WELCOME

Welcome to We Do! We are so happy to have you here as we celebrate all forms of love through music. Congressional Chorus prides itself on its diversity, artistic excellence, and variety in programming American music; WE DO is a perfect encapsulation of our guiding principles. 

We are thrilled to have three guests with us this evening. Ysaye Barnwell is a noted American singer and composer and we will perform her piece, We Are, this evening. California-based composer Scot Hanna-Weir is in attendance this week as we put the final touches on his piece The Four Principles of Marriage. The chorus has worked hard to bring his interpretation of the Obergefell text to life. Finally, we welcome lawyer Douglas Hallward-Driemeier and his family. Douglas argued question two of the landmark marriage equality case, Obergefell v. Hodges and will give remarks on his experience. 

We also hope you enjoy the musical offerings of our youngest and oldest singers - American Youth Chorus (AYC) and NorthEast Senior Singers (NESS). Both of these programs provide music education and a choral community for residents of DC. AYC and NESS will join Congressional Chorus onstage for What the World Needs Now is Love before intermission. This arrangement of the classic song is an apt message for a time when we all so desperately need connection and to love one another. Choral music is the bond that brings us together, and I hope you feel connection from the audience this evening and bring that message out to the world once the concert is over.

Our final concerts of the season include a joint concert by AYC and NESS on June 9th and JUKEBOX, a 50s and 60s cabaret on June 16th. Our 18th annual cabaret will be held at the state of the art venue, Capital Turnaround, in Navy Yard. One of our most popular concerts, the cabaret includes a live band, costumes, and choreography. Tickets are on sale now - we can’t wait to see you there!

If you are interested in hiring the Chorus for a private performance or if you are moved to get more involved with Congressional Chorus as a chorister, volunteer, board member, or donor, please get in touch with me at execdirector@congressionalchorus.org. Thank you for allowing us to share our gift of song with you this evening!

PROGRAM

 CONGRESSIONAL CHORUS

Allan Laiño, Artistic Director

Lead with Love

Music and Text by Melanie DeMore

Michelle Kannan, soloist
Leah Shedrow, soloist
Harriet Wakefield, soloist

Kate Burkett, soprano
Ely Merenstein, tenor
Mike Krause, bass

The Hope of Loving

Music by Jake Runestad
Text adapted from Love Poems from God: Twelve Sacred Voices from the East and West by Daniel Ladinsky

I. Yield to Love
Text by Rabia

II. Wild Forces
Text by St. Francis of Assisi

III. Wondrous Creatures
Text by Hafiz
Christopher Daniels, tenor

IV. The Heart’s Veil

V. My Soul Is a Candle
Text by St. John of the Cross
Asha Iyer, soprano
Ely Merenstein, tenor

VI. The Hope of Loving
Text by Meister Eckhart

CHAMBER ENSEMBLE

This Marriage

Music by Eric Whitacre
Text by Jala ad-Din Rumi
Translated by Kabir Helminski

Kaleidoscope Heart

Music and Text by Sara Bareilles
Arranged by Allison Girvan

Nobue Matsuoka, cajon

AMERICAN YOUTH CHORUS

Jonathon Hampton, Artistic Director
Dr. Iris Cheng, Pianist

In Yonder Valley

Traditional
Attributed to James Whittaker

This Little Light of Mine

Traditional African American
Arranged by John Work

Haunted Heart

Music and text by Christina Aguilera, Antonina Armato, and Tim James

Your Every Color

Music and text by Pat Monahan, Scott Underwood, James Stafford, Charlie Colin, and Robert Hotchkiss

A Thousand Years

Music and text by Christina Perri and David Hodges

COMBINED CHOIRS

We Are

Music and text by Ysaye Barnwell

What the World Needs Now

Music by Burt Bacharach
Text by Hal David
Vocal Arrangement by Seth Rudetsky
Piano Arrangement by Cameron Moncur
String Arrangement by Allan Laiño

Lynne Barstow, soloist
Rachel Schotz, soloist
Angel Amado, soloist
Rosalie Person, soloist
Marjorie Atya, soloist

15 MIN INTERMISSION

NORTHEAST SENIOR SINGERS

George Stewart, Music Director
Deloris Agee, Program Director

Splendored Love, Just the Way You Are

Music by Sammy Fain and Billy Joel
Text by Paul Francis Webster and Billy Joel
Arranged by George Stewart

We Are One

Music and text by Walt Whitman & the Soul Children of Chicago

Love’s in Need of Love

Music and text by Stevie Wonder
Arranged by George Stewart

CONGRESSIONAL CHORUS

Allan Laiño, Artistic Director
Andrew Vu, Principal Pianist

Asali McIntyre, violin 1
Bonita Grier, violin 2
Brandon Lewis, viola
Chiara Pappalardo, cello
Herman Burney, double bass
Nobue Matsuoka, percussion

Four Principles of Marriage

Music by Scot Hanna-Weir
On texts excerpted and adapted from Justice Kennedy’s opinion of the court in Obergefell v. Hodges, the Alternative Service Book, and 5 U. S. Code §3331

I. Marriage is Sacred

II. The first principle

III. The nature of injustice

IV. The second principle

V. Due Process and Equal Protection

VI. The third principle

VII. Same-sex marriage does not weaken heterosexual marriage

VIII. The fourth principle
Thomas Reiker, tenor
Cole Jaconski, bass

IX. No union is more profound

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

American Prize winner Allan Laiño (“lah-EE-nyoh” or  / la ‘ʔi njo / ) is the fourth Artistic Director of the Congressional Chorus. As a second-generation Filipino-American with wide-ranging musical influences, he aims to reshape the landscape of American choral artistry by creating an environment in which all voices can flourish. 

Laiño has prepared choral ensembles for the National Symphony Orchestra, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Marin Alsop, BSO Pops and Jack Everly, NSO Pops and Steven Reineke, Piedmont Symphony Orchestra, Game of Thrones Live Concert Experience, and the Josh Groban Live National Tour. He has conducted onstage at the Kennedy Center Concert Hall, Kennedy Center Opera House, and Alice Tully Hall at the Lincoln Center. His performances have been televised on programs such as the 2018 Kennedy Center Honors, CNN’s Live from the Capitol: January 6, One Year Later, and EWTN’s Annual Christmas Concert for Charity broadcast to over 140 countries worldwide.

As Co-Artistic Director of Bridge, Laiño produced, edited, directed, and sang in America, You’re Beautiful, a short film that merged spoken word and choral music to examine racism in America. The film won the Black Truth Film Festival, Queens Underground International Black and Brown Film Festival, and Shortie Film Festival. As Co-Conductor of the Sunday Night Singers in 2012, he earned First Prize at the World Choir Games in the Mixed Chamber Choir Champions Division. He is the 2018 winner of The American Prize—Community Chorus Division, and was a finalist in two categories for the 2020 The American Prize in Composition. In 2021, Laiño was the music awardee for The Outstanding Filipinos in America presented at Carnegie Hall.

Jonathon Hampton is a unique and versatile singer and conductor with nearly 20 years teaching experience, specializing in spirituals, early classical music, and contemporary popular repertoire. He is Artistic Director of American Youth Chorus in Washington, DC and previously created choral programs at Washington International School; at Grace Church in Newark, New Jersey; at his alma mater Cornell University and with alumni in New York; and in California at East Bay Center for the Performing Arts, Richmond's King Elementary, Caliber Beta Academy, and San Francisco Early Music Society's Music Discovery Workshop and Youth Collegium.

Having spent his youth in The American Boychoir, Hampton became Associate Director of Music and Outreach for another rare choir school, the Grammy-winning Pacific Boychoir Academy. Over 14 years, he taught all ages, recorded several albums, conducted tours, camps, and orchestral collaborations, managed recruitment, community programs, marketing and communications administration, and was principal conductor of the training chorus for day-school grades 4-8 and the after-school a cappella group of high schoolers, Continuum.

Hampton has also been Artistic Director of the adult Renaissance ensemble, Tactus SF, and Associate Director of San Francisco Youth Chorus. Also in California, he’s been guest conductor of Piedmont East Bay Children's Chorus, Cantare’s Nova Choir, the Cathedral of Christ the Light, Lafayette Christian Church, and Enriching Lives Through Music. In New York he has guest conducted the Cornell University World Music Choir and at Trinity Wall Street and Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church; in New Jersey at Trinity Church, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, and Trinity and St. Philip's Cathedral. 

In addition to business management for several of the aforementioned, Hampton spent five years in arts administration with Carnegie Hall's Weill Music Institute, and more recently with American Bach Soloists, Vocal Arts DC, and now Strathmore.

As a professional vocalist, Hampton sings alto, tenor, and baritone. He’s heard on 17 commercial recordings, including his solo album, Negro Spirituals: Songs of Trial & Triumph. In 2022 he was honored as a Heritage Keeper by Friends of Negro Spirituals. With guitar and piano, he also sings contemporary, popular music, including songs of his own. He often performs with Washington Douglass Chorale and with the choir of Washington National Cathedral. He has also recently performed with the schola of St. John Paul II National Shrine, Washington Master Chorale, Cathedral Choral Society, National Philharmonic Chorale, and Washington Men’s Camerata among many others. JonHampton.com

Noted for her “dynamic and graceful” performances imbued with “virtuosity” and “truly lyrical expression,” American pianist Iris Cheng has given performances across the United States and Canada and has garnered numerous awards. An avid soloist and chamber musician, Iris is a founding member of the Cheng-MacLean Duo and has collaborated with a wide variety of outstanding instrumentalists and singers including violist Marina Thibeault, cellist Julie Trudeau, pianist Heidi Louise Williams, the Florida State University Singers, and the National Children’s Chorus. In 2022, the Cheng-MacLean Duo gave their New York debut in Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall, performing works from the 20th and 21st century, including a commissioned piece by Kyle W. Brown. Iris has worked with distinguished American composers including Shawn Okpebholo, James Primosch, Liliya Ugay, and Brian Raphael Nabors; her programming highlights the rich diversity of contemporary works through the performance of solo and chamber works by Henri Dutilleux, George Enescu, Leoš Janáček, Béla Bartók, Jennifer Higdon, and Joan Tower. Upcoming projects include a solo debut album to be released by Albany Records featuring contemporary piano works and recorded premieres by Eleanor Alberga, James Lee III, Brian Raphael Nabors, Shawn Okpebholo, and Hannah Kendall.

Prizewinner of the International Young Artist Piano Competition and Florida State University College of Music Carnegie Hall Entrepreneurship Competition, and recipient of the James Streem Scholarship, Rockwood Endowed Scholarship, and Tallahassee Music Guild Scholarship Janice Harsanyi Award, Iris completed her DM in Piano Performance and two MM degrees, in Piano Performance and in Piano Pedagogy-Performance, from the Florida State University. She completed her BM Piano Performance degree at Wheaton College, Illinois, and has also participated in national and international music festivals including Domaine Forget International Music Festival, Camp Musical des Laurentides, and the MasterWorks Festival. Her piano mentors include Dr. Heidi Louise Williams, Dr. Daniel Paul Horn, Faye Bonner, Philip Chiu, Chiharu Iinuma, and Dr. Diana Dumlavwalla. 

An active pedagogue, Iris is artist-faculty for the Tutti Chamber Music Summer Festival Program in Wheaton, Illinois, faculty at the Opal Music Studio in Alexandria, Virginia, Associate Pianist for the National Children’s Chorus, and pianist for the American Youth Chorus. She also maintains a private studio. Prior to relocating to Washington D.C., Iris served as adjunct instructor at Wallace Community College in Dothan Alabama and on the board of the FSU Music Teachers National Association Collegiate Chapter.

George Stewart is a widely sought-after musician due, in part to his versatility and love for music regardless of denomination or genre. George joined the Congressional Chorus during the 2021-2022 season. He has been blessed to share his gift in various venues ranging from small Pentecostal storefront churches to television studios, in concert halls on both coasts, with his past choir, Pentecostal Glory, being the first African-American Catholic Gospel Choir to perform at the historic Ford’s Theatre in Washington, DC.

Among George’s greatest honors was being invited to perform at the White House for its annual Black History Month Celebration in February 2021 and to grace the altar as one of the musicians for the Junipero Serra Canonization Mass celebrated by Pope Francis at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, DC.

George served more than 35 years as choir director, accompanist and minister of music for several area churches and played on several recordings including the GIA-published “Catholic Classics, Volume VII,” and the Holy Comforter St Cyprian’s Church Choir’s “We Offer Praise.” He currently serves as the director of music for the Holy Comforter St Cyprian’s Church.

Deloris has been a member of the NorthEast Senior Singers since 2003. Since assuming the role of teaching artist in Fall 2020, Deloris has helped prepare members to participate in an all virtual season. Under her direction the chorus produced its first virtual concert, This Little Light of Mine, and a full-length holiday concert, Proclaiming the Season: Peace, Love, and Joy. Deloris brings to this position over 30 years of experience as a choir director for all age groups. Her experience in the area of creative arts includes drama and play writing. For the past two years she has been the creator and program manager for the Puppets for Potential where she crafted over 25 hand puppets.

GUEST ARTISTS

Asali McIntyre, violin 1

Bonita Grier, violin 2

Brandon Lewis, viola

Chiara Pappalardo, cello

Herman Burney, double bass

Daniel Agee, Jr., drum set

Nobue Matsuoka, percussion

CONGRESSIONAL CHORUS

Soprano

LuTisha Buckner

†Kate Burkett

†Kristina Caggiano Kelly

Magdalene Carttar

Liza Douglas

†Karen Dowling

Hannah Geller

Cary Gibson

Jean Godwin

*Isabel Hardy

Cassie Hart

Asha Iyer

Mechelle King

Kalynn Kraft

Valerie Lehman

*†LeighAnne Markaity

Sarah McNeal

Allison Moody

Mary Moynihan

Ali Ruth

†Serra Schlanger

Devon Severson

Leah Shedrow

Harriet Wakefield

Ariel White

BASS

Dave Cape

Thomas Farley

*†Michael Krause

†Daniel Lu

†Justin Murdock

John Newman

§ Shreyas Patel

Bill Riggins

§ Tommy Rust

* Section Leader

† Chamber Ensemble

§ Professional Singer

NORTHEAST SENIOR SINGERS

SOPRANO

Juliet Chriss
Queen Jones Dickey
June Everhart
Linda Hodges
Jean Jamieson
Kathy Richburg
Alice Yeager

ALTO

Deloris Agee
Melissa Dunlap
Judy Lucas
Alicia Lewis
Annette Moore
Deborah Nesmith
Ramona Service
Brenda Wilder

TENOR

Gregory Anderson
Phillis Anderson
Linda Payton
Kenneth Springfield

BASS

Greg Michaels
Greg Miller
Steve Jefferson

Board of Directors

Allan Laiño, Artistic Director, ex officio 
Rachel Bowe, Interim Executive Director, ex officio

Greg Michaels, President
Sarah Bruno, Vice President
Jahnissi Tirado, Treasurer
Kristina Caggiano Kelly, Secretary

Ihamna Cubillos Valencia, member
Daniel Gordon, member
LeighAnne Markaity, member
Greg Miller, member

Production

Alexander Aloisio, Production Assistant
DG Productions, Audio & Video Recording
Emily Fournier, Projections Operator
Shannon Pallatta, Graphic Design
Allan Laiño, Digital Program Design
Craig Teer, Choral Risers
Dove Drum Rental

Credits and Acknowledgements

This concert is made possible in part by support from

A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation
Capitol Hill Community Foundation
DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities
Eugene M. Lang Foundation
Menezes Jennings Family Charitable Fund
Nora Roberts Foundation
Share Fund
Texas Instruments Foundation
Congressional Chorus members
& loyal supporters

Four Principles of Marriage

Program Notes

The piece sets text primarily from the opinion of the court in Obergefell v. Hodges, penned by Justice Kennedy. Before turning to the piece itself, Denise Brogan-Kator, an attorney and Chief Policy Officer, Emeritus for Family Equality, a non-profit advocacy organization that filed an amicus brief on the importance of marriage in the lives of children of LGBTQ+ couples was kind enough to provide background on marriage equality and the Obergefell decision:

The inspiration for this work was multifaceted. First, thanks to my long-term partnership with Mary Hanna-Weir, a civil rights attorney and very skilled musician, I’ve turned to legal texts for inspiration multiple times as a composer. My first moderately extended work in 2017 (10’) was a setting of another supreme court decision, Buck v Bell, a 1927 supreme court case whose opinion was penned by Oliver Wendell Holmes that upheld the legality of sterilizing the mentally feeble. While this may seem an odd choice for a text for a choral work, I was particularly attracted to what kinds of voices make the most sense to be performed by a choir. The voice of a judge is in some ways inherently choral, because while it is an individual saying these things, they are also speaking for our entire government, and for our society. They speak with extra weight and so it makes more sense when we hear this voice with the force of a choir behind it. Another legal-based composition of mine, To Plead Guilty [2020], was a setting of immigration court proceedings from Tucson, another challenging text. While I had gravitated towards the ways our legal system has (and continues to) fail us as a society, this series got me thinking about the possibility of writing a more uplifting legal piece. I knew that in the near future, I wanted to find a way to pair this interest in legal texts with the ability to write a more hopeful and positive piece.

So then, as part of a fundraising campaign in 2020 for the chorale, a generous donor offered a challenge grant, that if we met, would have the reward of me writing a piece for my wife, Mary. We met this challenge, and so when contemplating this opportunity, it seemed the perfect chance to try to make good on a happy and beautiful piece on a legal text. I’m pretty sure they didn’t intend for me to write a 9 movement, choral-orchestral work, but it seemed the perfect way to honor her and our relationship.

One of the central themes of Four Principles of Marriage is the importance that marriage plays in our society. It offers people who engage in this union specific privileges, it validates their relationship in the eyes of our society, and it protects the participants in that relationship. The expansion of marriage to same-sex couples has strengthened my marriage. It protects the ability of those who love and commit to each other to enjoy the same kind of societal privilege that I can access and the inclusion of others who deeply value the meaning of this union for themselves and our society deepen the meaning of the institution overall. 

I am incredibly thankful to all the performers this evening for their dedication to learning this music and bringing this vision to life. It is such a tremendous privilege to conduct them in all the music that we do, but particularly to have them as the premiering ensembles for this incredibly personal piece.

–Scot Hanna-Weir, Composer