CCM Chamber Choir welcomes Cincinnati Ballet guest artists in Oct. 29 concert
Presented at Christ Church Cathedral, the performance also features CCM faculty artist Elliot Madore
Event Information (passed)
Story by CCM Graduate Student Chet Rhodes
The UC College-Conservatory of Music Chamber Choir presents “Life and Death: Bach Dances” at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022 at Cincinnati’s Christ Church Cathedral.
Led by Professor and Director of Choral Studies Joe Miller, this collaborative concert features choreography by Cincinnati Ballet guest artist Taylor Carrasco and professional dancers from the company, lighting design by CCM Theatre Design and Production Co-Chair Sharon Huizinga and featured solos by faculty guest artist Elliot Madore. Tickets are on sale through the CCM Box Office.
In a cathartic exploration of human emotion, “Life and Death: Bach Dances” features two J.S. Bach’s compositions: Magnificat in D Major and Ich habe genug. While Magnificat portrays an expectant mother’s excitement and uncertainty as she looks forward to the birth of her child, Ich habe genug explores the morbid fascination of death and the wonders of the afterlife. The dichotomy created between these two works provides space to artistically examine the scope of the human experience, with all its joyous and grievous nuances.
““This push and pull of life and death will be highlighted by the convergence of choral music, solo works, dance, lighting and orchestra,” says Miller. “We are seeking to create experiences that allow us to look at the world from different perspectives. This type of collaboration engages the eyes and ears in a way that is unique.”
Miller says that this concert is stretching the imagination of the students, and they are excited for the opportunity to learn new ways to present their artistry.
“Life and Death: Bach Dances” features Cincinnati Ballet dancers Nicolas Bierwagen, Erin Blair, Julia Gundzik, Anderson Da Silva, with choreography by Carrasco. This unique collaboration of artists provides audiences with a view of the incredible energy found at the Cincinnati Ballet, and “gives us the opportunity to take the sonic atmosphere of a choir and set it in motion.”
This performance features CCM Voice Professor Elliot Madore, singing Ich habe genug. Hailed by the New York Times for his “robust singing” and Opera News for his “exquisite vocal beauty,” the Grammy Award winning baritone has established himself as an international artist in demand at the leading opera houses and orchestras of the world.
CCM Chamber Choir presents “Life and Death: Bach Dances” at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, at Cincinnati’s Christ Church Cathedral. Tickets are on sale now through the CCM Box Office.
Tickets will not be available to purchase in-person at the venue.
Repertoire
CCM Chamber Choir
Joe Miller, music director and conductor
Taylor Carrasco, guest choreographer
Sharon Huizinga, lighting designer
Rama VanGils*, associate lighting designer
Featuring faculty artist Elliot Madore, baritone
Featuring guest artists from Cincinnati Ballet
J.S. BACH: Magnificat in D Major
J.S. BACH: Ich habe genung
Joe Miller
Director and Professor of Choral Studies, CCM Choral Studies
Dieterle Vocal Arts Cntr
Recognized as a visionary conductor and creative artist, Joe Miller maintains an active performance schedule. Miller currently serves as Professor of Conducting and Director of Choral Studies at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). In addition to his work at CCM, Miller is artistic director of choral activities for the renowned Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, South Carolina and since 2016 he has served as conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra Symphonic Choir.
Featured works of Miller’s 2024-25 season CCM include touring with the CCM Chamber Choir with Bach’s Singet dem Herrn, Mahler Symphony Nr. 2, Resurrection (Mark Gibson), Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem(Brett Scott), and a residency with renowned Latvian composer Eriks Esenvalds. Works with the Philadelphia Orchestra include Mahler, Symphony Nr. 3 (Yannick Nézet-Séguin), and Verdi Requiem (Ricardo Muti), and Handel, Messiah (Yannick Nézet-Séguin). Miller will close the 2024-25 season with new works and projects for the Spoleto Festival USA. Finally, last season marked the premier of MAESTRO a collaboration with Bradley Cooper and Netflix featuring the Philadelphia Symphonic Choir and the music of Leonard Bernstein. The music has been released on Deutsche Grammaphon and the movie received a Best Picture Nomination for the Academy Awards.
Miller made his conducting debut with the Philadelphia Orchestra in 2021 conducting Handel’s Messiah. Recent collaborations with Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Philadelphia Orchestra have included premier performances of Kevin Puts’ The Hours with Renée Flemming, Kelli O’Hara and Jennifer Johnson. The 2024 Philadelphia Symphonic Choir’s performances in Carnegie Hall and at Marion Anderson Hall celebrated Nathalie Stutzmann’s long collaboration as Principal Guest Conductor of the Philadelphia Orchestra.
After viewing a staged performance of Joby Talbot’s demanding Path of Miracles at the 2019 Spoleto Festival USA, D.C. Theatre Scene wrote, “Joe Miller is a fearless artist. His bold leadership and trust in these young singers enabled his choristers to forego the ‘stand and deliver,’ score-bound habits of their genre and ‘walk with him’ on this special journey. Not only did the singers need to memorize their parts, no mean feat, but follow his baton’s bid from any part of the auditorium and sing in any body position. Miller constantly challenged them in the process and inspired them to work confidently, well outside their comfort zone.”
Miller’s ensembles have performed throughout the world giving concert tours in Italy, Germany, Austria, France, England, China, and Spain, participating in the World Symposium on Choral Music in Barcelona. His choirs have toured extensively throughout the United States performing for the American Choral Director’s Association National and Regional Conferences, and including groundbreaking performances of Julia Wolfe’s Pulitzer Prize winning Anthracite Fields at the historic Roebling WireWorks as part of Westminster’s Transforming Space project.
Miller has been praised for his recordings. American Record Guide wrote about, Frank Martin: Mass for Double Choir, “This is gorgeous singing … with perfect blend, intonation, diction, ensemble and musicality.” The Heart’s Reflection: Music of Da
Sharon Huizinga
ON PROFESSIONAL LEAVE. Returning 06/2025 Lighting Design and Technology, CCM Tech Theatre/Design&Production/Light
Corbett Cntr Perform Arts
Europe Selected: Eos programmer for the Dutch National Opera & Ballet (multiple productions), ETC Field Project Coordinator for Northern Europe, guest lecturer for the Academy voor Theatre en Dance Amsterdam, lighting, projection and scenic design for multiple European tours with Deva Premal & Miten.
US Selected: Multiple lighting and projection designs for University of Wyoming, Asst. Professor of Lighting and Projection Design for University of Wyoming’s department of Theatre and Dance. Lighting Design for Macbeth Ghost on Fire, Merry Wives of Windsor and Sweet Love Adieu for the Oberon Theatre Ensemble in New York. Lighting Programmer for Shrek, the Musical (Broadway and national tour), Nerds, a Musical Software Satire (Philadelphia), Ditty Doodle Works Pajama Party Live (National Tour) and the GM booth at the NY Auto Show. Lighting Director for the Home States Ball at the 2009 Presidential Inauguration (Washington DC).
Canada Selected: Lighting Designer for the world premier of Khaos, the Opera, Lighting Director for the Cultural Olympiad of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, Lighting Programmer for the 2010 Paralympic Games Opening Ceremonies, multiple lighting designs for The Globe Theatre in Regina, Studio 58, Intermuses Productions, and The Richmond Gateway Theatre, all in Vancouver. She has also designed lighting for I am My Own Wife (Belfry Theatre, Victoria), Cymbeline (Bard on the Beach, Vancouver), and for Ali and Ali and the Axes of Evil (Neworld/Cahoots Theatre, Vancouver/Toronto), the closing production of the 2005 Canada Games in Regina, and co-designed lighting (with Mike Johnston) for MTV Select.
Touring Credits Include: Lighting Designer for Diana Krall’s “From This Moment On” Tour, Asst. Head of Lighting for Cirque Du Soleil’s Dralion, Lighting and Scenic Designer for multiple Deva Premal & Miten tours, Production Manager and Lighting Designer for Jesse Cook’s Frontiers Tour, Video Programmer for Diana Krall’s Solo shows at the Montreal Jazz Festival, Asst. Production Manager for Diana Krall’s Girl In The Other Room Tour (Asia, Australia and NZ), Production Manager and Technical Director for Fire, Where There’s Smoke Canadian Tour(Dance Arts Vancouver), Lighting Director for Norah Jones’ Summer 2003 Tour, Lighting Director for Ballet British Columbia’s Mexico Tour of The Faery Queen, and an enlightening turn as a promoter’s representative for Pearl Jam’s 2005 Canadian Tour.
Huizinga is a certified Jivamukti yoga teacher and a firm believer in the tiny house movement. She believes that the entertainment world is really fun most of the time.
Elliot Madore
Associate Professor of Voice, CCM Voice
Dieterle Vocal Arts Cntr
Professor Madore has been recognized as a highly-acclaimed teacher of voice and opera. His students have been invited to study at elite training programs including the Los Angeles Opera’s Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program, the Chautauqua Opera Program, SongFest, Aspen Opera Program and the Des Moines Apprentice Artist Program. His students are performing operatic and musical theater repertoire on the national and international stage and on Broadway. Professor Madore has also taught at several prominent summer music programs including The Banff Center for Arts and Creativity and The National Opera Intensive with Against the Grain Theater. Professor Madore is a frequent master teacher having been invited to the University of Toronto, Florida Grand Opera Young Artist Program, Atelier lyrique at l’Opéra de Montréal, University of Alberta, The Glenn Gould School at The Royal Conservatory of Music, Kalamazoo College, the University of Manitoba, among others.
The 2021 – 2022 season saw Mr. Madore’s house debut in the world premiere of Giorgio Battistelli’s new opera Julius Caesar with Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, directed by Robert Carsen and conducted by Daniele Gatti. Mr. Madore also made his role debut as Dr. Falke in Die Fledermaus with the Sieji Ozawa Music Academy in Japan. Orchestral work includes Carmina Burana with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, conducted by music director Gustavo Dudamel.
Over the past decade, Madore has performed in such illustrious European Opera Houses and Concert Halls as the Berlin Philharmonic, Zurich Opera House, Dutch National Opera, Glyndebourne Festival, and, among others, the Bayerische Staatsoper. He’s had the immense pleasure of working with such conducting luminaries such as Seiji Ozawa, Kirill Petrenko, Franz Welser-Möst, Marco Armiliato, Fabio Luisi, Gustavo Dudamel, Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, Nello Santi, William Christie, Gianandrea Noseda, and many more.
In addition to being the grand prize winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Madore was also the recipient of the 2010 George London Award for a Canadian Singer from the George London Foundation. He was also the winner of the 2009 Palm Beach Vocal Competition. Madore is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music where he studied with Marlena Malas.
Taylor Carrasco, choreographer
Cincinnati Ballet Corps de Ballet member
“When I was three, my sister was six and in ballet like every other little girl. My parents would bring me to her classes and I would try to dance with them from the hallway. They assumed I’d like it, enrolled me in class and I never stopped,” says Taylor Carrasco of his ballet beginnings. Carrasco trained with the School of American Ballet and New Mexico Ballet Company and has taken summer intensives with Boston Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Ballet Chicago. He joined Cincinnati Ballet Second Company – CB2 in the 2014-2015 Season and was promoted to Apprentice for the 2015-2016 Season. Carrasco was then promoted to Corps de Ballet for the 2017-2018 Season. He has had three of his ballets performed by the main company of Cincinnati Ballet, with two of them being created for the The Kaplan New Works Series in 2018 and 2019. Carrasco’s favorite dancing memories thus far are tied to dancing with his sister. He says that “sharing the stage with family is the best experience.”
Nicolas Bierwagen
Cincinnati Ballet CB2 Dancer
Nicolas Bierwagen is from Spokane, Washington and began dancing with Arts and Communication Magnet Academy at the age of 12 in Portland, Oregon. While attending ACMA, he also received training at Northwest Dance Project and The Portland Ballet. Nic also attended summer intensives programs at Atlanta Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Boston Ballet. In 2018, he joined Boston Ballet School and later attended their trainee program. He is thrilled to join Cincinnati Ballet’s Second Company for the 2021-2022 Season.
Erin Blair
Cincinnati Ballet CB2 Dancer
Erin Blair was born in Laguna Niguel, California and trained at The Maple Conservatory of Dance. While at Maple Conservatory, she had the opportunity to perform roles such as Dream Clara and the Dew Drop Fairy in The Nutcracker and the title role in Cinderella. She competed in The Los Angeles Music Center Spotlight awards where she was a Semi-Finalist in both Classical and Non-Classical Dance. She also participated in YoungArts where she was awarded Honorable Mention in Non-Classical Dance. After graduating high school, she joined Cincinnati Ballet’s Professional Training Division for the 2019-2020 season. She had the opportunity to perform in Septime Webre’s Wizard of Oz, Victoria Morgan’s The Nutcracker, and Kirk Peterson’s Swan Lake. She is looking forward to dancing with Cincinnati Ballet 2 for the upcoming season.
Julia Gundzik
Cincinnati Ballet CB2 Dancer
Born in Oxford, Ohio, Julia Gundzik began her dance training at Ballet Tech of Ohio and Ballet Center of Houston. She attended the Nutmeg Conservatory to begin her full-time dance training before joining the Washington Ballet’s Professional Training Program, where she performed corps de ballet roles in many company productions. Julia joined Cincinnati Ballet as a member of the Professional Training Division in 2019 and began teaching classes in the Cincinnati Ballet Otto M. Budig Academy in 2020. She is excited to join Cincinnati Ballet’s Second Company this year.
Anderson Da Silva
Cincinnati Ballet CB2 Dancer
Anderson Da Silva is from Tampa, Florida and began training at America’s Ballet School at the age of 12. While there, Da Silva performed multiple roles in classical ballets including Le Corsaire, Don Quixote, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Coppelia, and Alice in Wonderland. Upon high school graduation, Anderson attended Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music ballet program. During his time at Indiana University, he performed several lead and corps de ballet roles in including works from George Balanchine, Christopher Wheeldon, Jerome Robbins, and Mark Morris. A few of these works were Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante and La Source, Wheeldon’s Carousel (A Dance), Robbins’ N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz and The Concert, and Morris’ Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes.
Performance Time
7 p.m. Saturday, October 29
Location
Christ Church Cathedral
318 E 4th St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
Purchasing Tickets
Tickets are $19.50; student and group discounts available. Tickets can be purchased in person at the CCM Box Office, over the telephone at 513-556-4183 or online now through our e-Box Office! Tickets will not be available to purchase in-person at the venue.
Learn about additional ticket options for current CCM students.
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Featured image at the top: CCM Chamber Choir performs in a concert.
Chet Rhodes
CCM Graduate Assistant, Marketing + Communications
Currently a Bassoon Performance master’s student at CCM, Chet received a Bachelor of Music from the University of Utah. He has held positions with the Salt Lake Symphony and the Utah Philharmonia.
A preeminent institution for the performing and media arts, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) is the largest single source of performing arts presentations in the state of Ohio. All event dates and programs are subject to change. For a complete calendar of events, visit ccm.uc.edu/onstage.
Additional Contacts
Curt Whitacre | Director of Marketing/Communications | UC College-Conservatory of Music
whitaccp@ucmail.uc.edu | 513-556-2683
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