Spring 2023 Concert
Always Something Sings
On Saturday, June 17th, 7:30pm EST, Always Something Sings will be presented as a VIRTUAL concert for free via YouTube.
Full concert program available HERE
Conducted by Cynthia Powell
With Allison Sniffin, piano, organ, and melodica
Keiko Tokunaga and Jessica Park, violins; Gizem Yücel, viola; Ani Kalayjian, cello.
Journey through time with Melodia as musical selections take you through twelve centuries of history, beauty, and perseverance. Always Something Sings: Women’s Voices Through the Ages weaves together stories of courageous women and their achievements through musical selections that amplify their voices. Music by Hildegard von Bingen, Florence B. Price, Margaret Bonds, Abbie Betinis, Ola Gjeilo, and Emma Lou Diemer, to name a few. Excerpts from Melodia-commissioned works by Allison Sniffin and Cevanne Horrocks-Hopayian are also featured.
Program
Be Like the Bird – Abbie Betinis, text by Victor Hugo
Karitas Habundat – Hildegard von Bingen
Meditabor – Emily C. Mason
Cantilena from Oyeme con los ojos (Hear Me with Your eyes) – Allison Sniffin, text by Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz – Melodia commission
The Rose – Ola Gjeilo
Northern Lights – Ola Gjeilo
Bread and Roses – Mimi Fariña
Negro Folksongs in Counterpoint for string quartet – Florence B. Price
Sleep Song – Margaret Bonds, text by Joyce Kilmer
Spirit from Red Bird – Cevanne Horrocks-Hopayian – Melodia commission
Dirge for Two Veterans – Harl McDonald, text by Walt Whitman
Days of Beauty – Ola Gjeilo
Peace – Emma Lou Diemer, text by Sara Teasdale
Battle Hymn of the Republic – Peter Wilhousky, text by Julia Ward Howe
Alway Something Sings – Dan Forrest, text by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Holy Apostles
296 Ninth Avenue, bet W27th & W. 28th Streets, NY, NY 10001
Fall 2022 Concert
WATCH THE FULL CONCERT HERE.
READ THE FULL CONCERT PROGRAM HERE.
Conducted by Cynthia Powell
With Allison Sniffin, piano and
Emilie-Anne Gendron, violin and Francesca Ferrara, flute
Evoke the exquisite transition from fall to winter with a concert of treble music presented by Melodia and spoken word performed by a cast of NYC actors, including Abigail Ramsay, Delphi Harrington, and Christianne Greiert. Selections for the evening include poems by Mary Oliver, Maggie Deitz, William Shakespeare, and Robert Frost, and music by Mel Bonis, Katerina Gimon, Sarah Quartel, Michal McGlynn, John Rutter, and Barry Manilow.
Program
Autumn – John Keats
Autumn – Gordon Jacob
November – Maggie Dietz
Autumn Night– Ron Nelson
Autumn Sonnet – May Sarton
When October Goes (with Autumn Leaves) – arr. Paul Langford
Double, Double Toil and Trouble – William Shakespeare
Fire – Katerina Gimon
Lullaby – Luke Hathaway
Lullaby – Daniel Elder
Spellbound – Emily Brontë
Silent, O Moyle – Traditional, arr. Michael McGlynn
Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening – Robert Frost
Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening – Elliot Z. Levine
The Wind – Sara Teasdale
Blow, blow, thou winter wind –Sarah Quartel
Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind – John Rutter
Icicles – Janet Frame
When Icicles Hang by the Wall – E. J. Moeran
White Eyes – Mary Oliver
Water Under Snow is Weary – Harri Wessman
Ring Out, Wild Bells – Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Vuelie – Frode Fjellheim and Christophe Beck
With poetry by Maggie Dietz, Daniel Elder, Robert Frost, John Keats, Mary Oliver, William Shakespeare, May Swenson, and Alfred Tennyson
Spring 2022 Concert
Reimagining American roots music for women’s voices
Conducted by Cynthia Powell
With Taisiya Pushkar, piano and
The Melodia Bluegrass Band!
Hilary Hawke, banjo; Barbara Merjan, drums; Ann Klein, guitar;
Chelsea Starbuck Smith, violin; Eleonore Oppenheim, double bass
WATCH THE FULL CONCERT HERE
READ THE FULL CONCERT PROGRAM HERE
Melodia’s spring concert offered a unique blend of early American, country and bluegrass, folk and pop songs we love. Highlights included Southern Harmony selections arranged by vocal ensemble Anonymous 4, rarely heard songs by African American composers Margaret Bonds and Florence B. Price, pop favorites by Dolly Parton and Carole King, with body percussion and more.
Taisiya Pushkar, piano; Chelsea Starbuck Smith, violin; Eleonore Oppenheim, double bass
Program
Bright Morning Stars are Rising – Traditional, arr. Paul Siskind
Angel Band – William Batchelder Bradbury (1816-1868), arr. Marsha Genensky and Johanna Maria Rose
Invitation (Hark! I Hear the Harps Eternal) – William Hauser (1812-1880), arr. Marsha Genensky and Johanna Maria Rose
Amanda – Justin Morgan (1747-1798)
Blowin’ in the Wind – Bob Dylan (b. 1941), arr. Mac Huff
Bring Me Little Water, Silvy – Huddie Ledbetter (1888-1949), arr. Moira Smiley
Let the River Run – Carly Simon (b. 1945), arr. Kirby Shaw
Light of a Clear Blue Morning – Dolly Parton (b. 1946), arr. Craig Hella Johnson and Richard Gabrillo
Night – Florence B. Price (1887-1953), poetry by Bessie Mayle (1898-1959)
Sleep Song – Margaret Bonds (1913-1972), words by Joyce Kilmer (1886-1918)
Scarborough Fair – Traditional, arr. Michael Higgins
You Are The New Day – John David (b. 1946)
You’ve Got A Friend – Carole King (b. 1942), arr. Mac Huff
Still I Rise – Rosephanye Powell (b. 1962)
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
Special thanks to Erik Bottcher, New York City Council Member District 3.
Fall 2021 Concert
Melodia returned to the live concert stage after two years of virtual concerts
Sun, Moon, and Stars
Cynthia Powell, Artistic Director & Conductor
Taisiya Pushkar, piano
Emilie-Anne Gendron and Clara Kim, violins; Stephanie Griffin, viola;
Laura Andrade, cello; Ha Young Jung, bass; Francesca Ferrara, flute
For those who could not attend our live performance of Sun, Moon, and Stars in person, a virtual concert on YouTube was presented on Saturday, December 18.
WATCH VIRTUAL CONCERT HERE
READ THE FULL CONCERT PROGRAM HERE
Here’s a peek of our performance of the beloved
“When You Wish Upon a Star” from Disney’s Pinocchio!
In a program of 20th century music for women’s voices, piano, flute and strings, Melodia celebrated the universe as a constant force and source of comfort, even as the Earth faced the most catastrophic challenges.
Sunday, November 21 at 4:00PM
Holy Apostles
Chelsea, 9th Ave @ W. 28th Street, NYC
Click here to read the full program.
Ha Young Hung (double bass), Taisiya Pushkar (piano), Francesca Ferrara (flute)
Program
Ēriks Ešenvalds (b. 1977)
Stars
Morten Lauridsen (b. 1943)
Sure On This Shining Night
Imant Raminsh (b. 1943)
Songs of the Lights
Claude Debussy (1862-1918)
Clair de lune
Piano & flute
Lee R. Kesselman (b. 1951)
Moonplay
Randall Thompson (1899-1984)
Choose Something Like a Star
Andre J. Thomas (b. 1952)
I Dream a World
Leigh Harline (1907-1969)
When You Wish Upon a Star
arr. by Cynthia Powell and Allison Sniffin
Executive Director Jenny Clarke reflects on how Melodia kept the music going over the pandemic! Read all about it!
Melodia’s fall 2021 concert was made possible in part with public funds from Restart NY supported by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature and administered
by LMCC.
Previous Concerts
Melodia takes the Red Stage – Summer 2021
Participatory Singing and Drumming Celebration
Cynthia Powell, Artistic Director & Conductor
Ellen Fisher of Meredith Monk Vocal Ensemble
Barbara Merjan, Taiko drums
Fumi Tanakadate, Taiko drums and Japanese flute
Midori Larsen, Taiko drums and percussion
Fumi Tanakadate
This summer, Creative Time brought Rashid Johnson’s Red Stage to NYC’s Astor Place for artists to create and experiment freely. On June 16, Melodia Women’s Choir performed for the first time together in person after 15 months, and guests were invited to join us in singing and celebrating.
Click here to watch some highlights from this event!
To Dream a World Spring 2021
A Virtual Concert
Saturday, May 22 at 7:30pm
& Sunday May 23 at 2:00pm (Eastern)
Cynthia Powell, Artistic Director & Conductor
with Taisiya Pushkar, piano
Emilie-Anne Gendron & Clara Kim, violins
Stephanie Griffin, viola, and Laura Andrade, cello
Melodia Women’s Choir, Cynthia Powell Artistic Director, presented To Dream a World, a free virtual program. To Dream a World provided a refreshing musical response to the social justice issues that have come forward in the past year, as well as Melodia’s year on pause. Audiences joined us for a special premiere of three new virtual choir performances, including music from Ola Gjeilo, Carly Simon, and André J. Thomas. This concert also revisited the Melodia photo archive, video excerpts from Gloria: Lifting the Veil on Vivaldi’s Masterpiece, and the music of Florence B. Price performed by pianist Taisiya Pushkar.
Immediately following the program, all concert attendees were invited to a Zoom happy hour for conversation and connection. Read Vocal Areal Network article about the concert here.
Audience comments from Saturday’s virtual concert
The Melodia concert is magnificent on so many levels—-visually & audibly beautiful. Thank you so much for your incredible work & artistic prowess to keep growing this amazing women’s choral community even during a pandemic.
The concert was absolutely beautiful! They did an incredible job and
the sound of all those voices blending together as one was amazing.
Absolutely Beautiful!
Terrific concert from the videos, readings, and smooth transition in between the pieces!
PROGRAM
Days of Beauty by Emily Brontë, read by Blessing Agunwamba
Melodia Virtual Choir performance: Days of Beauty by Ola Gjeilo
Piano interlude performed by Taisiya Pushkar: Clouds by Florence B. Price
From the Melodia video archive:
The Angel from Six Choruses for Female Voices by Sergei Rachmaninoff
Introduction to Gloria: Lifting the Veil on Vivaldi’s Masterpiece, Pam McAllister
Maddalena’s monologue (Erika Rolfsrud), followed by the First Movement from Gloria by Antonio Vivaldi
Let the River Run by Carly Simon, read by Gina Patterson
Melodia Virtual Choir performance: Let the River Run by Carly Simon
I Dream a World, by Langston Hughes, read by Sally Burgos
Melodia Virtual Choir performance: I Dream a World by André J. Thomas
View the concert program here.
Recording the instrumental tracks for virtual choir videos, February 2021
Songs of Love and Hope Fall 2020
A virtual Concert
Cynthia Powell, Artistic Director & Conductor
Saturday, November 21 at 7:30PM Via Zoom
Melodia Women’s Choir, Cynthia Powell Artistic Director, presented Songs of Love and Hope, a virtual concert via Zoom. The event featured virtual choir performance by Melodia, solo presentations by Melodia singers, spoken word and archival concert footage. Melodia revisited beloved music for treble voices by John Rutter and Antonio Vivaldi and presented a virtual choir performance of Ola Gjeilo’s The Rose with piano and strings.
PROGRAM
Reading of The Rose by Christina Rossetti,
by Alinca Hamilton
Melodia Virtual Choir performance:
The Rose by Ola Gjeilo
Melodia solo: Blessing Agunwamba –
Songs for the People by Rosephanye Powell
Melodia solo: Michelle Ammirati –
Before It’s Over from Dogfight by Pasek & Paul
From the Melodia video archive: Arzular “Dreams,” by Tofig Guliyev, soloist Naila Aziz
Concert: Songs from the Heart, May 2010
Melodia solo: Colleen Christi Willett – You Are Not Alone from Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim
Melodia solo: Rachel Wifall – His Eye is on the Sparrow by Charles H. Gabriel
Alinca Hamilton poetry reading, won’t you celebrate with me by Lucille Clifton
Instrumental interlude performed by Taisiya Pushkar, piano – To a Yellow Rose by Florence B. Price
Melodia solo: Larissa Flint – This is Me from The Greatest Showman by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul
From the Melodia video archive: Cum Sancto Spiritu from Gloria by Antonio Vivaldi
Concert: Gloria – Lifting the Veil on Vivaldi’s Masterpiece, May 2019_
Melodia solo: Steff Lyon – How by Regina Spektor
Melodia solo: Lauren D’Imperio – Let it Be by the Beatles
From the Melodia video archive: Mas Que Nada by Jorge Ben, soloist Emily Meszkat
Concert: Visions of Peace, November 2013
Reading of Gaelic Blessing, by Alinca Hamilton
Melodia Virtual Choir performance: Gaelic Blessing by John Rutter
See concert program here.
Incantations – Fall 2019
Conducted by Cynthia Powell,
Artistic Director
This fall Melodia stepped through the looking glass with Incantations, an excursion into the secret recesses of the spirit world. Join us for U.S. premieres by C.V. Stanford and Robin Milford, and the world premiere of Ekō by Allison Sniffin, with butoh dance by Stêphanie Larrière. Be swept back in time with Shakespeare-inspired compositions by David Willcocks, and ancient, ancient melodies re-imagined by Mediaeval Baebes.
Sat. Nov. 23 at 7:30pm, Holy Apostles, Chelsea, NYC
Sun. Nov. 24 at 3pm, West End Collegiate, Upper West Side, NYC
Incantations Fall 2019 trailer
PROGRAM
Robin Milford, Days and Moments – Autumn and Winter
Poetry by Walter de la Mare (New York premiere)
Charles Villiers Stanford, Fairy Day
Three Idylls for Female Chorus (U.S. premiere)
Selections from the Mediaeval Baebes songbook
Allison Sniffin, Ekō (world premiere commission)
with Butoh dance choreographed and performed by Stephanie Larrière
David Willcocks, Full Fathom Five and Fear no more the heat o’ the sun, text by Shakespeare
Jeffrey Van, Echo, poetry by Christina Rossetti
Instrumental interlude: Prokofiev, Suggestion Diabolique Op.4
Taisiya Pushkar, piano
Instrumental musicians for Incantation: L-R: Amelia Dietrich, Katie Hyun, violin; Gizem Yucel, viola; Claire Marie Solomon, cello; Ha Young Jung, double bass, and Melodia pianist Taisiya Pushkar
READ MORE ABOUT INCANTATIONS
Vocal Area Network article: Melodia Offers Incantations
Melodia blog post: The Score is the Thing, the journey of two works from obscurity to performance.
Melodia Summer Sing – Summer 2019
MELODIA SUMMER SING
Conducted by Cynthia Powell
Featuring Allison Sniffin, piano
A crowd of 90+ singers attended the first ever Melodia Summer Sing, coming together to explore and celebrate great music for women’s voices. Thanks to all who came out to sing together with us!
PROGRAM
Gloria, by Antonio Vivaldi, the way it was originally, sung, by women’s voices
A Ceremony of Carols, by Benjamin Britten
Songs from the Libana songbook
Gloria: Lifting the Veil on Vivaldi’s Masterpiece – Spring 2019
Gloria: Lifting the Veil on Vivaldi’s Masterpiece
Three voices from the past bring to life the story of Vivaldi’s great work as originally performed by the women and girls of the Ospedale della Pietà, in Venice, in 1715.
Conducted by Cynthia Powell,
Artistic Director
with Taisiya Pushkar, harpsichord
Ji Soo Choi and Jaram Kim, violins
Stephanie Griffin, viola
Claire Marie Solomon, cello
Ha Young Jung, bass
Nancy Ranger, oboe
Kate Amrine, trumpet
And a cast of three NYC actors:
Lynda Gravatt
Katrina Michaels
Erika Rolfsrud
Directed by Christa Scott-Reed
Script by Pam McAllister
Saturday, May 4 at 7:30 PM,
Sunday May 5 at 4:00 PM
Holy Apostles, Chelsea, 9th Ave
@ W. 28th Street, NYC
WATCH VIDEO: GLORIA, LIFTING THE VEIL ON VIVALDI’S MASTERPIECE
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council.
Where Shadow Chases Light – November 17 & 18, 2018
Saturday, November 17 at 7:30, Holy Apostles, Chelsea
Sunday, November 18, at 3:00 pm, West End Collegiate Church, UWS
Cynthia Powell, Artistic Director and Conductor
Taisiya Pushkar, piano
Katie Hyun and Caroline Drexler, violins
Gizem Yücel, viola
Andrea Lee, cello
L-R: Taisiya Pushkar, piano; Katie Hyun, violin; Caroline Drexler, violin; Gizem Yücel, viola; Andrea Lee, cello
Program
Cevanne Horrocks-Hopayian, Red Bird (World premiere Melodia commission)
Deanna Witkowski, Where Shadow Chases Light, (New York premiere)
Elena Kats Chernin, Memorial Rag
Gyorgy Orban, Mass No. 6
Eric Whitacre, Five Hebrew Love Songs
Gustav Holst, Ave Maria
Plus, Instrumental interlude Frank Bridge Piano Quintet (1912) Movement 2, Adagio ma non troppo
Cevanne Horrocks-Hopayian
“I am so grateful to the Melodia Women’s Choir of NYC for being the first US ensemble to perform my work and commission me. It moves me that my first piece for America will be for its women – the choir, the inspiring conductor Cynthia Powell, and the all-female string quartet that joins them. Most of all, my piece is for one American woman in particular: Zitkála-Šá. Eighty years ago, her opera The Sun Dance, made its Broadway debut without crediting her. By 1938, she had reached the end of her life, which had been packed with political activism and suffragism, including founding, and leading, the National Council of American Indians in the wake of genocide. My piece, Red Bird, is a miniature portrait of how her words resonate with me.” —Cevanna Horrocks-Hopayian
Deanna Witkowki
“The entire text of Where Shadow Chases Light (from Rabindranath Tagore’s Nobel Prize-winning collection of poems, Gitanjali, Song Offerings) vividly brings to mind experiences at yearly silent retreats on the Hudson at Linwood Spiritual Center in Rhinebeck, New York. During these weeklong retreats, I share Tagore’s sense of delight in waiting, in noticing, in knowing that ‘the happy moment will arrive when I shall see.’ And, too, there is the ‘meanwhile’ where ‘I smile and I sing all alone’ and the air fills ‘with the perfume of promise.’ I evoke the richness of this contemplative experience–filled with its active waiting and occasional moments of ecstasy–in my choral setting.” –Deanna Witkowski
This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. The commission of Red Bird made possible by a grant from Elizabeth and Michel Sorel charitable Organization. Cevanne’s residency in NYC for the project is supported by the British Council and the Arts Council of England.
The Harmony of Morning – April 28 & 29, 2018
The Harmony of Morning
Saturday, April 2018, 7:30pm
Holy Apostles Church, Chelsea
Sunday, April 29, 2018, 3:00pm
West End Collegiate Church, UWS
Cynthia Powell, Artistic Director and Conductor
Taisiya Pushkar, piano
Nanci Belmont, bassoon; Dara Bloom, bass; Sara Budde, clarinet; Dora Dimitrova, violin; Rachel Drehmann, French horn; Stephanie Griffin, viola; Maria Hadge, cello; Allison Loggins-Hull, flute; Cecee Pantikian, violin; Katie Scheele, oboe
PROGRAM
Kevin Siegfried, Shaker Songs
Sally Lamb McCune, Jubilee (LISTEN) & Where Do the Roads Go? (LISTEN)
Elliot Carter, The Harmony of Morning
Aaron Copeland, Hoedown
Plus, a piano interlude performed by Taisiya Pushkar
Christina Whitten Thomas, Mornings With You, (Melodia commission) (LISTEN)
Paul Halley, A Brighter Garden, U.S. premiere (LISTEN)
Autumn Fire – November 18 & 19, 2017
Autumn Fire
Saturday, Nov 18, 7:30pm
Holy Apostles Church, Chelsea
Sunday, Nov 19, 3:00pm
West End Collegiate Church, UWS
Cynthia Powell, Artistic Director and Conductor
Mika Nishimura, piano
Rita Costanzi, harp
Meaghan Burke, cello
Mary Ann McSweeney, bass
Josef Rheinberger (1839 – 1901), Wie lieblich sind deine Wohnungen (How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place) with harp
Johann Kaspar Aiblinger (1769 – 1867), Harfenmesse (Harp Mass) , for harp, organ, cello and bass
Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel (1805 – 1847), Three Songs of Heinrich Heine
Felix Mendelssohn (1809 – 1847), Three Motets, op. 39: Veni Domine, Laudate pueri, Surrexit pastor Bonus
Lied mit Chor from Midsummer Night’s Dream
L-R: Cynthia Powell, Mika Nishimura, Meaghan Burke, Rita Costanzi, and Mary Ann McSweeney
Special Performance – June 1, 2017
DVOŘÁK: THEMES FROM THE NEW WORLD
Thursday, June 1, 7:00 pm
Bohemian National Hall, NYC
Antonín Dvořák’s popular Humoresques and instrumental variations on “Goin’ Home” plus the beloved Piano Quintet in A Major performed by Juilliard’s Traveling Sounds chamber music ensemble and other outstanding musicians. Also featured: a performance of Largo from Dvořák’s New World Symphony by Melodia Women’s Choir and selected readings from Josef Kovařik’s Three Years with the Maestro: An American Remembers Antonín Dvořák. Visit: www.dvoraknyc.org.
Read Melodia’s blog on the history of the Largo arrangement performed by Melodia in honor of all those who sing to survive and make the world a better place.
Awakening the Spirit – April 29 & 30, 2017
Awakening the Spirit
Saturday, April 29, 2017, at 7:30 pm, Holy Apostles, Chelsea
Sunday, April 30 2017, at 3:00 pm, West End Collegiate Church, Upper West Side
Cynthia Powell, Artistic Director and Conductor
Taisiya Pushkar, piano; Areta Zhulla, violin; Rita Costanzi, harp, Rachell Wong and Robyn Quinnett, violins; Stephanie Griffin, viola; Kate Dillingham, cello; Kathryn Stewart, bass.
John Rutter, Visions for upper voice choir, harp and strings (US premiere)
Grace Williams, The Dancers
Gustav Holst, Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda
Areta Zhulla, solo violin
Autumn Rhapsody – November 19 & 20, 2016
Autumn Rhapsody
Saturday, November 19, 2016 at 7:30 pm, Holy Apostles, Chelsea
Sunday, November 20, 2016 at 3:00 pm, West End Collegiate Church, Upper West Side
Cynthia Powell, Artistic Director and Conductor
Taisiya Pushkar, piano; Keats Dieffenbach and Rachell Wong, violins; Stephanie Griffin, viola; Katherine Cherbas, cello; Rebekah Griffin Greene, bass; Alva Bostick, organ and percussion
Vivaldi, Magnificat (as originally composed – for women’s voices)
Tõnu Kõrvits, Ütle sina (Tell Me from Songs of Song of Songs)
Ola Gjeilo, Tundra; Song of the Universal
Eleanor Daley, O My Dear Heart; There Is No Rose; Sing of a Maiden
Rudi Tas, Seven Blake Songs
Antonin Dvořák, arr. Margaret Dryburgh & Norah Chambers, Largo
Cassandra – May 14, 2016
Cassandra
Myths and Stories in Song
Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 7:30 pm
West End Collegiate Church, 245 West 77th Street @ WEA
Cynthia Powell, Artistic Director and Conductor
Taisiya Pushkar, piano
Barbara Merjan and guests on percussion
Featuring the world premiere of commissioned work “Cassandra” by Hilary Purrington, plus:
Meredith Monk, Quarry Weave II
Emma Lou Diemer, Five Limericks
Nick Page, Niska Banja
Classic Pop Selections
Georgia on my Mind
Unforgettable
Sunday Kind of Love
¡Alegria! – November 2015
¡Alegria!
Myths and Stories in Song
Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 7:30 pm
Holy Apostles Church, NYC
Sunday, November 22, 2015 at 3 pm
West End Collegiate Church
Cynthia Powell, Artistic Director and Conductor
Taisiya Pushkar, piano
Elaine Christy, harp
Samantha Wells, guitar
Ingrid Gordon, marimba
Festive songs from Latin America to welcome the holidays
With Vox Nova Girls Choir of the Special Music School
Emily John, conductor
Conrad Susa: Carols and Lullabies of the American Southwest
Francisco Nuñez: Misa Pequeña para Niños
César Alejandro Carrillo: Ave Maria
Atahualpa Yupanqui, arr. Sole: Duerme Negrito
Bob Chilcott: Cuatro Baladas Amarillas
Francisco Guerrero: Hermosa Catalina
Alberto Grau arr. La Cucaracha
Joan Szymko: Nada te turbe
Après Un Rêve – May 2015
Après Un Rêve
After A Dream
Saturday, May 2, 2015 at 7:30 pm
Holy Apostles Church, NYC
May 3, 2015 at 3 pm
West End Collegiate Church
Cynthia Powell, Artistic Director and Conductor
Taisiya Pushkar, piano and all-female chamber orchestra
French and American choral classics for women’s voices.
Randall Thompson: The Place of the Blest, a rare performance with orchestra
Lili Boulanger: Les Sirènes (The Sirens)
Francis Poulenc: Ave Maria (from Dialogues of the Carmelites)
Christophe Barratier& Bruno Coulais: Cerf-volant (Kite Flying, from the film Les Choristes)
Gabriel Fauré: Apres un rêve (After a Dream)
Gabriel Fauré: Le Ruisseau (The Creek)
Gabriel Fauré: Maria, Mater gratiae
Gabriel Fauré: Cantique de Jean Racine
Léo Delibes: Sous le dôme épais (Flower Duet from Lakmé)
Paul Halley: Seeds of Love
Paul Halley: The Grey Selchie
Instrumental interlude: Quintet in D Minor for piano & winds, Mvt. III, by Albéric Magnard
Windsong – November 2014
Windsong
Saturday, November 22, 2014 at 7:30 pm
Holy Apostles Church, NYC
Sunday, November 23, 2014 at 3 pm
West End Collegiate Church
Cynthia Powell, Artistic Director and Conductor
Taisiya Pushkar, piano
Beautiful music with autumn and winter themes.
Edward Elgar: The Snow
Gwyneth Walker: In Autumn
Gordon Jacobs: Winter Rain and Autumn
E.J. Moran: Icicles Hang By the Wall
Franz Bieble: Ave Maria
C. Armstrong Gibbs: The Song of Shadows
Ola Gjeilo: Ubi Caritas
Reginald Unterseher: First Snow
Hari Wessman: Vesi Vasy Lumen Alle
Alan Bullard: Snow
The Poet’s Song – May 14, 2014
The Poet’s Song
Saturday, May 3, 2014 at 7:30 pm
Holy Apostles Church, NYC
Sunday, May 4, 2014 at 4 pm
The DiMenna Center for Classical Music, NYC
Cynthia Powell, Artistic Director and Conductor
Taisiya Pushkar, piano
Nathalie Joachim, flute
Laura Flax, clarinet
Debra Kreisberg, saxophone
Michelle Cozzi & Chihiro Shibayama, percussion
Featuring music set to great poetry by William Shakespeare, Christina Rossetti, William Blake, and Edward Lear.
Errollyn Wallen: Full Fathom Five
Emma Lou Diemer: Three Shakespeare Madrigals
Eleanor Daley: Echo
Herbert Howells: Piping down the valleys wild
William Mathias: Learsongs
Plus selections by Duke Ellington, Jerome Kern, and more.
Visions Of Peace
November, 2013
Saturday, November 23 , 2013 at 7:30 pm
Holy Apostles Church, NYC
Sunday, November 24 , 2013 at 3 pm
West End Collegiate Church, NYC
Cynthia Powell, Artistic Director and Conductor
Taisiya Pushkar, piano
Transfiguration String Quintet
Rita Costanzi, harp
Featuring
Benjamin Britten’s “Ceremony of Carols,” in celebration of Britten’s centenary
Gustav Holst’s haunting “Seven Part-Songs for Female Voices and Strings”
Paul Csonka’s “Concierto di Navidad,” sung in Spanish
A Breath Of Spring
April, 2013
Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 4 pm
West End Collegiate Church, NYC
Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 8 pm
Holy Apostles Church, NYC
Featuring the world premiere of commission by Russian American composer Nina Siniakova.
With Cynthia Powell, Artistic Director and Conductor
Taisiya Pushkar, piano
Genghis Barbie, French Horn
Quartet: Rachel Drehmann, Danielle Kuhlmann,
Leelanee Sterrett, Alana Venter
Nina Siniakova, From the Four Winds, world premiere commission
Igor Stravinsky, Four Russian Peasant Songs for Women’s Chorus and Four French Horns
John Rutter, Three Birthday Madrigals for Upper Voices
Maurice Duruflé, Tóta Púlchra Es from Quatre Motets
Claude Debussy, Salut Printemps
Eleanor Daley, Rose Trilogy
Instrumental interlude by Genghis Barbie
Colors Of The Sun
Spring 2012
A concert bursting with the joy and vitality of summer.
Sunday, April 29, 2012 at 4 pm
Saturday, May 5, 2012 at 8 pm
Holy Apostles Church, NYC
Conducted by Cynthia Powell, Artistic Director
With Taisiya Pushkar, piano
Stephanie Griffin, viola
Nathalie Joachim, flute
Veljo Tormis: Suveöö (Summer Night)
R. Vaughan Williams: Magnificat
S. Rachmaninoff: Six Songs for Female Chorus
Karen P. Thomas: O Virtus Sapientiae
Jonathan Dove: It Sounded as if the Streets were Running (Saturday May 5 only)
Veljo Tormis: Lauliku lapsepoli (The Songster’s Childhood)
M. Duruflé: Prelude, Recitative and Variations for Flute, Viola and Piano (selections)
Journey
November, 2011
Saturday, November 19, 2011 at 8 pm
Holy Apostles Church, NYC
Sunday, November 13, 2011 at 3 pm
West End Collegiate Church, NYC
Conducted by Cynthia Powell, Artistic Director
With Taisiya Pushkar, piano
Presenting a rare performance of The Chambered Nautilus by American composer Amy Beach (1867-1944), plus the world premiere of The Journey, by Catherine Aks. The Seal Lullaby, by popular contemporary composer Eric Whitacre, along with works by Fauré, Holst, Verdi and Cecilia McDowall, complete our program of classical and contemporary works for the fall season.
Mornings With You
April, 2011
Saturday, April 30, 2011 at 8 pm
Holy Apostles Church
Sunday, May 1, 2011 at 3 pm
West End Collegiate Church
Presenting the world premiere of Mornings With You, a commissioned work by award-winning composer Christina Whitten Thomas, with poetry by Brooklyn poet, Pam McAllister.
Conducted by Cynthia Powell, Artistic Director
With the dynamic flute duo Flutronix – Nathalie Joachim & Allison Loggins-Hull and Taisiya Pushkar, piano
Rachel Drehmann, French horn
Debra Kreisberg, clarinet
Julia Bruskin, cello
Fran Duffy, harp
This all-American program also features Charles Martin Loeffler’s By the Waters
of Babylon/Psalm 137, for women’s voices, organ, 2 flutes, harp and cello; Ned Rorem’s What is Pink?, and Meredith Monk’s Quarry Weave II.
Timeless
November, 2010
November 20, 2010 at 8 pm
Church of the Holy Apostles
November 21, 2010 at 3 pm
West End Collegiate Church
Conducted by Cynthia Powell
Taisiya Pushkar, piano
Nancianne Parrella, organ
Melodia kicks off its eighth season with two concerts showcasing rarely heard and favorite classical and contemporary works in a prelude to the holiday season. Also featured is our first “Melodia Women Composers Spotlight,” presenting a new commissioned piece by performer/composer Becca Stevens, and Joan Szymko’s Ave Maria.
Benjamin Britten, Missa Brevis in D
Francis Poulenc, Litanies à la vierge noire
Becca Stevens, Soli Deo Gloria **world premiere of commissioned piece**
David Conte, A Hope Carol
David Willcocks, Psalm 150
Joan Szymko, Ave Maria
Gabriel Fauré, Ave verum
Songs from the Heart
May, 2010
May 22, 2010 at 8:30 pm, Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Center
Love is in the air with this concert of lusciously lyrical works from the romantic period and beyond.
Conducted by Cynthia Powell
With Taisiya Pushkar, piano
Robert Schumann: Partsongs: Klosterfraulein; Der Bleicherin Nachtlied; Der Wasserman; Spruch; In Meeres Mitten
Johannes Brahms: Four Songs from The Fountain of Youth; In Stiller Nacht
Fanny Hensel: Three Heine Duets
Serge Rachmaninoff: The Angel from Six Choruses, Opus 15
Charles Villiers Stanford, arr. Faye Timmer: The Blue Bird
Felix Mendelssohn: Lied Mit Chor from Midsummer Night’s Dream
Tofig Guliyev: Azeri songs arr. Naila Aziz (soprano soloist): Oglum, Arzular; Al Shammanisi
Hamish MacCunn: On a Faded Violet; O My Love, Leave Me Not!
Piano interlude: Taisiya Pushkar performs works by Clara Schumann and Robert Schumann, in celebration of his 200th birthday
Notes Upon the Breeze
November, 2009
November 14, 2009 at 8 pm, Saint Peter’s Church, Citicorp
Featuring the world premiere of a new commissioned work by Chris Lastovicka.
Conducted by Cynthia Powell
With Taisiya Pushkar, piano
Transfigurations String Quintet
Lindsay Haughton, percussion
Selections from Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater
Gustav Holst’s Songs from the Princess
Imant Raminsh’s Songs of the Lights
Visions of Eternity
May, 2009
May 16, 2009 at 8 pm
Church of St. Ignatius Loyola
An evening of French choral works and other gems
Conducted by Cynthia Powell
Françoise Murail, ondes Martenot
Kyung-A Yoo, piano
All-female orchestra
A rare performance of Olivier Messiaen’s Trois petites liturgies de la présence divine, for women’s choir, ondes Martenot, and orchestra.
Plus…
Messe a trois voix, by André Caplet
In Memoriam Olivier Messiaen, by Reza Vali (Naila Aziz, soprano)
U.S. premiere of an arrangement of Messiaen’s Fête des belles eaux, for ondes Martenot, strings, piano, and flute, by Claude S. Levine
Gustav Holst’s Ave Maria
Gabriel Fauré’s Cantique de Jean Racine
Wrapped in Song
November, 2008
November 15 and 16, 2008
Conducted by Cynthia Powell
Elaine Christy, harp
Benjamin Britten: A Ceremony of Carols
Randall Thompson: Alleluia
Veljo Tormis: Selections from Autumn Landscapes and Winter Patterns
Gustav Holst: Two Eastern Pictures
John Rutter: Selections from Dancing Day
Zoltan Kodály: Wainamoinen Makes Music
John Kuzma: The Lamb
Force of Nature
May, 2008
May 3 and 4, 2008
Conducted by Cynthia Powell
Kyung-A Yoo, piano
Ronald Perera: Earthsongs
Hilary Tann: Wellspring (U.S. premiere)
Hilary Tann: Contemplations (N.Y. premiere)
Zhou Long: Four Seasons
Yehezkel Braun: Spring Song
Samuel Barber: Sure on this Shining Night
Gordon Jacob: from A Goodly Heritage
Zoltán Kodály: Mountain Nights, No. 1
Ro Ogura: Hotaru Koi (Firefly)
Sweet Interlude
November, 2007
November 17 and 18, 2007
Conducted by Cynthia Powell
Kyung-A Yoo, piano
Nancy Ranger, oboe and English horn
Joyce Toth, trumpet
Miranda Cuckson & Shira Natif, violins
Stephanie Griffin, viola
Karen Ouzounian, cello
Rachel Calin, bass
Felix Mendelssohn: Lift Thine Eyes from Elijah
J.S. Bach: Wir eilen mis schwachen from Cantata 78 and Den Tod niemand swingen kunnt from Cantata 4
Antonio Vivaldi: Gloria RV 589, as originally performed by the all-female choir and orchestra of the Ospedale della Pietà in 18th century Venice
Becca Schack: In My End is My Beginning (world premiere)
Eric Whitacre: She Weeps Over Rahoon and Five Hebrew Love Songs
Shout Sister Shout!
May, 2007
May 5, 2007
Girl Groups from the 12th to 21st Centuries
Conducted by Cynthia Powell
Kyung-A Yoo, Piano
Barbara Merjan, percussion
Catherine Popper, bass
Sheryl Bailey, guitar
Pam Fleming, Trumpet
Morgan Russell and Vivien Lau, recorders
Hildegard von Bingen – O Quam Mirabilis (Originally sung by the Sisters of the Eibingen convent)
Music from the Venetian Ospedali – Magnificat, by Niccola Porpora (1686-1768)
Mediaeval Baebes – Love Me Broughte and Pearl
Bulgarian Women’s Choir – Polegnala e Toudora and Ergen Deda
Meredith Monk Ensemble – Quarry Weave II
Sweet Honey In The Rock – Alla That’s Alright, But
Andrews Sisters – Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy
The Chordettes – Mr. Sandman
Boswell Sisters – Shout! Sister, Shout!
The McGuire Sisters – Teach Me Tonight
Dixie Chicks – Lullaby
Hear Me With Your Eyes
November, 2006
Óyeme con los ojos
November 18, 2006
Conducted by Cynthia Powell
Kyung-A Lee, piano
Elaine Christy, harp
Nathalie Joachim, flute
Joanne Lin, cello
Ana María Rosado, guitar
Barbara Merjan, percussion and Aztec instruments
Angeles Acosta, narrator
Allison Sniffin: Óyeme con los ojos – WORLD PREMIERE
(Hear Me with Your Eyes: Sor Juana on the Nature of Love)
New commissioned work
Jorge Córdoba: Tres ambientes nocturnos – U.S. Premiere
Stephen Hatfield: Las amirillas (traditional Mexican folk song)
Cesar Carillo: Ave Maria
Sid Robinovitch: Noche de lluvia
Pablo Casals: Nigra sum
Atahualpa Yupanqui: Duerme negrito
Francisco Guerrero: Ojos claros y serenos
Jayme Ovalle: Xango
Bob Chilcott: Cuatro baladas amarillas
A Thousand Sweet Refrains
April, 2006
April 22, 2006
Conducted by Cynthia Powell
Kyung-A Lee, piano
Allegra Lilly, harp
Kathy Canfield, Katie Dennis, Rachel Drehmann, Anita Miller, French horns
Morgan Russell, flute
Stravinsky: Four Russian Peasant Songs with Four French Horns
Brahms: Four Songs for Women’s Chorus, Two Horns and Harp
Holst: Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda
André Caplet: Messe a Trois Voix
Allison Sniffin: Hear Me with Your Eyes (work-in-progress excerpts from a new commissioned piece)
Twilight in the Garden of Dreams
November, 2005
November 19, 2005
Concert of mystical, darkly transcendent music for an autumn evening
Conducted by Cynthia Powell
Kyung-A Lee, piano
The Momenta String Quartet:
Miranda Cuckson and Song-Del’Aquilla Cho, violin
Stephanie Griffin, viola
Joanne Lin, cello
Rachel Calin, double bass
Morgan Russell, flute
Gustav Holst: Seven Partsongs for Female Vocies and Strings (1-6)
Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel: Two Partsongs
Matti Hyokki: On Suuri sun rantas autius
Jeffrey Van: Echo
Donald Patriquin: Hajnal Csillag (Morning Star)
Meredith Monk: Quarry Weave
E.J. Moeran: When Icicles Hang by the Wall
Peter Warlock: Three Partsongs – The Bayley Berith the Bell Away, Lullaby, Mourn No More
Elena Kats-Chernin: Memorial Rag
Timothy Luby: When I am Dead My Dearest
Veljo Tormis: Lauliku Lapsepoli (The Songster’s Childhood)
Harri Wessman: Vesi Vasyy Lumen Alle (Water Under Snow is Weary)
Fanny Mendelssohn-Hensel: String Quartet Eb
Sirens
April, 2005
April 30, 2005
Songs of the Sea – Haunting tales of the deep
Conducted by Cynthia Powell
Kyung-A Lee, piano
Barbara Biggers, harp
Nathalie Joachim, flute
Amy Fraser, bassoon
Lili Boulanger: Les Sirenes
Nick Page: Niska Banja
Paul Halley: The Grey Selchie
Eleanor Daley: The Blooming Bright Star of Belle Isle
Carl Bertil Agnestig: Who Can Sail
Alice Parker: Three Seas
Allister MacGillivray: Away from the Roll of the Sea
Donald Patriquin: Wreck of the Steamship Ethie
Stella Goud: The Maid on the Shore
Brian Holmes: The Mermaid
Gustav Holst: Hymn to the Waters
November Song
November, 2004
November 20, 2004
Heartwarming music of autumnal delight
Conducted by Cynthia Powell
Kyung-A Lee, piano
Miranda Cuckson, violin
Stephanie Griffin, viola
C. Armstrong Gibbs, arr. Allison Sniffin: The Song of Shadows
David Conte: In Praise of Music
Gustav Holst: Ave Maria
Yehezkel Braun: Songs and Ballads by H.N. Bialik
Rebecca Clark: Dumka, Duo Concertante for violin, viola and piano
Serge Rachmaninoff: from Six Songs for Female Chorus
Edward Elgar: Snow
Jorunn Vioar, arr. Bora Yoon: Vökuró
Harri Wessman: Vesi Vasyy Lumen Alle
Salut Printemps
May, 2004
May 17, 2004
Melodia Women’s Choir’s debut concert,
a welcome to spring with soaring music for women’s voices.
Conducted by Cynthia Powell
Linda Glasgal, piano
Nancy Ranger, oboe
Claude Debussy: Salut Printemps
Eleanor Daley: The Rose Trilogy
Meredith Monk: Quarry Weave II
Paul Halley: Seeds of Love
Gabriel Fauré: Messe Basse
Arr. Benjamin Britten: The Sally Gardens
Johannes Brahms: In Stiller Nacht
Jayme Ovalle: Xango
Claudio Monteverdi: Interrotte Speranze
Melodia Women's Choir 