May 2 Program

2020-2021 Season Music & Fine Arts at First Presbyterian Church Engaging the Mind, Warming the Heart, Inspiring the Spirit

We wish to thank everyone who has made these events possible: First Presbyterian Church Our program advertisers Nebraska Arts Council & Nebraska Cultural Endowment Our donors and season underwriters Season Underwriters Dolezal Family Foundation Dorthea Gore Memorial Fund Lincoln Community Foundation (Give to Lincoln Day) The Arts for the Soul Music & Fine Arts Series would like to thank all our donors for their contributions to the concert series in 2020-2021. Without our generous donors and sponsors, concerts like this one would not be possible! Thank You!

Music and Fine Arts at First Presbyterian Church presents The American Spiritual Ensemble A virtual concert Sunday, May 2, 2021 7:00 p.m. First Presbyterian Church 840 S. 17th Street Lincoln, NE www.fpclincoln.org with generous support from the Dolezal Family Foundation The Nebraska Arts Council, a state agency, has supported this program through its matching grants program funded by the Nebraska Legislature, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Nebraska Cultural Endowment. Visit www.nebraskaartscouncil.org for information on how the Nebraska Arts Council can assist your organization, or how you can support the Nebraska Cultural Endowment.

American Spiritual Ensemble Sunday, May 2, 2021 Founder & Director Dr. Everett McCorvey photo by: William Arnold Photography Dr. Everett McCorvey, tenor, is the founder and director of the American Spiritual Ensemble. A native of Montgomery, Alabama, he received his degrees from the University of Alabama, including a Doctorate in Musical Arts. Vocal Excellence is a hallmark of Dr. McCorvey’s work. As a teacher, he has given master classes and vocal workshops throughout the United States, Europe, South America, China, Japan, and Poland. Dr. McCorvey is the founder and Music Director of the American Spiritual Ensemble. McCorvey recently produced a CD Anchored in the Lord featuring singers from the Bay View Music Festival’s American Negro Spirituals Intensive Program, where McCorvey serves as Director. His career has spanned all areas of the performing arts industry, from performing to musical directing, vocal teaching, producing, impresario, conducting, union representing, administrative work, and mentoring. Dr. McCorvey is of the belief that every citizen in the country should find ways to give back to his or her community, city, or country. He has been very active in his volunteer activities working to keep the arts as a part of the civic conversation and currently serves on many local, regional, and national boards. He holds an Endowed Chair in Opera Studies/Director of Opera and Professor of Voice at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky. Dr. McCorvey is also entering his seventh season as the Artistic Director of the National Chorale of New York City. Celebrating over 50 years of great choral singing, the National Chorale is a symphonic choir which performs at Lincoln Center in New York City. The National Chorale is well-known in New York and around the region for its performances of the great choral titans as well as for the popular New York Messiah Sing-In at Lincoln Center! The Sing-In is one of the oldest sing-in’s in the country. About The American Spiritual Ensemble Tenor Dr. Everett McCorvey founded the group in 1995, and many of its members have performed in such venues as the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, Houston Grand Opera, San Francisco Opera, Boston Opera and the Atlanta Civic Opera. They have also performed abroad in England, Germany, Italy, Japan, Scotland, and Spain. ASE’s Mission The mission of the American Spiritual Ensemble is to preserve and continue the tradition of storytelling through the performance and preservation of the American negro spiritual. Performing these spirituals serves as a tribute to the many lives lost or destroyed during slavery in the United States; a horrible time for human kind. These songs, a combination of African, American, and European traditions, create a new type of melody in which a sense of identification was created within the enslaved community. These songs now stand as a

testament of the strength found through faith during times of hardship as well as a unifying force among all peoples. These songs are beloved all around the world. The American Spiritual Ensemble commits to aiding in the preservation of these beautiful melodies through performances worldwide as well as through education in the form of: lectures, master classes and vocal instruction for educational, religious, and community institutions worldwide.

The American Spiritual Ensemble Everett McCorvey, Founder and Music Director www.americanspiritualensemble.com Presents The Power of Spirituals Virtual Concert 2021 With Guest, Eileen Guenther, Author and Narrator Walk Together Children Arr. Wm Harry Smith Welcome Everett McCorvey, Founder and Director American Spiritual Ensemble Welcome from the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Christopher Miller, Director of Education National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Musical Selection \"Gimme Dat Ol’ Time Religion\" (With Prayer) Music by Roy Ringwald from God’s Trombones Poems by James Weldon Johnson based upon American Negro Folk Sermons Alicia Helm-McCorvey, Exhorter Old Time Religion Commentary Eileen Guenther, Author Reading Kenneth Overton Musical Selection “Witness” Arr. Hall Johnson Reading Kenneth Overton, Baritone Phumzile Sojola James Davis, Piano Musical Selection \"Soon Ah Will Be Done\" Arr. Robert Jefferson American Spiritual Ensemble Karen Slack, Soprano Soloist Ali Bar, Djembe

Commentary LIFE OF THE ENSLAVED Anonymous Eileen Guenther, Author Anonymous Musical Selection “No More Auction Block” Arr. Stacey V. Gibbs Nathaniel Thompson, Bass Musical Selection Tedrin Blair Lindsay, Piano Arr. Undine Smith Moore Arr. Moses Hogan Musical Selection “Over My Head” Victoria Ellington, Soprano Anonymous Reading “Every Time I Feel the Spirit” arr. By Hall Johnson Everett McCorvey American Spiritual Ensemble Musical Selection Anonymous “Watch and Pray” Arr. Stacey V. Gibbs Musical Selection Erica Gabriel, Soprano Tedrin Blair Lindsay, Piano Commentary “Spiritual Reflection\" Eileen Guenther, Author American Spiritual Ensemble Reading Key’mon Murrah, Countertenor Victoria Ellington ESCAPE and CODE Musical Selection Reading \"Steal Away\" Kathy Bullock Victoria Ellington, Soprano Musical Selection Musical Selection “’Way Over in Beulah-Lan” Musical Selection “Swing Low” Jeryl Cunningham, Soprano \"Great God Almighty\" American Spiritual Ensemble Kevin Tate, Dancer Ali Bar, Djembe

Reading “Go Down, Moses\" Arr. Johnie Dean Andrea Jones-Sojola American Spiritual Ensemble Arr. Robert L. Jefferson Musical Selection Nathaniel Thompson, Bass Soloist Tedrin Blair Lindsay, Piano Arr. Margaret Bonds Musical Selection Ali Bar, Djembe Reading “Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel” Chauncy Packer American Spiritual Ensemble Musical Selection Commentary Tedrin Blair Lindsay, Piano Eileen Gunther, Author Kevin Tate, Dancer Musical Selection “Dry Bones” Reading Chauncy Packer, Tenor Nathaniel Thompson Musical Selection Jim Davis, Piano Musical Selection \"Deep River\" Arr. Harry T. Burleigh Musical Selection Nathaniel Thompson, Bass Tedrin Blair Lindsay, Piano Arr. Hall Johnson Arr. Jacqueline Hairston HOPE AND FREEDOM Arr. Tim Amukele “Ride On King Jesus” Erin Duane Brooks, Tenor “Who Is Dat-A-Yonder?\" American Spiritual Ensemble Erica Gabriel, Soprano Soloist Tedrin Blair Lindsay, Piano “Stand the Storm” Jeryl Cunningham, Soprano Jim Davis, Piano

BLACK LIVES MATTER Musical Selection “Don’ You Let Nobody Turn You Round’” Arr. Jacqueline Hairston American Spiritual Ensemble Arr. Moses Hogan Alicia Helm McCorvey, Soprano Soloist Arr. Johnie Dean Commentary Arr. Roland Carter Eileen Guenther, Author Musical Selection \"We Shall Walk Through The Valley In Peace’ Musical Selection American Spiritual Ensemble “This Little Light of Mine” Key’mon Murrah, Countertenor Kaymon Murrah, Tenor Tedrin Blair Lindsay, Piano Conclusion \"Lift Every Voice and Sing\" Everett McCorvey American Spiritual Ensemble Musical Selection American Spiritual Ensemble Everett McCorvey, Founder and Conductor Jeryl Cunningham Fleming, Assistant Conductor Tedrin Blair Lindsay, Piano Peggy Stamps Business Manager

Sopranos American Spiritual Ensemble Erica Gabriel Transylvania University Performance Jessica Bayne Alicia Helm McCorvey Lexington, Kentucky Kathrin Thawley Altos Key’mon Murrah Kendra Beasley Kathy Bullock Tenors Basses Kay’mon Murrah Michael Preacely Wagner Mauricio Pastor Phillip Bullock Mark Kano Clement Baloyi Whit Whitaker Nathaniel Thompson William Clay Thompson PIANIST : Tedr in Blair Lindsay DJEMBE : Ali Bar r American Spiritual Ensemble American Choral Directors Eastern Region Convention Rochester, New York Performance SOPRANO ALTO Nicole Butler GeDeane Graham Jeryl Cunningham-Fleming Hope Koehler Alicia Helm Key’Mon Murrah Shenika John Jordan Courtney Porter Kathrin Thawley Angela Owens TENOR BASS Edwin Cotton Richard Coleman Kay’Mon Murrah Martin Hargrove Taiwan Norris Kenneth Overton Chauncey Packer Michael Parham Kevin Webb Nigel Sangster John Wesley Wright Kyle Yampiro PIANIST : Tedr in Blair Lindsay DJEMBE : Ali Bar r

American Spiritual Ensemble American Cathedral Performance Paris, France SOPRANOS TENORS Karen Slack John Wesley Wright Jeryl Cunnigham-Fleming Roderick L. George Angela Brown Cameo Humes Rebecca Eaddy Taiwan Norris Angela Owens Bernard Holcomb ALTOS BARITONES Leah Dexter Adam Richardson Hope Koehler Phillip Boykin Gus Mercante Keith Dean Sarah Nordin Martin Hargrove Matthew Truss Kevin Thompson PIANIST : Tedr in Blair Lindsay DJEMBE : Ali Bar r American Spiritual Ensemble DiMenna Center for Classical Music - Benzaquen Hall New York, New York Errin Brooks, Tenor Kenneth Overton, Bariton Andrea Jones-Sojola, Soprano Chauncey Packer, Tenor Phumzile Sojola, Tenor Jeryl Cunningham-Fleming, Soprano Kevin Tate, Dancer James Davis, Pianist Ouinton Tramm, Videographer Jason Tramm, Consultant, Videographer Peggy Stamps, The SquarePeg Group, Inc, Business Affairs

Acknowledgements for the ASE 2021 Virtual Tour Broadcast Performance Video Director, Editor, Videographer Paris, France Video Production Nick Helton Michel Violet [email protected] Biopics Productions Audio Production [email protected] Dave Henderson Digital Images Dave Henderson Recording New York Public Library [email protected] Digital Collections daverec.com Nypl.org Canva Library of Congress Loc.gov Kelsey Loeslie [email protected] Biographies Ali Barr, Djembe, was born in Philadelphia. He has been Praised by Opera News for his “appealingly suave bari- playing percussion instruments and jazz trumpet, from tone”, Phillip K. Bullock is a native of Washington DC childhood under the guidance of his father, Dr. James Barr, and has been featured in operas, recitals and concerts and master drummer, Bobby Crowder. A graduate of throughout the United States. Phillip had the pleasure of Temple University in Philadelphia, Ali has recorded and performing the role of Jake, in Porgy and Bess, at the Säch- performed extensively with various artists, including sische Staatsoper in Dresden, Germany and covered the Grammy nominated Russell Gunn, the legendary Roy same role in The Royal Danish Opera’s new production of Ayers, and Jamaledeen Tacuma. Porgy and Bess in Copenhagen, Denmark. Last season, Errin Brooks, Tenor, cur rently based in New Yor k, hails Phillip completed residencies with both Cincinnati Opera from Detroit, MI and received his Master of Music Degree and Virginia Opera, both performing and covering in their from Bowling Green State University. Most recently, productions of Gounod’s Romeo et Juliet, Gershwin’s Porgy Mr. Brooks covered Dick Johnson in Fanciulla del W est and Bess and Donizetti’s l’Elisir d’Amore respectively. He with New York City Opera after singing Pinkerton in has also been seen in concert performances of Beethoven’s Madama Butterfly and Verdi's Requiem with Utah Festival 9th Symphony, and Kurt Weil’s Seven Deadly Sins with Opera. In April 2018, the George London Award-winning National Music Festival Orchestra in Washington, D.C. in tenor will sing Canio in I Pagliacci with Boheme Opera of addition to Il barbiere di Siviglia, La Fanciulla del West, New Jersey. Don Carlos, Le Nozze di Figaro, Carmen, Die Zauberflöte, Dr. Kathy Bullock is Pr ofessor Emer itus of music at Be- La Boheme, and Mark Adamo’s Little W omen. In 2020, rea College, Berea, Kentucky where she worked for almost Phillip made his debut with the Atlanta Opera in Francesca thirty years. She is also currently an Adjunct Professor of Zambello’s production of Porgy and Bess and will premiere Music at University of Kentucky, School of Music. Having Gregory Spears’ new opera Castor and Patience with Cin- earned the Ph.D. and M.A. in Music Theory from Washing- cinnati Opera this coming summer. For more information ton University in St. Louis, MO, and a B.A. in Music from www.PhillipBullock.com. Brandeis University, MA, her work has included teaching music and general studies courses, directing the college gos- pel choirs, designing and implementing international cours- es in West Africa and the Caribbean. Dr. Bullock is now performing and conducting workshops in African American Sacred Music throughout the United States, Europe and Af- rica, sharing hope and joy during these challenging times.

Toronto-born classical guitarist Danielle Cumming is a Eileen Guenther, Professor of Church Music Emerita at celebrated performer and teacher. Holding a doctorate from Wesley Theological Seminary, holds bachelor’s degrees McGill University, she is Artistic Director of the Marlow from the University of Kansas and graduate degrees from Guitar International Concert Series in Washington, The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC. A D.C., and heads of the guitar area at Salisbury University in noted author, church musician, and organ recitalist, Dr. Maryland. After a year of study in Spain, Danielle released Guenther has written two critically acclaimed books: Rivals her solo, world music-influenced CD postcards, a recording or a Team: Clergy-Musician Relationships in the of 20th century repertoire featuring internationally ac- 21st Century and In Their Own Words: Slave Life and the claimed composers. Dr. Cumming is also a certified yoga Power of Spirituals. She has a passion for the power of the instructor and has created/taught yoga programs to help mu- Spiritual and has led over one hundred presentations on In sicians prevent injuries and handle performance anxiety. Their Own Words with choirs, soloists and congregations Danielle is a D'Addario Artist. from Atlanta, GA to Ashland Oregon. The most common response to these presentations has been: “I have sung these Jeryl Cunningham-Fleming, Soprano, and Assistant Di- Spirituals all my life and I never knew that.” rector of the American Spiritual Ensemble, has been heard Alicia Helm McCorvey, Soprano, has per for med with in more than ten countries and on four continents. She was various companies including Metropolitan Opera, North featured in several new compositions this year which in- Carolina Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Miami Opera, Bronx cludes Symphony No. 2 – the Most Jubilant Song by Opera (NY), Summerfest (Lexington, KY), Paragon Musi- Glen Roven, and Thy W ill Be Done, an Easter Cantata cal Theater (Lexington, KY) and has performed in Spain, written by Angela Rice. Recent performances include Rev- England, Brazil, the Czech Republic, and Japan, among oth- elations (Alvin Ailey) and Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie ers. She has a Bachelor degree from Indiana University and Hall. Dr. Cunningham received her bachelor's degree in vo- a Master of Arts degree from New York University. Ms. cal performance at Oakwood University. She obtained her Helm has also studied at The Juilliard School, Manhattan master's degree in vocal performance at Mannes College of School of Music, and the D.M.A. program at the University Music; and has completed a doctoral degree at the Universi- of Kentucky. ty of Kentucky. For more information www.jerylcunningham.com. Soprano Victoria Ellington recently received her Master of Tedrin Blair Lindsay, Pianist, was raised in Rome, Italy Music from the University of Cincinnati College- and has been a professional accompanist since the age of Conservatory of Music (CCM) where she studied with Pro- ten. He performs well over one hundred recitals annually, fessor William McGraw. At CCM, Ellington has been seen boasting a huge repertoire of vocal and instrumental cham- in Cavalli's La Calisto as L’Eternità as well as Esmerelda in ber works, with specialties in 20th century French and Smetana’s The Barterd Bride.. Victoria also sang in Blind American music. Dr. Lindsay is presently on the opera fac- Injustice and Awakenings with Opera Fusion: New ulty at the University of Kentucky, where he works as vocal Works program, a joint collaboration between Cincinnati coach and musical director. Opera and CCM Opera. In past summers she was also a part Kay’Mon Murrah, Tenor , a lyr ic tenor from Louisville, of Cincinnati Opera’s production of Porgy and Bess. She is Kentucky, is known to bring warmth and brilliance to the looking forward to participating in the world premiere of opera stage. He has recently made his Kentucky Opera de- Fierce by William Menefield with Cincinnati Opera in the but as Kasper in their production of A mahl and the Night 2021 season. Visitors and understudied the Armed Man role in their pro- duction of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte. Erica Gabriel, Soprano, received her Bachelor’s Degree in Key’Mon Murrah, Counter tenor , herald for his wide Vocal Performance and Pedagogy from Oakwood Universi- range and “hot coal core o tone”, is a native to Louisville, ty and her Master’s degree in Vocal Performance from the Kentucky. Mr. Murrah has sung the role of Tolomeo from University of Michigan. She has performed with the Chica- Handel's Giulio Cesare and Asprano from Vivaldi's Monte- go Symphony orchestra, Savannah Philharmonic and the zuma. Murrah was recently selected to sing a Masterclass Jackson Symphony. Erica is also the 2018 gold medal win- with Joyce DiDonato at Carnegie Hall. 2020 Metropolitan ner of the American Traditions Vocal Competition. Opera Council District Winner. This summer he will cover the role of the Magician from Handel's Rinaldo with the Glimmerglass Festival.

Baritone Kenneth Overton is a 2020 Grammy Award Nom- Peggy Stamps, Business Manager , is the founder and inated artist for the title role in The Naxos Label Record- owner of The SquarePeg Group, Inc. (SPG), a NYC based ing of Richard Danielpour’s The Passion of Y eshua with talent management company. SPG represents a select group the Buffalo Philharmonic. For his portrayal of Stephen Ku- of actors who have appeared in feature film, television, and malo, in Kurt Weill’s Lost in The Stars, Baritone Kenneth Broadway productions. Peggy has an extensive background Overton was nominated for the 2019 St. Louis Theatre Cir- in entertainment, including 15 years as the director of a re- cle Award for “Outstanding Performance in an Opera”. gional Emmy Award winning Broadway Musical Review. Kenneth is enjoying singing leading roles at some of the Peggy founded SPG in 2010 and in 10 short years has devel- world’s great opera houses such as, San Francisco Opera, oped a client base with recent credits including feature films L’Opera de Montreal, Palacio Bellas Artes, New York City The Photograph, How to Be Single, and Hidden Figures. Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, and the Royal Danish Opera Television credits include W u Tang: A n A merican Saga, as well as many regional opera houses in the U.S. includ- Lincoln Rhyme: Hunt for the Bone Collector, FBI, Power ing Opera Memphis, Nashville Opera, Utah Festival Opera, III, For Life, Pose, and Nickelodeon’s Butterbean’s Café. Opera Carolina, Toledo Opera, Opera Idaho, and Opera Stage credits include Tina Turner: The Musical Broadway, Grand Rapids. Kenneth is also the associate producer of Hamilton Broadway Tour, The Lion King Broadway Tour (6 the upcoming documentary, BLACK OPERA. clients), W aitress Broadway, Mean Girls Broadway, and For more information www.KennethOverton.com and Porgy and Bess Broadway Tour. In 2018, one of Peggy’s www.BlackOperaFilm.com voiceover clients, age 12, was nominated for a Daytime Em- Chauncey Packer is an exciting Amer ican tenor . Mr. my for her leading voiceover work on a popular Nickelode- Packer is originally from southern Alabama where he re- on series. In addition to managing, Peggy freelances as a ceived his undergraduate degree from University of Mobile. stage director/choreographer. Peggy is a Purdue University He relocated to New Orleans where he pursued a master’s engineering alumna. She worked in high tech corporate degree in music from University of New Orleans and post- America for 25 years prior to launching SPG. Peggy is an graduate studies at Louisiana State University in music and active member of the Talent Managers Association (TMA). theater. Mr. Packer’s 2019 engagements include soloist in Nathaniel Thompson, Bass, has toured the United States, Mozart’s Requiem (Colour of Music Festival), featured so- South America and Europe with performances of opera, loist on a concert with Saint-George International Music spirituals, gospel and jazz. Most recently, Nathaniel made Festival (Guadeloupe, FR), Sportin’ Life with New York his debut as the Undertaker in Cincinnati Opera’s produc- Harlem’s Porgy and Bess at Teatro Regio (Torino, Italy), tion of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. and in the role of Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly at Soo Tenor John Wesley Wright holds degrees from Maryville Theatre Project (Michigan). He will make his Metropolitan College and the University of Cincinnati College- Opera debut in the roles of Robbins and Crabman and cover Conservatory of Music, where he earned the M.M. and Sportin’ Life in their Porgy and Bess production 2019-20. D.M.A. in Performance Studies. A native of Rome, Geor- Mr. Packer will join Maestro Alan Gilbert and NDR gia, he works as Associate Professor of Music at Salisbury Elbphilharmonie Orchestra in concert of Porgy and Bess in University (Salisbury, MD), coordinating the voice and the 2021, and will be featured in the Metropolitan Opera’s opera workshop programs. An active clinician and leader of new productions Fire Shut Up in My Bones and the revival workshops on voice production, interpretation, and African of Porgy and Bess. American song tradition, he also co-directed the musical Phumzile Sojola, Tenor , has just finished perfor ming theatre program at the Maryland Summer Center of the Arts four years as Ubaldo Piangi with Phantom of the Opera (2007-2014). He performs solo repertoire ranging from North American Tour and Peter in Porgy and Bess with Bach to Broadway throughout the world, including as a Harrisburg Philharmonic Orchestra. Born and raised in member of the internationally celebrated American Spiritual South Africa, Phumzile Sojola made his Broadway debut as Ensemble. Acclaim has also come as gold medalist of the Peter in the Tony award winning Porgy and Bess and fol- American Traditions Vocal Competition 2000, with other lowed that as Lord Pinkelton in the original cast of Cinder- top prizes from the National Federation of Music Clubs, the ella. On the operatic stage He has performed Herisson in Metropolitan Opera National Council, and the International Chabriers L’etoile and Popo in Troubled Island with New Schubert Competition. His doctoral dissertation (2014) stud- York City Opera. His other roles are Rodolfo in La Boheme ies musical borrowings underlying the role of the Celebrant Missouri Symphony Orchestra, Leader Lost in the Stars, in Bernstein’s Mass. Remendado in Carmen and Monostatos in the Magic Flute with Dayton Opera. From 2007 to 2017 he was one of the Tenors who sang in the show 3 Mo Tenors on tour and Off Broadway in NY. Phumzile also performed Jason Moran’s work songs at the 2015 La Biennale di Venezzia with Jason Moran.

You are invited to worship with us on Sundays and continue the wonderful music experience offered here at First Presbyterian Church. Now offering : Communion at 8:30 am in the Great Hall & Zoom Live Worship Service at 10:00 am in the Sanctuary & Online 840 S. 17th St 402-477-6037 fpclincoln.org If you would like to advertise your business in our Arts for the Soul music concert programs, please contact Brian Pfoltner 402-477-6037. Thank you to our advertisers for their support of Arts for the Soul!