Digital programs for events at Wharton Center for Performing Arts. 

Digital Programs

# **PUBLIQuartet**

## What Is American



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PUBLIQuartet - MIND | THE | GAP: What is American? (2016)\
*improvisations on Antonin Dvorak’s “American” Quartet (Op. 96)*\
I. Allegro ma non troppo

PUBLIQuartet - MIND | THE | GAP: Pavement Pounding Rose (2019)\
*improvisations on Fats Waller's "Honeysuckle Rose"*

Henry Threadgill - Sixfivetwo (2018)

PUBLIQuartet - MIND | THE | GAP: Wild Women (2021)\
*improvisations on Tina Turner’s “Black Coffee,” Betty Davis’ “They Say I’m Different,” Alice
Coltrane’s “Er Ra,” and Ida Cox’s “Wild Women Don’t Have the Blues”*

**Intermission**

Fodé Lassana Diabaté - Sunjata’s Time (2015), arr. Jacob Garchik

Rhiannon Giddens - At the Purchaser’s Option (2016), arr. PUBLIQuartet (2021)

Vijay Iyer - Dig the Say (2012)\
I. carry the ball\
IIa. this thing together\
IIb. up from the ground\
III. to live tomorrow

---

Run time is approximately 110 minutes, including a 20-minute intermission.

Program

### **EATS**

**THE LUNCHABLE** | $20\
Spiral Ham, Smoked Turkey, Soppressata—Fresh Cheese Curds, Red Onion Cheddar, Wildfire Bleu Pepperoncini Three Cheese Dip—Woven Wheat Crackers, Gluten Free Toasts, Croccantini—Chocolate Bark

**BIG SIGNATURE SLIDERS** | $10\
Sesame Brioche Bun, MSU Beef Patties, Colby Jack Cheese, Bacon, Fried Pickles, Caramelized Onions, and Secret Sauce, with Roasted Potato Wedges or Hawaiian Sweet Roll, Plant-Based Patteez and Cheeze, with Fried Pickles, Caramelized Onions, and Secret Sauce, with Roasted Potato Wedges (GF/V)

**CHOPPED** | $10\
Grilled Endives (GF/VG)—Roasted Butternut Squash (GF/VG)—Moscato Macerated Dried Cherries (GF/VG)—Walnuts (GF/VG)—Blood Orange & Shallot Vinaigrette—Herb Marinated Chicken (GF) or Maitake (GF/VG)

**SUPER BAR POTATO** | $12\
Hasselback Potato, Curry Crème Fraiche, Candied Bacon, Smoked MI Cheddar, and Chives (GF) or Hasselback Potato, Curry Oat Whip (VG), Plant-Based Chorizo and Cheeze, and Chives (GF/VG)

### **SWEETS**

**APPLE PIE ROLL** | $10\
Fried Apple Pie Roll, Vanilla Bean Ice Cream, Bourbon Caramel, Whipped Cream, and Streusel (V) 

**APPLE PIE CRISP** | $10\
Apple Pie Crisp, Plant-Based Vanilla Ice Cream, Bourbon Caramel, Plant-Based Whipt Kream (GF/VG)

### **SIPS**

**VOODOO DOLLS** | $12\
Vodka—Lemon Juice—Lavender + Spice Syrup—Ginger Tea—Cucumber Soda

**FIG THE SAY** | $12\
Sotol—Triple Sec—Lemon—Fig—Thyme

**MIDDLEGROUD MOCKTAIL** | $12\
Lyre’s Orange Sec—Basil Syrup—Sparkling Lime + Yuzu

Applauded by *The Washington Post* as "a perfect encapsulation of today's trends in chamber music," and by *The New Yorker* as "independent-minded," multi-Grammy-nominated PUBLIQuartet is an improvising string quartet whose repertoire blends genres and highlights American multiculturalism. PUBLIQuartet rose on the music scene as winner of the 2013 Concert Artists Guild New Music/New Places award, and in 2019 garnered Chamber Music America's prestigious Visionary Award for outstanding and innovative approaches to contemporary classical, jazz, and world chamber music. PQ's genre-bending programs range from newly commissioned pieces to re-imaginations of classical works featuring open form improvisations that expand the techniques and aesthetic of the traditional string quartet. 

PUBLIQuartet has held artist residencies at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and National Sawdust and has performed everywhere from Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center to the Montreal, Newport, and Detroit Jazz Festivals. Their 2016 appearance on *The Colbert Report,* "Requiem for a Debate"—in which they improvised a live soundtrack to the third presidential debate—not only received over a million views but prompted *The Washington Post* to declare them "the winner...indubitably." 

Their 2023-2024 season includes performances at USC and the Library of Congress; with the New York City Ballet; and with jazz artists including Hiromi, Diane Monroe, and Magos Herrera. The quartet's latest album, the Grammy nominated *What Is American*, released in June 2022 on the Bright Shiny Things label, explores resonances between contemporary, blues, jazz, freely improvised, and rock-inflected languages, all of which trace their roots back to the Black and Indigenous musical traditions that inspired Dvorak's "American" String Quartet (Op. 96). The album also includes "CARDS 11-11-2020," written by Roscoe Mitchell for PUBLIQuartet, as well as works by Ornette Coleman, Rhiannon Giddens, and Vijay Iyer. Committed to creating an inclusive performance space, supporting living composers of varying genres, and expanding the classical canon, PUBLIQuartet was the inaugural ensemble-in-residence for Carnegie Hall's PlayUSA program in 2021-2022, working with high school music classes across the country on a large-scale creative project called *Reflections on Resilience*. 

Their innovative PUBLIQ Access program has promoted emerging composers by presenting a wide variety of underrepresented music for string quartet—from classical, jazz, and electronic, to non-notated, world, and improvised music. Other unique projects include MIND | THE |GAP, a series of creative projects developed by PQ that weave together different styles of music via group composition, arranging, and improvisation. These unique works range from "Bird in Paris" (Claude Debussy meets Charlie Parker) to more recent extended works including *Reflections on Beauty*, a multimedia celebration of the life and legacy of Madam C.J. Walker featuring visual projections and narration by Walker's great-great-granddaughter, A'Lelia Bundles. 

Founded in 2010, PUBLIQuartet is based in New York City.

About

**MIND | THE | GAP: What is American? (2016)**

*Improvisations on Antonin Dvorák's "American" Quartet (Op. 96)*

I. Allegro ma non troppo

Antonin Dvorák wrote his "American" Quartet during the summer of 1893 in the Czech enclave of Spillville, Iowa, following his first year directing the National Conservatory of Music of America in New York City. One of Dvorak's students at the Conservatory was the baritone and composer Harry T. Burleigh, who introduced him to Black spirituals, leading Dvorak to conclude that "The future of this country must be founded upon what are called the Negro melodies. This must be the real foundation of any serious and original school of composition to be developed in the United States."

This MIND | THE | GAP project weaves together excerpts of Dvorák's original score with improvisation in various styles, with the aim of connecting the Black and Indigenous musics that inspired Dvorák to the blues, jazz, rock, and hip hop styles that these traditions would ultimately inform. Incorporating various extended techniques, the work's opening also evokes the prairie soundscape that might have surrounded Dvorak as he composed.

**MIND | THE | GAP: Pavement Pounding Rose (2019)**

*Improvisations on "Honeysuckle Rose" by Fats Waller*

This piece is an excerpt from PUBLIQuartet's larger project *Reflections on Beauty*, which celebrates the life of Madam C.J. Walker, the pioneering Black entrepreneur, self-made millionaire, and activist. Inspired by Fats Waller's "Honeysuckle Rose," these improvisations evoke Madam Walker's entrepreneurial hustle in Harlem in the early years of the 20th Century.

**Henry Threadgill - Sixfivetwo (2018)**

Commissioned by Kronos Quartet as part of their *50 for the Future *project, Henry Threadgill's *Sixfivetwo*, a fifteen-minute work for string quartet, includes ample opportunities for players to improvise. "The improvisational component is very important," he said in an interview while describing his philosophy which guided the creation of this piece, "Kronos knows it's important and I know it's important. It's a shame that the classical concert world doesn't understand how important it is... Everything is about exploration. We get to where we are because of exploration. That's why improvisation is so important... We won't improve anything unless we have an improvisational approach to life." (*excerpted from*  *50ftf.kronosquartet.org*)

**MIND | THE | GAP: Wild Women (2021)**

*Improvisations on music by Tina Turner, Betty Davis, Alice Coltrane, and Ida Cox*

Inspired by Ida Cox's 1924 feminist blues anthem "Wild Women Don't Have the Blues," this MIND | THE | GAP also spotlights the work of Tina Turner ("Black Coffee"), Betty Davis ("They Say I'm Different"), and Alice Coltrane ("Er Ra"). In the spirit of Ida's lyrics, this set celebrates the legacy of independent women who hold their own.

**Fodé Lassana Diabaté - Sunjata's Time (2015), arr. Jacob Garchik**

Also commissioned by Kronos Quartet as part of their *50 for the Future *project, *Sunjata's Time *is dedicated to Sunjata Keita, the warrior prince who founded the great Mali Empire in 1235, which at its height stretched across the West African savannah to the Atlantic shores. Sunjata's legacy continues to be felt in many ways. During his time as emperor, he established many of the cultural norms that remain in practice today, including the close relationship between patron and musician that is the hallmark of so much music in Mali. The word "time" is meant to denote both "rhythm," an important element in balafon performance, and "epoch," since the composition sets out to evoke the kinds of musical sounds that might have been heard in Sunjata's time, drawing on older styles of balafon playing which Lassana Diabaté has learned while studying with elder masters of the instrument in Guinea. (*excerpted*  *from 50ftf.kronosquartet.org*)

**Rhiannon Giddens - At the Purchaser's Option (2016), arr. PUBLIQuartet (2021)**

Inspired by an 1830s advertisement announcing the sale of a Black woman and her child, Rhiannon Giddens' "At the Purchaser's Option" is a meditation on the hard truths of American history; the song is reimagined here in an original arrangement by PQ that includes whispers, sung excerpts of Giddens' original lyrics, and various extended techniques.

**Vijay Iyer - Dig The Say (2012)**

I. carry the ball\
IIa. this thing together\
IIb. up from the ground\
III. to live tomorrow

Commissioned by Brooklyn Rider in 2012, Vijay Iyer's *Dig The Say* is an homage to the "Godfather of Soul," James Brown. Describing his inspiration by Brown's music, Iyer says: "[...] of course it's best to enjoy it with your body and soul, but there is also much to learn from analyzing his music's interlocking bass, drums, guitar, horn, and vocal parts. As a composer and bandleader, I have strived for years to put some of his tactics into practice. He brought a lot of ideas to the table about groove, communication, form, and space. Each song has its own vivid and distinct identity, beginning with the intricacies in the rhythm section."

Much of the excitement and challenge of Iyer's quartet lies in his distribution of such intricate, driving rhythmic textures among multiple players; there are even moments where the score asks a single player to stomp or tap one rhythm while playing another. The titles of the work's four continuous movements refer to lyrics delivered emphatically by Brown in his 1969 song "I Don't Want Nobody to Give Me Nothing (Open Up the Door I'll Get It Myself)."

notes

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Detroit Symphony Orchestra

The Christman Company

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PUBLIQuartet

# **123 Andrés**


Christina and Andrés


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The program will run approximately 60 minutes with no intermission.

---

Are you ready for the show? We are, too! 

We are Christina and Andrés and our duo is called 123 Andrés. (A duo is a band made up of two people.) We love performing for kids and families, and we started when we were kids, too! Christina acted in plays and did dance, like ballet and Mexican folclórico dancing. Andrés started playing the recorder and the guitar and performed music with youth ensembles.

We have performed all over the USA, from New York and North Carolina to Oregon and Florida, and we’re happy to be right here in your city! We’ve also performed in other countries like Puerto Rico, México, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panama, and Colombia. 

Andrés was born in Colombia, which is a country in South America. Christina's parents were born there, too! Now, we live in Virginia, near Washington, DC.

Have you ever won a prize at school for something special you did? We have won special prizes like the GRAMMY and the Latin GRAMMY for our music and that makes us feel super proud. 

**What do YOU like to do for fun?** 

When we are not performing concerts or traveling, here are some of our favorite things to do:

**Andrés:** making and editing videos, writing new stories, and taking care of our plants.

**Christina:** listening to podcasts and doodling, and she recently started learning Japanese!

**Both:** trying foods from other countries and playing with our friends' cats and dogs (because we don't have any pets of our own).

---

¿Están listos para el concierto? ¡Nosotros también! 

Somos Christina y Andrés y nuestro dúo se llama 123 Andrés. (Un dúo es un grupo de músicos con dos personas.) Nos encanta hacer conciertos para chicos y grandes. Empezamos a hacer música y arte cuando éramos niños! Christina actuó en obras de teatro y estudió baile, como ballet y baile folclórico. Andrés empezó a tocar la flauta dulce y la guitarra, y hacía música en conjuntos juveniles.

Hemos tenido conciertos en muchos lugares de Estados Unidos – desde Nueva York y Carolina del Norte, hasta Oregón y la Florida, ¡y estamos felices de estar aquí contigo! También nos hemos presentado en otros países como Puerto Rico, México, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Panamá y Colombia.

Andrés nació en Colombia, que es un país de América del Sur. Los padres de Christina también nacieron allí. Ahora vivimos en Virginia, cerca de Washington, DC.

¿Alguna vez has ganado un premio en la escuela por algo especial que hiciste? Nosotros ganamos unos premios especiales como el GRAMMY y el Latin GRAMMY por nuestra música y eso nos hace sentir muy pero muy orgullosos.

**¿Qué te gusta hacer?**

Cuando no estamos dando conciertos o viajando, estas son las cosas que más nos gustan hacer:

**Andrés:** crear y editar videos, escribir nuevas historias, y cuidar de nuestras plantas

**Christina:** escuchar podcasts y dibujar, y hace poco empezó a aprender japonés

**Ambos:** probar comidas de otros países y jugar con los perros y gatos de nuestros amigos (porque nosotros no tenemos mascotas)

---

Act One Family Series Media Partner: WKAR 



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Bluey’s Big Play

123 Andrés

# **Catherine Russell**

Vocals


- **Matt Munisteri**\
Guitar and\
Music Director
- **Domo Branch**\
Drums
- **Tal Ronen**\
Bass
- **Ben Paterson**\
Piano



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Program will be announced from stage.


The performance will run approximately 90 minutes with no intermission.


Media partner: WKAR


### **Catherine Russell**

Vocalist Catherine Russell is a native New Yorker, born into musical royalty. Her father, the late Luis Russell, was a legendary pianist/composer/bandleader. Louis Armstrong fronted the Luis Russell Orchestra on recordings and gigs in 1929-30 and from 1935-1940. Her mother, the late Carline Ray, was a pioneering vocalist/guitarist/bassist who performed with the all-female swing orchestra, The International Sweethearts of Rhythm; pianist/composer/arranger Mary Lou Williams; and Sy Oliver, among many others. 

Catherine's professional life began early. She performed as a child dancer with Katherine Dunham's company, dancing for four seasons with the Metropolitan Opera's production of *Aida*. In 1980, Catherine graduated with honors from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. She has toured and/or recorded with Steely Dan, David Bowie, Cyndi Lauper, Paul Simon, Jackson Browne, Michael Feinstein, Levon Helm, Toshi Reagon and Rosanne Cash, appearing on over 200 albums.

Her 2006 debut album, *Cat* (World Village/Harmonia Mundi), garnered rave reviews, paving the way for her 2008 sophomore release, *Sentimental Streak*.  Catherine was a guest on *Late Night with Conan O'Brien,* PBS-TV's *Tavis Smiley Show*, and NPR's *Fresh Air,* Marian McParland's *Piano Jazz; Mountain Stage;* *World Café,* and *Jazz Night in America*. Catherine Russell's third album, *Inside This Heart of Mine*, reached #1 on *JazzWeek* and Roots Music Report radio charts, while also charting on *Billboard* and reaching #1 on iTunes jazz charts. A fourth album, *Strictly Romancin'* was released in February 2012, and was awarded Prix du Jazz Vocal (Vocal Album of The Year) by the French Jazz Academy, Grand Prix du Hot Club de France, and a Bistro Award for Outstanding Recording. Also in 2012, Catherine Russell received a Grammy Award as a featured artist on the soundtrack album for the HBO-TV series, *Boardwalk Empire.*

In 2013, Catherine contributed three songs to the soundtrack of the film, *Kill Your Darlings*. Her 5th solo album, *Bring It Back*, was released worldwide in 2014 on the Jazz Village label, receiving a 5-star Review in *Downbeat* Magazine. In 2016, Catherine released her sixth solo album, titled *Harlem* *On My Mind*, featuring songs from the Great African American Songbook, for which she received a Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album. Her seventh album as a band leader, *Alone Together*, was released in 2019 on Dot Time Records, and held the #1 position on the *JazzWeek* 2019 Year End chart for national airplay and received her second Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Vocal Album. Also in 2019, Catherine appeared in the feature film *Bolden,* and contributed vocals to the soundtrack album by Wynton Marsalis. She appears as featured vocalist on three tracks on *Big Band Holidays II*, accompanied by the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis. In 2022, Catherine released her eighth album as a leader, *Send For Me*.

Catherine Russell has performed on four continents. She's been a hit at major jazz festivals including Monterey, Newport, North Sea, JazzAscona, Montreal, Bern, Rochester International, Panama, Tanglewood, and at sold out venues like The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., Scullers in Boston, The Dakota in Minneapolis, Jazz at Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall in NYC, SFJazz in San Francisco, and Pasadena Pops in Los Angeles. *All Music Guide* says, "Russell emerged as a retro old school vocalist for the ages." 

Catherine's repertoire features a selection of gems from the 1920s through the Present; vital interpretations, bursting with soul and humor. With an off-the-beaten-path song selection, sparkling acoustic swing, and a stunning vocal approach, Catherine Russell has joined the ranks of the greatest interpreters and performers of American Popular Song.

### **Matt Munisteri, Music Director/guitar**

Matt Munisteri is a guitarist who has performed on several chart-topping jazz CDs. Matt is also a critically lauded songwriter and lyricist, an urban banjo-warrior and a sometime session musician, a sideman, singer, frontman, and an arranger whose ear-pulling re-inventions of well-traveled songs have contributed to Grammy winning CDs for artists such as Loudon Wainwright and Catherine Russell.

After serving as the guitarist and principal songwriter for The Flying Neutrinos in the late '90's, Matt quietly self-released his debut CD *Love Story* in 2003. Word-of-mouth saw to it that it wound up on several critic's "Best Of" lists and garnered the number two slot on Amazon's Top Ten Jazz CDs of The Year. A formidable lyricist ("*Jazz musicians aren't supposed to be able to write lyrics that good*" —*The Village Voice*) his songs have been compared to Randy Newman, Mose Allison and Bob Dorough. Matt has been featured on France's ARTE television, profiled in *Downbeat* Magazine, honored with *Acoustic Guitar* Magazine's Editor's Choice award, and been the subject of several broadcasts on *NPR.*

When not working on his own projects his primary sideman gigs for the last few years have been playing with violinist Mark O'Connor's Hot Swing; Henry Butler & Steven Bernstein's Hot Nine; and with Catherine Russell, for whom he also currently serves as Music Director.

Though an instrumentalist of prodigious technique and a relentless improviser, Matt has always felt a primary connection to songs, to their forms and emotional landscapes, and his skills and originality as an accompanist have led to calls to record with some of today's most soulful and individual singers. These include Holly Cole, Madeleine Peyroux, Lizz Wright, "Little" Jimmy Scott, Geoff Muldaur, Sasha Dobson, and Kat Edmondson. Outside of the jazz world, Matt was a key player on Loudon Wainwright's 2010 Grammy-winning CD, *High Wide and Handsome—The Charlie Poole Project*, to which he contributed arrangements, guitar, and 5-string banjo. He is credited on over 70 CDs, including new releases by trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, and guitarist Howard Alden. In mainstream jazz contexts he has performed with The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, Kenny Davern; Andy Stein; Matt Glaser; Tim Kliphuis; Vince Giordano's Nighthawks; Frank Vignola; Jon-Erik Kellso; Evan Christopher; Duke Heitger; Bob Wilbur; Bucky Pizzarelli; and Dick Hyman. 

Matt's CD, [S*till Runnin' Round In The Wilderness*](http://mattmunisteri.com/recordings/still-runnin-around-in-the-wilderness/), (2012) is the first volume of two planned CDs to explore the "lost" compositions of the under-recognized, but truly prototypical, American singer-songwriter Willard Robison.  Matt is also a featured performer on the new release, [*Hell Among the Hedgehogs*](http://mattmunisteri.com/recordings/hell-among-the-hedgehogs/), (2012) a smoking hot twin guitar CD with The Hot Club of Cowtown's Whit Smith, and a CD from Musette Explosion, a decade-old band with accordionist Will Holshouser and tuba player Marcus Rojas. A 2023 CD release, *Jon-Erik Kellso and The EarRegulars, Live at the Ear* *Inn*, was featured on NPR's *Fresh Air* with Terry Gross, with Matt Munisteri and Jon-Erik Kellso being interviewed about the group they co-lead while also performing in studio.

### **Domo Branch, drums**

Domo Branch is a New York-based  drummer, composer, and producer who  grew up in Portland, Oregon. A graduate of  Grant High School, Branch was active on  the Portland music scene throughout his  teenage years, playing with Thara Memory's  prestigious Pacific Crest Sinfonietta, numerous groups through the Alan Jones Academy  of Music, and The Devin Phillips Quartet. He  has worked with Jeff Hamilton, Taylor Eigsti,  Kendrick Scott, and Sean Jones, among others, and earned the Presidential Scholarship  from the Manhattan School of Music, where  he graduated in 2022. Branch has performed  and/or toured with Catherine Russell, Dianne Reeves, Mike  Phillips, Wynton Marsalis and the JLCO.  In 2022, he released his first album *We Are Made* featuring Stefon Harris. In Portland,  he is part of the Noah Simpson Quartet and  co-leads an ensemble with longtime friend  Charlie Brown III called The Brown Branch  Jazz Orchestra.

### **Tal Ronen, bass**

Born in Tel Aviv, Israel, in 1981, Tal Ronen is an accomplished young bass player living and working in New York City. As a highly sought-after sideman, Tal has been a frequent band member with many notable musicians such as Frank Wess, Jimmy Cobb, Harry Whitaker, Sheila Jordan, and many more. Ronen also leads his own group featuring his own original compositions, as well as being a main collaborator and songwriter for up and coming artist Dida Pelled.

Ronen has played at many prominent New York venues, most notably Jazz at Lincoln Center, Village Vanguard, Iridium, the Kitano, Smalls and Mezzrow. He is a frequent presence on the world stage, participating in various international festivals around the world including the Sibiu Jazz Festival (Romania), the Gyor International Art Festival (Hungary), Jazz-en-Tete in Clairmont-Ferrand (France) and many other acclaimed venues, such as the North Sea Jazz Club in Amsterdam and Sunset Jazz Club in Paris. In Israel, he has been a frequent participant of local jazz festivals such as the international Red Sea Jazz Festival in Eilat, the Israel Festival in Jerusalem, the Tel Aviv Jazz festival, the Haifa Jazz festival and others.  His style has been described as "swinging and lyrical... I was delighted by the big warm sound he got... His pulse was absolutely right, although never obtrusive, and his solo lines were worthy of being transcribed" (Michael Steinman, *Jazz Lives*) "Easily one of the best bassists of his generation ... a truly gifted accompanist ... with exuberant, swinging solos" (*Arts America*).

Ronen graduated from the prestigious art high school Thelma Yellin in Israel and served the Israeli Army as a bassist in the Army Jazz ensemble, enjoying an outstanding musician status. A two-time scholarship recipient from the American-Israeli Cultural Foundation, he also won several competitions for ensemble playing at the Rimon Jazz School. He received his BFA from The City College of New York, Magna Cum Laude, in 2009. 

### **Ben Paterson, piano**

"As soulful a pianist/organist as exists anywhere." —*Downbeat Magazine*

Combining a joyful swing with an impeccable touch, Steinway Artist Ben Paterson has established himself as one of the most exciting pianists on the jazz scene today, garnering international acclaim for his superb musicianship and engaging performances. He has led his own groups on both piano and Hammond B3 at premier clubs and festivals around the world and is regularly called upon to work with some of the top names in jazz. Notable collaborations include work with Catherine Russell, Bobby Broom, Houston Person, Samara Joy and NEA Jazz Master Von Freeman to name a few, with performances opening for groups like Steely Dan and B.B. King. More info at [benpaterson.com](https://benpaterson.com/).

Bios

Broad

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Jackson National Life Insurance Company

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MSU Union

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Catherine Russell

- CARMEN PAVLOVIC     
- GERRY RYAN     
- BILL DAMASCHKE
- AARON LUSTBADER     
- HUNTER ARNOLD     
- DARREN BAGERT 
- ERICA LYNN SCHWARTZ/MATT PICHENY/STEPHANIE ROSENBERG 
- ADAM BLANSHAY PRODUCTIONS/NICOLAS & CHARLES TALAR     
- IRIS SMITH     
- ALERI ENTERTAINMENT
- SOPHIE QI/HARMONIA HOLDINGS     
- CJ ENM     
- LEN BLAVATNIK     
- AMBASSADOR THEATRE GROUP     
- ENDEAVOR CONTENT     
- JOHN GORE ORGANIZATION     
- SPENCER ROSS     
- GILAD-ROGOWSKY/INSTONE PRODUCTIONS
- AF CREATIVE MEDIA/INTERNATIONAL THEATRE FUND     
- NEDERLANDER PRESENTATIONS/IPN
- CODY RENARD RICHARD   
- JUJAMCYN THEATERS   
- ERIC FALKENSTEIN/SUZANNE GRANT   
- PETER MAY/SANDY ROBERTSON
- TOM AND PAM FALUDY     
- TRIPTYK STUDIOS     
- CARL DAIKELER/SANDI MORAN
- DESANTIS-BAUGH PRODUCTIONS     
- RED MOUNTAIN THEATRE COMPANY/42ND.CLUB
- CANDY SPELLING/TULCHIN BARTNER   
- ROY FURMAN   
- ANDREW & RUBY RYAN   
- BRENT & SARAH DEBOER   
- MICHAEL RYAN
- GLOBAL CREATURES

Present

# **MOULIN ROUGE! THE MUSICAL**

Book by\
**JOHN LOGAN**

Based on the 2001 Twentieth Century Studios motion picture written by Baz Luhrmann
and Craig Pearce, directed by Baz Luhrmann

By special arrangement with Buena Vista Theatrical

&nbsp;

Starring

- **GABRIELLE MCCLINTON**
- **CHRISTIAN DOUGLAS**

1. **ROBERT PETKOFF**
2. **NICK RASHAD BURROUGHS**
3. **ANDREW BREWER**
4. **SARAH BOWDEN**
5. **DANNY BURGOS**
6. **ARIANNA ROSARIO**

- **NICCI CLASPELL**
- **MAX HEITMANN**
- **RENEE MARIE TITUS**
- **AMAR ATKINS**
- **CARINA R. AVILA**
- **ERIC ALLEN BOYD**
- **SAM J. CAHN**
- **JADA SIMONE CLARK**
- **DARIUS CRENSHAW**
- **NICOLAS DE LA VEGA**
- **MARK DOYLE**
- **JIMENA FLORES SANCHEZ**
- **TOMMY GEDRICH**
- **TAMRIN GOLDBERG**
- **E.J. HAMILTON**
- **CAMERON HOBBS**
- **NATHANIEL HUNT**
- **CHLOE RAE KEHM**
- **KAMAL LADO**
- **KATIE LOMBARDO**
- **MELISSA HUNTER McCANN**
- **CONNOR McRORY**
- **LUKE MONDAY**
- **TANISHA MOORE**
- **KENNETH MICHAEL MURRAY**
- **ELYSE NIEDEREE**
- **OMAR NIEVES**
- **KENT OVERSHOWN**
- **STEFANIE RENEE SALYERS**
- **ADÉA MICHELLE SESSOMS**
- **JORDAN VASQUEZ**

&nbsp;

1. Scenic Design\
**DEREK MCLANE**

2. Costume Design\
**CATHERINE ZUBER**

3. Lighting Design\
**JUSTIN TOWNSEND**

4. Sound Design\
**PETER HYLENSKI**

5. Hair Design\
**DAVID BRIAN BROWN**

6. Makeup Design\
**SARAH CIMINO**

7. Creative Services\
**BAZ LUHRMANN**\
**CATHERINE MARTIN**

8. Casting\
**JIM CARNAHAN**\
**STEPHEN KOPEL**

9. Production Stage\
Manager\
**DAWN FENTON**

10. Music Director\
**ANDREW GRAHAM**

11. Music Producer\
**MATT STINE**

12. Co-Orchestrators\
**KATIE KRESEK**\
**CHARLIE ROSEN**\
**MATT STINE**

13. Dance Arrangements\
**JUSTIN LEVINE**\
**MATT STINE**
 
14. Music Coordinator\
**MICHAEL AARONS**

15. Michael Aarons\
**MATT DICARLO**

16. Associate\
Choreographer\
**CAMDEN GONZALES**

17. Associate Music\
Supervisor\
**TED ARTHUR**

18. Company Manager\
**LEE POULIN**

19. Tour Marketing\
and Press\
**BOND THEATRICAL**

20. Advertising\
**RPM**

21. Technical Supervision\
**JUNIPER STREET**\
**PRODUCTIONS**

25. Exclusive Tour Direction\
**WILLIAM MORRIS ENDEAVOR**\
**& THE ROAD COMPANY**

26. General Management\
**FORESIGHT THEATRICAL**\
**AARON LUSTBADER**\
**NICK GINSBERG**

&nbsp;

Music Supervisor, Co-Orchestrator, Arrangements and Additional Lyrics by\
**JUSTIN LEVINE**

Choreographed by\
**SONYA TAYEH**

Directed by\
**ALEX TIMBERS**

&nbsp;

© 2024 Global Creatures. Moulin Rouge® is a registered trademark of Moulin Rouge.

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**THE SETTING**\
1899. Inside the Moulin Rouge and in various parts of Paris.

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THERE WILL BE ONE 18-MINUTE INTERMISSION.

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The use of any recording device, either audio or video, and the taking of photographs, either with or without flash, is strictly prohibited. Please turn off all electronic devices such as cellular phones, and watches.

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Gabrielle McClinton

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Christian Douglas

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Robert Petkoff

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Nick Rashad Burroughs

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Andrew Brewer

MR-cast-Sarah Bowden.jpg

Sarah Bowden

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Danny Burgos

MR-cast-Arianna Rosario.jpg

Arianna Rosario

MR-cast-Nicci Claspell.jpg

Nicci Claspell

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Max Heitmann

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Renee Marie Titus

MR-cast-Amar Atkins.jpg

Amar Atkins

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Carina R. Avila

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Eric Allen Boyd

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Sam J. Cahn

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Jada Simone Clark

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Darius Crenshaw

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Nicolas de la Vega

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Mark Doyle

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Jimena Flores Sanchez

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Tommy Gedrich

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Tamrin Goldberg

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E.J. Hamilton

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Cameron Hobbs

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Nathaniel Hunt

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Chloe Rae Kehm

MR-cast-Kamal Lado.jpg

Kamal Lado

MR-cast-Katie Lombardo.jpg

Katie Lombardo

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Melissa Hunter McCann

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Connor McRory

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Luke Monday

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Tanisha Moore

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Kenneth Michael Murray

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Elyse Niederee

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Omar Nieves

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Kent Overshown

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Stefanie Renee Salyers

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Adéa Michelle Sessoms

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Jordan Vasquez

- Nini
- SARAH BOWDEN
- The Duke of Monroth
- ANDREW BREWER
- Santiago
- DANNY BURGOS
- Toulouse-Lautrec
- NICK RASHAD BURROUGHS
- Arabia
- NICCI CLASPELL
- Christian
- CHRISTIAN DOUGLAS
- Baby Doll
- MAX HEITMANN
- Pierre
- KAMAL LADO
- Satine
- GABRIELLE McCLINTON
- Harold Zidler
- ROBERT PETKOFF
- La Chocolat
- RENEE MARIE TITUS
- Ensemble
- SAM J. CAHN, NICCI CLASPELL, DARIUS CRENSHAW, NICOLAS DE LA VEGA, JIMENA FLORES SANCHEZ, TOMMY GEDRICH, MAX HEITMANN, CAMERON HOBBS, CHLOE RAE KEHM, KAMAL LADO, CONNOR McRORY, LUKE MONDAY, TANISHA MOORE, ELYSE NIEDEREE, KENT OVERSHOWN, STEFANIE RENEE SALYERS,
ADÉA MICHELLE SESSOMS, RENEE MARIE TITUS

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**ALTERNATE**

- Satine Alternate
- ARIANNA ROSARIO

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**UNDERSTUDIES**\
Understudies never substitute for the listed performers unless a specific announcement is made at the time of the appearance.

- For Satine
- NICCI CLASPELL
- for Christian
- MARK DOYLE, LUKE MONDAY
- for Zidler
- AMAR ATKINS, KENT OVERSHOWN
- for The Duke
- AMAR ATKINS, LUKE MONDAY
- for Lautrec
- AMAR ATKINS, KENT OVERSHOWN
- for Santiago
- TOMMY GEDRICH, OMAR NIEVES, JORDAN VASQUEZ
- for Nini
- TAMRIN GOLDBERG, ELYSE NIEDEREE
- for La Chocolat
- TAMRIN GOLDBERG, E.J. HAMILTON, TANISHA MOORE, ADÉA MICHELLE SESSOMS
- for Arabia
- E.J. HAMILTON, TANISHA MOORE, ADÉA MICHELLE SESSOMS
- for Baby Doll
- E.J. HAMILTON, CHLOE RAE KEHM, KAMAL LADO

---

**SWINGS**

CARINA R. AVILA, ERIC ALLEN BOYD, JADA SIMONE CLARK, MARK DOYLE, TAMRIN GOLDBERG, E.J. HAMILTON, NATHANIEL HUNT, MELISSA HUNTER McCANN, KATIE LOMBARDO, KENNETH MICHAEL MURRAY, OMAR NIEVES, JORDAN VASQUEZ

---

**DANCE CAPTAINS**

TAMRIN GOLDBERG, KENNETH MICHAEL MURRAY

---

**ORCHESTRA**

- Conductor/Keyboard
- Andrew Graham
- Associate Conductor/Keyboard
- Wendy Feaver
- Drums
- Mark Pardy
- Reeds
- Rajiv Halim
- Trumpet
- Adam Roebuck
- Guitar 1
- Tim Morey
- Guitar 2
- Joe Parker
- Bass
- Marcus Vann
- Violin/Viola
- Chuck Bontrager
- Cello
- Kelsee Vandervall

&nbsp;

Midiomatic, LLC | Taylor J. Williams and Dana Haynes

- Electronic Music Designer
- Taylor J. Williams
- Associate Electronic Music Designer
- Dana Haynes
- Assistant Electronic Music Designer
- Ethan Deppe
- Music Preparation Services
- Emily Grishma
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Cast

**GABRIELLE MCCLINTON** (*Satine*) originated the role of Angelina Baker in *Paradise Square* on Broadway. She has also starred as the Leading Player in *Pippin* on Broadway, First National Tour, and in Australia. Broadway: *Paradise Square, Chicago*, *Pippin*. First National Tour: *Pippin*, *American Idiot*. Upcoming Film: *A Ramble Towards Rain.* Film/Television: "Evil," "The Mentalist," *86'D*, *Won't Back Down*, *Fun Size*. BFA Carnegie Mellon School of Drama. www.GabrielleM.com. "For Teda—who instilled in me my French roots."

**CHRISTIAN DOUGLAS** (*Christian*) is thrilled to be stepping into the role of Christian. He was last seen playing Tony in *West Side Story* at the Muny. Before joining the cast of *Moulin Rouge! The Musical*, Christian made his New York City debut as Charlie Price in the Off-Broadway revival of *Kinky Boots*. Other credits include the national tour of *Pretty Woman: The Musical* as well as regional productions of *Songs for a New World* (The Gateway), *Newsies* (Arena Stage) and *Gun & Powder* (Signature Theatre). @christiandouglasmusic

**ROBERT PETKOFF** (*Harold Zidler*). Broadway: *Ragtime*, *All The Way*, *Anything Goes*, *Spamalot*, *Fiddler on the Roof* and *Epic Proportions*. Tours: *Fun Home*; *Importance of Being Earnest*, *Tantalus*, *Spamalot*. West End: *The Royal Family* (with Judi Dench and Emily Blunt). Film and TV: "Elementary," "Madame Secretary," "The Good Wife," "Chappelle's Show," "Law & Order" and "Law & Order: SVU." Award winning audiobook narrator.

**NICK RASHAD BURROUGHS** (*Toulouse-Lautrec*). Broadway: *Tina -- The Tina Turner Musical* (OBC) as Ike Turner, *Kinky Boots*, *King Kong*. First National Tour of *Something Rotten* making history as the first black man to play the role of "Shakespeare." Pop Smash Radio Music Award Winner for his album "Groove Machine." Broadway World Award Winner: (Judas) *Jesus Christ Superstar*. @nickrburroughs

**ANDREW BREWER** (*The Duke of Monroth*). Broadway: *Moulin Rouge! The Musical* (Christian standby), *Beautiful: The Carole King Musical* (Swing). First National Tour: *Beautiful ...* (Gerry Goffin), *Moulin Rouge! The Musical* (Ensemble, u/s Christian/The Duke). Off-Broadway: *Nymph Errant*, *Cougar: the Musical*, *Sex Tips ... Man*. Regional: *South Pacific* (Lt. Cable), *Cinderella* (Topher), *Carrie* (Billy). Love to Mom and Dad, Keyonna and The Mine.\
@theandrewbrewer

**SARAH BOWDEN** (*Nini*). Excited to be joining the *Moulin Rouge! The Musical* tour and stepping into the role of Nini, after a wonderful run in the ensemble of the Broadway company! Other career highlights include: Cassie in *A Chorus Line* at The Hollywood Bowl/PCLO, Roxie in *Chicago* at The Muny & Velma at Maltz Jupiter. International; Sally Bowles in *Cabaret* and Esmerelda in *The Hunchback of Notre Dame*. Enormous thanks to my family & DGRW team. Insta: @sarahbowden.de

**DANNY BURGOS**, he/him (*Santiago*). Broadway: *On Your Feet!* (Emilio Standby); First National Tour: *On Your Feet!* Overjoyed to be joining *Moulin Rouge! The Musical* on tour. When he isn't on stage, Danny is a Registered Nurse at New York Presbyterian. Thank you to HCKR, and the entire *Moulin Rouge! The Musical* team. "Pa mi familia, y pa Hialeah: La Ciudad Que Progresa!" @bannydurgos

**ARIANNA ROSARIO** (*Satine Alternate*) joins the cast after originating the role of "Gloria Falbury" in the musical adaptation of the MGM film *Summer Stock*. Broadway: *Moulin Rouge! The Musical*, *Cat*s, *On Your Feet!.* Other favorites: *RENT* (Mimi), *Evita* (Eva), *OYF!* (Gloria Estefan), *ITH!* (Carla). Film/TV: *WSS* (Spielberg), *The Waltons* (CW), *Queen Sugar* (OWN).\
@ariannarosario

**NICCI CLASPELL** (*Arabia/Ensemble*). First National Tour: *American Idiot* (The Extraordinary Girl). Other favorites include: *Chicago* (Velma), *Cabaret* (Sally), *Dogfight* (Rose), *The Last 5 Years* (Cathy alt.), *Rent* (Mimi), *Postmodern Jukebox*. AMDA LA graduate. Love to my amazing family, Aligned, Headline, and the *Moulin Rouge! The Musical* team! @nclaspell

**MAX HEITMANN** (*Baby Doll/Ensemble*) is making his National Tour Debut in *Moulin Rouge! The Musical* after graduating from NYU in spring 2023. He is eternally grateful to the *Moulin Rouge! The Musical* team, Dave Secor at Daniel Hoff, and his friends and family for their support!

**RENEE MARIE TITUS** (*La Chocolat/Ensemble*) is thrilled to be joining the touring company of *Moulin Rouge! The Musical*. National Tour: *The Color Purple*. Select Regional: *Summer* (Gateway Playhouse), *Rock of Ages* (Engeman Theater). "Love to my family and Hudson Artists Agency!" Psalms 107:1!

**AMAR ATKINS** (*Principal Standby*). First National Tour (Revival): *The Color Purple* (Mister U/S). Off-Broadway: *As You Like It* (The Public, Shakespeare in the Park), *King Lear* (NY Classical). Select Regional: *Fat Ham* (The Huntington), *Toni Stone* (Alliance Theater/Milwaukee Rep); *The Color Purple* Revival (Paper Mill Playhouse). TV: "Annie Live!" (Rooster Standby), "America's Got Talent," "City on a Hill," "Blue Bloods," "Bull," "Wu-Tang: An American Saga." MFA in Acting (LSU) Love & Light!\
@Amaratkins_

**CARINA R. AVILA** (*Swing*) is thrilled to be performing at the Moulin Rouge. Recent theatre credits: *Disney's Aladdin* (National Tour), *On Your Feet!* (Regional Premier), *In the Heights* (Mason Street Warehouse). TV credits: Nickelodeon, ABC, Disney. Thanks to her family, for their constant support.\
@carinaballerina_

**ERIC ALLEN BOYD** (*Swing*) is a Miami native. Some credits include *Chess* (The Muny), *Hairspray* and *Grease* (Royal Caribbean), and recently in the *Peter Pan* National tour. Very Thankful for his fiancé, family and friends.  @despicable_eee

**SAM J. CAHN** (*Ensemble*). Broadway: *Moulin Rouge! The Musical* (Original Broadway Cast), *Wicked* (Chistery), *Rocky* (Rocky Marciano), *Memphis*, Disney's *Aladdin*. First National Tour: *On Your Feet!* Vegas: Celine Dion's "A New Day." TV: "World Music Awards" (Celine Dion), "Kennedy Center Honors" (Gloria Estefan). Film: *Isn't It Romantic*, *A Christmas Carol*, *Radio City 75th Christmas Spectacular*. @samjcahn

**JADA SIMONE CLARK** (*Swing*). Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Jada is thrilled to be joining the *Moulin Rouge!* Her past theatre credits include *Jagged Little Pill* (First National Tour), *Rattlesnake Kate* (DCPA), and *In the Heights* (The Madison Theatre). Jada would like to thank her family and friends for being her greatest support system.

**DARIUS CRENSHAW** (*Ensemble*). Broadway: *The Color Purple*, *The Phantom of the Opera*, *Motown the Musical, Hello, Dolly!* Opera: *Un Ticket pour Broadway*/*Street Scene* (Toulon Opera). Film: *The Last Five Years*. TV: "Saturday Night Live," "Rent: Live." Dance: New York City Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet.

**NICOLAS DE LA VEGA** (*Ensemble*). Thrilled to be joining *Moulin* *Rouge! The Musical.* NY: *Radio City Christmas Spectacular*. Regional highlights: *A Chorus Line*, *Cabaret*, *Oklahoma!* Tours: *Saturday Night Fever.* TV: "Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," "Halston," "Feud," Estee Lauder, Kate Spade. Training:Joffrey Ballet, School of American Ballet, Miami City Ballet. Dance: Charlotte Ballet, Los Angeles Ballet. @nick_delavega

**MARK DOYLE** (*Swing*). National Tour Debut! Regional: *Ghost* (Beck Center for the Arts), *The Sound of Music* (Cleveland Orchestra), *Mamma Mia!* (Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival), *The Lightning Thief* (Playhouse Square). BWMT '23. Love and gratitude to all friends and family! @mark.c.doyle

**JIMENA FLORES SANCHEZ** (*Ensemble*) is honored to make her *Moulin Rouge! The Musical* debut! Co-star in "Girls5Eva" Netflix. Ariel in *Footloose*, Diana in *A Chorus Line*, and in *Sweet Charity* at Maltz Jupiter Theatre. Previous professional ballerina. Endless love for her family and CESD. @jimena_flores7

**TOMMY GEDRICH** (*Ensemble*). National Tour Debut! Recent credits include *Guys and Dolls* (Kennedy Center) and Rodgers & Hammerstein's *State Fair* (The Rev). Huge thanks to the *Moulin Rouge! The Musical* team, Marc and Dustin at Daniel Hoff, and my magical family. "¡Te amo mucho!"

**TAMRIN GOLDBERG** *(Dance Captain, Swing*). Advocating for tuberculosis awareness and elimination! #ThinkTB. Favorite credits: "Filament" with the NY Philharmonic, *Summer* (First National Tour), *Oklahoma!* (Goodspeed), *The Wiz* (Broadway Sacramento), *Tamar of the River* (Prospect Theater Co). NYIT Award for Outstanding Choreography. Barnard grad! @tamrin.goldberg  

**E.J. HAMILTON** (*Swing*). Education: BA drama/dance (Spelman College). Broadway: *Diana the Musical* (Longacre Theatre). Off-Broadway: *The Bubbly Black Girl...* (NYCC). Regional: *Something Rotten*, *Beauty & the Beast*, *The Wiz*. Proudly represented by CESD. Love to my support system. For Mom.\
@laurenejhamilton

**CAMERON HOBBS**, he/him (*Ensemble*) is thrilled to be at the *Moulin Rouge!* Broadway: Disney's *Aladdin*. National Tour: Disney's *Aladdin*, *Something Rotten!* BFA: Otterbein University. Thank you to the entire *Moulin Rouge! The Musical* team and everyone at Bloc. Would not be here without Mom, Kris, Derick, Braydon and Auggie. @camhobbs  

**NATHANIEL HUNT**, he/him (*Swing*). BFA in Dance from LIU Brooklyn (Summa Cum Laude) Select Dance: Alvin Ailey II, Ballet Hispanico, Company XIV, Metropolitan Opera (*La Traviata*, *Aida*, *Samson et Dalila*). Endlessly grateful to Mom & Dad, MSA, and my entire support system! IG: @nathanielhunt_

**CHLOE RAE KEHM**, she/her (*Ensemble*) is thrilled to be joining her dream show! First National Tour: *The Prom*. PCLO: *Thoroughly Modern Millie*, *Disney's Beauty and the Beast*, *Grease*, *Oklahoma!*, *Brigadoon*. Infinite thanks to CESD and the *MR* team. Love to my family and those who made this possible. @chloeraekehm

**KAMAL LADO** (*Ensemble*). National Tour debut! Regional: The Muny, Fulton Theatre, North Carolina Theatre, Music Theatre Wichita. A proud graduate from Elon University, BFA Music Theatre. "Love and gratitude to Mom, Dad, the *Moulin Rouge! The Musical* creatives, and the DGRW team. @k.lado

**KATIE LOMBARDO** (*Swing*). Broadway: *Beetlejuice*. Nat'l Tours: *Beetlejuice*, *Elf*, *Flashdance*. Regional: Broadway Sacramento, Ogunquit, TBTS, Engeman. TV/Commercial: "FBI: Most Wanted," Aldo, DoorDash, Dave & Busters. "Love to CESD & the MR! team. Extra love to Mom, Dad, Emily, & my husband, Nathan."\
@ktlomb

**MELISSA HUNTER McCANN** (*Swing*). Thrilled to be a Bohemian! Tours: *Aladdin*, *Finding Neverland*. Other Favorites: *Jerome Robbins' Broadway*, *West Side Story*, *Paint Your Wagon*, "The Blacklist" and "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel." Pace Commercial Dance. CESD Talent Agency. Love to mom, dad, James & the best touring pup, Nala.

**CONNOR McRORY** (*Ensemble*). Broadway: *Funny Girl* (OBC). Off Broadway: *Trip of Love*. National Tours: *Finding Neverland*, *White Christmas*. Metropolitan Opera: *Eurydice*. Regional: MUNY, PCLO, Goodspeed Opera, Sacramento Music, Ogunquit Playhouse, MSMT, and others. BFA Penn State. "Thank you to my friends/family and CESD."

**LUKE MONDAY** (*Ensemble*). Tours: *The Book of Mormon* (Elder Price standby), *Mamma Mia!* (u/s Sky). Regional: La Jolla Playhouse, Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Sacramento Music Circus. Other: Captain America in the world premiere of *Rogers: The Musical* at Disney's California Adventure; Original Cast Recording now streaming. Grateful to my family and team KMR! @lukepmonday

**TANISHA MOORE** (*Ensemble*). BFA Music Theatre, Florida State University. Previous tours: *Charlie and the Chocolate Factory*, *Flashdance*. Featured Cast Recordings: Disney's *Freaky Friday*, *Emojiland Off-Broadway*. Certified Yoga Instructor (@FullOutFlows). Thank you to CESD, Mom, Dad, and Grandma!\
tanishamoore.com 

**KENNETH MICHAEL MURRAY** (*Dance Captain, Swing*). Broadway: *Anastasia*, *Paramour*. Tours: *Anastasia* (Dance Captain), *An American In Paris*. NY/TV: *The Radio City Christmas Spectacular*, "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade." "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," The Met Gala. Many thanks to Jessica, my family, both chosen & given, the entire *MR!* team & CESD!

**ELYSE NIEDEREE** (*Ensemble*). Thrilled to be here and thrilled that you're here. Broadway: *King Kong*. Tour: *Elf*. TV: "SNL," "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel." Utah Native. Avid outdoorswoman. Novice ukulele player. Lots of love and great gratitude to my friends, teachers, and especially to my parents and brothers for their nonstop encouragement. @elyseniederee

**OMAR NIEVES** (*Swing*). Proud Puertorriqueño. Tours: *Aladdin*, *Anastasia*, *West Side Story* (Tokyo). Pre-Broadway: *Karate Kid*. NYC: *Smiley, Shadows*. Regional: *A Crossing* (Best Supporting Actor Award), *Godspell*, *La Cage Aux Folles*, *Wit*. "Love and endless thanks to my husband, Bloc, chosen family, and friends." IG: @omaruelom

**KENT OVERSHOWN** (*Ensemble*). It's a dream realized to be a part of the *Moulin Rouge! The Musical* family. NY Theatre: *Promenade* (City Center Encores!). National Tours: *The Book of Mormon (Jumamosi)*, *The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess,* *Memphis*. Concert: *Bernstein: Mass* (Philadelphia Orchestra). Endless thanks to friends, fam, and HCKR. "Go Blue!" @koverme

**STEFANIE RENEE SALYERS** (*Ensemble*) is so honored to be at the *Moulin Rouge!* Credits: *Tootsie* (First National Tour), *On Your Feet!* (Papermill Playhouse), *A Crossing* (Barrington Stage Company). Thank you to my unbelievably supportive friends and family. @stefaniereneesalyers

**ADÉA MICHELLE SESSOMS** (*Ensemble*). Credits: "10 Years Golden" (Santigold) "99 Cents" Tour (Santigold). National Tours: *Wicked* First and Second National Tours. Regional: North Shore Music Hall. TV/Film: "The Other Two" (HBO Go), "The Ellen Show." BFA: The University of the Arts. Instagram\
@theadeamichelle

**JORDAN VASQUEZ** (*Swing*). Illinois Wesleyan Univ. BFA Musical Theater. Tour: *Chicago* (Bailiff/Jury). Regional: *The Full Monty* (North Shore MT), *Head Over Heels* (Gateway), *Cabaret* (Barbara B. Mann). Cruise: Oceania, Regent, NCL. "Thank you fam! I love you Joe and Lily!" @iamjordan_official.

**JOHN LOGAN** (*Book*) received the Tony® for his play *Red*. Other plays include *Peter and Alice, I'll Eat You Last* and *Never the Sinner*. Upcoming: *Swept Away* at Berkeley Rep. As a screenwriter, Logan has been nominated three times for the Oscar and has received Golden Globe, BAFTA, WGA, Edgar and PEN Center awards. His films include *Skyfall, Spectre, Hugo, The Aviator, Gladiator, Rango, Genius, Sweeney Todd, The Last Samurai* and *Any Given Sunday*. He created "Penny Dreadful" for Showtime.

The Moulin Rouge club you will see in the theatre tonight is a work of theatrical imagination in the spirit of the Moulin Rouge of Paris. Here’s a brief history of that emblematic venue.

October 6, 1889: The Moulin Rouge opens at the foot of the Montmartre hill. The aim of its founders, Joseph Oller and Charles Zidler, is to allow the very rich to come and slum it in a fashionable district, where people live differently from other parts of Paris. The place attracts men and women, the middle classes and rich foreigners passing through Paris, as well as artists and ordinary folk. The French cancan, a new dance inspired by the quadrille, enchanted the spectators. Nicknamed “The First Palace of Women” by Oller and Zidler, the cabaret quickly becomes a great success.

The first revue, *Circassiens et Circassiennes*, is launched in April 1890. Toulouse-Lautrec creates the posters for the Moulin Rouge from 1891, the first being *La Goulue*.

July 29, 1907: First appearance of Mistinguett at the Moulin Rouge in the *Revue de la Femme*.

After the First World War, Francis Salabert takes charge of the Moulin Rouge. The venue experiences a new popularity thanks to Jacques-Charles and Mistinguett. As the artistic director of the Moulin Rouge, Mistinguett sets a new standard for spectacular revue shows that will inspire Las Vegas venues for nearly a century. American revues, including the Hoffmann Girls, are put on for the first time in Paris.

In the 1930s, the ballroom is transformed into the most ultra-modern nightclub of the time. The Moulin Rouge welcomes the Cotton Club in 1937.

June 22, 1951: Georges France, called Jo France, acquires the Moulin Rouge and starts major renovation work. The birthplace of the French cancan now hosts major international artists.

1955: Jo France transfers the Moulin Rouge to the brothers Joseph and Louis Clérico. The famous French cancan is still performed, soon choreographed by Ruggero Angeletti and danced by the Doriss Girls.

1962: Jacki Clérico, son of Joseph Clérico, takes charge of the Moulin Rouge. It is the start of a new era: enlargement of the auditorium, installation of a giant aquarium and the first aquatic ballet. *Frou Frou* of 1963 and its ensuing success marked the beginning of the series of shows beginning with an “F,” their lucky letter, including ten shows up to the latest revue.
 
In 2019, the Moulin Rouge and its 60 artists celebrate the 20th anniversary of the *Féerie* revue show: two hours of amazement featuring cabaret and music hall styles, dance scenes and surprise acts, without forgetting the Moulin Rouge’s most emblematic dance, the French cancan.

October 2019: The Moulin Rouge, famous around the world, celebrates its 130th anniversary.

The authentic Moulin Rouge of Paris invites you to enter its dazzling and spectacular world. Visit us at the home and birthplace of the Parisian way of celebrating since 1889!

[MoulinRouge.fr](https://www.moulinrouge.fr/)

*Moulin Rouge® is a registered trademark of Moulin Rouge*

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Michigan Public

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GLCVB

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Arts Council of Greater Lansing

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Retailers Insurance

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WKAR

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Moulin Rouge! The Musical

# **SMALL ISLAND BIG SONG**

COMPANY

**Sammy**\
Merina heritage, Madagascar; Songwriter & Performer

**Aremiti**\
Tahitian heritage, Tahiti (French Polynesia); Songwriter & Performer

**Yuma Pawang**\
Atayal heritage, Taiwan; Songwriter & Performer

**Sam Roem**\
Wamena heritage, West Papua & Indonesia; Songwriter & Performer

**Richard Mogu**\
Magi heritage, Papua New Guinea; Songwriter & Performer

**Mea Joy Ingram**\
Motu heritage, Papua New Guinea & Australia; Songwriter & Performer

**Mathieu Joseph**\
Creole heritage, Mauritius; Choreographer & Performer


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Program will be announced from stage.

Run time is approximately 120 minutes, with one intermission.

Media Parter: Michigan Radio


Be prepared to have your view of islander music shattered, as leading artists of the blue continent, the Pacific & Indian oceans unite in a powerful and timely cultural statement, a voice for our changing seas—‘Our Island.’

Small Island Big Song is a collaboration between artists of Island nations drawing from their shared seafaring heritage to unite the Pacific & Indian Oceans. The performance, ‘Our Island,’ brings together some of the most prominent artists of Taiwan, Madagascar, Mauritius, Papua New Guinea, and Tahiti, who have made a choice to maintain the cultural voice of their people, to sing in the language, and to play the instruments of their land. These unique lineages mixed with their diverse contemporary styles—roots-reggae, beats, folk, and spoken word—establish a contemporary musical dialogue between cultures, drawing on their ancestral lineage to confront contemporary issues with a hope driven vision of the future. Framed with live visuals filmed across 16 island nations on a three-year field trip by the project’s co-founders, creating “Beautiful cinematography and incredible music, one coherent, jaw-dropping piece” as described by Rob Schwartz (*Billboard*).

Motivated by their concerns for the ocean, a couple, Taiwanese theater producer BaoBao Chen and Australian music producer/filmmaker Tim Cole, quit their jobs after hearing the predicted effects of climate change to the oceanic nations, and spent the following eight years recording and filming over a hundred artists on 16 island nations, layering up songs from island to island. Outcomes include two award-winning albums, a feature film, impact program, and two world-touring productions.

Music critic Tom Orr has noted in the RootsWorld review “Small Island Big Song sound like one very big, very happy family doing what they do best while helping get the word out on a most serious issue.”

**Notes from the Co-Founders**

“How can we respond to the issue of our era, our planet’s future as theater and music creators?”

Culture is the framework through which we understand our relationship to our social and physical environments. It is our shared patterns of behavior, interactions, and beliefs. Fluid, ever evolving and whether we are aware of it or not, it is the core of our guiding personal narratives, our sense of self.

Our dominant global culture is failing us. Our planet’s natural ecosystem on which we depend for our very survival, is collapsing around us. The evidence is tangible, lived, and indisputable. Yet we fail to respond with the resolve and urgency that nature, that our future generations demand.

Those of the ocean have maintained successful communities on fragile islands for countless generations and their cultural lineage embodies this. Small Island Big Song is an ensemble of such people, artists who against the mainstream have made a choice to sing foremost in the language and maintain the musical sensibilities of their heritage. They are the songkeepers continuing an unbroken cultural lineage back to their first ancestors to step, sleep, die and be born on their homelands. Their music embodies this knowledge, and as with music itself, it is only revealed through movement as it is shared, through your listening it lives.

Some of us will lose our island homes to rising sea levels and all of us are witnessing the death of our reefs and disappearing sea life, it’s soul destroying. Our response is to share that loss in song, supporting each other and you, the listener, but also to celebrate nature and our cultures. We do live in extraordinarily beautiful places, and we want to share that, too. We have to, for our island we all share.

—Small Island Big Song co-founders BaoBao Chen and Tim Cole


About Small Island Big Song

**Songwriter & Performer | Sammy**\
Merina heritage, Madagascar

Sammy followed his passion for Madagascar’s musical heritage by mastering and learning how to make most of Madagascar’s instruments. His efforts came to the notice of the UK’s world music scene as his band, ‘Tarika Sammy,’ gained international recognition, becoming a regular on major festival stages and being acknowledged as one of the world’s “Best Ten Bands,” alongside U2, by *TIME Magazine*. Small Island Big Song (SIBS) met Sammy at his house during their inspiring field trips to Madagascar in 2016 and 2017. He’s featured in both albums and concert tours around the world since 2018.

**Songwriter & Performer | Aremiti**\
Tahitian heritage, Tahiti (French Polynesia) 

Like the lively uplifting Tahitian rhythm he was named after, Aremiti's music could have only come from one island, Tahiti. A natural fusion of the island's cultural mix grounded in his Tahitian heritage, Aremiti’s songs and performances integrate traditional Polynesian instruments and rhythms with reggae, hip-hop, rock, folk, and pop sensibilities, often sung in Tahitian, French, and English in one song. His recent performances at Aotearoa/New Zealand’s ‘Pasifika festival’ and in Europe and the USA expanded his reputation as a voice for the Pacific Ocean.

**Songwriter & Performer | Yuma Pawang**\
Atayal heritage, Taiwan

Yuma, a member of the Atayal tribe of Taiwan, is a multidisciplinary artist expressing her thoughts on "Atayal," cultural preservation, transformation, essence, and social equity in film, music, painting and performance. With Taiwan’s respected Minang performance group, she was invited by Indigenous nations of Northern Europe for a cultural exchange. This experience along with studying film performance made her aware of the significance of cultural practice in the context of Atayal life, where written language was historically limited. 

**Songwriter & Performer | Sam Roem**\
Wamena heritage, West Papua & Indonesia

Sam Roem is an Australian-based performing artist from West Papua. In 2006, with 40 other West Papuans, he crossed over 600 miles of open seas to seek political asylum in Australia, sparking a diplomatic crisis. After graduating from Australia’s Dance Academy, Sam has pursued a dynamic career in the arts drawing on his unique Papuan heritage, performing at The Sydney Opera House, Womadelaide, and BluesFest Byron Bay.


**Songwriter & Performer | Richard Mogu**\
Magi heritage, Papua New Guinea

From the south coast of Papua New Guinea, Richard has been a feature musician in PNG for many years as a musician and producer in both traditional and contemporary styles. He’s a master of traditional instruments including the Kwakumba flute, Garamut drumming, and PNG’s iconic Kundu drums. Co-founder Tim Cole and Richard have been long-time collaborators; they met up again during SIBS’s field trip to Papua New Guinea in 2016. He’s featured in both SIBS’s albums and concert world tours.

**Songwriter & Performer | Mea Joy Ingram**\
Motu heritage, Papua New Guinea & Australia

Mea comes from a long line of drummers and dancers. She was taught by her father, master percussionist Airileke Ingram in the tradition of Manus Garamut, Cook Island Pate, and Gabagaba Motu Mavaru. The Garamut drumming of PNG was traditionally an artform dominated by men, however Mea, having just turned 18, represents the new generation of female log drummers emerging from Oceania. 

**Choreographer & Performer | Mathieu Joseph**\
Creole heritage, Mauritius

Mathieu has been a professional dancer and choreographer since the age of 14 when he was discovered breakdancing on the suburban streets of Port Louis, Mauritius by renowned choreographer Stephen Bongarçon. Quickly embedding himself in Bongarçon’s SRDance, his dedication earned him the gold medal for dance at "Les Jeux de la Francophonie'' in 2009. Leading to a succession of shows and companies, including choreographing "Di Sel,” a tribute to the salt workers of Mauritius which won the "Les Jeux de la Francophonie" in France in 2017. 


About artists

**Tim Cole**\
Australia\
Director, Music producer, filmmaker

Tim Cole is an Australian music producer and filmmaker who’s passionate about cross-cultural arts projects. He has produced numerous albums, films, and concerts for Australian aboriginal, Torres Strait islander and Pacifica artists including Archie Roach, Telek, and Shellie Morris. He has also toured internationally with Circus Oz for eight years as theater and sound designer, with seasons on Broadway NYC & West End London. He was a senior music producer at CAAMA - Central Australian Aboriginal Media Association before beginning Small Island Big Song. Cole has received a Churchill fellowship and invitations to speak at the United Nations HQ, APAP NYC, and WOMEX.

**BaoBao Chen**\
Taiwan\
Producer, Manager 

Having produced and managed Small Island Big Song's two multimedia concert productions, two award-winning albums, documentary, as well as curating world tours across 18 countries in Europe, the USA, Asia, and Oceania, BaoBao is one of Taiwan’s most prominent producers of cross-cultural arts projects and an ISPA (International Society for the Performing Arts) fellow 2023-25. A vivid storyteller and fluent in English and Mandarin, she has a social media following of 130K+, and has been invited to speak at TEDx, WOMEX, APAP NYC, Stanford Live, and numerous arts festivals.

**Creative & Production team**

BaoBao Chen\
Co-founder, Producer, Manager, Cinematography, Stage Manager 

Tim Cole\
Co-founder, Artistic Director, Visual Design, Cinematography, FOH Sound Engineer, VJ

Songwriters\
Sammy, Mea Joy Ingram, Yuma Pawang, Aremistic, Mathieu Josep, Sam Roem, Richard Mogu, Tim Cole

Kui Taruzaljum\
Stage Sound Engineer

Nini Liu\
Tour manager 


About Co-founders

Small Island Big Song

# **RAY CHEN**

Ray Chen, violin

Julio Elizalde, piano



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Giuseppe Tartini\
**Sonata in G minor “Devil’s Trill” (arr. Kreisler)**

Ludwig van Beethoven\
(1770–1827)\
**Violin Sonata No. 7 in C minor, Op. 30, No. 2**\
Allegro con brio\
Adagio cantabile\
Scherzo. Allegro\
Finale. Allegro-Presto

**INTERMISSION**

Johann Sebastian Bach\
(1685–1750)\
**Partita No. 3 in E Major for Solo Violin, BMV 1006**\
Preludio\
Loure\
Gavotte en Rondeau\
Menuet I & Menuet II\
Bourrée\
Gigue

Antonio Bazzini\
(1818–1897)\
**La Ronde des Lutins, Op. 25**

Antonín Dvořák\
(1841–1904)\
**Slavonic Dance No. 2 in E minor, Op. 72 (arr. Kreisler)**

Chick Corea\
(1941–2021)\
**Spain (arr. Elizalde & Chen)**

---

The program will run 110 minutes including an intermission.  

Media Partner: WKAR 

**Ray Chen**

Ray Chen is a violinist who redefines what it is to be a classical musician in the 21st Century. With a media presence that enhances and inspires the classical audience, reaching out to millions through his unprecedented online following, Ray Chen's remarkable musicianship transmits to a global audience that is reflected in his engagements with the foremost orchestras and concert halls around the world.

Initially coming to attention via the Yehudi Menuhin (2008) and Queen Elizabeth (2009) Competitions, of which he was First Prize winner, he has built a profile in Europe, Asia, and the USA as well as his native Australia both live and on disc. Signed in 2017 to Decca Classics, the summer of 2017 has seen the recording of the first album of this partnership with the London Philharmonic as a succession to his previous three critically acclaimed albums on SONY, the first of which ("Virtuoso") received an ECHO Klassik Award. Profiled as "one to watch" by the *Strad and Gramophone* magazines, his profile has grown to encompass his featuring in the *Forbes* list of 30 most influential Asians under 30, appearing in major online TV series "Mozart in the Jungle," a multi-year partnership with Giorgio Armani (who designed the cover of his Mozart album with Christoph Eschenbach) and performing at major media events such as France's Bastille Day (live to 800,000 people), the Nobel Prize Concert in Stockholm (telecast across Europe), and the BBC Proms.

He has appeared with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra, Leipzig Gewandhausorchester, Munich Philharmonic, Filarmonica della Scala, Orchestra Nazionale della Santa Cecilia, Los Angeles Philharmonic, and upcoming debuts include the SWR Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Berlin Radio Symphony, and Bavarian Radio Chamber Orchestra. He works with conductors such as Riccardo Chailly, Vladimir Jurowski, Sakari Oramo, Manfred Honeck, Daniele Gatti, Kirill Petrenko, Krystof Urbanski,  Juraj Valcuha and many others. From 2012-2015 he was resident at the Dortmund Konzerthaus.

His presence on social media makes Ray Chen a pioneer in an artist's interaction with their audience, utilizing the new opportunities of modern technology. His appearances and interactions with music and musicians are instantly disseminated to a new public in a contemporary and relatable way. He is the first musician to be invited to write a lifestyle blog for argest Italian publishing house, RCS Rizzoli (Corriere della Sera, Gazzetta dello Sport, Max). He has been featured in *Vogue* magazine and is currently releasing his own design of violin case for the industry manufacturer GEWA. His commitment to music education is paramount and inspires the younger generation of music students with his series of self-produced videos combining comedy and music. Through his online promotions his appearances regularly sell out and draw an entirely new demographic to the concert hall.

Born in Taiwan and raised in Australia, Ray was accepted to the Curtis Institute of Music at age 15, where he studied with Aaron Rosand and was supported by Young Concert Artists. He plays the 1715 "Joachim" Stradivarius violin on loan from the Nippon Music Foundation. This instrument was once owned by the famed Hungarian violinist, Joseph Joachim (1831-1907).

**Julio Elizalde**

Praised as a musician of "compelling artistry and power" by *The Seattle Times*, the gifted American pianist Julio Elizalde is a multifaceted artist who enjoys a versatile career as soloist, chamber musician, artistic administrator, educator, and curator. He has performed in many of the major music centers throughout the United States, Europe, Asia, and Latin America to popular and critical acclaim. Since 2014, he has served as the artistic director of the Olympic Music Festival near Seattle, Washington.

Julio Elizalde has appeared with many of the leading artists of our time. He tours internationally with world-renowned violinists Sarah Chang and Ray Chen and has performed alongside conductors Itzhak Perlman, Teddy Abrams, and Anne Manson. He has collaborated with artists such as cellists Pablo Ferrández and Kian Soltani, violinist Pamela Frank, composers Osvaldo Golijov and Stephen Hough, baritone William Sharp, and members of the Juilliard, Cleveland, Takács, Kronos, and Brentano string quartets.

Julio is a founding member of the New Trio with violinist Andrew Wan, co-concertmaster of the Montréal Symphony and Patrick Jee, cellist of the New York Philharmonic. The New Trio was the winner of both the Fischoff and Coleman National Chamber Music Competitions and is the recipient of the Harvard Musical Association's prestigious Arthur W. Foote Prize. As part of the New Trio, Julio has performed for leading American politicians such as President Bill Clinton, Secretaries of State Condoleezza Rice and Henry Kissinger, and the late Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy. He was a featured performer on the soundtrack of the 2013 film *Jimmy P*, composed by Academy Award-winner Howard Shore.

Julio is a passionately active educator. In 2013, he served as a visiting professor of piano at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington and has given piano and chamber music masterclasses throughout the United States at major conservatories and universities. He has also appeared at various summer music festivals including Yellow Barn, Taos, Caramoor, Bowdoin, Kneisel Hall, and the Music Academy of the West. In 2012, Julio was the youngest juror ever selected at the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition held at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana.

Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Julio received a Bachelor of Music degree with honors from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he studied with Paul Hersh. He holds master's and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees from The Juilliard School in New York City, where he studied with Jerome Lowenthal, Joseph Kalichstein, and Robert McDonald. He currently serves on the faculty at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

**Giuseppe Tartini** (1692-1770) was a leading violinist and composer whose career took him throughout Europe. He was the author of numerous books on violin and bowing techniques, the founder of a very successful violin school in Padua, Italy, and an early researcher in the field of acoustics.  The Sonata in G minor, nicknamed the "Devil's Trill," was inspired, he said, by a dream he had in 1713. In it, the Devil, who was one of Tartini's servants, offered him a special violin on which Tartini played a remarkably virtuosic but otherwise-unknown piece. Tartini then awoke and tried to capture everything he had played in his dream. The opening theme is slow, in 12/8 time, and features the rhythm and tempo of a "Siciliana." The energetic "Allegro" is followed by another slow section. The final movement, "Allegro," is the source of the nickname. It features multiple stops, often with a trill on one string while countermelodies are played on the other strings, a difficult technical feat. The movement includes slower interludes and ends with a virtuoso cadenza. It was published in December 1798.  Friedrich "Fritz" Kreisler (1875-1962) edited a popular modern edition that altered some double stops in the first movement, replaced some dissonances with his own harmony, and added some even more spectacular measures to the cadenza. The Kreisler version will be performed by Mr. Chen.

**Ludwig van Beethoven** (1770-1827) dedicated his Opus 30 violin sonatas to Tsar Alexander I of Russia, who supported several social reforms of interest to Beethoven.  The first and third sonatas are in major keys, in contrast to the more dramatic minor-key Sonata No. 2.  The sonatas were published in 1803, when Beethoven was facing increased hearing loss and deeper soul-searching, as documented in numerous writings such as the "Heiligenstadt Testament." The first movement features many double stops for the violin and a constant growling in the piano, which introduces the first theme. The piano also opens the second movement, and the instruments then perform one of the most beautiful themes in all of Beethoven's slow movements.  The Scherzo is lively and the succeeding Trio is a canon primarily between the violin and the bass line of the piano, followed by a repeat of the Scherzo. The Finale is driving and stormy, with a few calmer moments, and a forceful, energetic coda. Throughout the sonata, each instrument explores the extremes of pitches and dynamics in a stunning display of independence that would have been unknown a decade earlier. Technological advances in piano construction meant the bass line no longer required reinforcement by a cello or other solo instrument, giving greater rein to the imagination of the composer.

**Johann Sebastian Bach** (1685-1750) completed his Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin (BWV 1001-1006) by 1720. Little is known about their origin, but they were highly sought after in handwritten copies by an intimate circle of violinists, theorists and composers. No public performance is documented until Joseph Joachim (1831-1907) played them late in his career. His edition, the first to be published, was issued in 1908. The works have been a favorite of violinists ever since.  Many transcriptions for other instruments have been made, including several by Bach himself for keyboard. These were not the first works for unaccompanied violin but have become the most famous.  Partita Number 3, BWV 1006, is based on the French suite, a set of dance pieces common in French musical culture. The term "partita" is used to designate a work in multiple dance movements for a single instrument. Bach's sons saw the works as study materials, but other contemporaries saw them as the highest achievement in counterpoint. The single line implies its own harmony, with only an occasional double stop or other written harmonic feature. Although it might seem like a random arrangement of notes, the music follows strict rules of counterpoint to create beautiful soaring melodies.

**Antonio Bazzini** (1818-1897) was another of Italy's virtuoso violinists who had a remarkable career throughout Europe.  As a youngster, he was mentored by Nicolò Paganini. As an adult, he was praised  by critics such as Robert Schumann for his great technical skill and musicianship. Later, he taught composition and headed the Milan Conservatory. Among his most famous pupils were opera composers Pietro Mascagni and Giacomo Puccini.  *La Ronde des Lutins,* (The Round of the Goblins), Op. 25, was composed in 1852 and debuted at the Paris Opera. It is a technical tour de force, in almost-perpetual motion, with an occasional slower tempo as if the goblins were catching their breath. The themes recur frequently, with variations. After a brief contrasting minor section and a slower middle section, a spectacular cadenza brings the work to an exciting conclusion.  As with Tartini's "Devil's Trill" sonata, Bazzini's work is part of a long tradition of evoking otherworldly spirits in fantastically difficult music.

**Antonín Dvořák** (1841-1904) was catapulted to fame when he wrote his Slavonic Dances, Op. 46, for piano duet (two pianists at one piano.)  Eight years later, his publisher Simrock requested another set, which he at first refused to compose, thinking it would be too difficult to revisit the concept of dances based on folk music. However, after some months of delay, he began on the second set and completed the eight movements in one month.  The Op.72 set became just as successful as the first, and both sets became even more popular when he orchestrated them a few years later.  Each individual dance is based on a rhythmic and stylistic folk dance, but none uses an actual existing melody. The Slavonic Dance, Op. 72, No. 2, in E Minor, is based on a Ukrainian "dumka," a dance form in 3/8 time featuring a contrast between a melancholy theme and a more upbeat one. In this piece, the themes are quite short. The first is legato and highly chromatic; the second is more sparkly and diatonic. The work ends quietly in unison. The arrangement for violin and piano is by Fritz Kreisler.

**Armando Anthony "Chick" Corea** (1941-2021) was one of the foremost jazz pianists of his day. Of southern Italian heritage, he combined a formal study of classical piano with his interest in jazz and other styles to create a uniquely wide-ranging career. He won 27 Grammy awards and received 70 nominations. *Spain* is one of his most popular works, originally written for jazz piano and small jazz ensemble in 1971. He made numerous arrangements of the work, including a piano concerto with full symphonic orchestra, premiered by the London Philharmonic in 1999. Corea loved all things Spanish, and incorporated many elements of the country's style and genres in this piece.  The opening theme quotes one of the most iconic Spanish classical works, the *Concierto de Aranjuez*, by Joaquín Rodrigo (1901-1999.) Successive themes are exuberant and reflect his love for Spanish culture through melodic and rhythmic references and quotations, including flamenco and jazz elements.  This arrangement is by Ray Chen and pianist Julio Elizalde.

—Mary Black Junttonen, MSU Music Librarian Emerita



PROGRAM NOTES

Ray Chen