Considering Matthew Shepard by Craig Hella Johnson

Part I: Prologue
1    Horses, Cattle, Sky and Grass

Eric Harper, tenor

2    Ordinary Boy    

Lesley Bouza, narrator
Marion Samuel-Stevens {Judy Shepard}
Alpha Kayondo {Matthew Shepard}

3    We tell each other stories    

Lesley Bouza, soloist

Part II: Passion
4    Recitation    

Keira McCarthy

5    The Fence (before)    

Bill Zinck, bass

6    Recitation    

Barbara Kyle

7    The Fence (that night)    

Jordan Scholl, bass

8    Recitation    

Andrew Vowles

9    A Protestor    

10    Keep it away from me  

 Leslie Avendano Vasquez, soprano
Alexia Castiglione, Clara Blenkinsop, Rachael Young

11    Recitation    

Mark De Lima

12    Fire of the Ancient Heart    

Jordan Scholl, bass
David McCarthy, cantor
Ian Dickieson & Stephanie Zantingh, drums

13    Recitation    

Lanny Fleming

14    Stray Birds    

15    We are all Sons    

16    I am Like You    

Lesley Bouza, Rachel Barreca, Jerome Chang, Brian Redpath

17    The Innocence    

Ian Dickieson, baritone

Reflection and Self-Care (see note below*)

18    Recitation    

Gabriela Santos

19    The Fence (one week later)    

Lesley Bouza, soprano

20    Recitation    

Gabriella Hooper-Lavoie

21    Stars    

David McCarthy {Dennis Shepard}

22    Recitation    

Barbara Kyle

23    In need of breath    

Alpha Kayondo {Matthew Shepard}

24     Omitted

25    Recitation    

Brynne Degenhardt

26    Deer Song    

Suebin Choi, Githmi Illamperuma, Meghan Williams
Clara Blenkinsop {Matthew Shepard}
Conducted by Lanny Fleming

27    Recitation    

Allison Demers

28     Omitted

29    Pilgrimage    

Soloists: Maxine Manning, Casey Worth & Brian Redpath
Lanny Fleming, Mark De Lima, Autumn Scott, Gabriella Hooper-Lavoie & Lila McRae, 
Aoibhinn MacKen-Luyt & Ardeth Jarvis

Part III: Epilogue

30    Meet me there    

Lesley Bouza, soprano
Emma Vandendool, Stephanie Zantingh, Maxine Manning

31     Omitted

32    All of Us    

Lesley Bouza, Alexia Castiglione, Rachael Young

33    Reprise: Cattle, horses, sky and grass    

Eric Harper, baritone

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During the Reflective Movement (15 minutes) we invite you to join us and add a heart to our rainbow mural. On each heart is a message from a chorister. Please talk to one of our volunteers, Barry and Andrew, to get yourself a paper heart and a marker, and write your own message. Then you can tape it up to the mural to add to the rainbow of hearts.

 

What you write on your heart is up to you, but we hope it will be a way for you to express things like: 

• Why is it important that you are at tonight's concert?

• What are you thinking or feeling at this point in the show?

• Is there someone on your heart and/or on your mind as you listen to the music?

 

Take some time to read the other messages, too.

There will be a chance to add a heart at the end of the concert as well, if you need more time. 

 

Thank you.

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University of Guelph Choir 

Marta McCarthy, Conductor

Betty Maher, Accompanist

*Artistic & Advisory care team

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Soprano 

Leslie Avendano Vasquez

Lesley Bouza*

Sarina Bruyns

Alexia Castiglione

Elen Colquhoun 

Suebin Choi

Brynne Degenhardt

Laura Eisenhuth

Githmi Illamperuma

Ardeth Jarvis

Barbara Kyle

Maxine Manning

Aoibhinn MacKen-Luyt

Linda Newbery

Sienna Pinnock-Charley

Charlotte Poore

Gabriela Santos

Kiana Sparks-Montemayor

Ella Watkins

Meghan Williams

Leah Wright

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Alto 

Rachel Barreca*

Clara Blenkinsop

Dominique China

Angela Creasey

Maya Dechter

Allison Demers

Susan Gadbois

Gabriella Hooper-Lavoie

Kelly Janzen*

Keira McCarthy

Lila McRae

Anne Munroe

Elisabeth Nicol

Jenny Oesch

Ella Pauls

Emma Robinson

Hayley Romanyk

Jennifer Rosen

Asha Sadanand

Autumn Scott

Jaime Tuling

Emma Vandendool

Rachael Young

Stephanie Zantingh*

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Tenor 

Jayson Acacio

Carm Castiglione 

Jerome Chang*

Ross Clark

Russell Dunk

Simon Enns

Lanny Fleming*

Jeff Gross*

Mark De Lima

Peter Roberts

Adam Sadowski

 

Bass 

Joe Balfour

David Beattie

Ian Dickieson*

Eric Harper

Reinhard Kypke

Brian Redpath*

Luis Miguel Roldan

Jordan Scholl

Andrew Vowles

Joel Wilson

Casey Worth

Bill Zinck

 

Orchestra “Guelph Chamber Players” Winter 2025

Violin & Concertmaster: José Molina

Viola: Catherine Molina

Violoncello: Marlena Tureski

Contrabass: Ralph Blackman

Clarinet: Max Christie

Guitar (Electric and Acoustic): Heyden Jennekens

Percussion and Marimba: Nicholas Stoup

Piano: Betty Maher

Auxiliary drummers (movement 12): Ian Dickieson & Stephanie Zantingh

​

 

Marta McCarthy, Conductor, is an Associate Professor at the University of Guelph, where she has been directing the choirs and teaching musicianship, pedagogy, research, and piano accompaniment since 1995. She led the University of Guelph Gryphon Singers to First Place in the National Competition for Canadian Amateur Choirs, and to Third Prize in the 2012 Mosbach International Chamber Choir Competition. Each of her university choirs has been finalists at competitions and/or featured guests at national and international festivals, including Podium (Toronto, Ottawa, St. John’s), University Voices (Toronto, Montreal), Festival 500 (St. John's, NL), the Elora Festival (Elora) and the Kathaumixw International Choral Festival (Powell River, BC). Their performances are known for innovative programming, vocal freedom, and artistic subtlety. A graduate of Westminster Choir College of Princeton (M.Mus), the Royal Conservatory of Music (ARCT, piano performance) and of the University of Toronto (B.Mus, B.Ed., Ph.D.), Marta was awarded the 1999 Elmer Iseler Conducting Fellowship. She also received an Ontario Volunteer Service Award, was named a member of the June Callwood Circle of Caring and was named a Woman of Distinction for Arts & Culture in Guelph. Dr. McCarthy was elected President of Choral Canada in 2012. She was honoured to conduct three provincial Honour Choirs (OYC, 2014; OYAC, 2015; NBYC, 2017).

 

Betty Maher, Accompanist, has been central to the Symphonic Choir Artistic Team since 1996.  She has collaborated with many vocal and instrumental students over the last 20 years through her work with the University of Guelph, the Kiwanis Festival (locally and provincially), Guelph's own Edward Johnson Competition, the Elora Young Artist Competition and various masterclasses in the area. Betty also maintains a successful teaching studio and is a member of the Ontario Registered Music Teachers Association.  

 

Lanny Fleming, Associate Conductor, has also been key to the success of the University of Guelph choirs. Lanny has been a Section Lead with us since 2004 and was the principal conductor of the Symphonic Choir and Gryphon Singers F2013. He has also been performing and leading the tenors with the Guelph Chamber Choir since 2003. Lanny earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Western Ontario. He is a teacher with the Upper Grand Elementary Teachers' Federation, and with his wife Heather maintains a busy performing schedule while together they have raised two wonderful children, Laura and Bennett. 

 

Kelly Janzen, Associate conductor, is an active conductor, clinician, adjudicator, educational trainer and musician. Her choirs have performed for the International Society for Music Education (Poland), throughout Scotland, England and Sweden, and the 90th anniversary at Vimy Ridge, France. She directed the Etobicoke Centennial Choir where she was presented with a Provincial citation. Her leadership in developing the Media Arts programme at Centre Wellington DHS in Fergus, Ontario, led her to be nominated to the first Canadian class of the Apple Distinguished Educators in 2004. Since that time, she has published curriculum materials for the ADE website, and has travelled extensively across Canada, as an Apple Education trainer, helping teachers integrate technology effectively in their classrooms. Besides the University of Guelph Symphonic Choir, she performs with the Guelph New Horizons Big Band and Concert Band.

 

 

 

The University of Guelph Symphonic Choir has a long and illustrious history of musical leadership in Guelph, service to the University and the broader community, international touring, and cultural collaboration. Since Marta McCarthy became their conductor in 1995, the UG Choirs are also known for commissioning new works by Canadian composers. We are proud to have commissioned Here the Bird Abides and Sings by James Harley, The Farmer Needs the Rain (Roy Forbes, arranged by Larry Nicol), and 4 works by Leonard Enns: Ten Thousand Rivers of Oil, Sparrow, This Thirsty Land, and Taiga, as well as many other pieces by other Canadian composers.  

 

 

Soloists

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Jordan Scholl

 

Jordan is very grateful to have the opportunity to perform this important production of Considering Mathew Sheppard in Guelph. He completed his Bachelor of Biomedical Science and Voice Performance and Master of Science at University of Guelph. Jordan has been hailed for his “rich full-throated baritone” voice and the sense of ease he brings to dramatic works in styles from classical to musical theatre. Favourite solo performance highlights include Messiah, Saul, St. John Passion, the Canadian debut of the Lord of the Rings Symphony, as well as the Requiems of Fauré, Duruflé, Brahms, and Mozart. Jordan’s ensemble work has taken him around the world and has earned him Grammy and Juno nominations. When he is not on stage, Jordan supports authentic expression through voice and communication work as a speech-language pathologist.

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Marion Samuel-Stevens

 

Canadian vocalist Marion Samuel-Stevens has been described as an engaging, direct performer and actress. Her performances range from the intimacy of recital performance to the stage.  Marion has been the Ontario winner of the Natsaa competition and second runner up in the regional Natsaa competition in Indiana, where her voice was described as "beautiful and rich with evenness and colour throughout". She was also a semi-finalist in the prestigious Eckhardt-Grammatté competition which gives special attention to new Canadian music. In both competitions Marion showed her well-developed ability to switch between a wide variety of vocal and dramatic styles with efficiency and finesse. 

 

Marion is an adjunct professor Voice at the University of Guelph where she is active in creating a new program for contemporary music.  Marion is the Director of the newly established Musical Theatre Ensemble at the University of Guelph which recently performed Little Shop of Horrors to great acclaim. Described as “intelligent, relatable and engaging” she is sought after as a clinician and adjudicator. 

 

Focusing her continuing education on the ever-changing field of vocal pedagogy and health, Marion has attended the Commercial and Contemporary Music Vocal Pedagogy Institute at Shenandoah University as well as completing certification in Vocal Health First Aid and Vocal Habilitation through Vocal Health Education in the UK. Marion is currently completing her Master’s in Vocal Pedagogy from the University of Wales (Voice Study Centre) where her area of focus is the athleticism of singers as well as the parallels between athletic and vocal coaching.  She plans to write a handbook on coaching techniques for music instructors, highlighting the most effective ways to intrinsically motivate students.  As an educator, her goals are to create a challenging and supportive environment in which students can find their own unique voice as well as explore different vocal colours and their impact on character and emotionally driven vocal choices.

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Lesley Bouza

 

Lesley Emma Bouza is a versatile soprano renowned for her captivating performances across classical, pop, Broadway, and jazz genres. Initially trained as a saxophonist, Lesley discovered her true passion for singing during her undergraduate studies, leading her to pursue advanced vocal training at the Royal Welsh Conservatory of Music and Drama with an additional focus on Education and Outreach.

 

Lesley's impressive career highlights include solo appearances with prestigious ensembles such as The Toronto Symphony, Les Violons du Roy, The Elora Singers, The Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, The Winnipeg Symphony, and the Calgary Philharmonic. Notable performances include Lesley Sings Joni, a tribute to Joni Mitchell at the 2018 Elora Festival, Steve Reich at 80 with Soundstreams, Dido and Aeneas at Carnegie Hall with Les Violons du Roy, and a tour of Taiwan as a member of the Swingle Singers. Her recent engagements have included chamber performances with Anima Early Music.

 

Renowned for her crystal-clear voice and expressive interpretations, Lesley's performances consistently receive critical acclaim. Her ability to seamlessly navigate diverse musical styles and connect with audiences has solidified her reputation as a sought-after and versatile vocalist.

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Alpha Kayondo

 

Alpha Kayondo is a native of Guelph and University of Guelph Music Alumni. This young artist commenced his music career in a guitar studio at the tender age of five. Hooked, he wrote his first song in the same year, began vocal lessons at age six and took up piano a year later. From 2002 to 2008, Kayondo was a chorister in Guelph Youth Singers (GYS). Through this opportunity, he would go on to record background vocals for 2008’s The Love Guru soundtrack, as well as become a guest singer for the Guelph Symphony Orchestra on two occasions.

 

Through teen-hood, Kayondo continued to pursue music, landing a spot as singer-songwriter and keyboardist in The Challenger, a local band out of the Octave Music Centre tutored by Kevin Saltarelli. While writing his music, he would rigorously train vocals with Marion Samuel-Stevens, a guide who encouraged Kayondo to enter serious vocal competitions; winning first and second place prizes became a familiar sound. In the 2018 Kiwanis Music Festival Singer-Songwriter class, Kayondo became the first to receive the only mark of 100 in adjudicator John Avey’s history.  A year later, Kayondo graduated from the University of Guelph’s music program, having been a proud tenor for two seasons in the Gryphon Singers, conducted by Marta McCarthy.

 

Currently, Kayondo teaches voice and piano lessons at Jam School in the Royal City and for his alma mater, University of Guelph Music department. This past year he has scored a number of short-films for Humber College students, and continues to collaborate with the University of Guelph and other underground filmmakers, music producers, and fellow recording artists. His dream? To be the first widely recognized African-Canadian film score composer.

 

Ian Dickieson

 

Ian Dickieson is a landscape specialist and singer living in Guelph, with a wide range of musical skills (tonight he is drumming as well as singing the solo The Innocence).  Ian received his early musical tutelage in the Guelph Youth Singers with Linda Beaupre and at GCVI with Dave Davidson and Alison Vicary.  Gerald Neufeld and Alison MacNeill, of the Guelph Chamber Choir, were also formative influences. Recognizing that we "stand on the shoulders", Ian also appreciates the leadership of Ralph Blackman, Marlena Tureski, Gerry Manning and Marg Stewart during his time at St. George's Church in Guelph. He joined the University of Guelph Symphonic Choir and Gryphon Singers in 2008, mentoring and supporting younger singers weekly as well as on choir tours such as Germany (2012) and Newfoundland (2018). He credits Artistic Team Members Betty Maher, Brian Redpath, Lanny Fleming, Kelly Janzen, and Marta McCarthy with supporting and bolstering his artistry. The feeling is mutual!

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Bill Zinck

 

Bill Zinck is a retired music educator, who, along with his wife Kelly Janzen, led the Centre Wellington DHS Music ensembles on performance tours of Scotland, Sweden and the 90th anniversary of Vimy Ridge, France. Besides the University choir, he plays trombone, double and electric bass with the New Horizons Big Band and senior Concert band.

 

Quartet: Rachel Barreca, Lesley Bouza, Jerome Chang, Brian Redpath 

 

These singers are all graduates of the University of Guelph Music program, and former choir members, several of whom rejoined us to sing Considering Matthew Shepard. All four enjoy careers that include music in creative ways: 

Rachel works at the Metropolitan University, describing herself as “a life-long musician” and “a communicator, community builder, and educator with a passion for holistic transformative learning through the arts.” She has worked in the field of student affairs for thirty years in Canada and the United Kingdom, providing higher education students with opportunities for holistic learning through co-curricular programming in residence life, orientation and transition, student leadership, student activities, study abroad, and career education. Also working in Student Services, Jerome Chang works at University of Toronto, and sings professionally in the St. John’s Church Choir of Elora. Brian Redpath uses his technical skill to assist the music program at his Knox Presbyterian Church here in Guelph, and has been one of our Bass section leaders for many years. Lesley Bouza’s bio appears above; she graduated in 2005 after our choir tour to Powell River, British Columbia to sing at the Kathaumixw Festival. In addition to the many solos, Lesley served as our music therapist, leading us in centering exercises and offering support wherever needed.

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The Guelph Chamber Players is a group of Guelph-associated musicians, many of whom are members of the Guelph Symphony Orchestra. Please consider attending any of their upcoming concerts.

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Violinist/Violist Catherine Molina enjoys an exciting, multi-faceted career, as a performer, pedagogue, and arts administrator. Currently the principal violist of the Guelph Symphony Orchestra, Catherine also serves as the GSO's General Manager. Ms. Molina is the violist of the Artelli String Quartet, an Examiner with the Royal Conservatory of Music, College of Examiners, and a member of the Association of Canadian Women Composers. Catherine was pleased to be a String juror in the inaugural International Classicalia Competition. Catherine is a performance graduate of both the University of Toronto and the Royal Conservatory of Music. She continued her studies at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, and in Assisi, Italy, at the Academia Ottorino Respighi.

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José Molina, Violin soloist and Concertmaster, grew up in a musical family. His father saw to it that the entire clan, including cousins, received music lessons. (His brother Arturo conducts the Manila Symphony, and his sister is a professional cellist). Jose attended the University of Victoria on a full scholarship, was a winner of the University Concerto Competition and upon graduation was invited to join the Faculty String Quartet. A seasoned orchestral musician, Mr. Molina has played with the Victoria, Thunder Bay, Kitchener, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick Symphony Orchestras. He has also served as an adjunct instructor of violin at Lakehead University. José  is the concertmaster of the Guelph Symphony Orchestra, the first violinist of the Artelli String Quartet and a member of SAA. A self-described ‘violin-freak’ José regularly travels to Cremona, the violin capital of the world.

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Marlena Tureski, Violoncellist, a native of Saskatchewan, began her professional studies at the Victoria Conservatory of Music with James Hunter in 1977, at the same time playing with the Victoria Symphony, the Canadian Chamber Orchestra, and studying with Zara Nelsova in Victoria and Vancouver Master Classes and at the Banff Centre. Other Master Class studies include those with Janos Starker, Leonard Rose and Harvey Shapiro. Marlena Tureski joined the Vancouver Symphony as a tenured member in 1981 and continued playing with the VSO in various positions for over 25 years. Most recently she has been a freelance cellist in Chicago, concentrating on chamber music with members of the Chicago Symphony, Chicago Chamber Musicians and the Lyric Opera. She has also been a regular freelance cellist with the Seattle Symphony and Seattle Opera. Throughout her career of symphonic and chamber music, and many solo performances, Marlena Tureski has continued to inspire private students of all ages, coaching orchestral sections and audition repertoire for aspiring young professionals. At present Marlena Tureski is a private cello teacher in Guelph and Cello Professor at the University of Guelph. Marlena Tureski is also a freelance cellist in Ontario including the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony, the Windsor Symphony, and in Toronto, and is the Artistic Director of the Guelph Connections Concerts and the St. George Chamber Players.

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Ralph Blackman, Contrabassist, is a native of Saskatchewan, who at 9 years old was already playing in the youth orchestra conducted. After graduating from a music degree at Simon Fraser University, he earned a certificate in theology and a bachelor of theology from the University of Southampton in England. Ralph came to Guelph in 2009 from Victoria, B. C., where he was the rector of St. George’s the Martyr Church, and served from 2009 until recently as Reverend Canon at St. George's Anglican Church in Guelph. He is a member of the Guelph Symphony Orchestra and has taken leadership roles with the Guelph Youth Symphony.

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Clarinetist Max Christie’s career is defined by excellence and versatility. As comfortable in the soloist’s role as he is in the orchestra, he is a gifted chamber musician as well an insightful experienced interpreter of the most important modern and contemporary works. Mr. Christie has performed and toured with the National Ballet Orchestra where he holds the principal clarinet chair, as well as with the Canadian Opera Company, The Esprit Orchestra and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. He has appeared as soloist with the TSO, the Calgary Philharmonic, The Esprit Orchestra, the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony and the Windsor Symphony. The former principal clarinet of the Esprit Orchestra, he remains a devoted champion of new music, especially by young Canadian composers. He has recorded and performed with the most prominent contemporary music ensembles in the country, including Toca Loca, Soundstreams, Continuum Contemporary Music, Array Music and New Music Concerts. His recording of Elliot Carter’s music, including the solo work Gra, is available on the Naxos Label. The Spawn of Abe, a double concerto with Oboe by MC Maguire, was released on the Innova label. He recorded with David Occhipinti on the disc camera, and with Patricia O’Callaghan on her release of the songs of George Gershwin. He has also recorded the music of Harry Somers, Rudolph Koumorous. Contemporary solo performances include the works of Gavin Bryars, Anders Hillborg, Heather Schmidtt and Michel Gonneville.

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Onstage, he has accompanied some of the finest dancers in the country with the National Ballet of Canada and with Peggy Baker Dance Projects. Recently he branched out into the world of theatre, in a workshop production of Charlotte Salomon: Life? or Theatre? with Canadian Stage.

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Nicholas Stoup is currently the Principal Timpanist of the Canadian Opera Company in Toronto Canada. He performs regularly with some of the world’s major orchestras, including the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and Toronto Symphony Orchestra. He has worked with many of today’s great conductors, including Gustavo Dudamel, Pierre Boulez and was principal percussionist/timpanist with the Orquesta Comunidad Valenciana from 2004-2011, working with conductors Zubin Mehta and Lorin Maazel. He also has appeared as a soloist with the LA Philharmonic playing the Philip Glass Concerto for 2 Timpani along with Jason Ginter.  A graduate of The Juilliard School where he was a student of Daniel Druckman and Roland Kohloff, Nick has also spent residencies at the Lucerne Festival in Switzerland, Music Academy of the West, Pacific Music Festival in Sapporo, Japan and the Spoleto Music Festival in Italy. A versatile artist, Nick also records scores for film and video games.

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Heyden Jennekens, guitar, is a multi-instrumentalist and producer. He writes, records and mixes music, along with writing and directing Excuse Me’s music videos. Though he’s primarily a guitarist, one of his favourite instruments to play is the drums. Inspired by the sounds of progressive metal, funk, jazz and neo-soul, he’s worked hard to develop keen ears and hands for rhythm, harmony, and production; all of which he brings to the stage. Heyden is a graduate of the University of Guelph’s music program and now teaches electric guitar in that same program.

 

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Warmest thanks to our phenomenal donors:

$10,000+

Dr. Theresa Bernardo 

Dr. Chantale Pinard

Dr. Marta McCarthy & Randy Smith

Dr. Elisabeth Nicol

Jennifer & Jamey Rosen & Family

Sandy Goldman and the Family of Nathan Max Goldman

John Lindley

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Additional wonderful recent donors:

Anonymous

Francie Niekamp (Rest in Peace)

Many Generous Choir Members

SOFAM Discretionary Fund 2023

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Warmest thanks also to:

University of Guelph College of Arts: Dr. Samantha Brennan, Dean            

Barbara Merrill, Nicola Ferguson, Dr. Kim Francis, Director                                                

Stephanie Zantingh and Sarah Smith, online program

Ian Dickieson and Casey Worth, the fence

Emma Robinson, concert poster

Brian Redpath, Lanny Fleming, Ian Dickieson, Kelly Janzen, Section leaders                                                           

Betty Maher, Accompanist 

Randy Smith, technical and recording

Andreas Trautmansdorff, photographer & video specialist

Harcourt Memorial United Church, especially Megan Pharr and Alison MacNeil and Gerry Damato

Harcourt Commons, especially Dr. Gerald Neufeld and Patricia Eton-Neufeld

Front of House: Mia Toope-Robins, Jett Faria, Michael Stone

Projection: Gerry Neufeld 

Student speakers, helpers, and stage crew

Lighting: Patrick Fothergill, Amelia Worth, Mia Toope-Robins

Casey Worth, Stage Manager and Lighting Designer

Choir nourishment: Jeff Gross

Choir advisory committee W2025: Rachel Barreca, Jerome Chang, Jeff Gross, Lesley Bouza

DIYode cooperative work space in Guelph: hearts to you for the hearts!

Barry and Andrew Praamsma-Townshend, for leading the Reflective activity

Barbara Kyle and Mark De Lima for the pre-concert talk