Department of Curriculumand Instruction

pr e s en t s

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Northwest CountyElementary Honors Chorus

Carla Wardell DirectorHei Jung Kim AccompanistWatkins Mill High School

May 11, 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

There Has to Be a Song . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andrea Ramsey

Cirandeiro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . arr. Brad Green

Ton Thé . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeanne and Robert Gilmore/ arr. Susan Brumfield

Piano: Tong-Tong Ye

Manx Lullaby . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . arr. Lori-Anne DolloffFlute: Natalie Francis

Two Minutes Before Sleep . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Stephen Hatfield

Magical Kingdom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . John Rutter

Keep Your Lamps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .arr. Greg GilpinPiano: Tong-Tong Ye

Gloria Canon . . . . . . Franz Joseph Haydn/ arr. Donald MooreFlute: Natalie Francis

Yonder Come Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .arr. Judith Cook Tucker

America the Beautiful . . . . . . . . . . . . Samuel A. Ward/ arr. RedFlute: Natalie Francis

Program Notes

There Has to Be a Song draws its text from a poem written by minister and motivational speaker Bob Benson. Arranger, Andrea Ramsey, sets the text in a relaxed, gospel-like style. While hearing a performance of this piece conducted by Ramsey herself last summer, I was inspired by all the ways that songs can express and enrich different facets of the human experience. The basis for tonight’s program is derived from this premise that there has to be a song to accompany the very actions that give meaning to our lives.

Songs for play

Cirandeiro is a lively folk song brought to Brazil by Portuguese settlers. The ciranda is a rural circle dance that is often performed and enjoyed by young children. The cirandeiro is the leader of the dance. Listen for how the sections of the dance change from major to minor, while the rhythm and dynamics build to an exciting finale! The English translation is:

Oh, Cirandeiro! How the diamond that you wear shines much brighter than the sun!

How the ring you wear is shining much brighter than the sun! Oh, how sweet, how lovely, is my true love’s voice!

This is the dance that I once learned from Lira, my love on the island Itamaraca!

What is play without silliness? Ton Thé is a French tongue twister, which translated means “your tea? Has it removed your cough?” Louisiana music teachers Jeanne and Robert C. Gilmore, looking to reintroduce French language and culture back into Louisiania schools, took the text, set it to music and included it in a collection of Louisiana folk songs. This melody serves as the basis for Susan Brumfield’s arrangement. The accompaniment is written for four hand piano, and our student accompanist Tong-Tong Ye joins Mrs. Kim for this piece.

Songs for sleep

Manx Lullaby, or Arrane ny Clean, is a traditional Gaelic lullaby arranged by Lori-Anne Dolloff. The gentle, rolling melody of this piece from the Isle of Man is modal in nature, falling somewhere between major and minor. The Isle of Man is a small island country off the coast of Great Britain that maintains strong ties to its Celtic culture. The song contains many references to birds (an important symbol of Manx cultural identity) both in the lyrics and melodically with the inclusion of a flute. “Ho ro hi ri ri” is a cooing sound meant to soothe a crying child, while “cadul gu lo” means to sleep on.

Two Minutes Before Sleep explores the odd world between awake and asleep where we are talking to ourselves and can’t quite decide if we are experiencing real life or remembering a dream. Canadian composer Stephen Hatfield is a popular composer for children and young adult choirs. His work is influenced by world music, and often contains a strong, driving rhythm. Two Minutes Before Sleep is no exception. The melody is mostly in unison, composed in a conversational style, but the rhythms provide a fun challenge for the singers.

Songs for hope and wonder

Magical Kingdom takes us to the world of a child’s make believe–of castles, rainbows, knights, dragons, and “once upon a time.” The piano accompaniment adds to the sense of whimsy and wonder. The final message to both children (and adults) is to “keep on believing” in our own dreams and accomplishments. John Rutter is a noted British composer of both carols and large choral works, including his Mass of the Children. At age 70, he is still an active conductor at festivals all over the world. Magical Kingdom was written for the International Voices of Enfield, a children’s choir in London.

Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burnin’ is a traditional African American spiritual. The text comes from the New Testament book of Matthew, but it is believed that the words were a code to let enslaved Africans know their “conductor” on the Underground Railroad was on the way to lead them to freedom. Spirituals are an important part of our American musical heritage. To add to this piece, arranger Greg Gilpin weaves in parts of another spiritual, Soon I Will Be Done.

Songs to celebrate

Gloria Canon is based on a melody by Franz Joseph Haydn, who is considered to be one of the fathers of classical music. He composed more than 100 symphonies, in addition to church music, vocal music, and chamber works. Staying true to Haydn’s style, arranger Donald Moore utilizes counterpoint, which involves two independent musical lines, each with their own pitch and rhythm, being sung together to create harmony.

Yonder Come Day comes from the Georgia Sea Islands, a chain of over 100 barrier islands off the coast of Georgia and the Carolinas which became home to many emancipated slaves in 1865. Due to their isolation from the mainland, the people inhabiting the islands were able to preserve their cultural roots. This joyous song features a call-and-response style of singing as well as overlapping melodies, with the spoken section added by arranger Judith Cook Tucker. Tucker was inspired to arrange this after hearing a performance of Yonda’ Come Day by the Sea Island Singers, a group dedicated to preserving the musical heritage of the islands.

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, Jessica Kendal.

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 Northwest County Honors Chorus

Kassandra Acuna Great Seneca CreekFrancesca Agopome Little BennettMary Aiyegbusi StedwickNyera Allen Little BennettMelissa Alvarado Clopper MillDaniel Alvarenga Summit HallEsinam Ameevor Ronald McNairAvyana Aparicio Great Seneca CreekMolly Ario WoodfieldShairee Arora Fox ChapelSureena Atwal DuFiefMolly Baer TravilahSamantha Baggett MonocacyLazarus Baker GaithersburgVanessa Bareiro WhetstoneEmma Barrett S. Christa McAuliffeNathan Barrios Summit HallOmar Basar Strawberry KnollPierce Beach FallsmeadMohit Belur ClarksburgLauren Bennett Strawberry KnollRuth Bennett ClearspringNatalie Bertrand DiamondMridhula Bharathwaj Cedar GroveVictoria Bittner WhetstoneGrace Blanchard PoolesvilleKristen Blaze Ronald McNairLaasya Brahmandam DiamondAlexa Burdette MonocacyHannah Burgess Great Seneca CreekAlia Cain Fox ChapelDinaz Campbell TravilahRuth Canales GoshenAlexi Castellanos Spark M. MatsunagaSahasra Challa Wilson WimsSara Chavez Lake SenecaDavid Chen TravilahBrandon Chernosky GoshenJoel Chi Lois P. Rockwell Lindsay Chia Clopper MillHyun June Cho Cold SpringLindsay Chu Fox ChapelOlivia Chughtai S. Christa McAuliffeMichelle Chung FallsmeadKayla Clark Lois P. Rockwell Zachary Clark Ronald McNairJayda Coates William B. GibbsKayla Cohen-Rohrbaugh ClarksburgCaleb Coreas Lake Seneca

Leah Cropper Waters LandingCamryn Crump DamascusAngel Daniels GermantownAbigail Davis ClarksburgAugustina DeLapp GoshenSamuel Desai Cold SpringJocelyn Diaz Fox ChapelMadeline Doan LaytonsvilleLily Drennon Cold SpringDillon Dunathan ClearspringBrooke Ellinwood GaithersburgAydin Erkan TravilahMadison Etheridge Summit HallJianna Fairfax Wheeler StedwickDina Fennell Spark M. MatsunagaEmily Ferrufino WhetstoneUlima Fofana LakewoodBrandon Fuentes WoodfieldIda Garmroudi ClearspringErin Gemmell Cold SpringIsabella Gilmore Washington GroveTalia Giro Stone MillAlessandra Gonzalez GermantownDestiny Gordon StedwickMarcus Griffin Waters LandingAbigail Ha Ronald McNairNai-Hajii Hallowell Dr. Sally K. RideJalahni Harrington RosemontArynne Hawkins LaytonsvilleSelena Hernandez Waters LandingValerie Hoang Spark M. MatsunagaAdriana Hoes Dr. Sally K. RideJenna Hoffman RockwellMorgan Holt S. Christa McAuliffeSophia Hoover GoshenFinna Hsu ClearspringJustin Huebl Cold SpringAshley Huynh WhetstoneAdija Ibrahima William B. GibbsGina Im Fox ChapelMikayla Jackson S. Christa McAuliffeNathaniel Jackson Great Seneca CreekTatiana Jackson-Jones S. Christa McAuliffeTaylor Jacques Fox ChapelVishal Jain Stone MillJacob Jeong Spark M. MatsunagaMorgan Johnson Strawberry KnollKody Johnson LaytonsvilleMahita Kamalahasan Cedar Grove

Grace Kamei DalyAlmira Kaplan GermantownGaneev Kaur Wilson WimsIsabella Keister William B. GibbsCarla Kemtchouang GermantownPatrick Kenworthy DiamondMadeleine Khouri WoodfieldDahn Kim Spark M. MatsunagaEdward Kongo Samba Dr. Sally K. RidePhebe Koundinya DarnestownHarneer Kour LaytonsvilleKatie Kringle TravilahPreeti Kulkarni DuFiefMaahe Kunvar Ronald McNairJuliana Lacy LakewoodLily Ladson DarnestownChristopher Li Stone MillFiona Lin Stone MillErica Lopez FallsmeadIsabel Lopez William B. GibbsKelsey Lubliner DuFiefEliza Luce DarnestownSai Mandhan DufiefUma Manikoth DiamondHaley Marques Spark M. MatsunagaJonathan Martinez MonocacyMarlon Mauricio Dr. Sally K. RideIsabel McGilvery Wilson WimsKatherine Mejia Spark M. MatsunagaBrandon Miller DalyJackson Miller Ronald McNairPriscilla Momanyi FallsmeadRayna Moxley GoshenFaith Muchai WhetstoneSaadat Muuyeen Fox ChapelRyan Nguyen Strawberry KnollJuliana Nguyen Lake SenecaShaina Noriega StedwickMaria Nzang LakewoodGeorge Obongo Spark M. MatsunagaDayna Offutt Great Seneca CreekRuth Okello WhetstoneRita Ozbenian Spark M. MatsunagaLiam Palmer Lois P. Rockwell Elijah Parker WoodfieldDaniella Parkinson ClearspringCarly Partlow Cedar GroveRuby Patton ClearspringChelsea Phoenix Great Seneca CreekAshley Pierre ClarksburgAllison Pineda S. Christa McAuliffeMarley Pinsky Little BennettVeda Puranik DiamondAaliyah Reyes Waters Landing

Yarielys Rivera Washington GroveCristtel Rivera-Soto GaithersburgDeMarr Robinson William B. GibbsDaniela Romero S. Christa McAuliffeAngel Romero Washington GroveCaroline Rowe DiamondIsabel Ryan GaithersburgRoselyn Salmeron WhetsoneJacob Sambor Stone MillLucas Sanchez Great Seneca CreekSaumya Shahi Cedar GroveRamya Shankar TravilahPreethi Smith StedwickOlivia Joan Solomon Wilson WimsWendy Song DuFiefCameron Spinner Ronald McNairVictoria Stokman S. Christa McAuliffeVarshini Sudhakar DiamondKara Suggs FallsmeadVaishali Sukumar William B. GibbsSaragha Surendra Cedar GroveElizabeth Sweeney LaytonsvilleGabrielle Talib Waters LandingMary Tang DiamondIsaac Teberen Lake SenecaHilary Thakun DalyEmily Thompson DarnestownSean Thompson William B. GibbsIsabel Tobares Little BennettRayya Toor Little BennettKadijah Toure Spark M. MatsunagaTien Tran DarnestownTiana Trinh Wilson WimsKamia Tshibaka Washington GroveTabitha Udy Ronald McNairTanvi Vaidya Spark M. MatsunagaLana Marie Valdez Washington GroveMartin Vanech Wilson WimsAdithi Vardhan LakewoodSophia Velasco Waters LandingElizabeth Velasquez Waters LandingSaanvi Verma Stone MillAmir Walker WhetstoneIsabelle Watson GoshenMicah White Clopper MillSarah Williams ClearspringAmaris Wilson Spark M. MatsunagaCat Winkler Lois P. Rockwell Katrina Wong Stone MillCassie Wyett Strawberry KnollTong-Tong Ye Cold SpringParis Ye Cold SpringAlexandra Zeppos Lois P. Rockwell Joyce Zhou Fallsmead

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 . Carla Wardell, conductor, is in her 11th year of teaching in Montgomery County Public Schools and is the choral and general music teacher at Sequoyah Elementary School. Previously, she taught middle and high school chorus, where her choirs earned superior ratings at both the county and state level. She holds a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Maryland and a master’s degree in Kodály music education from Loyola University in Maryland. Outside of school, Mrs. Wardell is the assistant director of the Frederick Children’s Chorus, where she oversees their Kodály based-musicianship program and directs various ensembles of singers ranging in age from 5 to 18. Mrs. Wardell has presented workshops on youth choirs in Kodály for both the Maryland Music Educators Association and Maryland United Specialists, and is an active member of the American Choral Directors Association. She lives in Frederick with her husband and son.

Mrs . Hei Jung Kim, accompanist, is a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Music. There, Mrs. Kim studied piano with Santiago Rodriguez and Bradford Gowen. This is Mrs. Kim’s 24th year of teaching, in both private and public schools. She has been a music teacher in Montgomery County for the past 16 years, the last 13 at Dr. Sally K. Ride Elementary School, in Germantown, Maryland. Mrs. Kim has served as an accompanist for the Montgomery County Honors Choruses for several years. She is also the principal accompanist for the Strathmore Children’s Chorus.

Mrs . Elizabeth Griffith, chorus manager, is the general music and chorus teacher at Fox Chapel Elementary School, in Germantown, Maryland. She is a graduate of Syracuse University, in Syracuse, New York, where she received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education. In her spare time, Mrs. Griffith gives piano lessons and likes to attend concerts and cultural festivals in the DMV area. This is her fifth year teaching in MCPS and her first year as manager of the MCPS Northwest Honors Chorus.

Rehearsal Assistants

We are grateful to the Northwest 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:

Rachel Allnutt

Ava Archer

Jolene Baxter

Melissa Bishop-Bryant

Kate Bubser

James Buras

Patricia Bush

Lincoln Cobbins

Maggie Corfield

Alice Dillon

Shoshanah Drake

Jil Duralde

Andre Enceneat

Natalie Francis

Hannah Guerra

Haley Holden

Jennifer Kmiecik

Amanda Lyon

Melody Monroe

Holly Mullen

Terry Potterton

Suzanne Sugar

Matthew Tilkens

Veronica Timm

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 you 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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