ABOUT THE ARISTS
BRUCE ROGERS
Professor Bruce Rogers is the Director of Choral Activities at Mt. San Antonio College, in Walnut, California. In this role, he oversees the department’s various vocal and choral programs, which span the entire spectrum of music – from classical to jazz. He personally directs Mt. San Antonio College’s award-winning Chamber Singers and the elite vocal jazz ensemble, Singcopation.
Choirs under his direction have achieved top ranking in national and international competitions throughout the world, including performances in Concert Halls throughout the United States, Canada, Australia, China, Scotland, Wales, England, France, Italy, Germany, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, South Africa, Slovenia, Slovakia and China. Mr. Rogers' choirs have had the honor of performing at eight California State Conventions, a record setting fifteen American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) Regional and National Conventions as well as performing at three International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE) National Conventions and a 2017 performance at the Jazz Education Network (JEN) Conference. In the year 2001, Mr. Rogers became the first choral director in United States history to have two different choirs perform at both the IAJE National Convention and the ACDA National Convention, and in 2005, he achieved this special honor once again. In 2017 he again had two different choirs perform at both the JEN National Conference in New Orleans and the ACDA National Convention in Minneapolis.
MARQUES L.A. GARRETT
A Virginia native, Marques L. A. Garrett (he/him) is an Assistant Professor of Music in Choral Activities at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the Glenn Korff School of Music. His responsibilities include conducting the auditioned Chamber Singers and non-auditioned University Chorale (soprano-alto) as well as teaching graduate choral literature. Before earning his PhD in Music Education (Choral Conducting) at Florida State University, he was the Director of Choral Activities at Cheyney University of Pennsylvania. Additionally, he holds an MM from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a BA from Hampton University.
An active conductor, Dr. Garrett is the artistic director of the Omaha Symphonic Chorus and founding conductor of the Nebraska Festival Singers. He serves as a guest conductor or clinician with school, church, community, and festival/honor choirs throughout the country. In addition to his conducting classes at UNL, he leads conducting workshops at other universities and conferences. His formal conducting studies were with Dr. André J. Thomas, Dr. Carole J. Ott, Dr. Carl G. Harris, Jr., and Mr. Royzell Dillard.
Dr. Garrett is an avid composer of choral and solo-vocal music whose compositions have been performed to acclaim by high school all-state, collegiate, and professional choirs including Seraphic Fire and the Oakwood University Aeolians. His music is available through more than ten publishers. He has been commissioned by organizations such as Harvard University and Westminster Choir College. Among his latest commissions is his largest work to date, Dreamland: Tulsa 1921. This collaborative work with librettist Sandra Seaton for tenor-bass chorus, soloists, and chamber orchestra was commissioned by the Turtle Creek Chorale to tell the story of the Greenwood district of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
For more information, visit www.mlagmusic.com.
TOM TRENNEY
Tom Trenney shares his passion as pastoral musician, composer, and teacher in worship with his home congregation, in the college classroom, and in performances, hymn festivals, choral and organ workshops and master classes all around the country. Tom is blessed to be in his twelfth season as Minister of Music to First-Plymouth Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he shepherds three adult choirs, accompanies the congregation on the Lied organ, preaches sermons, and serves as Artistic Director of the Abendmusik Concert Series. Since 2016, First-Plymouth’s choirs have been honored to perform at the Nebraska Music Educators Association Convention as well as for state, regional, and national conventions of the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA). The Plymouth Choir was the only church choir named a finalist for the American Prize in 2018-19.
Since Fall 2019, Tom has been Assistant Professor of Music and Conductor of Choirs at Nebraska Wesleyan University, following interim choral positions at Doane University and Wartburg College. He is also founding Artistic Director and Conductor of sounding light-- a professional choir which has sung for national ACDA and was awarded third place in 2018-19 for the American Prize for choral performance of American music.
A graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music and the Eastman School of Music, Tom is grateful for the inspiration of his teachers and mentors – especially Anton Armstrong, David Davidson, Craig Hella Johnson, (Mister) Fred Rogers, William Weinert, Anne Wilson and Todd Wilson.
PROGRAM (in order)
WALK IN THE LIGHT
PROVIDENCE SINGERS
MARISA BRADFIELD, Conductor
TRACY STROH, Collaborative Pianist
SAUNDER CHOI Lakbay ng Agila (Eagle’s Flight)
JOEL THOMPSON Hold Fast to Dreams
WYNTON MARSALIS The Lord’s Prayer (from Abyssinian 200: A Celebration)
NATIONAL CONCERT CHORUS
MARQUES L. A. GARRETT & TOM TRENNEY, Guest Conductors
MICHAEL YANNETTE, Collaborative Pianist
SUSAN & BRIAN GAUKEL, Projection Designers
PASIFIKA FOLKSONG E Papa Waiari
arr. Jace Kaholokula Saplan
NEGRO SPIRITUAL Rise, Shine!
arr. Marques L. A. Garrett & Tom Trenney
SUSAN LABARR Where the Light Begins
KO MATSUSHITA Ima Kokoni
COREEN DUFFY Siman Tov (World Premiere)
DANIEL AFONSO, JR. Para los tin-tun-teros!
AFRICAN-AMERICAN SPIRITUAL Long Fare You Well
arr. Undine Smith Moore
INTERMISSION
MOUNT SAN ANTONIO COLLEGE CHAMBER SINGERS
BRUCE ROGERS, Conductor
SELGA MENCE Kalejs Kala Debesis
CARLOS CORDERO Nada Te Turbe
INDONESIAN FOLK SONG Hela Rotan
arr. Ken Steven
TRADITIONAL SPIRITUAL Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel
arr. Moses Hogan
NATIONAL MASTERWORK CHORUS
BRUCE ROGERS, Guest Conductor
ANTHONY RAFANIELLO, Collaborative Pianist
SUSAN & BRIAN GAUKEL, Projection Designers
ELAINE HAGENBERG Illuminare
1. Splendor
2. Caritas
3. Nox
4. Munera pacis
5. Illuminate his
Saturday April 6th, 2024 @8:30pm
CARNEGIE HALL