Familiar Sights and New Horizons

Summer Festival

Underwritten in memory of Brooke Bandfield Taylor by the Santa Fe Desert Chorale Endowment Fund and The Founder’s Match Campaign

Program Sponsors

Elaine Wang Meyerhoffer

Conductor

Joshua Habermann

Artistic Director
Sponsored by Carmen Paradis and Brian McGrath

In celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, Homecoming presents new choral compositions rooted in the familiar and comforting sounds of American folk music. Twenty-four professional vocalists from across the country, joined by piano, violin, and cello, will bring together classical choral artistry, folk traditions, and contemporary musical storytelling in an exploration of home, community, and belonging. The program features commissioned works by leading American composers Shawn Kirchner, Shavon Lloyd, and Moira Smiley, who will also appear as a guest soloist. Their music reflects on the places, people, and shared experiences that connect us. Alex Berko’s Sacred Place interweaves the structure of a Jewish service with reflections on the natural world, while emerging composer Taja Astar’s Cranes Coming Home, winner of Chicago a cappella’s HerVoice competition, will receive its premiere. With music that is at once new and warmly familiar, Homecoming offers many paths toward a shared sense of connection, community, and home.

Concert Run Time: Approximately 90 minutes

Artwork: New Mexico Morada Galisteo by Evelyne Boren, Acosta Strong Fine Art Gallery

Program (Subject to change)

Sacred Place – Alex Berko (b. 1995)

1. Opening Prayer
2. Amidah
3. Shema
4. Mi Shebeirach
5. Kaddish
6. Closing Prayer

Cranes Coming Home – Taja Astar (b. 1974)

The Guest House – Shavon Lloyd (b. 1997)

The Great Refuge – Shawn Kirchner (b. 1970)

1. Jesus, Lover of My Soul
2. I Will Arise and Go to Jesus
3. Many Mansions/Come, Thou Fount

Home – Moira Smiley (b. 1976)

1. Summer Night
2. Home: No Harm
3. Summer Grass
4. Home: Earthly

Moira Smiley, soloist

Singer Sponsors

Dr. J. Randle Adair, DO PhD

Addy Sterrett, soprano

Murray and Nancy Bern

John Buffett, bass

Bill and Susan Cammock

Brad Diamond, tenor

Dr. Douglas P. Clark and Mr. Scott Allocco

Elijah McCormack, soprano

Tom and Anne Conner

Kathlene Ritch, soprano

Allegra and Jim Derryberry

Sarah Moyer, soprano

Jeffrey Fort and Diane Locandro

Harrison Hintzsche, bass
Marques Jerrell Ruff, bass

Richard and Chris Frenk

George Case, tenor

Rick Gustafson

Kerry Ginger, alto

Sheryl Kelsey and George Duncan

Dianna Grabowski, alto
Michael Jones, tenor
Pamela Terry, alto

Barbara and Gregory Kok

Erik Gustafson, tenor

Phyllis Lehmberg

Sarah Nickerson, alto

Stephen Marquart and Audrey La Fehr

Edmund Milly, bass

Laurie Meyer in memory of Dick Meyer

Kate Maroney, alto

Jim Murphy and Roxanne Howe-Murphy

Enrico Lagasca, bass

Carmen Paradis and Brian McGrath

Bradley Naylor, tenor

Marianne Reuter

Chelsea Helm, soprano

Peter and Sara Rutenberg

Steven Soph, tenor

Donald Shina and Kevin Waidmann

James K. Bass, bass

Pat Stanley

Elisse Albian, soprano

Brahna Wilczynski in memory of Janusz Wilczynski

Sylvia Leith, alto