Overture to Nabucco - Giuseppe Verdi –(1813-1901)
Symphony No. 3 in Eb, Op.97 “Rhenish” - Robert Schumann – (1810-1856)
I. Lebhaft
II. Scherzo
IV. Feierlich
V. Lebhalf
Intermission
Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35 – Erich Wolfgang Korngold (1897 – 1957)
Cecilia O’Malley - Violin
I. Moderato nobile
*The Humming Chorus (“Coro a bocca chiusa”) from Madame Butterfly - Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)
*“Va, pensiero” (Chorus of Hebrew Slaves) from “Nabucco” - Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
*Polovtsian Dances from “Prince Igor” – Alexander Borodin (1833 – 1887)
*Featuring The Dakota Choral Union
Cecilia O’Malley, from Hot Springs, South Dakota, is an accomplished violinist, cellist, and pianist who began her musical studies at the age of 2. An avid performer and competitor, Cecilia has received awards from the South Dakota Young Musician Concerto Competition, Robert Stanger Concerto Competition, Walgreen’s National Concerto Competition, Minnesota Orchestra’s YPSCA Competition, and the Oistrakh Concerto Festival on both violin and cello. In 2022, Cecilia was selected as the South Dakota state-representative for the MTNA West Central Competition, ultimately advancing to finalist in the National Conference on violin. The following year she competed as a cellist and advanced again to the MTNA National Finals held in Reno, Nevada. Since her orchestral debut with the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra on violin, she has also soloed with the Minnesota Sinfonia and the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra.
Possessing a passion for collaborating with fellow musicians in orchestra and chamber settings, she frequently travels to Chicago to perform with her current ensembles. As a chamber musician, she has garnered first place awards at the Rembrandt Chamber Players Competition, the Glass City Chamber Competition, and Chicago’s National Chamber Competition, as well as second place awards at the Barnett Chamber Competition and the Enkor International Chamber Competition.
Cecilia has spent her summers at the Black Oak Ensemble’s Cordes en Gascogne Festival in France and studying with the professors at the Meadowmount Institute of Music. She is privileged to study with Professor Gerardo Ribeiro of Northwestern University on violin, Dr. Tanya Carey of Roosevelt University on cello, and Ms. Tatyana Stepanova on piano. In her free time, Cecilia enjoys reading 1800s British literature, studying French, riding horses, watching Hollywood Golden Age movies, and spending time with her dog, Jack!
1st Violins
Amanda Swartz,
Concertmaster
Allen Cornford
Joe Berendse
Elizabeth Knowles
Meghan Knowles
Kayla Giesey
Patrick Knowles
Carol Knowles
2nd Violins
Marilyn Maxvold, Principal
Dori O’Connor
Katie Sprague
Brady Riker
Nicole Free
Connor Stuck
Rachael Bunger
Sydney Miller
Shayna Weyer
Cullen Knowles, Principal
Emily Pflaum
Charlie Savot
Laura Wilsey
Avery Massey
Chris Budd
Jennifer May
Susan Guthrie
Madison Richardt.
Caleb Van Vleet
Kaylie Tupper
Madison Richardt
Elizabeth Benusis, Principal
Marta Koscak
Caitlin Gerdes
Karina Riggert
Jannette Leno-Thomas
Cordelia Grey
Logan Stone
Kraig Long, Principal
Kate Mathews
Manuelito Trujillo
Sue Griffith
John Knowles
Tyler Woolsey
Julie Anderson, Principal
Helen Van Dam
Olya Bunger
Nancy Olney, Principal
Paige Werner
Anna Hughes
Paige Werner
Deb Knowles, Principal
Jackie Ott
Christine Leichtnam
Erika Olson, Principal
Heidi Perrett
Skye van Duuren, Principal
Victoria Palmreuter
Jennifer Stelzig
Sarah Decker
Christopher Hahn, Principal
Rick Hamil
David Blauer, Principal
Kevin Rathert
William Holst
Joel Adams
Andrew Simco
Carol Gulbransen, Principal
Alan Temple
Dillon Dahlke
Spencer Gerdes
Clacie Neu
Jane A. Hamman
Diane Ketel
Ellen Shirley joined Dakota Choral Union as Artistic Director and Conductor in the fall of 2022. A native of Peoria, Illinois, Ellen earned her Bachelor of Music degree magna cum laude from Bradley University, and her Master of Music degree on a full scholarship and assistantship from Kent State University. Ellen has served as the Director of Music at churches in Ohio and Iowa, and currently serves as the Director of Music at South Canyon Lutheran Church in Rapid City. In addition to teaching music at colleges and universities in California, Texas and Iowa, Ellen has had a widely varied career in music performance. Ellen and her husband Tim live in Rapid City and have two grown sons.
Andrew Belsaas
Abby Britt
Angela Drake
Barbara Rosner
Barb Brackett
Dottie Olson
Eileen Gallimore
Heidi Aker
Izabel Pingrey
Jill Jones
Judy Vidal
Juliana Neilsen
Julie Juenger
Julie Wurzburger
Karen Baumbach
Karen Gundersen-Olson
Kristin Britt
Laura Rehor
Lisa Werdal
Marta Olson-Rangitsch
Nina Mack
Patricia Friedrichsen
Patty Tlustos
Raye Sarchet
Rebecca Freidel
Susan Anderson
Teresa Spiess
Christine Jones
Emily Kornely
Gina Plooster
Glenda Miller
Jan Avenson-Snyder
Jan Ernst
Janet McCaskey
Janet Petersen
Jayne Barrow
Jean Harris
Jennie Alaska
Jennifer Bierle
Joan Mercer
Joice Halbert
Joyce Scranton
Joy Martin
Judy Hengen
Katie Bierschbach
Mary Stam
Sadie Colbeck
Sephanie Hanson
Sheila Hoyer
Zarah Mattox
Henry Johnson
Ben Newman
Carol Pesek
John Stam
John TerBeest
Michael Brubaker
Steven Linman
Brady Jones
Bruce Rampelberg
Dave Johnson
Dennis Mercer
Derek Bierschbach
Doug Robbins
Jay Wickre
Josh Van Valkenburg-Gernert
Ken Ketel
Lynn DesLaurier
Mitchell Kaubisch
Richard Gress
Steve McBride
Tim Wolber
Tom Bowman
William Merry
Partially funded by the City of Rapid City Arts Investment Fund through the Rapid City Arts Council.
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