HARK! THE GLAD SOUND!
Philip Doddridge , Joseph Hoffman
O HOLY NIGHT
Cappeau de Roguemaure, Adolphe Adam, Arr. Craig Courtney
WISHES AND CANDLES
Alan & Marilyn Bergman, Stephen Paulus
JESUS, ONCE OF HUMBLE BIRTH
Parley P. Pratt, Giacomo Meyerbeer, Arr. Cameron Joel Rose
THIS CHRISTMASTIDE
Jane McCulloch, Donald Fraser
Soprano: Tara Janson
GOD BLESS US EVERYONE from A Christmas Carol
Alan Silvestri & Glen Ballard, Arr. William Ross
Soprano: Kristi Crusan
Tenor: Chris Harris
MAIN TITLE from A Christmas Carol
Alan Silvestri & Glen Ballard, Arr. William Ross
THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR
Eddie Pola & George Wyle, Arr. Chris R. Hansen
Baritone: Michael Blinco
I WONDER AS I WANDER
Attributed to John Jacob Niles, Arr. Barlow Bradford
THE SECRET OF CHRISTMAS
Sammy Cahn, James Van Heusen, Arr. Ronald Staheli
IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER
Christina Rosetti, Gustav Holst, Arr. Dan Forrest
ANGELS FROM THE REALMS OF GLORY
James Montgomery, Henry T. Smart, Arr. Dan Forrest
Welcome to the 2023 Christmas season! Hark! Glad Sounds Await!! Come together, one and all, in the Christmas Spirit. Today, we invite you to remember your favorite visions of Christmas as we share ours with you through song.
For young and old, Christmas can be the most wonderful time of the year, with parties for hosting and caroling out in the snow. Quiet moments may come while wondering as you wander through stores for the unique gift you seek for a special someone. Beyond snow, cards, and gifts, we are learning that the Secret of Christmas might not be the things you do at Christmas time, but the Christmas things you do all year through.
We invite you to allow yourself to float with the cold winds that can make winter seem so bleak. We wish to rejoice with you in rapturous music like that of angels and archangels present at the Christ child’s birth on that most Holy Night…a night divine…ushering in the thrill of hope and a new and glorious morning.
We have a wish for the children, the young and the old that they may never go hungry, to never be cold. We hope that there will be candles and love and laughter, memories to treasure forever after…where families can be gathered together…always remembering there are people who walk alone, wandering and hoping for a roof over their head and a bed of their own.
We are so grateful to celebrate joy of Christmas with you through music. May your Visions of Christmas be filled with laughter and light!
David Thomas, Artistic Director
Edward Higgins, Orchestral Director
Ken Hollenzer, Executive Director
Thank you for buying tickets to our concert today. If you want 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
2023-2024 Season Donors:
Anonymous – $80,000
Robert & Janet Watkins – $250
Amazon Smile – – $258
PGE Employee Giving – $450
Meinzer Family Trust – $12,000
Benevity Giving – $180
Kaiser Foundation Community Giving – $90
Mike & Sue Doherty – $200
George & Janis Wallace – $600
Kroger’s $44
Eddie Hernandez – $854
Thank You To Our
PCO Golf Classic Sponsors:
Eldon Reese Advisory Group
Northstar Mortgage
Vial Fotheringham LLC
Arvory
Portland Piano Company
Golden Valley Brewery
Mad Greek Deli
Soprano 1
Jamey McClellan*
Elizabeth Polay
Emily Thomas
Katrina Wheeler
Soprano 2
Liberty Barnes
Alyson Broberg
Kristi Crusan
Jenny Davis
Deb Dougal
Lauren Drossel
Tammy Fry
Cynthia Greathouse
Tara Janson
Brittany Jones
Susie Josephson
Barbara Laney
Wendy Latta
Jamie McKell
Erin Owens
Jennie Peterson
Brooke Ryles
Sherisse Suggs
Ellyn Willmore
Alto 1
Janet Apostalon
Laurie Bailey
Amy Bak
Stefani Carlton
LeAnne Draney
Stephanie Fry
Jenny Gennings*
Kristen Hess
Kathryn Latour
Samantha Lopez
Theresa Oliver
Jodi Peterson
Pamela Russell
Helen Shellman
Ellie Tracy
Kathleen Westhora
Lindsey Yun
Alto 2
Kara Anderson
Margie Armstrong
Jennifer Edwards
Stephanie Ellsworth
Jackie Emmett
Stephanie Fields
Wendy Garner
Cheryn Hunter
Kyleen Hunter
Kathy Jensen
Rachel Mohlman
Deanna Peabody
Courtney Pixton Atack
Mary Anne Shamrell
Nicole Stoddard
Daya Tracy
Tenor 1
Keith Biggs
Darren Boss
Marci Dayley
Chris Harris*
LeGrand Scott Jackman
Steve Pitzel
Tarry Smith
Patty Weenig
Tenor 2
Joe Everton
Erik Hoggan
Ken Hollenzer
Doug Lowder
Austin Rupert
Gerald Whisenant
Brian Williamson
Bass 1
Curtis Bedont
Adam Cluff
Marc Davis
Mark Deason
Erich Drossel
Helaman Escobar
James Evensen
Clark Green
Donald Jensen
Steve Maxfield
Rob Perkins
Craig Walker
Ryan Wosley
Bass 2
Michael Blinco*
Ben Davis
Dustin Geddes
Russ McMurdie
John Meagher
David Monson
Michael Rex
David Riddle
Howard Russell
Piano
Kathy Jensen
* Section Leader
1st Violin
Ann Christensen**
Marya Kazmierski
Tara Burke
Erin Hatch
Alberta Barnes
2nd Violin
Briana Nielson*
Brian Bennett
Bev Louthan
Jessica Scott
Elisa Boynton
Lacey Peters
Viola
Carson Mangum*
Anamaria Ghitea
Maren Knopp
Kim Burton
Cello
Kristopher Duke*
Hannah Hiskey
Amelia Hunnicutt
Paula Flynn
String Bass
Garrett Jellesma*
Dennis Caravakis
Flute
Rachel Rencher*
Pippa Randolph
Oboe
Pablo Izquierdo*
Oboe/English Horn
Karen Strand
Clarinet
Alicia Charlton*
Steven Gordon
Bassoon
Nicole Buetti*
Gary Zaganiacz
French Horn
Jen Harrison*
Kurt Heichelheim
Trumpet
Brett Randolph*
Jason Gunderson
Trombone
Kenneth Biggs*
Heidi Aispuro
Tuba
Stephen Fulks*
Percussion
Brian Gardiner*
Nick Rose
David Priore
Timpani
Will Reno
Keyboard
Kathy Jensen*
Judith Nielsen
** Concertmaster
* Principal
You won’t want to miss our Spring 2024 concert featuring one of the most iconic and beautiful pieces for choir and orchestra ever written: Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana. Tickets are available now at our website MusicInPortland.org or by clicking here.
PCO ARTISTIC STAFF
Artistic Director – Dr. David M. Thomas
Orchestra Director – Dr. Edward Higgins
Assistant Choir Director – Jennie Peterson
Concertmaster – Ann Christensen
ADMINISTRATIVE BOARD
Executive Director – Ken Hollenzer
Finance Manager – Kerry Morgan
Treasurer – Tara Janson
OPERATIONS
Technology – Mark Deason
Wardrobe – Marci Dayley
Orchestra Music Librarian – Curtis Bedont
Orchestra Personnel Manager – Tara Burke
Box Office Coordinator – Mark Deason
Marketing – Kathryn Latour
Public Relations – Keith Biggs
Social Media – Ben Davis
PRODUCTION
Executive Producer – Brad Goodwin
Projected Videos – Brad Goodwin
Projectionist & supertitles – Peggy Goodwin
Ticketing – Solomon Gordon
Equipment Transportation – Michael Rex, Bob Anthony
Audio – Mark Deason, Rob Perkins, Clark Green, Matthew Percy
Recording Engineer – Greg Blaisdell
Photographer & Video Team Leader – Jordan Bigelow
Camera Crew – Ian Lay, Liam Grant, Payton Anderson
Promotional Collateral Design – Jordan Hayter
Digital Program – Brad Goodwin, Mark Deason
Skit consultant – Chris Utley
Thanks to Newmark House & Production team!!
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.
Dr. Edward Higgins, Orchestra Director 
Applauded as a true bright light in artistry and expression, Dr. Edward Higgins, is currently a Professor of Music at Portland State University in Portland Oregon. He also serves as the Orchestra Director of the Portland Choir & Orchestra, and has authored four books with subjects ranging from musical performance practice, to the Motown Record Company, and its relationship with the City of Detroit.
Dr. Higgins began his multifaceted career with the Spoleto Festival Orchestra in Spoleto, Italy, where he served as Principal Trumpet on such works as the Grammy-winning recording of Samuel Barber’s Antony and Cleopatra. After two seasons, Dr. Higgins went on to hold the Principal Trumpet position of the Sacramento Symphony. He achieved comparable accolades in the Midwest as a professional tubist, holding principal tuba positions in the La Crosse Symphony and the St. Joseph Symphony Orchestras.
His educational career has seen similar success with brass pedagogy and conducting positions at the University of California Davis, California State University Sacramento, Winona State University in Minnesota, and Washburn University in Kansas.
Dr. Higgins holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in trumpet performance from the Juilliard School, and a doctorate in conducting from the University of Missouri, Kansas City.
Jennie Peterson, Assistant Choir Director 
Brad Goodwin, Guest Conductor 
After attending a performance of Portland Choir & Orchestra in 2009 that he described as “Carnegie Hall in Portland,” Brad became a volunteer. He has been involved with every concert since.
He currently produces Portland Choir & Orchestra concerts and supervises a crew of dedicated volunteers who handle production design, sound, lighting, stage management, transportation, decorations, house management, box office, post-production recordings, and video. If you look carefully you will see his wife Peggy in the booth controlling all projections and supertitles for today’s concert.
Brad spent four years as the drum major of the Brigham Young University marching band. Professionally he is a software architect at Oracle, a global software company.