University Chorale Program

V. Soul of the World by Henry Purcell
From Hail! Bright Cecilia!
Chorale Chamber Voices and MSU String Quartet

III. Glory: Magnificent Structure by David Shapiro
From Sumptuous Planet (A Secular Mass)

RIUH (Chaotic Joy)! by Tracy Wong
Jacob Turner, Vocal Percussion

Phoenix by Jocelyn Hagen
Mira Cheng, Cello

Ezekiel arranged by Stacey Gibbs

Lord, we give thanks to Thee by Undine Smith Moore

II. Wild Forces by Jake Runestad
From The Hope of Loving
MSU String Quartet

Dear Audience,

We are thrilled to share this program with you! The Michigan State University Chorale is one of three auditioned and eight total choirs here at MSU. As the university’s flagship ensemble, University Chorale includes many of the finest graduate and upper-level undergraduate singers in the College of Music. Since the beginning of this school year, the singers before you have worked collaboratively and dutifully to expand the boundaries of their musicianship while cultivating individual connections to the music’s greater meaning.

The title of tonight’s program comes from Tracy Wong’s piece “RIUH (Chaotic Joy)!” – sung in Malay, the text translates:

• “In the chaos of the world
• Treasure the seeds of stillness
• Woven together – chaos and peace – they shine
• As the waves of life are sailed”

The texts found throughout tonight’s program explore the intersection of Chaos and Order in life, as well as the power of Belief and Beauty to inspire us forward. It is our sincere hope that as you hear this music, you will consider your own personal connections to each of the texts.

In the bustle of everyday life, it is a rare privilege to make music together amid the sage pines and ivy-covered halls of Michigan State University. This evening’s concert would also not be possible without the skillful teaching of our MSU voice faculty and unwavering support of the university’s administration. As music students at Michigan State University, we’re so glad to belong to a community that supports our growth every day both as musicians and as people. It is a special time to be a Spartan.

Finally, thank you for joining us in exploring “Chaotic Joy!” We’d love to meet you after tonight’s performance and are so glad you’re here!

—Alex Gerleman, DMA Choral Conducting, 2025

V. Soul of the world from Hail! Bright Cecilia!
Henry Purcell

Soul of the World! Inspir’d by thee,
The jarring Seeds of Matter did agree,
Thou didst the scatter’d Atoms bind,
Which, by thy Laws of true proportion join’d,
Made up of various Parts one perfect Harmony.

Poet, Nicholas Brady

---

III. Glory: Magnificent Structure from Sumptuous Planet (A Secular Mass)
David Shapiro

Gloria repleta est natura
Magnifica compages est natura.
Possumus intelligere autem, licet impefecte.

Nature is a magnificent structure that we can comprehend only very imperfectly.

Et haec quidem oportet replere sensu humilitatis
hominem cogitatem sua mente.

And that must fill a thinking person with a feeling of humility.

Words by Richard Dawkins/from The God Delusion

Translation by Theodore Cheek

---

RIUH (Chaotic Joy)!
Tracy Wong

Dalam huru-hara dunia |  In the chaos of the world
Hargai bibit ketenangan  | Treasure the seeds of stillness
Anyaman riuh dan damai terserlah  |  Woven together – chaos and peace – they shine
Gelombang hidup dilayar  |  As the waves of life are sailed

Lyricist, Bihzhu

---

Phoenix
Jocelyn Hagen

it’s okay
if you’re burning
with anger
or sadness
or both
it is necessary
for you to collapse
so you can learn
how phoenixes are
Reborn
when they burn
and rise again
from the ashes of
their existence

survival is not beautiful
it is fire, ache, and everything that hurts
combined

but the survivors know how
after survival
everything is so insanely beautiful

Poet, Noor Unnahar

---

Ezekiel
arr. Stacey Gibbs

‘Zekiel saw de wheel,
way up in the middle of the air
‘Zekiel saw de wheel,
way up in the middle of the air

De big wheel run by faith,
little wheel by the grace of God
Wheel in a wheel,
way in de middle of de air.’

A.M.E. camp meeting song

---

Lord, we give thanks to Thee
Undine Smith Moore

Lord, we give thanks to Thee
for these, Thy servants.
Alleluia, Amen.

Then shalt Thou cause the trumpet to sound,
the trumpet of the jubilee.
Alleluia, Amen

Based on Leviticus 24:9

---

II. Wild Forces from The Hope of Loving
Jake Runestad

There are beautiful, wild forces within us!
Let them turn millstones inside,
Filling bushels that reach to the sky.

St. Francis of Assisi, Translation by Daniel Ladinsky

Soprano
Josefina Arnett, Katy, TX
Eleanor Barbour*, Sault Ste Marie
Fiona Breen*, Haslett
Lacey Cooper*, Ann Arbor
Grace Cox, Battle Creek
Madeline Jeleniewski, Orland Park, IL
Madilyn LaJoice*, Farmington Hills
iyari Lutz, Houston, TX
Amaya Morren, Hudsonville
Abagail Solomon, Macomb

Tenor
Landon Black*, Battle Creek
Alejandro De Santana Albornoz, Caracas, Venezuela
Troy Forbush, Okemos
Cole Harvey*, Milford
Connor Lindsey*, Hastings
Joshua Mostyn, West Bloomfield
Benjamin Saunders, Syracuse, UT
Michael Seare, St. Anthony, ID
Westin Sorrel*, Denver, CO
Ethan Staver, Monona, WI
Kellin Tasber, Binghamton, NY

Alto
Ali Clark, Grand Haven
Amira Joy Coleman*, Wichita, KS
Clara Fuller*, New Berlin, WI
Shayna Gibson, Holland
Grace Gits, East Lansing
Amanda Goldberg, Pompano Beach, FL
Mariana Romero Serra*, Caracas, Venezuela
Erika Senecal, Howell
Hannah Tatay, Vicksburg
Keilah Ussi*, Brooklyn, NY
Meagan Wozney, Grosse Ile

Bass
Calvin Aupperlee, Grandville
Jason M Brown*, Lancaster, PA
Chauncey Burghart, Grand Rapids
Michael Carter*, Bountiful, UT
Joey Cross, Fraser
Roger Tirona David Jr., Anchorage, AK
James Eagle*, Okemos
Alex Gerleman*, Cedar Rapids, IA
Michael Huey-Jones, Peoria, IL
R.J. Kilcher*, St. Clair Shores
Ellis Perez, Battle Creek
Jacob Turner, Pinckney

* = Chorale Chamber Voices