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CHOIR ROSTERS
Preparatory Grades 1–2
Evy Andzulis
Juniper Baggett
Poppy Barnes
Zoe Bell
Alex Berry
Elaura Blackburn
Ani Cheatham
Choristers Grade 3
Navi Alderman
Estela Arreola
Ethan Banawa
Hazel Beasley
Jayde Beasley
Blaire Brosnaham
Festival Grades 4–5
Emmie Adams
Ahna Alejandro
Ethan Andzulis
Emory Aughtman
Kamea Barron
Weston Berry
Lucas Bishop
Allie Boven
Taylyn Brannen
Annabelle Brewer
Zoe Cheatham
Gregory Coady
Molly Crawford
Emmy Cummings
Lilli Denne
Marin Dudney
Kemi Davis
Talia Dayse
Madeline Dixon
Lennox Drummond
Bella Fangman
Maya Gizowski
Ford Gunn
Piper Hagwood
Brynnlee Hoekstra
Oaklyn Howell
Rose Lindemann
Ella Moeini
Adalyn Self
Zia Shahzad
Smith Skelton
Willa Strum
Jayden Walker
Charlie Wells
Hudson Zhang
Taleah Browne
Sydney Cobb
Kylie Davis
Connery Drummond
Qora Echevarria
Malia Heygster
Willow Kudlacz
Jake McWilliams
Lowell Murrell
Victoria Nelson
Sophia Palermo
Ruby Laine Schmiedebusch
Eli Scholl
Gabby Smith
Bree Stead
Mateo Toliver
Blaze Turner
Scarlett Wooten
Daniella DuMond
Catherine Dunn
Robert Dunn
Ella Eve
Sadie Fain
Maren Fox
Emi Frenkel
Cecelia Garic
Emma Gibbs
Shelby Givens
Nohea Glenn
Ramona Gould
KJ Gupta
Kayleigh Hardin
Lillie Hermann
Mim Hill
Mei Houseknecht
Magnolia Huffmaster
Ryleigh Jackson
Eli Jarrell
Karoline Kurek
Stella Liscoe
Penny Long
Kinslie Malone
Louella Mead
Sky Menendez
Celine Moeini
Hadassah Mukthipudi
Amelia Newman
Harper Pabalan
Cora Payne
Stormie Riley
Jackson Rodriguez
Arwen Sartalamacchia
Makenna Sherwin
Owen Smith
Gwendolynn SmythChandler
Axl Turner
Kate Vidal
Alia Wells
Jordan Williams
Payton Williams
Marley Williams
Lucy Wiltshire
Hensley Zielinski
Concert Grades 6–8
Jace Agostinelli
Marilyn Ball
Liv Barrow
Alexis Bernhardt
Harper Brummet
Jai’Don Carter
Ava Chambers
Ava Christensen +
Grace Cipriano
Tory Cipriano
Charlette Coleman
Lillian Crisher
Emelyn Crosby
Jayden Cruz-Orengo
Teresa Dayse
Ella Dixon +
Meredith Fendt +
Lana Fernandez +
Roey Foreman
Mary Clark Forshee
Zoe Gardner
Zane Gibson
Xander Ginnetti +
Holly Gunn +
Robbie Gupta
Patrick Higgins +
Young Singers Grades 9–12
Jose Alfaro
Andrea Arias Pita
Gabe Bailey * °
Carter Bowman °
Hudson Brown *
Zoey Brown
Lily Campbell *
Riley Chism *
Abigail Coleman * °
Ainsley Cramblet *
Amelia Cruit *
Amethyst Davis *
Addie Denson *
Cai Durbin
Vivi Fernandez *
Gabriel Flores * °
Emma Forsberg
Emma Frenke
Obie Gammon * °
Chloe Givens *
Hazel Glover
Brandi Grimes
Kai Hanson
Sydnie Hedtke *
Aleks Henderson
Kai Hill *
Hayleigh Hill *
Bridget Holston *
Hadlee Hitchcock +
Roan Johnson
Ashirah Kilmer + °
Brooklyn Larson
Khali Liddell +
Becca Lorge +
Lexi Martin
Josh Matthews +
Abby Moss-Livous
Hollyn Myers
Isabella Neeley
Emmy Oaks +
Presley Parks
CHOIR ROSTERS
Bradley Peacock +
Arden Poole + °
Addison Pope
Ava Pope
Jade Powell
Arhaam Raheem
Dakota Remington+
Wyatt Remington +
Sophia Sabata +
Ava Shead +
Hayden Shropshire
Addy Slusser
Averie Smith +
Ari Smith
Wyatt Snyder +
Adelyn Solis °
Khloe Sowers
Esther Ulate +
Aubrey Vick +
Zoe Waters
Zoey Westberry
Kayleigh Wheeler
Aaliyah Williams
Isabella Zimmerman
Emilie Zoesch + °
Zoey Jefferson *
Melody Jones *
Grace Kellams *
Rinah Kilmer * °
Caroline Kortman *
Reagan Kozminsky *
Ava Lane *
Delaney Lauzon
Ada LeBeau *
Zander Letsch *
Hannah Linsky
Jaden Machesky *
Harper Mahaney
Amelia Mesa * °
Elanna MilhouseSmith *
Noah Mitts *
Kai Muñoz-Saulnier
Miley Owens *
Claire Perez *
Abby Pulling *
Carver Quinn
Holden Raley *
Layke Richmond * °
Brooklyn Scully
Cecily Shrell
Gracie Slocum *
Mia Slocum *
Cora Smith *
Avica Spencer *
Aryn Stinnett
McKenzie Taylor *
Nevaeh Terry *
Gigi Thrush * °
Elijah Waters
Elise Welch *
Finley West *
Morganne Whitesell
Shaelyn Wilkerson *
Jayna Wilmer
Arianna Worsham
+ Ensemble * Chorale & Choraliers ° Ambassadors
ONE WORLD, MANY VOICES
YOUNG SINGERS
Alex Gartner, conductor
Amavolovolo
TradiTional SouTh african/arr. Rudolf de Beer
This South African piece harkens traditional musical styles of the region with a more modern context. Written pre-Apartheid, the work’s societal function was to warn others of gun violence in a particular neighborhood (amavolovolo is an amalgamation of the English word revolver). Nowadays (and after much communal improvement) the song and accompanying movements are popular at parties, weddings, and (obviously) choral concerts!
CHORALE
Alex Gartner & Stephany Ingram, conductors
Beat of a Different Drum by Sarah Quartel
A catchy melody encourages us to embrace the song that resounds in our hearts while also making space and time for other voices to join in one great communal chorus.
Come Sail Away with Me by Mark Patterson
Written and arranged specifically with young tenor and bass voices in mind, this piece invites the listener on a peaceful journey across the open sea.
Dodi Li
TradiTional hebrew/arr. Doreen Rao
This traditional Hebrew folk song features excerpted Biblical text from Solomon’s Song of Songs. Its melody, written in the 20th century, was composed in a way that fuses traditional Hebrew civilization with the musical practices of the Middle East.
Kai Hill, Hudson Brown & Gabriel Flores, soloists
AMBASSADORS
Miguel Aldahondo, conductor
Sesere Eeye
TradiTional TorreS STraiT iSlander/arr. Mark O’Leary
This song comes from an island region that spans between the northeastern tip of the Australian continent and the island of New Guinea. With a catchy, repetitive structure, this song has been passed down through oral tradition, often accompanied by dance and percussion. Over time, its meaning has evolved—some interpret the text as the wind moving across the mountains; for others, it is the story of a kingfisher bird diving in and out of the water in search of fish.
Gatatumba
TradiTional andaluSian/arr. Ruth Morris Gray
A villancico is a traditional musical form that hails from the Iberian Peninsula. Similar to an English carol, this style of song is traditionally performed during the Christmas season due to its festive character, though many are not tied to a specific holiday. Taken from the Andalusia region along the southern Spanish coast, this particular villancico invites listeners not to hide, but to come out and celebrate with tambourines, rattles, and whistles.
ONE WORLD, MANY VOICES
I Need You to Survive arr. Rollo Dilworth
“I pray for you; you pray for me. I love you. I need you to survive.” First recorded by Gospel legend Hezekiah Walker, this timeless song is a prayer for hope and connection across all people. The message of togetherness and support rings true in this work.
Ensemble
Evelyn Aguirre & Juliana Child, conductors
Look at the World by John Rutter
Internationally renowned and beloved for his choral music, John Rutter is especially appreciated by children’s and youth choir directors for such beautiful and accessible pieces. This piece will be featured on the 100th Anniversary concert celebration of the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra (PSO) in April.
Simple Gifts
TradiTional Shaker/arr. Ryan Murphy
Lush harmonies and a sprightly accompaniment breathe new life into this well-known traditional Shaker tune. This piece will also be featured on the PSO’s 100th Anniversary concert in April.
Liwaya
TradiTional Swahili/arr. Tim Gregory
Liwaya, which translates to come what may, comes from the Kamba people of southern Kenya, where going to school can be a rare privilege. The opening text translates to our school keeps progressing through education, come what may. Later, the song explodes into celebratory dances—the sukuti, the mwoboko, and the chakacha, each a popular regional dance.
Concert
Evelyn Aguirre & Juliana Child, conductors
La Sopa de Isabel by Francisco J. Núñez
From the composer: “One day, while my wife Elizabeth was making soup for our son Sebastián, my mother began to dance and sing about soup. I was so excited and inspired that I created this song, incorporating merengue rhythms from the Dominican Republic.” The song features a playful text that describes the recipe for a spicy potato soup.
Uphill by Jill Friedersdorf & Melissa Keylock
A text by Christina Rossetti depicts life as a constant uphill struggle, but with the rich reward of rest awaiting at journey’s end for all those who labor.
I Sing Because I’m Happy adapted by Rollo Dilworth
It’s hard to resist tapping a foot and grooving along to this gospel-style rendition of the traditional hymn, His Eye Is on the Sparrow. In this arrangement, the choir is divided into three equal parts with each section joyfully proclaiming its own message.
ONE WORLD, MANY VOICES
Preparatory & Choristers
Juliana Child & Katie Olson, conductors
Wild Mountain Thyme
TradiTional ScoTTiSh/arr. Mike Wilson
This simple yet moving Scots-Irish folk tune dates back to the 1700s. In preparation for today’s performance, our singers practiced fluid movements with colorful scarves that reflected the gentle, flowing nature of the music.
Cottleston Pie by
Mark Patterson
The text of this piece comes from A.A. Milne’s beloved Winnie-the-Pooh. In the book, the following text precedes the rhyme that you will hear sung today: “Winnie the Pooh sat down on a large stone, and tried to think this out. It sounded to him like a riddle, and he was never much good at riddles. So he sang ‘Cottleston Pie’ instead!”
Kokoleoko
TradiTional liberian/arr. Victor C. Johnson
This Liberian folk song depicts a rooster crowing as a child calls out for their mother to wake up and greet the morning.
Three Quotes by Mark Twain by Andrea Ramsey 1. The Silent Fool 2. Telling the Truth 3. My Dear Mother
Quite a lot of meaning can be packed into very few words, and no one knew that better than Mark Twain! In this delightful set of short songs, we hear Twain’s sentiments—some wise, and others more humorous—sung to original tunes by Andrea Ramsey. She writes: “These pieces were conceived in Twain-esque musical styles with The Silent Fool being quasi-ragtime, Telling the Truth having the feel of a waltz, and My Dear Mother showing a touch of the blues.”
Festival
Juliana Child & Katie Olson, conductors
The Land of Nod by Philip E. Silvey
Robert Louis Stevenson’s poem paints a picture of a magical land that a child can only visit while dreaming. Listen and let your own dreams run wild as the music transports you from the real world to the child’s imagination and back again.
Homeward Bound by Marta
Keen
In her own words, composer Marta Keen describes the intentions behind this hauntingly beautiful work: “Finding your true calling in life; knowing that those who love you trust that you will return… I wrote this song for a loved one who was embarking upon a new phase of life’s journey, to express the soul’s yearning to grow and change.”
Arroz con Leche from Three Dominican Folksongs arr. Francisco J. Núñez
This traditional Dominican folk song tells the story of a young man called “Rice Pudding” who is searching for a young woman to marry when he meets a princess who is a lot like himself—but not in a good way! In the middle of the piece, you will hear “Rice Pudding” and the princess taunt and tease each other with a combination of nonsense rhymes and Spanish language text, each character playfully threatening to stick out their tongue and embarrass the other in public if they don’t receive the coffee and bread that they demand!
ONE WORLD, MANY VOICES
Choraliers
Juliana Child & Alex Gartner, conductors
Plena by Diana
V. Sáez
The plena is an early 20th-century Afro-Puerto Rican rhythm from the southern part of the island, traditionally performed with three different sized panderetas (hand drums) that play interrelated syncopated rhythms. This arrangement reflects a more modern interpretation of the plena with the use of the piano as accompaniment, taking rhythmic motives from salsa rhythm, and the voices in the interlude imitating trumpets from a salsa band. In the introduction, you will hear the singers imitating percussion instruments, together forming the basic rhythmic pattern of the plena.
Hold Fast to Dreams by Susan
LaBarr
The text of this iconic poem by Langston Hughes encourages the listener to always keep faith in pursuit of their dreams, warning that to give up on dreams is to live a life devoid of meaning and purpose.
The Heart’s Remedy by
Alex Gartner
This piece, written for PCC’s upcoming residency at Carnegie Hall, explores the universal emotions of loss, pain, and grief. Poet Jan Richardson perfectly encapsulates the complex intertwining of memory and reality while offering a curative path forward—the heart’s sole remedy for breaking is to love still. While this work’s official premiere will be in June, we are excited to give our hometown supporters the first listen.
(Unofficial) World Premiere Young
Singers
Alex Gartner,
conductor
Things That Never Die
by Lee Dengler
Featuring a poem by lauded author Charles Dickens, this piece emphasizes enduring moral and emotional truths while asserting the prominence of compassion and love in the midst of a complicated world.
Hope Lingers On by Lissa Schneckenburger/adapted by Andrea Ramsey
Originally performed by the Indie band Low Lily, this song carries a timely message of encouragement and perseverance for justice, equality, honor, and love.
Combined Choirs
Juliana
Child, conductor
Why We Sing by Greg
Gilpin
All of us here at the Pensacola Children’s Chorus raise our voices in many ways and for many reasons. Some sing as a form of self-expression; some are passionate about music and strive to be the best young artists they can be; some join to be a part of a community, or simply because it’s fun! When all is said and done, there is one thing in common—we are present for each other. May our singers’ voices raised in song remind us that when we come together, anything is possible.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR SUPPORT
Can we count on you?
We are so thankful for your presence here today. Your ticket purchase helps PCC create memorable, dynamic performances for singers and audience members alike. But did you know that ticket sales provide PCC with less than 10% of the funds required to create these experiences year after year? For this reason and so much more, we are grateful to the hundreds of individuals, families, local businesses, and grantors who generously invest in our programs and in our singers. We’d love to count you as a member of our PCC family of supporters. There are many ways in which you can financially support our mission of transforming young lives through music:
Programs
Individual Donation or Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities Available
Donations to our program fund directly support the operation of our 14 choirs which meet in downtown Pensacola and throughout Northwest Florida and Southwest Alabama. This fund helps us maintain high quality educational programs and performances that our singers and community have come to expect and appreciate.
Tuition Assistance
Individual Donation or Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities Available
This year alone, over 50% of PCC singers qualify for some level of financial assistance. As such, PCC aggressively pursues a goal of at least $40,000 to help ensure that every child—regardless of their family’s financial situation—can participate in PCC’s lifechanging education programs.
Endowment Fund
To honor the 26-year tenure of PCC’s Founding Artistic Directors, the Susan & Allen Pote Endowment Fund was established in 2016. Once the fund crests $1M, earned interest will be used to furnish capital improvements aimed at making our programs even more spectacular. We are nearly halfway there! Stock transfers are welcome gifts, as are individual donations.
Scholarships
Donations to PCC’s scholarship fund provide financial awards to returning singers and graduating seniors. Through a competitive application process, qualifying singers are selected for their demonstrated commitment to the program, outstanding musicianship, and leadership within their respective choirs.
