Department of Curriculumand Instruction

pr e s en t s

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Central CountyElementary Honors Chorus

Carol Davis DirectorAndrew Kullburg Accompanist

Thomas S. Wootton High School

May 12, 2016

8:15 p.m.

VISIONWe inspire learning by providing the greatest public education to each and every student.

MISSIONEvery student will have the academic, creative problem solving, and social emotional skills to be successful in college and career.

CORE PURPOSEPrepare all students to thrive in their future.

CORE VALUESLearning Relationships Respect Excellence Equity

Board of Education

Mr. Michael A. DursoPresident

Dr. Judith R. DoccaVice President

Mr. Christopher S. Barclay

Mr. Philip Kauffman

Mrs. Patricia B. O’Neill

Ms. Jill Ortman-Fouse

Mrs. Rebecca Smondrowski

Mr. Eric GuerciStudent Member

School Administration

Mr. Larry A. BowersInterim Superintendent of Schools

Dr. Maria V. NavarroChief Academic Officer

Dr. Kimberly A. StathamDeputy Superintendent of School Support and Improvement

Dr. Andrew M. ZuckermanChief Operating Officer

850 Hungerford Drive Rockville, Maryland 20850 www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org

Program

Kuwa Furaha . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jim Papoulis Djembe: Joshua Rosenberg

When in Doubt, Tell the Truth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nick PageSecondo Piano: Samantha Lalley

The Little Birch Tree . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . arr. Mary GoetzeRecorder: Marcus Mendenhall

The Pink Panther . . . . . . . . . . .Henry Mancini, arr. Jay Althouse

Hashivenu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .arr. Doreen Rao

Hala Lala Layya . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .arr. Audrey Snyder Clarinet: Karen Chen, Hand Drum: Alison Siegel

Hush! Somebody’s Callin’ My Name . . . . . arr. Rollo Dilworth

When I Am Silent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Joan C. Varner

Seize the Day . . . . . . . . . Feldman/Menken, arr. Roger EmersonPiano: Harrison Benford

America the Beautiful . . . . . . . . . . . . Samuel A. Ward/ arr. RedFlute: Vanessa Varela

VISIONWe inspire learning by providing the greatest public education to each and every student.

MISSIONEvery student will have the academic, creative problem solving, and social emotional skills to be successful in college and career.

CORE PURPOSEPrepare all students to thrive in their future.

CORE VALUESLearning Relationships Respect Excellence Equity

Board of Education

Mr. Michael A. DursoPresident

Dr. Judith R. DoccaVice President

Mr. Christopher S. Barclay

Mr. Philip Kauffman

Mrs. Patricia B. O’Neill

Ms. Jill Ortman-Fouse

Mrs. Rebecca Smondrowski

Mr. Eric GuerciStudent Member

School Administration

Mr. Larry A. BowersInterim Superintendent of Schools

Dr. Maria V. NavarroChief Academic Officer

Dr. Kimberly A. StathamDeputy Superintendent of School Support and Improvement

Dr. Andrew M. ZuckermanChief Operating Officer

850 Hungerford Drive Rockville, Maryland 20850 www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org

Program Notes

The composer of Kuwa Furaha, Jim Papoulis, works closely with young people as a part of the “Small Voices Around the Globe Songwriting Workshop.” He often uses children’s own words as the inspiration for his text, and he tries to write from their unique perspective. While working with African children, he was overwhelmingly struck by their joy. He captures the playful rhythms, call-and-response banter, and jubilant hand gestures prevalent in Africa’s musical culture. Kuwa Furaha means “Be Joy!” in Swahili. One of MCPS’ own fine music teachers, Joshua Rosenberg (Wyngate Elementary School), will accompany us on the Djembe.

When in Doubt, Tell the Truth is a commissioned work by well-loved American choral composer Nick Page. His task was to write a set of “very American choral works.” So he turned immediately to the witty, wry, and often clarifying words of Mark Twain. This piece intersperses Twain’s clever comments with a catchy little ditty and requires a third hand on piano. We are being joined by Samantha Lalley, accompanist for the Southeast County Honors Chorus, to complete our keyboard duet. Enjoy!

In Russia, birch trees have a very strong cultural connection symbolizing femininity and are thought, among some, to have healing qualities. The Little Birch Tree is a Russian folk song that also extols the balalaika, a triangular-shaped 3-stringed Russian guitar. A well-known melody in Russia, this folk song was used in the finale of Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4. This arrangement allows students to focus on blending vowel sounds and improving pitch accuracy to create a simple and unified tone. Special guest Marcus Mendenhall will add a recorder descant.

The Pink Panther is a well-known cinematic theme composed by Henry Mancini (1924–1994), who was nominated for an unprecedented 72 Grammys and 18 Oscars over the course of his career. The theme explores stylistic nuances and rhythmic and harmonic complexities, employing the Hungarian minor scale with raised 4th and 7th tones. Jazz is an important part of American culture. According to acclaimed jazz trumpeter Wynton Marsalis, “As long as there is democracy, there will be people wanting to play jazz, because nothing else will ever so perfectly capture the democratic process in sound. Jazz means working things out musically with other people. You have to listen to other musicians and play with them, even if you don’t agree with what they’re playing. It teaches you that the world is big enough to accommodate us all.”

Hashivenu is a gorgeous Israeli folk song that will be sung with sustained phrasing and tall vowels that carry the contour of the melody. It is unaccompanied and tumbles into a lovely three-part canon. The text is from the Old Testament book of Lamentations verse: “Cause us to return Lord, to You, and we shall return. Renew our days of old.

The Lebanese folk song Hala Lala Layya speaks of friendship. Audrey Snyder’s arrangement of this folk song includes dynamic shifts and a key change, adding drama and excitement. Alternating between English and Arabic, the lyrics are translated in part as “Friendship can bloom from a bud to a beautiful flower.” We will be supported on a hand drum by Alison Siegel, General/Choral Music Teacher at Burning Tree Elementary School, and on clarinet by Karen Chen, a student at Richard Montgomery High School.

Hush! Somebody’s Callin’ My Name is a traditional African American spiritual that depicts the experience of enslaved Africans listening for a chance to escape to freedom. Its reference to the Jordan River symbolizes the importance of waterways as escape routes. The “drinking gourd” is the constellation called The Big Dipper, which helped to guide the path to the north. Premier American composer/arranger Rollo Dilworth uses interesting rests, soft vocalizations, and bluesy harmonies to paint a portrait of this song’s rich history.

September 2015 marked the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II. When I Am Silent was written out of the powerful emotions Joan C. Varner experienced after visiting the Nazi concentration camp in Auchwitz, Poland. The notation and prose are meant to remind us of the fallen and to help us remember our mutual past, so as not to repeat our mistakes.

Seize the Day is the most well-known anthem from the Broadway musical Newsies. It portrays the newsboy strike of 1899, in which children and teenagers successfully gained increased wages from two publishing giants: Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst. It is sung primarily in a call-and-response style, recalling newsboys shouting to one another from their respective street corners. One of our amazing honor chorus students, Harrison Benford, will accompany us on piano!

The lyrics for America, the Beautiful were originally a poem titled America by Katharine Lee Bates, published in 1895. They were inspired by a trip to the top of Pike’s Peak in Colorado. The melody was written by Samuel Ward for a different piece in 1892, and the two were put together in a publication titled America, the Beautiful in 1910. The song gained popularity instantly and has sustained its status as one of our most beloved American patriotic songs. We are pleased to showcase the flute talents of one of our own MCPS music teachers, Vanessa Varela (choral teacher, Redland Middle School).

It is a tradition to end the Montgomery County Honors Chorus concerts with this piece. We invite the elementary general music teachers in the audience to join the singers on stage, and we ask the audience to sing along with the chorus as we repeat the second verse. Watch the conductor for your cue

Oh beautiful for patriot dream that sees beyond the years. Thine alabaster cities gleam undimmed by human tears. America, America, God shed His grace on thee. And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea. And crown thy good with brotherhood from sea to shining sea.

2016 Central County Honors Chorus

Harnule Abell Rachel CarsonZachary Abundo Lucy V. BarnsleyYasmine Adbelkarim BeallNuAmen Adudena Lucy V. BarnsleySydney Akpebu Kensington Parkwood Adoration Alade SequoyahJoann Alfaro Rachel CarsonHumayra Ali WyngatePamuk Altan-Bonnet WyngateJack Apetse OlneyJayden Armour Thurgood MarshallNatalie Arnez SequoyahKendall Aronow GreenwoodCaroline Axley Rachel CarsonSarah Bagheri Bells MillHuba Baldeh Fields RoadChase Bangura StrathmoreRenita Bankole-Gibson StrathmoreAlicia Barnett AshburtonMia Barutta Wood AcresGary Bellomy-Holub Thurgood MarshallNathaniel Bement Kensington Parkwood Harrison Benford Bells MillClea Bergsman Wood AcresRiley Betmarik Garrett ParkRohan Bezawada-Joseph CashellSean Bolden Meadow Hall Juliette Bolte MaryvaleCharlotte Brown Mill Creek TowneKaniria Brunner-Scott Flower Hill Hugo Byrne Wood AcresEugene Carson Georgian ForestSierra Castro Seven LocksAlysia Cepeda Meadow Hall Gurnake Chadha Flower ValleyAndrea Chavez Mill Creek TowneEric Chen PotomacIda Chen WaysideLucy Chen WaysideMayling Chen Garrett ParkMira Chenok Bradley HillsCaroline Chou PotomacMegan Chung Bells MillShelby Cohen OlneyRichard Cole AshburtonSofia Cornacchia Rachel CarsonPaloma Corredoira Thurgood MarshallMelanie Cort GreenwoodAshley Cortez Beverly Farms

Alexis Dainty Seven LocksAaliyah Daniels Ritchie ParkAlyssa Day Judith A. ResnikTalia Day College GardensGabriela DeLagarde Fields RoadSophia Didden Fields RoadSamantha DiGiorgio Judith A. ResnikGrace Djoko Tchantcho OlneyCaroline Doyle Ritchie ParkMelody Duggan AshburtonSophia Duncan Carderock SpringsKate Dyson BeallAniela Egan PotomacJanet Egelebo Lucy V. BarnsleyKatlynn Enama Fields RoadEva Escudero Fields RoadIlliana Estrada Lucy V. BarnsleyLara Evinch Bells MillAlyette Fialon WyngateVictoria Fidelis Garrett ParkOlivia Finnegan Rock Creek ValleyJulia-Michelle Fosah Meadow Hall Brooke Frampton Lucy V. BarnsleySarah Franetzki Flower Hill Leeza Frank Brooke Grove Sally Grace Freeburn CandlewoodSienna Greenleaf Wood AcresAllison Griffin GreenwoodKaitlyn Griffin GreenwoodDana Grimley Garrett ParkAngela Gu PotomacAyanna Harmon College GardensNathan Henderson Kensington Parkwood Alexandra Hofacre College GardensJordan Holt StrathmoreSeona Hook Flower ValleyRobert Hsu AshburtonJack Husted Jones LaneDana Idnay Georgian ForestAlexandra Isaac Lucy V. BarnsleyEliana Joftus Bradley HillsJack Joncas Kensington Parkwood Mona Jones Flower ValleySamadhi Jones-Quartey WyngateMaya Jordan WaysideJeanne Joublin PotomacErin Judge BeallDiane Juica LuxmanorAnna Kang Wayside

Zara Kanold-Tso College GardensCarli Katz Rachel CarsonSabeen Kirwi WaysideAlice Knystautas Garrett ParkGrace Koizumi AshburtonElla Koprivica Bradley HillsTod Dave L. S. A. Don Mill Creek TowneSarah LaVan Ritchie ParkJackie Lee Jones LaneRaven Lee Rock Creek ValleyEmmanuella Lema Georgian ForestAva Levin Seven LocksBrooke Levin WyngateKatherine Lew Farmland Jamiah Lightbourne OlneyStephen Linehan-Reckford Beverly FarmsAura Lowery StrathmoreJohn Lu Carderock SpringsJuliana Ludwig Carderock SpringsMwisala Lupunga-Phillips Garrett ParkVirginia Mack BeallAisha Mai Beverly FarmsSienna Manatos Burning TreeKayla Anne Matibag College GardensLizette Miranda Judith A. ResnikIsabella Mondelli WyngateValeria Morales LuxmanorThomas Morgan CashellWhitney Mouassami OlneyMiku Nagao Thurgood MarshallAlexandra Nagy Jones LaneJacqueline Naranjo BeallAriana Navas Mill Creek TowneKate Olcott PotomacGrace Oristian Jones LaneEmma Orsini Rock Creek ValleyEmily Palacios Meadow Hall Katerina Patounakis Kensington Parkwood Kiara Pearce Burning TreeJenaydi Pelaez Brown Station Daisy Pereira Georgian ForestVeronica Pereira OlneyNethmini Perera Wood AcresXavier Perkins Flower Hill Olivia Pham SequoyahOlivia Profit Garrett ParkJacqueline Ragheb LuxmanorPriyanka Rajapatirana Beverly FarmsMikayla Ralston Mill Creek TowneMaya Ramamurthi Thurgood MarshallMakayla Ramsey BannockburnTrenton Regis MaryvaleLauren Richards Ritchie Park

Melissa Rodgers GreenwoodZoe Rosenstock Bells MillElizabeth Rowe SequoyahElleanna Ruspi MaryvaleShirin Saberi Wood AcresMalachi Saint Joy College GardensCatalina Salazar Brown Station Santiago Sanchez Rock Creek ValleySabrina Sangha CashellLeo Saraf Wood AcresKai Satriano Burning TreeHannah Schulsinger Beverly FarmsSarah Sean Judith A. ResnikArya Sharma GreenwoodMadison Sherman Rachel CarsonEvelyn Shue PotomacZoe Sims CashellJessica Soriano Flower Hill Layla Stanfill StrathmoreJoiah Stewart AshburtonMary Elizabeth Stockschlaeder Beverly FarmsHelina Tamiru Ritchie ParkOlivia Teitelbaum Flower ValleyHaleena Thompson Lucy V. BarnsleyLana Ticktin AshburtonKalynn Tobin BeallTania Torres Rachel CarsonSamantha Travis Carderock SpringsShelly Tu Meadow Hall Francesca Tweedy WyngateElla Tzeng AshburtonEmmy Tzeng AshburtonAndres Valentine College GardensYesenia Valentine College GardensSophia VanLowe Burning TreePatricia Vedamony WyngateAbigail Vincent Kensington Parkwood Nicole Weaver AshburtonCarly Weber Jones LaneMia Weinstein Beverly FarmsSofia Weisz Burning TreeReese West BeallJames White Kensington Parkwood Zach Wisneski BeallJack Wisotzkey Lucy V. BarnsleyCeline Wu Beverly FarmsLindsey Wu Farmland Keanu Yi Ritchie ParkIsaac Young CandlewoodAndrew Yu Bells MillJulia Yue WaysideRegina Yuengling BelmontKaren Zino Farmland

About the Elementary Honors Choruses

The elementary honors choruses were organized in 1982 to provide a special opportunity for elementary students with strong musical interest and outstanding choral singing ability. Two choruses were formed in order to make this experience possible for all qualified students. In 2016 a third chorus was added in response to the increase in student population throughout the county. Students are auditioned by the elementary general music teacher at their school and participate in either the Northwest, Central, or Southeast County Chorus, depending on the location of their school. The directors, accompanists, and managers are Montgomery County Public Schools general/choral music teachers.

Leadership

Mrs . Carol B . Davis, conductor, is a 16-year veteran of Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) and is the general music teacher and choral director at Ritchie Park Elementary School. She holds music education degrees from University of Maryland, College Park (2000), where she studied voice with Regina McConnell, and from the University of Missouri, Columbia (2007). Under her direction, children’s choirs have been featured on National Public Radio’s Voice of America program at the Strathmore Center for the Arts, as part of Dr. Starr’s “State of the Schools” event, and as special guests of renowned saxophonist Dave Koz. In 2009, she was named a Yale Distinguished Music Educator and was a 2014 nominee for the Marian Greenblatt Veteran Teacher Award. She lives in Rockville, Maryland, is married, and has two children.

Mr . Andrew Kullburg, accompanist, is in his fourth year of teaching for Montgomery County Public Schools. He teaches general and choral music at Meadow Hall Elementary School. Mr. Kullburg received his bachelor’s degree in music education with a concentration in piano from Eastern University in St. Davids, Pennsylvania. He is working toward a master of music education degree at the University of Maryland. In addition to the piano, Mr. Kullburg plays the organ, bass, and tuba and has performed as both a soloist and accompanist in several recitals and concerts.

Ms . Victoria Randall, manager, is the music teacher at Kensington Parkwood Elementary School, where she teaches general and choral music and sponsors the KP Players Drama Club.  This is her fifth year at MCPS in this position.  Ms. Randall received her master’s degree in music education from Syracuse University.  This is her first year as manager of the Montgomery County Public Schools Central County Elementary Honors Chorus.  

rehearsal assistants

We are grateful to the Central County general/choral music teachers for the numerous ways they support the Honors Chorus programs. This support includes auditioning and selecting students for the ensemble. Special appreciation is extended to the following teachers who provided invaluable program support by serving as rehearsal assistants:

Judy Barth

Suzana Basaric-Ilic

Jennifer Boice

Ronni Cherrnay

Becky Darnauer-Hubbard

Krista DiBartolomeo

Carolyn Gipe

Ellen Johnson

Anne Kasab

Rebecca McFate

Patricia Mikan

Beth Peterson

Kelsey Roos

Joshua Rosenberg

Meghan Scully

Nicholas Sheets

Alison Siegel

Celia Studt

Carla Wardell

Sandra Williams

Julie Wright

Sponsorship

This program is one of several choral and instrumental honors concerts supported by the Office of Curriculum and Instructional Programs. This office is responsible for countywide programs and activities in music, visual art, dance, and theatre. Through these programs and related co-curricular and community activities, instruction in the arts helps students achieve the Maryland State Fine Arts Content Standards, as outlined in the State Curriculum for Music, and support countywide goals for achieving Success for Every Student.

We are proud of the performance of our students and thank parents and teachers for their continuing support.

Audience Manners

Thank yo for joining us this evening. As the audience, you are an important part of this concert. The audience’s responsibility at formal concerts such as this is to honor the efforts of the performers by providing a listening atmosphere in which their performance can be appreciated by all. Toward this end, we ask for your cooperation in the following:

• While the performance is in progress, remain seated and quiet. If it becomes necessary to leave the auditorium, please do so between musical selections.

• If very young children become restless and disrupt others’ ability to listen, please take them from the auditorium until they are quiet.

• Please do not hum or clap along with the performers unless specifically invited to do so. Extraneous noise decreases the quality of the professional recordings made at this time.

• Show your appreciation for the performance by clapping after each selection. Whistling and cheering are not appropriate at a formal concert.

Thank you for your cooperation.

We hope you will enjoy the performance.

Rockville, Maryland

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