March 1, 2025 at 7:30

Performing Arts Center of Rapid City

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Program

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

Young Artist Winner: Cecilia O'Malley, Violin

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!

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Orchestra 

  • Violins

    Violin

    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

  • Violas

    Viola

    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

  • Cellos

    Cello

    Elizabeth Benusis, Principal

    Marta Koscak

    Caitlin Gerdes

    Karina Riggert

    Jannette Leno-Thomas

    Cordelia Grey

    Logan Stone

  • Double Basses

    Double Bass

    Kraig Long, Principal

    Kate Mathews

    Manuelito Trujillo

    Sue Griffith

    John Knowles 

    Tyler Woolsey

  • Flutes

    Flute

    Julie Anderson, Principal

    Helen Van Dam

    Olya Bunger

  • Oboes

    Oboe

    Nancy Olney, Principal

    Paige Werner

    Anna Hughes

  • English Horn

    English Horn

    Paige Werner

  • Clarinets

    Clarinet

    Deb Knowles, Principal

    Jackie Ott

  • Bass Clarinet

    Christine Leichtnam

  • Bassoons

    bassoon

    Erika Olson, Principal

    Heidi Perrett

  • Horns

    bassoon

    Skye van Duuren, Principal

    Victoria Palmreuter

    Jennifer Stelzig

    Sarah Decker

  • Trumpets

    bassoon

    Christopher Hahn, Principal

    Rick Hamil

  • Trombones

    bassoon

    David Blauer, Principal

    Kevin Rathert 


  • Bass Trombone

    bassoon

    William Holst

  • Tuba

    bassoon

    Joel Adams

  • Timpani

    bassoon

    Andrew Simco

  • Percussion

    bassoon

    Carol Gulbransen, Principal

    Alan Temple

    Dillon Dahlke

    Spencer Gerdes 

    Clacie Neu

  • Harp

    bassoon

    Jane A. Hamman 


  • Keyboard

    Diane Ketel

Dakota Choral Union

Artistic Director & Conductor:

Ellen Shirley

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.

  • Collaborative Accompanist

    Andrew Belsaas

  • Sopranos

    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

  • Altos

    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

  • Tenors

    Ben Newman

    Carol Pesek

    John Stam 

    John TerBeest

    Michael Brubaker

    Steven Linman

  • Basses

    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

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