Program
Welcome
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Orchestra
Guests
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Artistic Staff
Survey (after performance)
Go Tell it on the Mountain
John W. Work, Jr.
arr. Ryan Murphy
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Phillip Brooks, Lewis Redner
arr. Dan Forrest
feat. Encore Youth Choir
Veni Veni Emmanuel
Traditional
arr. Michael John Trotta
Away in a Manger
William J. Kirkpatrick
arr. Molly Ijames
Flute: Evelyn Jones
Violin: Chris Fotinakis
Piano: Ellie Lucas
Angel’s Dance
Steven Amundson
Longfellow’s Christmas
Henry Longfellow, John Baptiste Calkin
arr. Mack Wilberg
Narrator: Jenny Gennings
15 MINUTE INTERMISSION
Ring Those Christmas Bells
Marvin Fisher, Gus Levene
arr. Ryan Murphy
The Virgin Mary Had a Baby Boy
Traditional West Indies carol
arr. Mack Wilberg
March of the Toys
Victor Herbert
I Wonder as I Wander
John Jacob Niles
arr. Kyle Pederson
Violin: Chris Fotinakis
Mary Had a Baby
African American Spiritual
arr. Craig Courtney
Children, Go Where I Send Thee
African American Spiritual
arr. Ryan Murphy
Far, Far Away on Judea’s Plain
John Menzies Macfarlane
arr. Brandon Stewart
feat. Encore Youth Choir &
Portland Metro Pipe Band
It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to this Christmas concert. This season celebrates 20 years since the founding of Portland Choir & Orchestra in 2005, along with the 250th anniversary of the founding of America. Throughout this season, under the banner of Roots and Wings, we gratefully look back, acknowledging the sacrifices of many for our benefit, while looking forward to the roles we can play in building a bright, expanding future. This concert showcases Christmas compositions and traditions unique to the New World. We are also pleased to welcome back our special friends from Encore Youth Choir who represent the future of music in our midst.
We hope you enjoy our 20th Anniversary Ornament as a token of our appreciation for your enduring support of Portland Choir & Orchestra. We invite you to join us in slowing down amidst the endless things on our to do lists as we immerse ourselves in the everlasting light of Christmas as told through music and spoken word. As you reflect on your own Roots and Wings this Christmas season, may your hearts be woven together in love with family, neighbors, and friends — mirroring the example of the Son of God, born humbly in a manger over two millennia ago.
On behalf of the members of Portland Choir & Orchestra, we wish you a very merry Christmas and a joyous New Year!
David Thomas, Artistic Director
Ken Hollenzer, Executive Director
Thank you for buying tickets to our concert today. If you would like to support more of this kind of uplifting, family-friendly music please consider supporting Portland Choir & Orchestra with an additional tax-deductible donation like these sponsors. Just click here to visit our sponsorship page.
Thank You To Our
2024-2025 Season Donors:
Bedont Orthodontics
Brittany Jones
Mary Curtis
Lynn Williams
Robert & Janet Watkins
Kaiser Foundation Community Giving
Kroger Community Fund
Anonymous
Thank You To Our 2024
PCO Golf Classic Sponsor:
Vial Fotheringham LLC
Soprano 1
Heidi Dominguez
McKenna Hartley
Jamey McClellan
Jamie McKell
Elizabeth Polay
Emily Thomas *
Katrina Wheeler
Alyson Broberg
Kristi Crusan
Asuka Cuff
Victoria de la Llama
Deb Dougal
Tammy Fry
Cynthia Greathouse
Barb Laney
Kassidy Moyle
Erin Owens
Jennie Peterson
Emma Poff
Brooke Ryles
Rebekah Shellman
Amy Updike
Leyna Varney
Kristi Von Handorf
Alto 1
Janet Apostalon
Laurie Bailey
Amy Bak
Stefani Carlton
Jenny Gennings*
Jeanette Hansen
Kristen Hess
Tricia Jensen
Katie Jones
Allyn Kirnak
Samantha Lopez
Laura Moore
Pamela Russell
Helen Shellman
Kimberly Shellman
Sue Walker
Kathleen Westhora
Juliette Weston
Kami Westover
Lindsey Yun
Elizabeth Zamora
Kara Anderson
Margie Armstrong
Juanita Bloom
Jennifer Edwards
Stephanie Ellsworth
Jackie Emmett
Camille Hammond
Cheryn Hunter
Rachel Mohlman
Courtney Pixton Atack
Mary Anne Shamrell
Nicole Stoddard
Daya Tracy
Keith Biggs
Marci Dayley
Chris Harris*
Joshua Hartley
Han Kim
David Robbins
John Rogers
Tarry Smith
Patty Weenig
Richard Westover
Dan Ballegeer
Richard Crowley
Matt Davis
Joe Everton
Eric Harker
Nathan Harris
Erik Hoggan
Ken Hollenzer
Jason Poff
Dain Shellman
Bricker Updike
Toby Weston
Curtis Bedont
Stephen Blinco
Adam Cluff
Marc Davis
Mark Deason
Nathan Dixon
James Evensen
Clark Green *
Doug Lowder
Stewart McGinnis
Rob Perkins
Paris Tracy
Ken Garner
Jeffrey Jensen
Jonas Jones
Keith Jones
Jason Laford
Russ McMurdie
John Meagher
David Monson
Eric Motto
Kerry Nelson
Michael Rex
David Riddle
Howard Russell
Asuka Cuff
Violin I
Chris Fotinakis *
Andrew Poole Todd ***
Tara Burke
Erin Hatch
Nic Dill
Jody Morrissette
Violin II
Briana Nielson **
Lacey Peters
Elisa Boynton
Amy Roesler
Lauren Trujillo
Mary Ann Coggins Kaza
Viola
Alistair Kok **
Anamaria Ghitea
Carson Mangum
Linda Emerson
Keely McMurry
Cello
Stephen Emerson **
Jonah Thomas
Amelia Hunnicutt
Paula Nimori
Double Bass
Dennis Caravakis **
Kevin Deitz
Keyboard
Jesse Preis **
Harp
Judy Krohn
Flute
Anna Conigliari **
Pippa Randolph
Liberty Broillet
Piccolo
Liberty Broillet **
Oboe
Karen Strand **
Gustavo Chávez
English Horn
Karen Strand **
Clarinet
Alicia Charlton **
Lisa Taylor
Bassoon
Nicole Buetti *
Gary Zaganiacz
French Horn
Jen Harrison*
Kurt Heichelheim
Doug Riggs
Rebekah Schaub
Trumpet
Brett Randolph **
Jason Gunderson
Jason Smock
Trombone
John Warton **
Heidi Aispuro
Bass Trombone
John Ohnstad **
Tuba
Stephen Fulks **
Timpani
Kevin Schlossman **
Percussion
Nick Rose*
Matt Chaney
René Ormae-Jarmer
* Concertmaster
*** Assistant concertmaster
** Principal
The Encore Youth Choir was started in 1993 to give high school aged youth from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints an opportunity to learn and sing sacred music about the Savior Jesus Christ. Encore’s mission is to provide opportunities for youth to strengthen their testimony of the Savior by singing wholesome and uplifting music, as well as touch the hearts of those who are listening. Encore is a private, non-profit audition choir currently led by Asuka Cuff, Kimberly Motto, and Nicole Stoddard. Auditions for the upcoming school year happen in May.
For audition information, email en**************@***il.com
Choral Director – Asuka Cuff
Program Administrator and Accompanist – Kimberly Motto
Ensemble Manager and Producer – Nicole Stoddard
Booking Agent – Sue Walker
Alto
Afton Anderson
Angela Westover
Anneliese Cluff*
Brianna Edwards
Briella Davis
Claire Hansen
Ellen Brinkerhoff
Ellie Lucas
Evie Stoddard
Finley Westhora
Julia Crusan
Kara Dickinson
Mary Weston
Brett Lee
Carter Jensen
Daniel Hess
Donavan Westover
Emerson Cornelius
George Broberg
Henry Hall-Brown
Henry Neff
Jacob Collyer*
Marshall Casper
Noah LuBean
Rourke Catanzaro
Simon Shurts
Soprano
Ashley Ballegeer
Candace Jensen
Clarissa Shurts
Evelyn Jones
Jaisey Pace
Kaylee Bowles
Kyrie Thueson
Lauren Demcak
Lily Hammond
Lorelai Rowan
Lydia Shellman
Misa Cuff*
Piper Webb
Carter Dickinson
Cole LuBean
Cooper Jensen
Henrik Schimmelbusch
Jacob Brosemann
Jayden Duckworth
Liam Wilde
Mason Olsen*
Michael Mohlman
Monson Thomas
Ryder Barnum
Tyler Dougall
Ellie Lucas
Evelyn Jones
Mark Tomasetti
Keith Robinson
Craig Maxwell
Travis Nelson
Andy Burns
Truin Tomasetti
Portland Metro Pipe Band is Oregon’s only Grade 3 competitive pipe band. Formed in 2006, the band is led by Pipe Major Mark Tomasetti and Drum Sergeant Ted McKnight. The Portland Metro Pipe Band has competed at the World Pipe Band Championships in Glasgow, Scotland, on three different occasions and also the North American Championships in Ontario, Canada. The band has also had a great opportunity to play with the legendary Irish group The Chieftains on several occasions. The band competes mostly in the Pacific Northwest but enjoys traveling to a few other contests in California and Chicago. Portland Metro Pipe Band has a juvenile pipe band called the Portland Metro Youth Pipe Band. Many of our band members teach our youth program to help keep the Scottish traditions going in our community.
Prairie Fire
an American Frontier Rhapsody
7pm Friday, 2pm Saturday 15,16 May
Rolling Hills Church
3550 SW Borland Road
Tualatin, OR 97062
Featuring NY Philharmonic Cellist,
Carter Brey
Check your ticket for a discount code (exclusive of any other sales or discounts) redeemable at musicinportland.org
PCO ARTISTIC STAFF
Artistic Director – Dr. David M. Thomas
Orchestra Director – Dr. Ken Selden
Assistant Choir Director – Jennie Peterson
Concertmaster – Ann Christensen
ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD
Executive Director – Ken Hollenzer
Finance Manager – Kerry Morgan
Treasurer – Kristi Crusan
OPERATIONS
Technology – Mark Deason
Wardrobe – Amy Updike
Venue Coordinator – Marci Dayley
Orchestra Music Librarian – Curtis Bedont
Orchestra Personnel Manager – John Warton
Box Office Coordinator – Paul Peterson
Public Relations – Keith Biggs
PRODUCTION
Executive Producer – Brad Goodwin
Video & supertitles – Peggy Goodwin
Equipment Transportation – Michael Rex
Audio – Duane Rodakowski, Mark Deason, Clark Green, Rob Perkins, Matthew Percy
Recording Engineer – Greg Blaisdell
Photographer & Video Team Leader – Jordan Bigelow
Camera Crew – Kathie Robbins, Maxwell Carlton, James Kearl
Promotional Collateral Design – Jordan Hayter
Projected Videos – Brad Goodwin
Concert Program – Brad Goodwin/Mark Deason
Thanks to Newmark House & Production staff
Dr. David M. Thomas, Artistic Director 
David M. Thomas enjoys a strong reputation throughout the Pacific Northwest as a conductor who fuses technique and artistry to provide a compelling and transformative musical experience.
Dr. Thomas excels as a choral musician through his unwavering commitment to healthy vocal production in the choir. He attributes much of his success as a conductor and pedagogue to the early influence of his mother, Beverly (soprano and conductor), and his years of study and performance with Dr. Ronald Staheli. Dr. Thomas (baritone) soloed in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s well-known weekly television broadcast, on the Mariinsky Theatre stage, and has prepared choirs or collaborated as a guest conductor with many prestigious ensembles including the Oregon Repertory Singers and the Newport Symphony Orchestra.
After earning additional degrees in Russian language (BA) and choral conducting (MM) at Brigham Young University, Dr.Thomas received his Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatoire in St. Petersburg Russia. He has continually integrated Russian music in his performance and research, providing performance coaching for ensembles and soloists, and presenting scholarly work at national and regional level professional conferences. Dr. Thomas is highly sought after as a clinician and adjudicator. Artistic Director of Portland Choir & Orchestra since 2007, Dr. Thomas also finds great joy teaching and performing with his wife, Emily (Soprano), and together, raising their five children.
Jennie Peterson, Assistant Choir Director
Jennie Peterson received her Bachelor’s degree in Music Education with a secondary education choral emphasis from Brigham Young University in 2007. She has a passion for choral music that started from a very young age and has enjoyed participating in and directing various choirs throughout her life at church and in her community. She is a proud mother of five children.
Dr. Ken Selden, Orchestra Director
In addition to his new role as Orchestra Director of Portland Choir & Orchestra, Dr. Ken Selden is Director of Orchestral Studies at Portland State University, a position he has held since 2006. In addition to annual ballet and opera productions, the orchestra has hosted guest artists Manuel Barrueco, China Forbes, Matt Haimovitz, Anna Polonsky, Awadagin Pratt, and Orli Shaham.
Since arriving in Portland, Dr. Selden has appeared as guest conductor of the Oregon, Vancouver, Newport, and Eugene Symphonies, as well as the Salem Chamber Orchestra, Third Angle, Fear No Music, and Portland Youth Philharmonic.
Dr. Selden made his professional debut with the National Arts Center Orchestra of Canada at the invitation of Pinchas Zuckerman, and subsequently appeared with orchestras of Denver, Baltimore and Minnesota. He has also conducted the Moscow Chamber Orchestra and orchestras in Finland, Italy, and Belgium.
Dr. Selden is a graduate of New England Conservatory, Indiana University and Peabody Conservatory. He attended the National Conducting Institute at the Kennedy Center, where he studied with Leonard Slatkin and conducted the National Symphony. Dr. Selden has worked with composers Pierre Boulez, John Cage, and Tan Dun, and has conducted world premieres of music by Peter Lieberson, Michael Nyman, and Stephen Paulus.