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A Breath Of Fresh Air

Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage, Carnegie Hall

Acts

Jesse Mark Peckham, Director
Khorikos

Dennis Richardson, Director
Bob Chilcott's Canticles of Light and a new work by Ross Bernhardt

Ross Bernhardt, Director
Bob Chilcott's Canticles of Light and a new work by Ross Bernhardt

Arnold Garza, Director
Music for Wind Band

Participating Groups

Khorikos

Del Mar Master Chorus and Concert Choir

Corpus Christi Chorale

Alice High School Honors Band

Special Guests

Artist's Name

Jesse Mark Peckham

Artist's Name

Dennis Richardson

Artist's Name

Ross Bernhardt

Artist's Name

Arnold Garza

Participating Group Directors

Khorikos
Jesse Mark Peckham
KHORIKOS is one of New York City's most distinguished a cappella ensembles, performing a wide range of musical works from medieval polyphony to contemporary sound sculpture. We are taking the lead in re-inventing classical music by engaging in unique collaborations with artists of other genres, including film and dance, and by performing in traditional and non-traditional venues. KHORIKOS performances have been described as other-worldly, powerful and cutting-edge. A fresh take on an age-old art form, KHORIKOS is an experience, not just an ensemble. Since its inception in 2005, KHORIKOS has quickly gained a reputation for excellent programming and stunning performances, and is now being regularly invited to perform world premieres and high profile events. In 2008, the ensemble toured the Czech Republic as a part of the Svatováclavský hudební festival, and on September 23rd, 2009, KHORIKOS premiered Eric Whitacre's "Nox Aurumque." In the Spring of 2010, KHORIKOS released its first professional CD - a live concert recording of "Modern Masters" - which was nominated for Best Classical A Cappella Album for the 2011 CASA Music Awards. During the Summer of 2011, KHORIKOS performed at the Kennedy Center, Avery Fisher Hall and the Wang Theater in Boston as a part of the "Songs of Life Festival" and the World Premiere of "A Melancholy Beauty." Collaborators included The National Philharmonic, The Boston Modern Orchestra Project, The Indianapolis Children Choir and the Philip Kutev National Folklore Ensemble, Bulgaria. On April 22nd, 2012 KHORIKOS appeared on a joint program at Avery Fisher Hall in "Over the Stone" with Bryn Terfel, and on April 23rd and 25th, 2012, KHORIKOS performed the acclaimed Yunus Emre Oratorio by Ahmed Adnan Saygun under the direction of Turkish conductor Rengim Gökmen with the TURKSOY Symphony Orchestra. The performances were at Avery Fisher Hall and the Music Center at Strathmore respectively. In the summer of 2012, KHORIKOS was selected to compete in WQXR/WNYC the Jerome L. Greene Space's "Battle of the Boroughs," and was voted to represent the Borough of Manhattan in competition against rock, funk and indie bands. In the Fall of 2012, KHORIKOS premiered "Cantos de Vida Nueva" by Chilean composer Javier Farias at the Instituto Cervantes and performed with Mason Jar Music at the Rockwood Music Hall. The remainder of the 2012-2013 season will include a world premiere of Robert Carl's "The Geography of Loss" at Merkin Concert Hall and the world premiere of Jan Jirasek's "King Lavra" at the Czech Center Bohemian National Hall and at Roulette.

Del Mar Master Chorus and Concert Choir
Dennis Richardson
Dennis S Richardson - Conductor
Dennis S Richardson is the Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi, Texas and is in his eighth year as the Artistic Director of the Del Mar Master Chorus, a community choir sponsored by the college. He studied choral conducting at West Texas A & M University, Texas State University and Texas Tech University and his mentors include Houston Bright, Hugh Sanders, George Umberson, Kenneth Fulton, Donald Bailey and Kenneth Davis. Richardson served as the Music Director for the outdoor musical drama Texas in Palo Duro Canyon and since 1984, he has developed and organized Texas all state choir camps for colleges and universities across the state to include Texas State University, Texas Tech University, University of Texas San Antonio, Texas A & M University Kingsville, Baylor University and Del Mar College.  He has prepared choruses for symphony orchestras in Lubbock, Texas Santa Fe, New Mexico, Victoria, Texas and Corpus Christi. Additionally, he has managed choir tours and conducted in such places as Dallas; San Antonio; Galveston; Washington D.C.; Philadelphia; Wichita, Kansas; Monterey, Mexico; New Orleans; Breckenridge, Colorado; and New York City on three occasions. Choirs under his direction performed in Lincoln Center in New York City for a special celebration on Martin Luther King Day in 2010.


The Del Mar Master Chorus, chartered in 2005, is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting excellence in the choral arts in South Texas.  We are an extension of the Music Department at Del Mar College in Corpus Christi.  Our mission is to share the gift of great choral music, inspire new generations with the love of choral singing, and broaden our reach and exposure of music to all ages and cultures. The Chorus is a diverse group of auditioned singers dedicated to exploring and performing an array of musical styles from Classic to Contemporary.  Chorus members come from many communities across the Coastal Bend and from all walks of life—among our members are music teachers, professors, ministers, bankers, business professionals and advanced college and high school singers.  The Master Chorus extends its mission by operating and sponsoring the Del Mar Children’s Chorus.  There are 2 ensembles of young singers from age 7 -14 who participate in rehearsals weekly and present an annual series of concerts. 
Recent performances of notable works include: Beethoven’s 9th Symphony and Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana” with the Corpus Christi Symphony, “Missa Gaia” by Paul Winter, “Carribbean Mass” by Glenn McClure, “Christ Lag in Todesbanden” by J.S. Bach, “Come, Ye Sons of Art” by Henry Purcell, “Misa Criolla” BY Ariel Ramirez, “Gloria” by Vivaldi, various patriotic, cultural and popular programs and Karl Jenkins “Requiem” performed in Avery Fisher Hall in 2010.
 
The Del Mar Concert Choir is the primary large choral ensemble at Del Mar College for the purpose of providing curricular opportunities and experiences for vocal music majors at the institution. The ensemble schedules a series of annual concerts and the singers participate in departmental and community concerts and enjoy additional seasonal programs, cultural events and community service experiences. They collaborate in performances with local public school choirs as well as with the Del Mar Master Chorus and area university choral ensembles. Each year a group of singers from the Concert Choir audition for and are selected to perform in the annual conference of the Texas Music Educators Association as members of the Texas 2 year college all state choir.
 
 

Corpus Christi Chorale
Ross Bernhardt

Alice High School Honors Band
Arnold Garza
Arnold Garza is a graduate of Alice High School and Texas A&MKingsville.
He began his music study early in high school while he was
a student of Bryce Taylor. As a student at Texas A&M- Kingsville, he
was lead trumpet in the award winning jazz ensemble along with being
first trumpet in the wind symphony. In 1996, he began his teaching
career at Alice Independent School District where his bands and jazz
groups won numerous competitions including grand champions in
Florida. He’s led the AHS marching band to state marching contest for
the last 8 years along with winning numerous contests with the Honors
Band. Arnold has been married to Alena Garza for 22 years and has
four amazing children…Esai 21, Eden 17, Evan 13 and Meela 12.