord of the Universe Frutas de Israel. Fruits of Israel. Hamisha Asar, Hamisha Asar Hamisha Asar, Hamisha Asar Ven a vermos, vamos balyar. Come to visit us, let us dance La balabaya mos asperra The hostess awaits us La baklava i kave. With baklava and coffee. Flory Jagoda had a happy youth spent with her Nona (grandmother) in the Bosnian village Vlasenica and with her parents in Sarajevo. After World War II, Flory married an American sergeant and moved to the United States. Hamisha
Asar is one of the songs that she and her three children continued to perform to celebrate the life and traditions of the Bosnian Sephardim, a rich Jewish heritage that was kept alive by the Sephardic Jews forced out of Spain in 1492. “Hamisha Asar” are the Ladino words (the Spanish-Hebrew language spoken by the Sephardic Jews) for Tu B’Shevat, the springtime Jewish holiday that celebrates when sap begins flowing in the trees. Flory Jagoda remembers: “...we children would go house to house, carrying a colorful bag made by our mothers, to gather the customary fifteen kinds of fruit and join in the festivities.” You may notice that the beat of the piece sounds a bit uneven. This time signature is 7/8; each measure has seven beats that combine to create three larger asymmetrical beat groupings - three, then two, then two. Asymmetrical meters are common in Eastern European music, as is the Phrygian dominant scale also featured in this melody. Toward the end of the piece, we hear a descant consisting of only one pitch, creating harmony and pitch clusters as the other voices move around it. This is also a common feature of Eastern European music. Where the Light Begins Susan LaBarr (b.1981); text by Jan Richardson This poem was originally written as a blessing for Christmas, but the composer removed the religious sections of the text to set it in this composition. When commissioned, Susan LaBarr was asked to contemplate the theme of “peace” by the director of the choir commissioning her. LaBarr writes, “This text, while originally written about Advent and the anticipation of Christmas, uses wonderfully universal words that relate to ideas of peace and hope. Jan’s blessing makes me think that within each of us is the ability to work toward peace. It doesn’t take a monumental action, just many little kindnesses that we can show to others every day which radiate out to bring light to the whole of humanity. When we love, accept, and care for all of our neighbors – despite our differences – we find that the light that the dark world so desperately needs begins in us.” This is another piece we look forward to performing this summer at PICFEST. The piano accompaniment is quite sparse, leaving the voices and text to shine. Each voice part is challenged in this piece; each gets the melody as the music moves between one-, two-, and three-part harmony. The singers were also challenged to find a lighter and purer singing tone which is very effective when used at the right moments. This piece required them to navigate beginning and ending with that lighter tone while growing into their full, maturing tone at the piece’s peak. This piece demonstrates all the hard work the singers have put in this year, and we hope you go with peace and light as we close this season at NWGC. Ensemble On the Sunny Side of the Street Jimmy McHugh (1894-1969); lyrics by Dorothy Fields arr. by Rosana Eckart This 1930's song, introduced as a piece for a Broadway musical revue, has become a jazz standard and was made popular by Tommy Dorsey and The Sentimentalists when it rose to the 16th spot on the popular music chart of 1945. Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, Judy Garland, and Doris Day are some of the notable women who have recorded this tune of joyful optimism. Singers had fun exploring different stylistic ways to ornament notes in this piece. The Lonesome Road James Taylor (b. 1948); arr. by Kirby Shaw Singer-songwriter James Taylor has a massive catalog of recorded music. In 2013, he partnered with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and Utah Symphony to perform some of his songs; one of those pieces was That Lonesome Road. During the collaboration, he was interviewed with Mormon Tabernacle Choir director Mack Wilburg. Taylor said, "To a certain extent, I'm chorally focused in my music. I always work with four or five other singers when I'm on tour, and there are some of my songs that just want to be performed by a choir. One of the songs we performed was an a cappella version of That Lonesome Road. After the choir and I rehearsed it the first time, I turned to Mack and said, 'This song has died and gone to heaven!'" Ensemble sings a similar arrangement, rescored for treble voices, for you here today.
During rehearsal, Ensemble wrestled with the text, noting the wisdom of cooling one's head and warming one's heart before reacting in times of frustration or anger. They discussed the emotions they wished to portray through this performance and noted that the piece's beauty would shine whatever their final decision. Homeward Bound Marta Keen (b. 1953); arr. by Jay Althouse Seniors, featured small group Alums were surveyed as we built this concert and gave suggestions for pieces they would like to hear. I decided to ask current singers what pieces were meaningful to them that they might like to revisit, and the seniors spoke up. They said that this piece held specific, special memories for them as, while on tour in Oregon when they were younger, they sang the piece multiple times. Once, while on a bus at day's end, they sang it at sunset as a rainbow appeared in the sky. At a tour performance, choristers from an older choir heard NWGC sing it and were moved to tears, sharing how it brought back happy memories of their younger choir years. Ensemble sings this for you today as its final piece to honor the musical memories of our current choristers. Amore Seniors Home Jade Castrinos and Alex Ebert; arr. by Andrew Seifert Andrew Seifert, piano A senior chorister writes: We chose Home as our senior song because it represents us always having a home to come back to with Northwest Girlchoir. It celebrates laughing, loving, and spending time with each other. It is a reminder that wherever the next chapter of our lives takes us, we can always come home. Amore I’m On My Way Tradition Spiritual; arr. by Anthony Trecek-King The arranger writes: “This traditional spiritual...tells the journey to Canaan (or Canada), where escaped slaves would travel for their freedom in the 19th century. It was particularly important to make it to Canada after the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act when local, state, and federal governments, along with citizens, were obligated to return escaped slaves no matter where they were found. During the 60s Civil Rights movement the lyrics changed, and the song was retitled as I’m On My Way to Freedom Land. The word ‘freedom’ would not have been used in the 19th century, but during the Civil Rights movement African Americans used language that was direct. This arrangement is based on Mahalia Jackson’s version created in the 1950’s. Jackson, who was interested in finding new styles to incorporate into gospel music, added an Afro-Cuban beat.” Listen for that musical fusion in the piano accompaniment and for an energized, determined vocal sound from the choristers. Think On Me Alicia Ann Spottiswoode (1810-1900); arr. by James Mulholland Alicia Ann Spottiswoode wrote many popular 19th century songs in Scotland, the best-known of which is Annie Laurie. She was quite interested in collecting folk stories and songs and worked to preserve architectural and archeological remains throughout her life. As in many parts of the world, it was quite unusual for a woman to find success as a composer (or even be published, let alone have her music performed), but her marriage to Lord John Scott gave her status and privilege that enabled her work. Amore choristers contemplated the people in their lives who they love, and who love them, as they discussed how to bring this piece to life. That night, emotions of love and loss were particularly poignant as they considered friends and family members who would someday not be geographically close to them. The text brings comfort, however, as we remember to “think on” one another to celebrate good news, to rely on in challenging times, and to connect with – even from a distance - when we feel lonely.
Parting Glass Celtic Farewell Song; arr. by The Wailin’ Jennys Although the earliest-known publication of this tune appears in a manuscript of Scottish airs that dates between 1615 and 1635, this song - and this arrangement - has strong Irish and North American influences. Traditionally sung at the end of a gathering of friends, the “parting glass” refers to the final hospitality offered to the one leaving. Also referred to as the “stirrup cup,” the departing friend was offered one final drink to fortify them for the journey after they had mounted their horse. Amore and Alums Hymn to Freedom Oscar Peterson (1925-2007); text by Harriette Hamilton Rebecca Rottsolk, conductor; Dwight Beckmeyer, pianist arr. by Seppo Hovi Oscar Peterson was considered one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time. A composer and performer, Peterson was Canadian and won countless awards that include eight Grammys and a variety of Canadian and American prizes for his music. No Time Traditional Camp Meeting Songs; arr. by Susan Brumfield Sara Boos, conductor; Minju Kim, pianist This beautiful arrangement is beloved by Northwest Girlchoir alums and current choristers. It combines the melodies of two camp meeting songs: “Rise, Oh Fathers” and “No Time,” both of which were collected by a man who learned it from his grandfather, a Missouri preacher. Amore singers performed this recently at a concert given in conjunction with the Korean Music Association in Seattle and will take it on tour as a piece of Americana when they travel to Scotland and England this summer. Combined Choirs Let the River Run Carly Simon (b. 1943); arr. by Craig Hella Johnson Rob Tucker, Dori Baunsgard, and Youngjin Joo, percussion More than half of this year’s choristers sang the song Jerusalem on the March concert; singers learned that the text is based on a William Blake poem criticizing the Industrial Revolution in England and dreaming of a better world. In March, our choristers spent time envisioning what their perfect society might look like. Today, we sing again about a “new Jerusalem,” this time with inspiration from Carly Simon’s chart-topping hit from the 1980’s movie, Working Girl. We are all called to build a place where everyone can thrive, but we may be nervous - “trembling, shaking” - as we run toward the work to build a “silver city” that shines with possibility. We close with this as a joyful reminder that Northwest Girlchoir will use the choral art to remain welcoming, build community, and empower girls and all youth marginalized by gender for decades to come. Northwest Girlchoir 2022-2023 -Prep ChoirGeorgia Amott Florence Andersen Sefa Benson-Nava Freyja Bishop Adri Blood Odessa Braxton Nora Brenner Scout Bryan Emily Calabria Etta Carson Etta Cavnar Hattie Clare Nora Conrad-Hansen Naomi Cook Lorelai Goetz Annabelle Gunn Emma Hallett Youyou He Elise Johnston Ellie Kirk Vivienne Kodish Meera Lunia Aurelia MacRae Luisa Manning Bo Maximo Caroline Molloy Petunia Mosca
Maiya Nguyen Charlotte Ostbye Quinn Pagan Margaret Pund Macy Reed Ava Rigel Gloria Romano Estee Rysavy Molly Sanford Klara Schefe Lily See Morgan Sherman Emmy Takasaki Jordana Tomky Finnley Torgerson Violette Van Dorsten Izzy Watkins Elliott Whyte Lillian Zerbey -FrescaVerity Baskett Elsa Beckner Mara Bokanev Clara Boylan Adrianna Bransky Quinn Brickley Aly Briones Julia Calabria Elayne Christmas Nora Cousans Margot Cross Amaya De Leon Naiya Dory Jennah El Mourabit Nila Fei Dany Foo Vivian Gray Kiara Higgins Cipriana Iocco Mary Johnston Myriam Kerner Ila Kisicki Nikki Koperski Annika Kostal Kiley Kraft Imogen Lemberg Carmen Login Penelope Manza Malu Maximo Clara Miley Cecilia Mortensen Niamh Nauroth Jasmine Ode Quinn O’Flahrity Ellie Olson Thea Pacheco June Pettit Frances Pinto Lauren Reber Liz Reimers Anna Robertson Sierra Ruggiero Charley Sawers GG Scanlon Eliza Shoop Nina Shultz Elizabeth Steinman Burmeister Gracie Stephens Evie Stevens Saiva Stevens Audrey Stone Emmaline Tripp Lenora Underhill Annalie Uribe Ava Jeanne van Wagtendonk Juliette Warren Charlotte Wasse Caroline Whittle Tori Yeung Evie Zhang Kenzie Ziegenbein -AmabileRiya Agrawal LJ Baker Nora Beckner Teresa Bernstein Maren Brothers Saya Buckmaster Marie Buergel Etta Bullaro Julia Carthum Alexa Chiddix Sophia Elias Mae Eberhard Lily Fei Anjali Felix Harper Fogle Christina Franklin Penny Franklin-Bihary Lucy Hart Emmaline Haynes Adeline Johnson Sylvie Kamb Alina Kamrath Joyce Kang Ria Keeney Zina Koroleva Moxie Leopardo Melody Mathisen Lizah McCarthy Maisie McKee Rose Romano Louisa Rough Tommy Russell Avery Salk Amaya Singla Sona Smith Sophie Tang Addie Trask Luella Turver Tapiwa Uetela Melanie Uribe Mia Vega Claire Wilson Vivian Yeager Joyce Zhou -VivaceSerena Barth Ada Braxtan Linzhi-Chan Lauren Christiansen Julia Connor Jenna Del Vento Marcela Delucchi González Brenna Gibson Allie Hart Edith Haynes Sydney Herzog Rose Hethcote Lily Hsi Lydia Javid Eleanor Johnson Morgan Johnson Lucy Lemley Fianna McKee Stella Meerman Priya Murti Gio Newcomer Evelyn Oberdeck Frances Pacheco Audrey Pageler Teagan Pratt August Reimers Emmy Schindler Ellen Schuster Asha Singla Cecelia Vaughan Cece Zhang -AmoreMira Agrawal Elissa Anderson Ainsley Bethurum Drew Blakeley Deedee Bunker Molly Canwell* Ella Eakin Paige Eaton Zora Edelstein* Sydney Goldsmith*+ Gwen Gongaware Lauren Herman Kate Hulslander Katherine Kang*+ Sylvie Kelderman Elena Krentz Amelia Laing Katy Lau Alister Lippert Kate Maschhoff Maggie McGough* Shreya Murti*+ Madison Nguyen Micaela Omoto Maia Pauk Chanssen Pineda*+ Harper Prud’homme* Lea Repovic Leyna Rogers* Abby Rothermel* Josie Rough Macie Runions Isabella Schaedig* Ginger Schreiber*+ Violet Schreiber Alexandra Stevenson Natalie Sutton* Talia Terpstra Esme Tilghman Rosalie Tucker* Eva Vallier+ Ali White+ Zahra Wooden Julia Zhang * Ensemble + Seniors
Northwest Girlchoir Staff Northwest Girlchoir Board of Directors Karen Bruno, Artistic Director Amabile, Amore & Ensemble Teacher-Conductor Charity Rasmussen, Vivace Teacher-Conductor Jura Litchfield, Fresca Teacher-Conductor Haley Gabler, Prep Choir Teacher-Conductor Minju Kim, Lead Collaborative Pianist Dori Baunsgard, Vivace Collaborative Pianist Youngjin Joo, Amabile Collaborative Pianist Jill Clymer, Executive Director Kevin Carson, Director of Development Ann Selznick, Choir Administrator Rachel Oliver, Marketing Coordinator Tanya (Glory) Baer, Tour and Concert Coordinator Kris Sigloh, Bookkeeper Laura Hopper and Becky Kelley, Co-Presidents Nidhi Agrawal, Vice President Jason Rogers, Treasurer Christine Perez, Secretary Ryan Buckmaster, James Goldsmith, Kaeli Grant, Jen Lund, Michele Sanchez, Anna Shope, Bina Shukla, Joseph To Acknowledgements Prep Choir Helpers: Gwen Gongaware and Maggie McGough Fresca Helpers: Ainsley Bethurum, Amelia Laing, Leyna Rogers Amabile Helpers: Ginger Schreiber Spanish Language Assistance: Nora Uribe Tech Rehearsal and Concert Volunteers The Staff of Benaroya Hall Concert Recording: Bill Levey, Via Audio Northwest Girlchoir Artistic Staff Dori Baunsgard is a Pacific Northwest native who returned to Seattle in 2011 after conducting choirs and teaching music for many years in Tokyo, Japan and Mussoorie, India. Dori has an avid interest in multiple styles and genres of music from all parts of the globe. In her accompanying career, she has played for many great conductors, including Henry Leck, Edith Copely and Elena Sharkova. Besides her accompanying work she is the conductor of Con Brio Women's Choir and co-conductor (with Beth Ann Bonnecroy) of Wanderlust Women's Choir of Seattle. Dori holds a Bachelor of Music Education from Seattle Pacific University and a Master of Music in Choral Conducting from Western Washington University. Karen Bruno joins Northwest Girlchoir after serving as the Artistic Director of the Lawrence Community Girl Choir Program in Appleton, Wisconsin for 25 years. During that time, her choirs performed at state and regional choral conferences. A frequent guest clinician, Ms. Bruno has worked with youth and treble honor choirs throughout the Midwest, including the South Dakota All-State Choir, the AWAKE Choral Festival for Kodaly educators, and the Beyond the Notes Festival created to serve public school ensembles. She taught choral music education classes at Lawrence University’s Conservatory of Music after having taught in two public school districts in Wisconsin and at an international school in Dakar, Senegal. She has served the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) in a variety of ways at the state, regional, and national level. Highlights include several terms as the Children’s and Community Youth Choir Repertoire and Standards Chair for the North Central region, being elected president of the Wisconsin ACDA chapter, and serving as a founding member of ACDA’s national standing committee for Advocacy and Collaboration. Karen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Economics from Smith College and a Master of Music degree in Music Education from Boston University. Haley Gabler joined the Northwest Girlchoir community as the new Prep Choir Teacher-Conductor this year. She currently teaches K-8 General Music at Villa Academy in the Laurelhurst neighborhood in Seattle. Haley is an active performer in the Seattle area, singing with several professional choral ensembles in addition to serving as a Section Leader for the Cathedral Choir at St. James Cathedral. She is a graduate of St. Olaf College with a B.M. in Music Education and has completed Kodaly Level I training. Haley is a proud alum of the Lawrence Community Girl Choir program where she sang for nine years, five of which were spent under the direction of Karen Bruno, the newly appointed Artistic Director of Northwest Girlchoir. Youngjin Joo is an organist, pianist, and collaborative artist. One of her earliest memories is playing the piano sitting on her mom’s lap. Her mom was her first piano teacher and has been her greatest supporter. She was introduced to the organ by the parish priest during her senior year of high school. These two keyboard instruments have been her passion. She has a great interest in improvisation in various styles, from baroque to jazz. She studied music theory/composition and music education at Seoul National University and holds a Master of Music degree in Organ Performance from the University of Washington. She has held musical posts at churches in Greenwich, CT, Aston and Wayne, PA, and she is the organist at Bellevue Presbyterian Church, where she accompanies the Sanctuary choir and Pneuma ensemble.
Minju Kim returns to Northwest Girlchoir this year as Lead Collaborative Pianist. A native of South Korea, she has been active as a soloist, chamber musician and collaborative pianist, currently at Shoreline Community College and Seattle University. Minju's avid interest in chamber music led her to play at Bowdoin International Music Festival and Music Academy of the West as a fellow in collaborative piano. Also, she served as a chamber pianist for chamber groups playing piano trios at the Heifetz International Music Institute. Minju holds degrees in piano performance from Seoul National University in Korea (B.M.), Indiana University (M.M. and P.D.), and University of Texas in Austin, (D.M.A.), as well as a M.M. in collaborative piano from New England Conservatory. Jura Litchfield is in her second year as our Fresca Teacher-Conductor, having previously served for three years as our Prep Choir Conductor. She shares her passion for teaching young people and over thirty years of experience as a music teacher, conductor, and arts administrator. Jura has taught music and choir at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, in Massachusetts, Berlin, Germany, and New York (City and State). She has served as Director of Music at churches in Maine and New York. She has also worked as the chair of a school music department, as a director of a community arts center, and as a development director for a graduate institute. Jura has Kodály and Orff certification and degrees from Columbia University (Master of Arts) and Barnard College (Bachelor of Arts). Charity Rasmussen is excited to be the new Vivace Teacher-Conductor having previously led Prep Choir in Northwest Girlchoir's 49th season. She has been teaching elementary music in the Edmonds School District for five years and spent one year teaching in Lake Washington School District before that. In her current position, she teaches K-6 general music, an elective 4-6 choir, and an auditioned 6th grade handbell choir. She is also an accomplished pianist and vocalist and sings with the Evensong Choir and Women's Compline Choir at Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral in Seattle. In 2018, the Evensong Choir spent a two-week residency singing in Ely Cathedral and St. Paul's Cathedral in England, and Charity just enjoyed another twoweek residency with the choir in August 2022, singing in Chichester Cathedral and Bristol Cathedral. She holds a Kodaly certification and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education degree from Seattle Pacific University. Our Generous Donors Northwest Girlchoir thanks the following supporters for their generous gifts over the past year: Director’s Circle ($10,000+) 4Culture Artsfund The Moraine Foundation Kevin Ruddell & Heather Kroll** Seattle Office of Arts & Culture Bina & Dharma Shukla Benefactor’s Circle ($5,000+) Anonymous (1) Michael King** Jason Rogers & Heike Nuhsbaum Eric & Tera Schreiber** Joyce & Gary Tomlinson** Composer’s Circle ($2,500+) Maria Drury** David Edelstein & Becky Kelley James & Geraldine Godfrey Foundation Beth & James Goldsmith Brian Hsi & Laura Hopper* Erik & Hayley Johnson Erik Johnson & Elizabeth Kain Jonathan Kamrath & Lexi Harlow Benjamin McGough & Kerstin Edlefsen Microsoft Matching Gifts Program Frank & Mary Montgomery** Katie & Howard Rossbach** Shayne Stevenson & Tracy Morris Washington State Arts Commission Leadership Circle ($1,000+) Anonymous (3) Phuong Bajari The Boeing Co. Gift Match Program David Brickley & Michele Sanchez Karen Bruno Emi & Ryan Buckmaster Ross & Susie Bunker** Kevin Carson & Rad Milosavljevic Rebecca & Mike Chan Anita & J. Olen Chiddix Jill Clymer & Rob Tucker Mary Ann S. Clymer Rachel Engrissei* Paul & Amy Franklin-Bihary Stacy & Will Gunn Tom Johnston** Carol & Robert Kupyn** Donna & Matt Losch Michelle Lynch** in honor of Emerson Lynch* Mirinesse Women’s Choir Kristina & Sandeep Murti Lisa & Robert Pageler Christine Perez & Dave Barth Polk & Sam Prud’homme Benjamin Romano & Anna Shope Rebecca Rottsolk & Tony Costa Salesforce Foundation Michael Schaedig & Lisa Godfrey Scott & Evelyn Schreiber Brian & Laura Soriano Wendy Yee Choral Patrons ($500-999) Eric & Laura Ayers Michael & Monica Bernstein** Sheri & Les Biller Foundation in honor of Geri Morris Auriemma* HP Canwell & Darcy Dixon Charities Aid Foundation Steven Connor & Noelle Remington Marilyn & William Cranston Diana Davis Stephanie & Travis Eaton Leticia Evora Shelley Fairweather Vega & Matthew Vega Beth & Bryon Gongaware Torrey Haynes & Katie Weinstein Ken Higgins & Jennifer Lund* Kathy Hoxit** Patrick & Sara Javid Cassandra Johnston** Morgan* & Nathan Jones Ryan & Travis Keay Anna Korpak & Jonathan Peck Alyson Krokosky John & Laura Kvasnosky** Steve & Pam Love** Noelle* & Tyler Luiten Jennifer Macallister** & David Rodgers Brian & Linda Maschhoff Kevin McKee & Tracy Nolder Jerry Millhon Robert & Lori Morris** Geri* & Anthony Morris Auriemma
Liz Nichols Ingrid & Wilfred Nuhsbaum in honor of Jason Rogers Sarah, Nora and Owen Rogers DeWeerdt Fiona Ruddell* Charlie Ruggiero & Christina Jahncke Bridget* & Ben Schuster Andrew & Kristi Seifert Josh Sherman & Suzanne Steinman Kathryn Smith Lani Smith* Rachel Spain* & Andy Baker James & Renee* Stober** Jerry Tucker Nick & Sarah Vialpando Arianne* & Chris Wallace Yijung Zhang & Ada Ma Choir Supporters ($250-499) Anonymous (2) AmazonSmile Foundation Apple Troy Beckner & Maggie Jones Clara Berg* Andy & Rhonda Bethurum Cathy Bounds Jonathan & Trish Boylan Matthew & Shira Brewer* Kay Miller Browne Samantha Casne* & Aaron Strauss Lisa & Jeff Coleman** Chris Conrad & Anne Hansen Emma & Jenna Del Vento & John Reese Ilham & Rachid El Mourabit Joy & Patrick Gilroy GitHub Google Michael & Joan Hoffman Smith George Johnson Dylan Kinard* Ashley & Zane Kraft Ken Lederman & Meredith Dorrance*/** Theo & Mary Ann Mandelkorn** Kay McMillan & Michael Scanlon Microsoft Alumni Network Carol Nelson Dat Nguyen & Jenny Mao Elizabeth & Robert Norheim** Andrew & Angelina Oberdeck Mike & Karen Reed Darr Reimers & Kate Hendsbee Pavle Repovic & Lina Fine Jenny Roraback & Ryan Carson Angelique & Eric Rothermel Sarah Salomon* Kristina Sigloh Bryce & Shaharzad Smith Elise Tanimoto* T-Mobile Katherine & Robert Vaughan** Sangeetha Visweswaran Molly Weberpal Robert & Sharon Wilson Angela Wood* Pollyanna & Ryuhei Yokokawa Mona* & Andrew Zellers Dongxiao Zhang & Wei Cheng Partners of the Choir ($100-249) Anonymous (5) Bob & Sue Adriance in Memory of David Norwine Susan Aigner Amerisource Bergen Foundation Brandon & Kate Baker Misty Baskett Theodore Benson & Paul Nava Madrigal Beth Ann Bonnecroy & Paul Hannah Alex Bransky & Lisa Schafer Thomas Braxtan Adrienne & Jon Brenner Adam & Kari Brothers Joshua Buergel & Megan Hazen Matt & Melissa Carthum Serena Chin-Daniel Sui Jun Choi Kristina & Rowan Christmas Erin Cipolla & Steven Rysavy Melanie Cohen* Ashley Copen & Paul Kisicki Patrick Cousans & Kelly Schmitt Hong Dong Jill Doran & Phillip Manget Michael & Rosemary Dunigan** Billy & Jenny Eberhard Jenny Gardner Tina & Ken Giesbers** Kaeli Grant* Susan & Kerry Grant** Marita Graube & Dean Stevens Rachel Green* Sarah & Scott Herzog Kathryn & Kevin Hethcote Carol & Glenn Horton** Carol Hulslander Susan Jenkins Emma Johnston* Julie & Tony Kang April & Bryan Kelley Cindy & John Kent** Annie & Justin Kirk Lora Knight & Sean Cockbain** Tony & Kristi Kong** Amy & Nathan Kostal Matthew & Meighan Krows David Lemley & Diana Fryc Steven Lippert & Katy Vanderpool Barbara Livermore Patrick Long & Martha Hyde** Susan Luteman in Honor of Tera Schreiber Jennifer Lynch Sitara Marin Fred & Shannon McCarthy Tiemen Meerman & Mykel Ziolo Elizabeth Millhon Kevin Molloy & Emily Streuker Ralph Moorman Chris Nauroth & Megan Smithling Bonnie Neitz Karen Nestvold & Paul LaFond** Myan Nguyen & Rory O’Flahrity Rachel Oliver Gregg Omoto & Jen Reese Gene Openshaw** Charity Rasmussen Andy & Sara Rigel Suzanne Rogers “Leyna’s Memere” Chris & Deborah Salas-Haynes Michael Salk & Heather Wind Holly & Lee Schindler Ann Selznick Jenny Scott & John Tynes Evan & Miranda Shoop Amy & Don Sims** Suzanne & Summer Singla Leslie Steinman & Joe Burmeister John & Lisa Stewart Stanley Stewart Zhequn Tang & Carol Xu Andrew & Julie Tempest** Whitney Tjerandsen Daniel Vaughan & Eliza Lagerquist Brittany & Travis Warren Molly Wizenberg Friends of the Choir (up to $99) Anonymous (7) Adobe Emory Anderson* Grant & Michele Anderson** Audra Andrews & Ben Mathisen Veronica Appolonia Haley Barton* Justine & Greg Barton** Keith Blood & Robin King Christopher Braxtan Anne Bush* EllenAnn Chiddix & Timothy Johnston Erik & Katie Christiansen Stephanie Clare & Laurie Marhoefer Mary-Kathy Cole Keith Cook & Katharine Wear Amy & Jeremy DeLeon Expedia Gives Matthew Fei & Thida Ong Scott Fogle & Kristine Gilmore Deanne & Craig Fryhle** Loan Giang Frank & Sue Gregory Mike Hall & Jennifer Thames Brian & Kelli Hart Jonathan Haynes & Sarah Troedson Andy Herman & Kristy Larch Carol Hoffman Bronwen Houck David Isenberger Tonia Jenson Lari & Robert Johnson Bryndis Jonsson** Dave & Kristie Keeney Phillip Kezele Blair Klein Catherine & Ian Kodish Anna Kong* Kris & Lisa Koperski Gail Olson Laing & Michael Laing Amy Lamken Nienna Leopardo Jessica Levine in memory of Ruth Levine Winchee Lin & Tom Nguyen Audrey Livermore
Frances Lunder Jeremy & Meredith MacRae Guga & Sterling Maximo Elena Mayer* Megan & Mike McCarthy Tracy McDaniel Selina Morris* John Morris & Michaelann McGuire** Dan & Kathy Mortensen Sherry Natkow in Honor of Ellen Schuster Paula & Thomas Newcomer Nick & Gina Olson Melody Peters* Isabella & Nick Robertson Bonnie & Dan Rough Katy & Marc Sanford Rachel Seevers Alex Smith in Honor of Hayley Barton Patty Spohn Steven Sterne Brittany & John Stevens Anna & Tyler Sutton** Heidi Svensson** Cheryl & Rick Tedrow** Ester & Keith Thomas in Honor of Harper Prud’homme Bonnie & Stephen Tilghman Joseph To Jessica & Kyle Turver Dorlim & Onei Uetala Mandy & Josh Underhill Mary Villeneuve & Chad Kelderman Jesse White Gigi Wickwire Lynette Woerne Tad Yeager & Kristina Skeen Kyle & Lauren Zerbey *NWGC alum **NWGC alum parent(s) List includes gifts received May 10, 2022 through May 15, 2023 Thank you to our Spring Fling: Good as Gold auction item donors! AEG Presents Nidhi Agrawal Bakery Nouveau Ben Bridge Jeweler Beth Ann Bonnecroy Matthew & Shira Brewer Brimmer & Heeltap Karen Bruno Emi & Ryan Buckmaster Burke Museum Caffe Ladro Kevin Carson Citation Wines Jody Clovis The Clymer-Tucker Family Stephanie Reese Coates Creative Dance Center Bud Cudmore Dockside at Duke's Dunn Gardens Susan & John Eakin David Edelstein & Becky Kelley Rachel Engrissei Float Seattle Gwen Glass Grettie's Goodies James & Beth Goldsmith Kaeli Grant The Inn at Langley Jennifer Lund Massage Jet City Improv Kyle Johnson Tom Johnston The Kang Family The Kodish Family Macrina Bakery Sarah McMahon McMenamins Pubs and Breweries Museum of Flight Museum of History & Industry Museum of Pop Culture National Nordic Museum NEKO Cat Cafe Northwest Girlchoir Board of Directors Northwest Outdoor Center OOLA Distillery Pagliacci Pizza Paint the Town Christine Perez & Dave Barth Rick Steves' Europe, Inc Jason Rogers & Heike Nuhsbaum Benjamin Romano & Anna Shope Saffron Grill The Salk Family Michele Sanchez Tera & Eric Schreiber Bina Shukla Bridget Schuster Seattle Aquarium Seattle Bouldering Project Seattle Men's Chorus Seattle Opera Seattle Repertory Theatre Seattle Sports Seattle Symphony Seattle Theatre Group Kris Sigloh & Chris Allen The Steamer Virginia V Foundation Taproot Theatre Taste of India Third and Wall Art Group April Tomlinson Joyce & Gary Tomlinson Total Wine & More Trader Joe's Ballard Trip Scholars Sarah Vialpando Village Theatre Wild Waves Theme & Water Park Woodland Park Zoo Jeanette Underwood Special thanks to our community partners:
I began my application for the Artistic Director position of NWGC “I have been training for this job all my life….” Teaching music at the time with a variety of musical life experiences and as a 34-year-old mom of two young daughters, I knew I was ready for a change. NWGC became my perfect job. We were part of the blossoming of the ‘children’s choir movement’ across North America. It was an exciting time, but through it all, what stays with me is that I got to be a part of a dynamic community of young women doing something I loved that mattered in the lives of my singers. Through our music making we became a choir family, bonded During my 18 years as Artistic Director, I most enjoyed getting to see choristers grow and transform: a new Fresca chorister learning how to follow a choral score; an Amabile chorister becoming a strong part singer; a Vivace chorister realizing that she is surrounded by supportive friends; an Amore singer becoming a role model for her peers. It was gratifying to see growth over the course of a year, but also over many years: a Fresca student who cried and hid under the piano at her audition becoming a confident, poised performer in Amore; a 9th grader’s light voice turning into a rich, powerful voice as a senior; a Fresca chorister sticking with the program to realize her dream of singing in Amore and Ensemble. I also loved to see the growth of each choir level as a whole, as they progressed from being individual singers in the fall to working well as a team, taking on more and more advanced musical challenges, breathing and singing as one, and a thousand other ways to make the music come alive. Looking Back at 50 Years of Northwest Girlchoir Our inspiring teacher-conductors have led generations of choristers, fostering a sense of belonging and helping them build confidence, musical skills, and teamwork. As we look back at five decades of music making and connection, we invited our past Artistic Directors Rebecca Rottsolk and Sara Boos to reflect on their time with the choir. by the shared love of being creators of something beautiful; we worked hard and felt the satisfaction of doing something uncommonly well; we took risks and explored new musical territory; we shared our music nationally and internationally and became world citizens; we supported each other, formed lifelong friendships, and gained self-esteem and confidence. We became the CHOIR WITH HEART. My hope for NWGC is continued success and wonderful adventures ahead under the leadership of Karen Bruno. Rebecca Rottsolk, Artistic Director 1982-2001 Now it’s great to hear about all the ways you keep transforming into ever more thoughtful, caring, responsible adults, as professionals, leaders, seekers, partners, mothers, community members, and more. Choristers and alums—it was an honor to be with you during your years of growth and transformation in Northwest Girlchoir! Thank you! Sara Boos, Artistic Director 2003-2021 Check out photos from all 50 years of Northwest Girlchoir:
COME S ING WI TH US ! Northwest Girlchoir is welcoming new and experienced singers this fall! We are empowering young people to find their voice through outstanding music education, dynamic choral performances, and an enduring community. We have openings in our choirs for singers in grades 1-12! Tuition assistance available at every choir level. Auditions (grades 5-12) and enrollment (grades 1-4) open now! To sign up, visit: northwestgirlchoir.org Donate Today! Celebrate all that Northwest Girlchoir has accomplished in the past 50 years by investing in our future. Your gift will ensure a vibrant Northwest Girlchoir for the next generation of young singers. Hold your phone's camera over the QR code on the left to donate through our website, or donate by check or cash at the merchandise table in the lobby. Thank you for funding the future of Northwest Girlchoir!