SUMMER 2011 RECAP // UPCOMING CONCERTS // CURRENT VAP NEWS // VAP ALUMNI NEWS // VAP FACULTY NEWS // IN MEMORIAM: EVANGELYNA ETIENNE // SPOTLIGHT: ANNA STROMER // UPCOMING H&H EVENTS

A DAY OF REMEMBRANCE: 9/11 MEMORIAL CONCERT

On September 11, the Handel and Haydn Society’s Young Men’s and Young Women’s Choruses performed at NEC’s Jordan Hall as part of the City of Boston’s “Day of Remembrance.” The centerpiece of the program was the world premiere of Illuminessence: prayers for peace, an interfaith oratorio commissioned by the Vatican from composer Silvio Amato. Other pieces included Massenet’s “Meditation” from Thaïs and an excerpt from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 featuring the famous “Ode to Joy.” The Handel and Haydn choristers performed alongside soloists from NEC and the NEC Youth Philharmonic Orchestra and Youth Chorale, led by Benjamin Zander. The event was broadcast live by WGBH on both of its stations, All-Classical 95.5 and 89.7.

We extend our apologies to Hannah Frith, whose name was not included on the 9/11 program roster. Ms. Frith has been a faithful and valuable member of VAP (Singers, Youth Chorus, and Young Women’s Chorus) since 2005.

SUMMER 2011 RECAP

The ensembles on stage at NEC’s Jordan Hall.

Joe Stillitano, Ed Committee Chair Kathy Weld, Alyson Greer, and Ben Zander.

CURRENT VAP NEWSSINGERS

Breanna Vasily was awarded “most enthusiastic in water sports” at Camp Leslie, where she swam in Pentucket Pond and received instruction in crafts, archery, dancing, and basketball.

YOUTH CHORUS

Jaime Boag performed in her middle school talent show this past spring, wowing the audience with her performance of Lady Gaga’s Paparazzi. Alana Despres attended the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s Days in the Arts (DARTS) camp at Tanglewood. Amaya Sangurima-Jimenez played violin at the Somerville String Camp during the last two weeks of July.

YOUNG MEN’S CHORUS, YOUNG WOMEN’S CHORUS, AND SOLOISTS

Susan Dudka attended The Boston Conservatory’s Vocal/Choral Intensive Program in July.

Britta Erikson sang at Berklee College of Music’s Vocal Summit in June (3 days) and at Berklee’s Singer-Songwriter and Vocal Performance Program at its new campus in Valencia, Spain. Sixty participants from 20 countries were accepted to the program and worked with Sally Taylor, Livingston Taylor, Donna McElroy, Ken Zambello, and Soledad Gimenez, among others. Britta also attended The Boston Conservatory’s Vocal/Choral Intensive Program in July. Lynea German auditioned for American Idol at Hollywood Studios Disney in August with “Colors of the Wind” from Disney’s Pocahontas. She made it to the finals and placed in the top two out of four contestants.

Kathryn (Katie) Hopkins participated in Emerson College’s Pre-College Studio Acting Program from July 11–August 13. The program gives high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to develop their acting skills, and also gives students the opportunity to prepare, refine, and perform audition pieces.

Bailey Lee attended the New England Music Camp as a violist with the BYSO Repertory Orchestra. She also ranked ninth out of 168 420 crews by the Southern Massachusetts Sailing Association after participating in six designated Grand Prix regattas in July and August. Stephenson (Steve) Lee ranked 12th out of 158 420 skippers by the Southern Massachusetts Sailing Association after participating in six Grand Prix regattas. Both Bailey and Steve became US Sailing Level 1-certified sailing instructors and were junior sailing instructors at a yacht club on Cape Cod. Megan Peterson and Ruby Sands sang at the Harmony Explosion! summer camp at Worcester State University from August 11–14. Megan also spent 10 days on a mission trip with Mission Possible, an outreach program that addresses the basic needs of the underserved, as well as spiritual training and ministry. Jessica Toupin was a cast member at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine this past August. On August 6 and 7, she performed the role of the Fairy Mother Wilhelmina in the children’s play Fairy Houses. Following that play, she was a member of the children’s ensemble for The Music Man from August 9–20.

OCT

29

NOV

14

DEC

11

DEC

17

NOV

27

UPCOMINGCONCERTS

Vocal Quartet presents Voices of the Stage

WGBH Classical Cartoon FestivalSymphony Hall11.30amAdmission $15

Lord & Taylor Holiday Campaign: “What is Christmas made of?”

Youth ChorusPrudential Center, Boylston Street5.30pmFree Admission

Winter VAP Choral Ensembles Concert

United Parish of Brookline, 200 Harvard Street5pm Admission $5

Winter VAP Soloists Recital

Seully Hall, The Boston Conservatory, 8 The Fenway3pmFree Admission

H&H Singers Concert

Boston Children’s Museum2.15pm and 2.45pm Free with museum admission ($12)

Young Women’s Chorus at Holiday Music Series

Copley Place Mall5.30pm Free Admission

NOV

27

Christian Figueroa sang the national anthem at the Red Sox game against the Cleveland Indians at Fenway Park on August 4 (the Sox won!). Christian also performed in a gala fundraiser on October 6 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, for his high school alma mater, Academia del Perpetuo Socorro (Our Lady of Perpetual Help), sharing the stage with Broadway actors Josie de Guzman, Tony Chiroldes, and others.

H&H welcomes Alyson Greer, newly appointed conductor of the Young Women’s Chorus, this fall. Since 2006, she has been Director of Choral Music at Hanover High School, where she directs five choirs. Alyson is also the Co-Founder and Assistant Director of Quincy Point Music Academy. She holds both a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance and a Master of Music Education degree from The Boston Conservatory. She was a Full Conductor Fellow at the Sarteano Chamber Choir Conducting Workshop (Tuscany, Italy), where she participated in master classes with Simon Carrington and Bronislawa Falinska and was a featured alto soloist in the Chamber Choir. We also congratulate Alyson and her husband Allan Espinosa on their wedding last July. Michelle Shoemaker (Music Theory Instructor) joined the administration at the All Newton Music School as Director of Communications in September. She also played clarinet in a recital with flutist Vanessa Breault Mulvey in September at The Crane School of Music in Potsdam, NY, as part of the alumni performance series celebrating the school’s 125th anniversary. Susan (Consoli) Turner sang with the Boston Camerata in concerts of early American music on August 27 and 28 at the Parc Floral de Paris, France.

Carolyn Cole (Soloists ’01) presented a cabaret concert at LynnArts on July 30 to help support the efforts of SPIN (Serving People in Need, Inc.), an organization that provides summer youth employment and arts programs in Lynn. The show was a mix of rock, blues, and musical theater featuring Carolyn and the Rusty Scott Trio. Carolyn recently performed in The Stephen Schwartz Project in Washington, DC. She resides in New York City. Michael Maloney (Soloists ’09) performed this summer at the Yankee Homecoming in Newburyport, at Dockside Restaurant in Malden for a benefit concert, and at the Farmer’s Market in front of Boston City Hall. He was also a featured artist at Best Buy Boston in June, took three summer courses at UMass Boston, and was a musical director for a summer program at the Wang Theatre. Michael can be heard at youtube.com/michaelmmusic. Roxanne Michaud (YWC ’09) entered the Art Institute of Boston as an Art History major this fall. Suzanne Wyman (YWC ’09) is a junior at Boston University. She is majoring in Advertising at the College of Communication with a concentration in Women’s Studies. Liza Ziering (YWC ’10) is majoring in Music at Kenyon College in Ohio (Class of 2013), where she sings with the Concert Chorale and enjoys composing. This fall, she is studying at University College Cork in County Cork, Ireland, where she is also attending an Early Start Semester program in Irish music.

VAP ALUMNI NEWS

VAP FACULTY NEWS

EVANGELYNA ETIENNE

Evangelyna Etienne (Soloists ‘08, Achtmeyer Award ’08, Maze Award ’11) passed away on September 11. Evangelyna joined VAP Singers at age 10 in 2001, and progressed through Youth Chorus and Young Women’s Chorus; as a High School Soloist she studied voice and vocal chamber music with Barbara Winchester at NEC. She completed her junior year as a Music Education major at Gordon College, where she studied voice with Susan Brooks. Evangelyna was one of only four winners nationwide of the Eric Whitacre Scholarship and sang under his direction at Carnegie Hall in 2010.

In her 2011 Maze Award essay, Evangelyna wrote, “My interest in classical music is solely due to my involvement with H&H.… I know I wouldn’t be in music education, or music at all, if I didn’t have wonderful musicians who brought out and nurtured the musician within me.” Faculty members Matthew Garrett and Lisa Graham (chorus), Bert Yocom (piano), and Barbara Winchester (voice) recalled how much they enjoyed teaching Evangelyna, a talented student who demonstrated tremendous warmth and dignity over the years.

A VAP scholarship will be established in Evangelyna’s honor later this year. For information or to make a contribution, contact Emily Yoder at 617 262 1815 or eyoder@handelandhaydn.org.

IN MEMORIAM

LEFT: Accepting the Maze Award in 2011. RIGHT TOP: Singing in a soloists recital. RIGHT BOTTOM: Receiving the Achtmeyer Award in 2008.

Anna Stromer joined VAP in 2004 and sang in both Youth Chorus and Young Women’s Chorus before being accepted to the VAP Soloist program in 2006. She studied voice with Barbara Winchester at NEC. She also studied viola with William Frampton and Alexander Vavilov and played first stand viola in the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra. The Society’s Education Committee was so moved by her talent on both voice and viola that she was awarded a special “Music Encouragement” prize in 2009.

Since graduating from VAP, Anna has been appointed violist for the Vitamin String Quartet. This group, with Anna, made its live debut on MTV Unplugged: 30 Seconds to Mars with singer Jared Leto in August.

In addition to her performance with Vitamin String Quartet, Anna also played viola on Wyclef Jean’s upcoming CD. She is a member of the rock band Art Decade, which recently recorded its first of several CDs with Eldest Only productions. She entered the Berklee College of Music as a freshman Viola Performance major in September 2011.

SPOTLIGHT: ANNA STROMER

“H&H not only gave Anna the viola lessons, but also the few chances for solo performance she had in order to gain the confidence to do something like this.” – JOAN STROMER , ANNA’S MOTHER

Anna (third from left) with Jared Leto (fourth from left) and his band, 30 Seconds to Mars, after their performance on MTV Unplugged.

Web Extra: Scan the QR code above to view Anna performing.

INSTITUTIONS

Abbot & Dorothy H. Stevens FoundationAlice Willard Dorr FoundationAmelia Peabody FoundationAnalog Devices, Inc.Bessie Pappas Charitable FoundationThe Boston ConservatoryBoston Cultural CouncilThe Boston FoundationBrockton Cultural CouncilCharles and Sara Goldberg Charitable TrustCharles Stark Draper Laboratory, Inc.Clipper Ship FoundationDavid Greenewalt Charitable TrustDeborah Munroe Noonan Memorial Fund,

Bank of America, N.A., TrusteeEaton Vance ManagementEsther B. Kahn Charitable FoundationThe Harold Whitworth Pierce Charitable TrustJohn H. and H. Naomi Tomfohrde FoundationJohn Hancock Financial ServicesKingsbury Road Charitable FoundationLawrence Cultural CouncilThe Ludcke FoundationLynn Cultural CouncilMassachusetts Cultural CouncilMedford Arts CouncilNational Endowment for the ArtsNew England Conservatory Preparatory SchoolThe Parthenon GroupSacerdote & Co., Inc.Schrafft Charitable TrustStearns Charitable TrustVarian Semiconductor Equipment Associates, Inc.Virginia Wellington Cabot Foundation

INDIVIDUALS

Allison & William AchtmeyerCarol AirasianMark & Maura AmrichRafael & Ana ArdonEric & Barbara BaatzAnn & Michael BaroneJulian & Marion BullittAnnette & Majid CharmchiRobert ConnersRobert & Marita CoombsValerie Edith CowartMatt CoyleJessica CrossAurelio & Michelle D’AmicoNancie & Paul DeJoieMichael Diener & Barbara SoojianDan & Joanne DudkaChristine J. DuncanChris & Karen EriksonEdward & Eileen FaulknerJoseph M. FlynnDan & Lois FrasierPaul & Diana GalloThe Gattozzi FamilyThe Glass FamilyRoger & Val GovaertDon Haber & Connie HouckNancy & Bill HammerAndrew HammondSuzanne & Easley HamnerSissel HuntDerek & Meghan JacobyMary & Eric JohnsonJames & Mary KaramourtopoulosSusan KearnsBrenda & Peter KronbergMichael & Angela LafontantKenneth Lam & Karrie Chan-LamWaltrud A. LampeLinda B. LankDavid & Hallie LeeKaren S. & George D. Levy Family FoundationWinifred I. Li & William P. Oliver

Alfonso & Kathryn LinkAlex & Julia LipmanCarol & James LydonJoseph & Gwynedd MaranzanoMargaret Marshall & Anthony LewisJose & Barbara MazzottiMary & Sherif NadaMargaret & Carl NagelLorrel B. NicholsNancy NizelElizabeth & David PageMaria PaiewonskyWinifred & Leroy ParkerCarol Parrish & Paul Clark Guy & Stella ParryMaurice M. Pechet Fund

on behalf of Dr. Maurice PechetAndrew & Patricia PetersonFrancesca & Michael PfrommerAnne RookeyMichelle SaviaEmily F. SchabackerRobert H. Scott & Diane T. SpencerRobert & Rosmarie ScullyLinda & Alexander Singer-BerkDavid & Marla SmithMalcolm & Penelope SparrowSusan & Andrew SpenceEric, Susan & Rachel Steinberg

in honor of Lisa GrahamAshley & Willis StinsonJoyce SullivanTimothy Watkins & Donna CuipyloElizabeth & Robert WaxKathleen & Walter WeldRay WilliamsKathryn WillmoreWilson Family FoundationKatie & Marshall WolfJean & Ron WoodwardAnonymous

in memory of Barbara MazeFive Anonymous Donors

As of October 1, 2011.

YOUR SUPPORT MAKES A DIFFERENCEOur educational programming is 90% subsidized and is sustained by the generosity of foundations, corporate sponsors, government entities, and individual donors. Please consider making a tax-deductable gift; it is an investment in our youth and Boston’s arts community. For more information on the benefits of giving or to make a contribution online, visit handelandhaydn.org/support. Thank you for your support.

For foundation and corporate giving contact:Trevor Pollacktpollack@handelandhaydn.org or 617 262 1815 x116

For individual giving contact:Emily Yodereyoder@handelandhaydn.org or 617 262 1815 x117

Handel and Haydn Society

Horticultural Hall300 Massachuetts AvenueBoston, MA 02115

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Education Program videos are available online at handelandhaydn.org/media.

A principal leader of Boston’s arts community since 1815, the Handel and Haydn Society is preparing for its Bicentennial in 2015. As part of the celebration, each new season will incorporate works that are significant to the Society’s history as well as those never before played.

The 2011–2012 Season includes Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, featuring the Young Men’s and Young Women’s Choruses; a rare US appearance by conductor Rinaldo Alessandrini; and the H&H solo debut of new concertmaster Aisslinn Nosky in Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons.

See the entire season at handelandhaydn.org/concerts.

HANDEL AND HAYDN SOCIETY

2011–2012 SEASON UPCOMING CONCERTSPergolesi Stabat MaterOctober 28 & 30, 2011NEC’s Jordan Hall

Rinaldo Alessandrini, conductorLiesbeth Devos, sopranoEmily Righter, mezzo-soprano

Handel MessiahDecember 2–4, 2011Symphony Hall

Harry Christophers, conductorSarah Coburn, sopranoLawrence Zazzo, countertenorTom Randle, tenorTyler Duncan, baritone

A Bach ChristmasDecember 15 & 18, 2011NEC’s Jordan Hall

Steven Fox, conductor

Vivaldi The Four SeasonsJanuary 20 & 22, 2012Symphony Hall

Harry Christophers, conductorAisslinn Nosky, violin

The full season, subscription details, and more information are available at handelandhaydn.org.