BY REQUEST

 Helena Chamber Singers

with Ambiance and Jubilettes

(women’s ensembles from Helena and Capital High)

Steve Michelson, Artistic Director, Mark Walker, Accompanist

Presents

BY REQUEST

Featuring music recently requested by our audience

Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28, 7:30 p.m.

St Paul’s United Methodist Church

See the program below

Tickets at Cornerstone Bookstore, Leslie’s Hallmark,

at the door and at https://www.ticketriver.com/event/6773-by-request

 $15 Adults, $12 Seniors, $8 Students

PROGRAM:

At the Round Earth’s Imagined Corners                          Donne/Spencer

Look at the World         With Ambiance and Jubilettes       John Rutter

All Creatures of our God and King                                   arr. Mark Hayes

This is My Song    (based on “Finlandia” by Sibelius    arr.  Wagner

Selections by Jubilettes:

Loch Lomond                                                           Vijay Singh

Soloists-Abra Casey, Sarah Larsen & Sarah Peterson

Rise up, Shepherd, and Follow                                     Kirby Shaw

Darcy Schulz, Conductor

Selections by Ambiance:

My Johnny’s a Soldier                                              arr. Bennett

In the Stillness                                                                     Gray

Steve Michelson, Conductor

Sing Me To Heaven      Daniel E. Gawthrop     Jan Van Hook, Conductor

Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ye                       Irish Folk Song, arr. Alice Parker

Prayer of the Children                                                               Kurt Bestor

I’m Gonna Sing                                                                     Robert Hunter

HCS Chamber Ensemble

Good Morning, My Fair One                                 arr. Gerald Knight

Michelle                                                                     arr. Anita Kerr

Doodlin’                                                                       Larry Farrow

Bridge Over Troubled Waters                           Simon and Garfunkel

                              Kevin Mathews, soloist

Moon River                                                                   Henry Mancini

                                        Luanne Smith, Soloist          

A Small Umbrella in the Rain

                       Brandon and Erica Schlecht, soloists

West Side Story:

I Feel Pretty

Something’s Comin/Tonight

Bring Him Home (from Les Miserables)                              arr. Mark Brymer

Mike Swisher, Soloist

Paint Your Wagon Medley                                               arr. Jacques Rizzo

I’m on My Way – Kevin Mathews, soloist

Wandrin’ Star – Ken Brensdal, soloist

Gold Fever – Kevin Hamm, soloist

There’s A Coach Comin’ In

I Talk to the Trees

A Million Miles Away Behind the Door – Cathy Barker, soloist

Gospel of No Name City – Larry Sheldon, soloist

Best Things – Kevin Hamm, Trevor Murray, soloists

          I Still See Elisa – Jerry Bowman, soloist

They Call the Wind Maria

America                                                                       arr. Robert Hunter

with Ambiance and Jubilettes

 

 

Kevin Mathews

Kevin is a Helena native and current resident. He studied vocal performance at Montana State University while earning a degree in Chemical Engineering. While at MSU he was active in performance choirs, local opera, and musical theater. After graduation he moved to the Seattle area where he performed as a soloist with the Pacific Lutheran University chorale. Continue reading

Mark Walker

Mark Walker is the Helena Chamber Singers accompanist.  He works as a hydrologist for Hydrometrics.  As a junior in high school Mark was a guest artist with the Helena Symphony playing Gershwin’s “Rhapsody In Blue”.  He has played in numerous bands and jazz ensembles in Helena over the years.  He lives with his wife, Shannon, and two children.

Cathy Barker

Cathy Barker has been singing as long as she can remember. Since sixth grade she’s been game for just about any solo, from “Blowin’ in the Wind” to “He Shall Feed his Flock.” She loves singing with others in church, camp, or concerts. Ensembles of note include the Prairie Arts Chorale (southwest Minnesota), the Seattle Peace Chorus and City Cantabile Choir, and the Helena Symphony Chorale. Cathy and her husband Dick Weaver are co-pastors at Plymouth Church in Helena, where music abounds.

Mike Swisher

Mike Swisher is a graduate of the University of Montana with a degree in Music Education with a voice emphasis.  He has been in numerous productions as a soloist, such as Handel’s Messiah, Brahm’s Requiem, the Faure Requiem, Marriage of Figaro by Mozart, Carmina Burana by Orff, Amahl and the Night Visitors by Menotti, Damn Yankees and Gilbert and Sullivan’s Gondoliers.  He has also been the choral director for pieces such as the Mozart Mass in G, the Verdi Requiem and the Poulenc Gloria with the Cheyenne, WY Symphony Chorale and has also directed church choirs there.  He moved back to Helena, MT two years ago and lives her with his wife, Ann.

Christmas in July, Part 3

Play

So as your day has been filled with joy and wonder, with the fantastic music of CiJ-P1 and CiJ-P2, we’ve finally come to the Winter-slash-Christmas-slash-It’s-Really-Kind-of-a-Holiday-Even-If-You’re-Working concerts from 2010 and 2011. And really, this rounds out nearly ELEVEN HOURS of music from the Helena Chamber Singers, and we truly hope you’ve enjoyed your Christmas in July.

Christmas in July, Part 2

Play

We continue our Winding Walk through a Winter Wonderland by presenting you the Helena Chamber Singer Christmas-slash-Holiday-slash-Just-Plain-Old-Winter concerts from 2006-2009. If you’ve been playing along, the music from CiJ-P1 should have gotten you to about noon, and this will polish off a good portion of your afternoon. And then, there’s part 3…

Christmas in July – Part 1

Play

It’s the second most wonderful time of the year! You see, in Montana, we sometimes get snow even in the middle of summer, but even if that happens, it’s usually brief and surrounded by blessedly hot summer days that cool off into amazing summer nights. But who cares? It’s July 25th, so it’s time for Christmas in July. As a special gift, there are three parts to this showcase of every single Christmas concert that the Helena Chamber Singers have performed. You should just download the show and enjoy playing completely inappropriate yet totally safe for work music performed by the amazingly talented members of the Helena Chamber Singers.

Part 1 includes the Christmas-slash-winter concerts from 2001 – 2005. Enjoy!

May 2001 Concert

Play

In May 2001, the Helena Chamber Singers had their second concert, and Kevin Hamm and Gayle Sheldon recap some of the wonderful pieces performed. This is the first of our summer review pieces because we wanted to remind you of pieces we’ve done in case you wanted to vote for them for our concert in Spring 2013. Enjoy!

Folk Fantasia

Performances are April 28th & 29th, 2012

 

  • All Praise to Music – Ron Nelson
  • Weep O Mine Eyes – John Bennet
  • O Whistle and I’ll Come to You – Scottish Folk Song/arr. Mack Wilberg
  • Dieu! Qui la fait bon regarder – Claude Debussy
  • What Would You Do if You Married a Soldier? – Irish Folk Song/arr. Mack Wilberg
  • Shenandoah – arr James Erb

Fantasia on Porgy & Bess for Two Pianos – George Gershwin/arr by Percy Grainger
Mark Walker/Steve Michelson, pianists

  • The Whistling Gypsy – Irish Folk Song/arr. Robert DeCormier
  • I Am Not Yours – Z. Randall Stroope/poem by Sara Teasdale
  • Feller From Fortune – arr. Harry Somers

Porgy and Bess – George Gershwin/arr. Ed Lojeski (with additional songs)

  • Summertime – Choir
  • A Woman is a Sometime Thing – Kevin Hamm, soloist
  • My Man’s Gone Now – Nancy Harper, soloist and choir
  • Leavin’ for the Promised Lan’ –solo
  • I Got Plenty of Nuttin’ – choir, soloist Luanne Smith
  • Oh, I Can’t Sit Down – choir
  • It Ain’t Necessarily So – choir and soloist Larry Sheldon
  • I Loves You Porgy – Duet: Tamara Ashley, Kevin Matthews
  • Bess, You is My Woman Now – Mike Swisher, Choir
  • There’s a Boat Dat’s Leavin’ Soon for New York – solo
  • Oh, Lawd, I’m on My Way – Choir

Dress Rehearsal

Play

Not that we were wearing anything special, but we’ve had our final rehearsal outside St. Paul’s and our Spring Concert, Folk Fantasia, is tomorrow. Coleen Smith joins Kevin Hamm as they talk about the music you can hear and a special concert next year that you get to help out with. Enjoy!

Spring 2012 Concert

Performances are April 28th & 29th, 2012

  •  All Praise to Music – Ron Nelson
  • Weep O Mine Eyes – John Bennet
  • O Whistle and I’ll Come to You – Scottish Folk Song/arr. Mack Wilberg
  • Dieu! Qui la fait bon regarder– Claude Debussy
  • What Would You Do if You Married a Soldier? – Irish Folk Song/arr. Mack Wilberg
  • Shenandoah – arr James Erb

Fantasia on Porgy & Bess for Two Pianos – George Gershwin/arr by Percy Grainger
Mark Walker/Steve Michelson, pianists

  • The Whistling Gypsy – Irish Folk Song/arr. Robert DeCormier
  • I Am Not Yours – Z. Randall Stroope/poem by Sara Teasdale
  • Feller From Fortune – arr. Harry Somers

Porgy and Bess – George Gershwin/arr. Ed Lojeski (with additional songs)

  • Summertime – Choir
  • A Woman is a Sometime Thing – Kevin Hamm, soloist
  • My Man’s Gone Now – Nancy Harper, soloist and choir
  • Leavin’ for the Promised Lan’ –solo
  • I Got Plenty of Nuttin’ – choir, soloist Luanne Smith
  • Oh, I Can’t Sit Down – choir
  • It Ain’t Necessarily So – choir and soloist Larry Sheldon
  • I Loves You Porgy – Duet: Tamara Ashley, Kevin Matthews
  • Bess, You is My Woman Now – Mike Swisher, Choir
  • There’s a Boat Dat’s Leavin’ Soon for New York – solo
  • Oh, Lawd, I’m on My Way – Choir