Home > The Many Moods of Christmas

Sunday, December 5, at 3 PM

at Highland United Methodist Church

A Concert of Vocal and Instrumental Music

Available on YouTube beginning December 19 at 3 PM

View on YouTube

Featuring:

Kate Brewer, soprano

George Deaton, tenor

The HUM Ringers, Kevin Quick, director

The North Carolina Chamber Music Institute WCPE string quartet

Jo Anne Swartz, soprano

Phyllis Vogel, piano

Sarah Willcox Mann, violin

Program

Download the full program here.

PROGRAM PART I 

Brandenburg 3rd Concerto in G major, BWV 1048, Movement 1, Allegro    J. S. Bach

      NC Chamber Music Institute WCPE String Quartet:

      Jaeyee Jung and Sophia Liu, violins; Lauren Southwell, viola; Catherine Yates, cello

Comfort Ye (Messiah)  (tenor, piano)                                                                    F. Handel

Every Valley Shall Be Exalted (Messiah) (tenor, piano)                                     F. Handel

Rejoice (Messiah)  (soprano, piano)                                                                      F. Handel

PROGRAM PART II (General )

Nutcracker Suite (two pianists)                                                                               Tchaikovsky

  • Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
  • Trepak - Russian Dance

What Child is This?  (piano, flute)                                                                            Bill Holcombe

Ave Maria (soprano, piano)                                                                                       Bach-Gounod

Panis Angelicus  (soprano, piano)                                                                            César Franck

I Gave My Love a Cherry (The Riddle Song) (tenor, piano)                                Arr. Richard Walters

Midnight Bells (From Heuberger's Der Opernball) (piano, violin)                    Fritz Kreisler

The Little Jesus, Traditional Puerto Rican Carol                                                   Jason Krug

Medley (piano, violin, tenor, 2 sopranos)

  •      Joy to the World (Jo Anne, Kate, George)                                                          G. F. Handel
  •      God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen (Jo Anne)                                                          Traditional
  •      Good King Wenceslas (George)                                                                           Traditional
  •      Oh Little Town of Bethlehem (Kate)                                                                    L. Redner
  •      The First Noël                                                                                                          Traditional
  •      Silent Night                                                                                                              F. Gruber
    • In English (Kate), In German (Jo Anne), In Spanish (George)
  • Joy to the World reprise

The Performers

George Deaton, tenor, began singing as a child in church choirs and has been active as a singer since. A native of Virginia, he made his professional debut as tenor soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the Roanoke Symphony in 1961. As tenor soloist in opera, oratorio and vocal concerts, he has performed in the USA, Italy, Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Bulgaria. He has been a tenor soloist and recitalist since 2006 at the Assisi Music Festival in Assisi, Italy where he was invested as a Cavaliere in the Knights of Malta in 2007. His oratorio singing is highlighted by performances of the role of The Evangelist in Bach’s Passion According to St. John on tour in Krakow (Franciscan Cathedral), Brno, Prague (Dvorak Hall), and Budapest (Liszt Hall). His musical training has been through teachers, coaches, master classes, and workshops. He has a degree in physics form VA Tech. George’s singing has been adjunct to his professional careers at NASA, IBM and as a consultant. At Highland, George and his wife, Beth, began participating in the music program when they became members in 1974.

Jo Anne Swartz, soprano, has been actively involved in teaching and directing church music for over 50 years. She directed her first choir (in a small church in Dover Mill near her hometown of Shelby) when she was in high school. She is an honors graduate of Appalachian State University with degrees in music education (K-12) and a master's in voice, piano and music supervision. Later studies include certification in Suzuki method (piano) and Gifted Education (AIG). She taught music in schools across eastern NC as she moved with her UM pastor husband Alan. Jo Anne's biggest thrill is seeing former students working in church music, teaching in schools and universities, performing with NC Opera or in Nashville, because she believes God gave the gift of music to give us abundant, inspired, rich lives. The holiest moments in life are those spent rehearsing and making music for the worship of God - such music is used by the Spirit to draw hearts to Him and transform us forever.

Phyllis Vogel, piano, received her DMA from the Peabody Conservatory of Music of the Johns Hopkins University. She studied piano under Walter Hautzig and Leon Fleisher at the Peabody, Menahem Pressler at Indiana University, and Robert and Jean Casadesus at the American Conservatory in France. Her theory work while in France was under the direction of Nadia Boulanger. Dr. Vogel has held positions in piano and theory at the Peabody Conservatory, West Chester University, and the University of South Carolina. After 34 years, Dr. Vogel retired from North Carolina State University where she taught piano, theory, and various survey courses including Music in the 19th Century, and a course titled Women in Music. Her theory courses have been televised on the educational TV channel. In the spring of 2009, one of them titled Exploring Music Theory, was put on line for Distance Education students. She has performed widely as a solo pianist, as a member of the Chekker Duo, and as a harpsichordist. Dr. Vogel also appears
frequently with various chamber music ensembles and she was artistic director of the North Carolina Bach Festival. Phyllis is an active member of Highland.

Sarah Mann Willcox, violin and fiddle, is from Raleigh. She began playing Suzuki violin at age three (her mother was very patient and the violin was very tiny) primarily under the tutelage of Edith Gettes in Chapel Hill. She studied for two years under Dr. Nancy Bargerstock at Appalachian State University and abroad at the University College Cork in Ireland. After college, Sarah taught at the Cary School of Music and played with the Durham Symphony, Raleigh Symphony and the alt-country band, American Aquarium. These days, she works full time in the nonprofit sector and plays violin just for fun for her husband Preston and 8-year-old son Conor (who likes to wear ear plugs when she practices). Sarah is happy to play at Highland again after many years of performing in the beautiful sanctuary as a child. She would like to dedicate this performance to her mother who was a tireless advocate for her music and made her practice when she really, really didn't want to. She now sees the wisdom in this and is sorry she put up
such a fight.

Kevin Quick, handbell choir director, grew up in Allen, Texas, a suburb of Dallas, and quickly became involved in his home church, First UMC Allen. It was there that he discovered his love for church music, participating in the graded children’s choirs, children’s handbell choirs, youth choir, youth handbell choir, youth orchestra, youth praise band, and any other ensemble that he could. He participated in All-Region Orchestra for all four years of high school on his double bass, which is supposed to be his primary instrument (his parents invested the most in the bass and his lessons and often remind him of this). He made his mature singing debut starring in his church’s production of Godspell as Jesus Christ. He participated in numerous instrumental, choral, and composition programs while at NC State, including playing with The Raleigh Ringers, a professional touring handbell ensemble with 2 PBS specials, 2 DVDs, and 6 albums. Kevin graduated from Duke Divinity School in May 2020 with an MDiv. Kevin is happy to serve as Highland UMC’s Director of Music Ministries where he leads the numerous music ensembles. Kevin and his wife, Meghan, spend their free time becoming movie/TV buffs, playing board games, collecting Marvel bobble-heads, and scolding Kevin for spending too much money on Marvel bobbleheads.

Kate Brewer, soprano, has participated as a soloist, including the NC Capitol Rotunda, and as an ensemble member at her schools and at Highland UMC. She was a member of The Capital City Girls Choir and is a sophomore honors student at Enloe High School. Kate has studied piano, guitar and voice.

NC Chamber Music Institute, Elizabeth Beilman, Executive Director, is an organized serious program for small student ensembles, with many performance opportunities. Proven to build leadership and musical skills, it is fun, challenging and engaging with the whole community. The WCPE String Quartet was begun in 2015 by an Education Fund grant from WCPE awarded to NCCMI. Musicians receive scholarships and benefits such as a recording session, radio interviews and opportunities for paid professional performances.

Acknowledgements

The performers are grateful to the following for their support of the concert:

Rev. Janet Baucom, publicity and production assistance

Mr. Mark Manring, videographer and video production

Highland United Methodist Church, provider of the venue