Stetson University Concert Choir Program

STETSON UNIVERSITY CONCERT CHOIR

SPRING 2026 CONCERT PROGRAM

PROGRAM

A NOTE FROM THE CONDUCTOR

The repertoire for this spring’s program reflects the many styles, genres and colors we are creating together as one ensemble, while exploring the many ways our students can be a bridge to others through music and actions. We are honored to perform at the ACDA Southern Region Conference, presenting the first seven selections in this program celebrating our prism of voices concluding with “El Aire Baila.”

INVOCATION

Richard Carpenter/ed. Sandra Peter

Sandra Peter Creative

For those whose eyes would see, render them in faith to me.

For all those seeking peace, in my arms your strife shall cease. And place in me the agony you bear; nothing can impair the perfect love I bring in a simple offering.

–text by John Bettis

HAIL, GLADDENING LIGHT

Charles Wood (1866-1926)

Oxford University Press

Hail, gladdening Light, of his pure glory poured,

Who is the immortal Father, heavenly, blest, Holiest of holies, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Now we are come to the sun’s hour of rest, The lights of evening round us shine, We hymn the Father, Son and Holy Spirit divine.

Worthy are you at all times to be sung With undefiled tongue, Son of our God, giver of life, alone:

Therefore in all the world your glories, Lord, they own.

–Phos hilaron, Greek hymn translated by John Keble (1792-1866)

SICUT CERVUS

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (1525-1594)

E.C. Schirmer (Sung in Latin)

As the deer longs for springs of water, So longs my heart for you, O God.

–text from Clementine Latin Vulgate Bible, Psalm 41-:2

LEGACY

Sandra Peter Sandra Peter Creative

It so happens that the work which is likely to be our most durable monument, and to convey some knowledge of us to the most remote posterity, is a work of bare utility; not a shrine, not a fortress, not a palace, but a bridge.

–text by Montgomery Schuyler (1843-1914), “The Bridge as a Monument,” Harper’s Weekly, 1883.

Travel far. Reach with open arms. Make a true connection there, where’er you find yourself.

On the road, wear a smile. Meet a friend.

The miracle of time will change your life again and again.

See the good before you; see it there.

Build a bridge, strong and true. Make it last.

Hold fast to the voice in you: “Reach out. Build a bridge.”

–text by Sandra Peter (2025)

BHAY ‘LAM

Traditional Xhosa

Field study recording and manuscript

(Sung in Xhosa)

My baby brother, he is red with a fever, My mother and I, we are with him. He has his mother.

–South African folksong

I LOVE YOU/WHAT A WONDERFUL WORLD

Craig Hella Johnson, arr.

Hal Leonard Corporation

We can be together for now and forever, I love you.

And when I’m prayin’, I hear him sayin’, ”I love you.”

People all over the world, they’re opening up They’re coming alive and they’re sayin’ “I love you.”

I see skies of blue and clouds of white, The bright best days, the dark sacred nights,

And I think to myself, “What a wonderful world.” The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky, Are also on the faces of the people going by.

I see friends shaking hands, saying, “How do you do?”

They’re really saying, “I love you.”

–based on songs by Larry Norman and Randy Stonehill/George David Weiss and Bob Thiele

ADDITIONAL CONCERT TOUR SELECTIONS

EL AIRE BAILA

Jake Runestad

Jake Runestad Music

(Sung in Spanish)

The air dances, spreads it wings and soars round and round.

The air is a large bird flying high above the sky;

That is why we only feel the blowing of its wings.

–text by Humberto Ak’abal (1952-2019)

A SILENCE HAUNTS ME

Jake Runestad

Jake Runestad Music

Hear me, brothers —

I’ve a confession painful to make.

Six years I have endured a curse that deepens every day.

They say that soon I’ll cease to hear the very music of my soul.

What should be the sense most perfect in me fails me, shames me, taunts me.

A silence haunts me.

They ask me —

Do you hear the shepherd singing far-off soft? — Do you hear a distant fluting dancing joyously aloft?

— No. — I think so?

God, am I Prometheus? — exiled in chains for gifting humankind my fire? Take my feeling — take my sight — take my wings midflight but let me hear the searing roar of air before I score the ground!

Why? — Silence is God’s reply — and so I beg me take my life — when lo — I hear a grace and feel a ringing in me after all —

so now as leaves of autumn fall, I make my mark and sign my name and turn again to touch my flame of music to the world, a broken man, as best I can,

As ever, Faithfully yours, (— A bell?)

Hear me, and be well.

–text by Todd Boss, an adaptation of Ludwig van Beethoven’s (1770-1827) Heiligenstadt Testament

SURE ON THIS SHINING NIGHT

Morten Lauridsen

Peer Music

Sure on this shining night

Of starmade shadows round,

Kindness must watch for me

This side the ground.

The late year lies down the north.

All is healed, all is health.

High summer holds the earth.

Hearts all whole.

Sure on this shining night

I weep for wonder

Wandering far alone

Of shadows on the stars.

–text by James Agee (1909-1955)

THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE

Howard Helvey, arr.

Beckenhorst Press

This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine.

Ev’rywhere I go, I’m gonna let it shine.

God’s love gave it to me, I’m gonna let it shine.

–American gospel song

STETSON ALMA MATER

Friedrich Flemming (1778-1813)

Dear Alma Mater, smile upon your children.

Gladly we greet thee, altogether lovely.

Peace be within thy classic halls and temples.

Hail, Alma Mater dear!

Dear Alma Mater, tenderly thy children

Gather and bring to thee gracious salutations.

Comrades, your voices lift, once again in chorus.

Hail, Alma Mater dear!

–text by Stetson’s 2nd president Lincoln Hulley (1865-1934)

STETSON UNIVERSITY CONCERT CHOIR 2025-2026

Timothy Peter, DMA, conductor

Hannah Sun Ripert, MM, collaborative pianist

SOPRANO 1

Natalie Dixon* Valrico, FL

Phia Maritz Windermere, FL

Madeline Peacock* Valrico, FL

Nicole Phillips Windermere, FL

Sophia Santana Plant City, FL

Kyla Twarkins Port Orange, FL

Grace Wieckowski Orlando, FL

SOPRANO 2

Esmeralda Acosta* Indiantown, FL

Nina Ambrose Bolton, MA

Haven Birket Orlando, FL

Ali Hockman Orlando, FL

Gracie Holland DeLand, FL

Charlotte Kierstad Titusville, FL

Madiann Rivera-Velez Orlando, FL

Claudia Rubio Miami, FL

Reagan Chapman Orlando, FL

*Section Leadership

Phia Maritz, choir president Eloisy Goncalves, choir vice-president

ALTO

1

Keira Brumley Port Orange, FL

Alyssa Pimental Palm Coast, FL

Adrianna Rivera Maldonado Puerto Rico

Diana Rubio Miami, FL

Robin Sherwood McDonough, GA

Julianna Simmons Winter Park, FL

Nicole Van Esselstyn Melbourne, FL

ALTO

2

Adamelia Arredondo Miami, FL

Tamyra Charles Miami, FL

Lilyadny DeLeon West Palm Beach, FL

Alex Fisher Apopka, FL

Emma Floyd Stuart, FL

Eloisy Goncalves Orlando, FL

Krystal Gonzalez* Kissimmee, FL

Carlissa Gudino Lake Mary, FL

Nix Lugo Orlando, FL

Elizabeth Stebleton Brooksville, FL

Elisabeth Lundstrom* Hobe Sound, FL

STETSON UNIVERSITY CONCERT CHOIR

TENOR 1

Aiden Blust Minneola, FL

Davis Brown Niceville, FL

Haydyn Fay Chesterfield, NH

Robbie Gonzalez Puerto Rico

Evan Martinez Deltona, FL

Carlin Schoenfish West Fargo, ND

Trenton Wilks* Vero Beach, FL

TENOR 2

Jay Alvarez Miami, FL

Gabriel Caldiero Deltona, FL

Andrei Camquimbo Orlando, FL

Joshua Dennis Orlando, FL

Gio Garibaldi Deltona, FL

Julian Rocha Miami, FL

Simon Smith Lake Worth, FL

Elliott Steward* Stuart, FL

*Section Leadership

BASS 1

Reagan Eddy Statham, GA

Richard Fields St. Johns, FL

Isaac Vicente Gomez Miramar, FL

Jack Lisenby Flagler Beach, FL

Tyler Metzler Milton, FL

Caleb Moser* Niceville, FL

John Wiese* Miami Springs, FL

BASS 2

Alex Bekkach Orlando, FL

Kenneth Browning DeLand, FL

Hank Evans Jupiter, FL

Vyktor Hansen Orlando, FL

Dean Holland Ormond Beach, FL

Michael Ledyeav Polk City, FL

James Obeng-Gyasi Ghana

Joaquin Romero Spring Hill, FL

TIMOTHY PETER

Timothy Peter, professor of music, is the Director of Choral Activities at Stetson. He is a native of Minnesota and received his undergraduate degree from Luther College and his Master of Music and Doctoral of Musical Arts degrees from the University of Arizona. Prior to his position at Stetson, he was Professor of Music at Luther College and served as the head of the Music Department. He has been a high school choral director and church musician in Minnesota, Iowa, Arizona and Florida.

Dr. Peter conducts the Stetson Concert Choir, which is the university’s touring upperclass SATB ensemble. In addition, he has conducted the Hatter Choir (TTBB), Stetson Choral Union, and taught conducting and repertoire courses. He is involved with the Florida Vocal Association, the Florida Music Education Association and the American Choral Directors Association, having held positions as the ACDA Regional Chair for Repertoire and Standards for College and Universities and the state and regional chair for tenor/bass ensembles. Under his leadership, his choirs have performed at state, regional and national ACDA conferences and at the Florida Music Education Association conferences.

His off-campus teaching, adjudicating and conducting includes numerous appearances as a convention presenter, festival clinician and all-state conductor in Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin. He has prepared choirs and orchestras for performances at Carnegie Hall in New York, Orchestra Hall, Minneapolis, Orchestra Hall and Rockefeller Chapel in Chicago, the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, the Holland Center in Omaha, Nebraska, the TWA Center in St. Louis, the Overture Center in Madison, Wisconsin, the Alamodome in San Antonio and the Seoul Foreign School Center for the Performing Arts in South Korea. His international conducting includes England, Wales, Germany, Austria, Namibia, Oman, South Africa, South Korea and Singapore.

HANNAH SUN RIPERT

Hannah Sun Ripert is a pianist known for her sensitive artistry and versatility. Her mission, through a multifaceted career as a soloist, chamber musician, educator, church music director and composer, is to connect with diverse audiences around the world. She was also faculty at University of Central Florida, and her private students have won international competitions and performed at Carnegie Hall. Sun Ripert is Music Director at Orange City United Methodist Church, where she engages the community through worship music. She has led interactive workshops through community fellowships and outreach programs in New York City, Blue Hill, Maine and Dongguan, China. Sun Ripert earned her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees at The Juilliard School working with Jerome Lowenthal and Seymour Lipkin. A dedicated educator, she currently serves on the Music Faculty at Stetson University where she cultivates the next generation of musicians and collaborates with students and faculty through her courses in keyboard, coaching and performing solo recitals and with chamber ensembles, faculty and the Stetson Concert Choir.

STETSON UNIVERSITY ADMINISTRATION

Christopher Roellke, PhD

President and University Professor

Elizabeth Skomp, PhD Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs

SCHOOL OF MUSIC FACULTY

Washington Garcia, DMA Dean

Peter Smucker, PhD Assistant Dean

Jesús Alfonzo, DMA

Viola, Chamber Music

Chadley Ballantyne, DMA Voice, Area Coordinator

Gabriel Bergeron-Langlois, BM Bassoon

Meghan Berindean, DMA Cello, Chamber Music Coordinator

Kristie Born, DMA Keyboard, Collaborative Piano Coordinator

Dione Chandler, DM Oboe

Washington Garcia, DMA Dean

Daniil Zavlunov, PhD Assistant Dean

Karen Coker Merritt, DMA Voice

Manuel de Murga, PhD Composition

Shannon Groskreutz, PhD Music Theory, Aural Training

Joni Hanze, BM Keyboard

Lonnie Hevia, DMA Music Theory, Composition

Michael Hill, BM Double Bass

Anthony Hose, ARCM Director of Orchestras

Dan Johnson, MM

Percussion, Director of Jazz Ensemble

Boyd Jones, DMA Organ, Music Theory

Sean Kennard, DMA Piano

Routa Kroumovitch-Gomez Violin, String Coordinator

Gregory LeFils, PhD Music Education-Choral

John Lychner, PhD Music Education-Instrumental

Alexander Martin, PhD Director of Music Theory

Dunwoody Mirvil, DM Trombone

Nathan Munson, DMA Voice

Lynn Musco, DM Clarinet

Noel Painter, PhD Music Theory

Edit Palmer, MFA Aural Training, Piano

Cass Panuska, MM Voice

Timothy Peter, DMA Director of Choral Activities

Tammara Phillips, DM Flute

Orlando Roman, DM Guitar

Timothy Rosenberg, DMA Saxophone

Robin Sisk, DMA Euphonium, Tuba

Pingyi Song, DMA Associate Director of Choral Activities

Jessica Speak, DMA Clarinet

Hannah Sun Ripert, MM Keyboard, Collaborative Piano

SCHOOL OF MUSIC STAFF

Christina Pyburn Executive Assistant to the Dean

Razvan Berindean Assistant Director of Admissions for the School of Music

Sara Scarpelli Director of Community Engagement

Elise Torres Administrative Assistant

Kathy Thomas, BM Horn

Craig Uppercue, MEd Music Education-Elementary

Chandler Wilson, PhD Director of Bands

Carly Wingfield, DMA Voice

Aaron Witek, DM Trumpet, Brass and Percussion Coordinator

Olivia Yokers, DMA Director of Opera

Amanda Cortright Communications Coordinator

SINGING AT STETSON

Stetson University’s rich heritage of singing spans more than 140 years. In addition to solo recitals, chamber ensembles and fully staged operas, the choral program in the School of Music currently includes the Concert Choir, Stetson Chorale (SSAA), Hatter Choir (TTBB) and Choral Union. Annual choral events on campus include the Stetson Choral Festival held each fall semester engaging 400 outstanding high school singers and teachers, the Stetson Tenor Bass Festival held each January with a combined chorus of over 500 high school tenors and basses and the beloved Christmas Candlelight Concerts celebrating the holiday season combining choirs, chamber orchestra, brass and wind instrumentalists, pipe organ and joyful audience carols. Singing musicians begin at an early age at Stetson with the Young Singers Program founded in 1985 by Dr. Ann Small. This program continues to grow under the leadership of Stetson graduates Melinda Fradley and Angela Monahan.

The Concert Choir is a highly select 60-voice ensemble. It comprises music majors and students pursuing a variety of degrees from across Stetson’s beautiful campus. The choir performs repertoire selected from sacred and secular choral genres, numerous languages and many cultural domains.

Conductors Dr. Timothy Peter and Dr. Pingyi Song work closely with talented and committed voice faculty colleagues, including Dr. Chadley Ballantyne, Dr. Karen Coker Merritt, Dr. Nathan Munson, Dr. Carly Wingfield, Dr. Olivia Yokers and Cass Panuska. Excellence in the opera program and private studio teaching fortifies one of the most comprehensive vocal programs for undergraduates in the United States. Stetson students sing with passion and intellectual curiosity rooted in a healthy pedagogical approach resulting in free, genuine and vibrant choral and vocal artistry.

2026 SPRING TOUR AND PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

SATURDAY, JANUARY 24 7:30 p.m.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 25 2:30 p.m.

MONDAY, MARCH 2 1:00 p.m.

TUESDAY, MARCH 3 6:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 4 12:15 p.m.

FRIDAY, MARCH 6 11:15 p.m.

FRIDAY, APRIL 10 7:30 p.m.

Steinmetz Hall, Dr. Phillips Center | Orlando, Florida

Performing with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra

Steinmetz Hall, Dr. Phillips Center | Orlando, Florida

Performing with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra

Lawton Chiles High School | Tallahassee, Florida

First Baptist Church | Pensacola, Florida

Performing with Niceville High School

Maples Memorial UMC | Olive Branch, Mississippi

Performing with Center Hill High School and Olive Branch High School

Cannon Center for the Performing Arts | Memphis, Tennessee

Performing at the American Choral Directors Southern Region Conference

Lee Chapel at Stetson University | DeLand, Florida

STETSON SUMMER VOCAL CAMP

June 3–6, 2026

We invite you to attend the 13th annual Vocal Camp at Stetson University. This four–day overnight camp welcomes singers who have completed grades 9, 10, 11 or 12. Instruction focuses on core fundamentals of singing and musical expression through choir, musical theater, opera and voice lessons. From July 13–17, we’ll offer a day camp for middle school singers who have completed grades 5, 6, 7 or 8.

Visit stetson.edu/music-workshop for more information.