Westminster

Conservatory Collegiate Chorale Frank Abrahams, artistic director

Cory Everly, accompanist Nerissa Thompson, manager

Inaugural Concert

George Frideric Handel: Judas Maccabaeus

Grant Mech, Bass-Baritone

with
Dena Andrews, Misha Barker, Teresa Bonilla and Aubrey Maks, sopranos Amanda Abdill and Josi Suslov, mezzo-sopranos Eric Johnson, Joshua Stell and Joshua Wanger, tenors Jacob Ezzo, bass
and

Isaac Brody, Samuel Brukhman, Lauren Delfing, Andrew Lusher, Aubrey Maks, Sergey Tkachenko and Joshua Wanger, conductors

Gill Chapel, Rider University Lawrenceville, New Jersey

December 19, 2010 3:00 PM

Program

Judas Maccabaeus, HWV 63 George Frideric Handel

(1685-1759)
OVERTURE CHORUS: Oh Father, whose almighty powr Aubrey Maks, conducting RECITATIVE (Simon): I feel, I feel the Deity within Grant Mech AIR (Simon): Arm, arm, ye brave! Grant Mech CHORUS: We come, we come, in bright array Joshua Wanger, conducting RECITATIVE (Judas Maccabaeus): Tis well, my friends; with transport I behold Joshua Wanger AIR (Judas Maccabaeus): Call forth thy powrs, my soul, and dare Joshua Wanger RECITATIVE (Israelitish Woman): To Heavns almighty King we kneel Amanda Abdill AIR (Israelitish Woman): Oh liberty, thou choicest treasure Amanda Abdill AIR (Israelitish Woman): Come, every-smiling liberty Josi Suslov

ACT ONE

ACT TWO
RECITATIVE (Israelitish Woman): Oh let eternal honours crown his name Teresa Bonilla AIR (Israelitish Woman): From mighty kings he took the spoil Teresa Bonilla DUET (Israelitish Women): Hail, hail Judea. Happy land! Amanda Abdill and Aubrey Maks CHORUS: Hail, hail, Judea. Happy land! Lauren Delfing, conducting RECITATIVE (Judas Maccabaeus): Thanks to my brethren Joshua Wanger AIR (Judas Maccabaeus): How vain is man, who boasts in flight Joshua Wanger RECITATIVE (Messenger): Oh Judas, oh my brethren! Jacob Ezzo RECITATIVE (Simon): Be comforted, nor think these plagues are sent Grant Mech AIR (Simon): The Lord worketh wonders Grant Mech RECITATIVE (Judas Maccabaeus): My arms! Against this Gorgias will I go Joshua Stell AIR (Judas Maccabaeus): Sound an alarm! Joshua Stell CHORUS: We hear Isaac Brody, conducting RECITATIVE (Israelitish Man and Woman): Ye worshippers of God Jacob Ezzo and Eric Johnson AIR (Israelitish Women): Wise Men, flattring may deceive us Misha Barker and Dena Andrews CHORUS: We never will bow down Isaac Brody, conducting

ACT THREE
AIR (Priest): Father of Heavn! RECITATIVE (Israelitish Man): See, see yon flames RECITATIVE (Israelitish Man): O grant it, Heavn RECITATIVE (Messenger): From Capharsalma on eagle wings I fly CHORUS: See the conquring hero comes MARCH CHORUS: See the conquring hero comes CHORUS: Sing Unto God AIR (Simon): Rejoice oh Judah! CHORUS: Hallelujah! Amen Jacob Ezzo Eric Johnson Eric Johnson Jacob Ezzo Samuel Brukhman, conducting Sergey Tkachenko, conducting Andrew Lusher, conducting Grant Mech Dr. Abrahams, conducting

Personnel

Westminster Conservatory Collegiate Chorale

Frank Abrahams, artistic director

Sopranos: Altos: Tenors: Basses:

Cory Everly accompanist Nerissa Thompson, manager

Dena Andrews, Misha Barker, Teresa Bonilla, Christina Burgos, Julia Carter, Mary DiRoberts, Ashley Dugas, Aubrey Maks, Jess Marchinkowski, Bailey Mattison, Margaret Montoney Amanda Abdill, Rebekah Banks-Plummer, Julia Beckmann, Lauren Delfing, Christine Dorantes, Natasha Gonzalez, Rebekah Hamilton, Sareen Jebejian, Stephanie Londono, Caitlin Monteverde, Kelsey Rose, Josi Suslov, Laura Williams Jamison Barrett, Isaac Brody, Andrew Cox, Bernardo Gonzalez, Eric Johnson, Joshua Stell, Joshua Wanger, Johnny Wilson Evan Bilinski, Ryan Brown, Samuel Brukhman, Justin Carumba Matthew Coules, Ray Delfing, Jacob Ezzo, Andrew Lusher, Andrew Maggio, Joel Michalchuck, Eric McNeill, Benjamin Salus, John Shusdock, Cody Southerland, Sergey Tkachenko, Brian Williams

Grant Mech holds degrees from Westminster Choir College and has appeared in numerous operatic roles, including Publio in La Clemenza di Tito with the dellArte Opera Ensemble, the title role in Don Giovanni, the Mandarin in Turandot with New Rochelle Opera, and Agamemnon in Offenbachs La Belle Hlne with Opra du Prigord in France. 2011 engagements include La Serva Padrona with Boheme Opera and Brahms Requiem with the Central Jersey Choral Society. Grant is the Choral Director at Pond Road Middle School in Robbinsville, N.J. and is currently the interim director of music at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Manhattan. Frank Abrahams is professor of music education and director of the Center for Critical Pedagogy at Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton, New Jersey. A native of Philadelphia, Dr. Abrahams holds degrees from Temple University and New England Conservatory. In addition to his work in music education and administration, he enjoys an active career as a pianist, choral conductor and in musical theater. Dr. Abrahams has pioneered the development of a critical pedagogy for music education. This teaching model encourages music teachers and ensemble conductors to adapt instruction and rehearsal technique to address individual differences in learning styles and empowers students to be musicians. With Paul Head, he is co-author of Case Studies in Music Education and the forthcoming Teaching Music Through Performance in Middle School Choir. The Westminster Conservatory Collegiate Chorale is the newest choral ensemble at Westminster Choir College of Rider University. Composed of music education students from the college, the ensemble also includes talented singers from area high schools as part of the outreach program of Westminster Conservatory the community music school at Westminster Choir College. The choir provides opportunities for students to gain experience as conductors, choral singers and soloists in preparation for their future work as school music teachers and choir directors in churches, synagogues and the community. In March, the choir will perform Bernsteins Chichester Psalms at Temple Beth Shalom in Broomall, Pa.