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SNMAS Story - History

The Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society - A Perspective

 

The Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society in Las Vegas is proud to celebrate its 46th Season during 2008-2009, as well as the 41st anniversary of its resident conductor, Dr. Douglas R. Peterson.

 

Mission Statement

The Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, community organization whose purpose is the promotion and performance of quality choral and orchestra masterworks, musical productions, and chamber concerts consistent with a strong community and educational outreach in Southern Nevada.

 Dr. Douglas R. Peterson

The Conductor

Dr. Douglas R. Peterson is in his forty-first season as music director of the Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society. He was commended by Governor Gibbons for his many contributions to the Arts in Nevada on November 2007, and was selected as a “Local Hero” award recipient through Bank of America’s Neighborhood Excellence Initative in November, 2006. He received the Governor’s Arts Award for Excellence in the Arts in 1987 and in 1992 was recognized by Governor Bob Miller and Senators Richard Bryan and Harry Reid for his significant contribution to the Arts in Nevada. The Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce awarded him its annual Community Achievement Award in Arts and Entertainment in 1998 and the Musical Arts Society honored him for his “35 years of dedicated leadership in the Choral Arts” at its Gala 40th Anniversary Banquet in May, 2003. Dr. Peterson retired as Emeritus Associate Professor of Music at UNLV in 2003, having taught at the University for 36 years.

 

Regular Guest Soloists

 

 

Amy Cofield, Soprano 

Amy Cofield, Soprano, praised for her beautiful singing, wonderful artistry and beauty of interpretation, has performed all across the U.S. as well as in France, Spain, Portugal, England, Austria, Santo Domingo, Taiwan and Guam. Ms.Cofield’s recent engagements with the Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society include Mendelssohn’s Elijah; John Rutter’s Requiem; Hear My Prayer by Mendelssohn; the Coronation Mass and the Jubilate by Mozart, and the Seasons by Haydn.  Her busy concert schedule includes such performances as  Handel’s Messiah; Orff’s Carmina Burana; John Rutter’s  Mass of the Children at Carnegie Hall;  and the role of Julie Jordan in Carousel with the Annapolis Chamber Orchestra and Chorale. 

 

 Juline Barol-Gilmore

 

Juline Barol-Gilmore, Mezzo-Soprano, a frequent stage performer, has performed leading and supporting roles with Opera Omaha, Central City Opera, Opera Theater of St. Louis, Des Moines Metro Opera, and the Dona Ana Lyric Opera.  She has appeared with the Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society on a number of occasions, including performances of the Mass in B minor by J.S. Bach; the Mass in C  by Beethoven;  Mendelssohn’s Elijah and the Alto Rhapsody by Brahms.

 Neil Wilson

Neil Wilson, Bass-Baritone, has sung to critical acclaim throughout the United States and Germany during a wide-ranging career as teacher and singer.  Since 1980, he has  performed many times as soloist with the Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society in the following works:  Elijah by Mendelssohn;  A Sea Symphony by Vaughan Williams; The Creation by Haydn; Saul by Handel;  the Brahms and Verdi Requiems; and the St. John and St. Matthew Passions by Bach.    He has been a soloist at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, as well as with the Seattle, Denver, Richmond, Rochester, Annapolis, San Antonio, Austin, and Oregon Symphonies.

 

Three Performing Groups

(SNMAS) is the umbrella organization for three performing groups: the Musical Arts Chorus, a large community chorus; the Musical Arts Singers, a vocal chamber ensemble of semi-professional singers; and the Musical Arts Orchestra, comprised of professional instrumentalists.

History
The Society was established as the Las Vegas Musical Arts Workshop in 1963. Dr. Douglas R. Peterson has served as Music Director since 1968. The organization is administered by a Board of Trustees composed of representatives from the local corporate and business community, in addition to performers in the Society itself. The Society's annual budget is earned income from the sale of tickets and contract performances, and donations from the private and public sector including Target Stores, Thomas & Mack Company, Klai-Juba Architects, Lochsa Engineering, Wynn Las Vegas, Whole Foods, Inc.,  and the Nevada Arts Council.

High Quality Programs
The Society’s annual season typically includes the performance of choral-orchestra masterworks by the Musical Arts Chorus, Orchestra, and guest soloists; chamber concerts by the Musical Arts Singers; and a “pops” concert by the Musical Arts Chorus, that is often a tribute to one or more of America's outstanding musical theater or popular song composers. The Society’s classical programming ranges from J.S. Bach’s monumental Mass in B Minor to David Fanshawe’s exciting twentieth century masterpiece, African Sanctus.

High Standards of Performance
Performances in the past decade have evoked rave reviews.
Hal Weller, director of the Las Vegas Philharmonic, praised the Society’s 2007 performance of Mendelssohn’s Lobegesang for its beauty, excellent soloists, chorus, and orchestra. Tom Martin hailed the Society's Verdi Requiem performance as "the kind that could go on tour or on PBS television," while reviewer Arthur Mancini called the Society's Mozart Requiem "one more crown jewel in the season's presentations." About the St. Matthew Passion, Julia Osborne of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, wrote "the gospel of St. Matthew was brought to life in an uplifting performance that might have made even an avowed atheist into a true believer." Review-Journal’s  Carolyn Warble described the Society's Gershwin program as a "wonderfully entertaining evening of Broadway show tunes" and noted that "choral renditions were performed with skill and clarity."

Grant Awards                                                                                                                                        During its lifetime, the Musical Arts Society has been the recipient of four grants from the prestigious National Endowment on the Arts based on the excellence of its programs. The Society's high quality programs reach several thousand listeners annually.

Guest Conductors
Guest conductors for the Society have included the late Robert Shaw, Helmuth Rilling, Jerold Ottley, director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, JAC Redford, prominent American composer, and the late Jester Hairston, composer and arranger of African American spirituals. The Musical Arts Singers vocal ensemble represented the Musical Arts Society and Las Vegas at regional and national conventions of the American Choral Directors Association.

Performing Venues                                                                                                                                    The Society’s performances are scheduled at various venues throughout the community in an effort to bring programming to the broadest range of constituents. Such locations include University of Nevada, Las Vegas; the College of Southern Nevada; Summerlin Library and Performing Arts Center; the Charleston Heights Art Center; Green Valley High School; and the Sammy Davis Jr. Festival Pavilion at Lorenzi Park. Society singers have performed at local hospitals, sung the National Anthem at Cashman Field, and gone Christmas caroling.

Community Outreach

The Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society ventures into the community, performing at local functions and community centers. Appearances have included performances at UNLV’s 40th Anniversary Educational Outreach Celebration, the Del Webb Retirement Community Center in Henderson, the Las Venetas Retirement Center, and St. Mark’s Square at the Venetian Hotel.  It should be emphasized that the Society strives to keep tickets affordable for the entire community. 

 

Educational Outreach

The Society offers a student singer apprentice program annually. The Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society’s educational outreach program includes performances by the Musical Arts Singers in the area’s elementary and middle schools. CCSD groups appearing on Musical Arts Society programs in Ham Concert Hall have included Thurman White Middle School and the Las Vegas Academy Singers, among others. Complimentary and discounted tickets to Musical Arts concerts are made available through the Clark County School District. In April, 2007, Randy Pagel, distinguished choral clinician and music educator, directed the newly-formed Las Vegas Youth Choristers in SNMAS ‘s spring concert accompanied by the Musical Arts Orchestra.


        Four Decades of Performing the World’s Greatest Masterworks!                 

 

First Decade


 


Ninth Symphony

Beethoven

March 23, 1969

 

The Great Scoreboard

William Reddie

Nov. 2, 1969

 

A German Requiem

Brahms

Feb. 15, 1970

 

Peaceable Kingdom

Randall Thompson

May 27, 1970

 

Dettingen Te Deum

G.F. Handel

Dec. 6, 1970

 

Laud to the Nativity

Respighi

Dec. 22, 1970

 

King David

Honegger

May 2, 1971

 

Elijah

Mendelssohn

Nov. 28, 1971

 

Messiah

(Parts II & III)

Handel

(continued)

March 26, 1972

 

An Afternoon of Operatic Music

May 14, 1972

 

Creation

Joseph Haydn

Nov. 26, 1972

 

Grand Mass in C Minor – Mozart

First Walpurgis Night

Mendelssohn

April 15, 1973

 

Mass in C, Op. 8-Beethoven

Song of Fate-Brahms

Choral Fantasia-Beethoven

Lord Nelson Mass - Haydn

A Psalm of Thanksgiving

Randall Thompson

November 25, 1973

 

St. Matthew Passion

J.S. Bach

March 31, 1974

 

Trial by Jury

Gilbert & Sullivan

June 14-16, 1974

 

Requiem

Mozart

Dec. 1, 1974

 

St. John Passion

J.S. Bach

April 6, 1975

Helmuth Rilling,, guest conductor)

 

Messiah

Handel

(Robert Shaw, guest conductor)

November 2, 1975

 

Chichester Psalms –Bernstein

Harmoniemesse –Joseph Haydn

The Seasons (Spring Section)

Joseph Haydn

April 25, 1976

 

Cantata 21 (Ich hatte viel bekummneris)

J.S. Bach

Nov. 28, 1976

 

A German Requiem

Brahms

March 27, 1977

 

African Sanctus (American Premiere with UNLV Chorus)

David Fanshawe

May 8, 1977

 

 

St. Paul

Mendelssohn

April 16, 1978


 

Second Decade


 


Israel in Egypt

Handel

(Jerold Ottley, guest conductor)

March 4, 1979

 

The Seasons

Joseph Haydn

November 25, 1979

 

Cantata 105

J.S. Bach

June 22, 1980

 

A Sea Symphony

Vaughan Williams

Nov. 30, 1980

 

Mariazeller Messe

Joseph Haydn

Nov. 29, 1981

 

Ach Gott vom Himmel sieh darein

Mendelssohn

(continued)

Fantasia for Piano, Chorus and Orchestra

Op. 80-Beethoven

March, 1982

 

Petite Messe Solennelle

Rossini

Nov. 7, 1982

 

Cantata 34-J.S. Bach

Hear My Prayer-Mendelssohn

Pavanne, Op. 50-Gabriel Faure

Flos Campi-Vaughan Williams

Feb. 20, 1983

 

Stabat Mater

Dvorak

March 27, 1983

 

Dettingen Te Deum

Handel

Feb. 19, 1984

Requiem-Mozart

Te Deum-Hummel

April 9, 1984

 

Missa Sancti Bernardi de Offida-Joseph Haydn

Farewell Symphony-Haydn

November 18, 1984

 

Dixit Dominus

Handel

(ACDA Nat’l Convention)

March 9, 1985

 

Memorial Concert- Martha Peterson

Mass in F Minor-Bruckner

March 31, 1985

 

Magnificat –Bach

Ascension Oratorio-Bach

Cantata 191- Bach

Oct. 20, 1985


Second Decade, continued

 


St. Cecilia Mass

Joseph Haydn

December 1, 1985

 

Mass in A

J. S. Bach

Missa Brevis in F-Joseph Haydn

Misericordias Domini-Mozart

Feb. 15, 1986

 

Mass No. 6 in E-flat

Schubert

March 23, 1986

 

Missa Longa-Mozart

Regina Coeli-Mozart

Sancta Maria-Mozart

Magnificat in D-Zelenka

Salve Regina in Bb-Mendelssohn

October 26, 1986

 

Mass in D, Op. 86-Dvorak

Te Deum, Op. 103-Dvorak

April 12, 1987

 

Requiem- Rutter

Concerto Grosso in D Minor-

Vivaldi

(continued)

Symphony No. 28-Joseph Haydn

Nov. 29, 1987

 

Liebeslieder Walzer Op. 52, Op. 65

Brahms

March 6, 1988

 

A Paschal Feast-J.A.C. Redford

(World Premiere)

Requiem, Op. 48-G. Faure

March 11, 1988

 



 

Third Decade


 

 

 


An Afternoon of Gilbert & Sullivan

Jan 15, 1989

 

Credo-Vivaldi

Dettingen Te Deum-Handel

Der Herr denket an uns-J.S. Bach

Alles was ihr tut-Buxtehude

April 3, 1989

 

Memorial Concert – Wilbur Peterson

Air for G String- J. S. Bach

Ave Maris Stella-Mendelssohn

Eine Kleine Nachtmusik-Mozart

Requiem-Durufle

May 19, 1989

 

Manzoni Requiem

Verdi

Nov. 26, 1989

 

 

A Gilbert & Sullivan Celebration

January 20, 21, 1990

 

Lord Nelson Mass

Joseph Haydn

As the Hart Pants (Psalm 42)                 Mendelssohn

March 19, 1990

 

A German Requiem

Brahms

Nov. 25, 1990

 

The Joy of Christmas

Selections: Messiah-Handel, Christmas Oratorio-J. S. Bach

Gloria-Vivaldi

In dulci jubilo –Praetorius

December 14, 1990

 

Pirates of Penzance

Gilbert & Sullivan

Feb. 16, 1991

 

Overture-Magic Flute

Ave Verum-Mozart

Requiem-Mozart

March 24, 1991

 

Let Freedom Ring!

Oct. 13, 1991

 

A Mozart Haydn Celebration

Thamos, Konig in Aegypten-Mozart

(continued)

Theresienmesse- Haydn

Nov. 24, 1991

 

A Christmas to Remember

A Christmas Garland- Susa

Dec. 15, 1991

 

Judas Maccabaeus

Handel

April 12, 1992

 

Songs of our Politics

Wilhelm (I)

October 8, 1992

 

The Seasons

Joseph Haydn

Nov. 22, 1992

 

Zigeunerlieder, Op. 103

Brahms

Feb. 28, 1993

 

Saul

Handel

April 4, 1993

 

Four Abendlieder- Brahms

Liebeslieder Walzer, Op. 52-Brahms

Oct. 24, 1993

 

Elijah

Mendelssohn

Nov. 28, 1993

 

Folk  Songs and Spirituals

(Jester Hairston, conductor)

Feb. 12, 1994

 

African Sanctus

David Fanshawe

March 27, 1994

 

The Mikado

Gilbert & Sullivan

May 6-15, 1994

 

Te Deum in C

Joseph Haydn

Litany, K. 243-Mozart

Creation Mass-Joseph Haydn

Nov. 27, 1994

 

 

H.M.S. Pinafore

Gilbert & Sullivan

May 12-21, 1995

 

A Concert of Peace, Memorial Concert - John Peterson

Mass in Time of War

Joseph Haydn

Passacaglia: Death of Falstaff

Touch her Soft Lips and Part- William Walton

Remembering Those Who Fly-Alice Parker

(World Premiere)

Gloria Rutter

Song of Democracy- Hanson

Nov. 19, 1995

 

St. Matthew Passion

J.S. Bach

March 31, 1996

 

Songs of Our Politics (II)

Wilhelm

Oct. 11, 12, 1996

 

Lobgesang, O. 42

Mendelssohn

Dec. 1, 1996

 

St. John Passion

J.S. Bach

March 23, 1997

 

Suite (from Holberg’s Time) -Grieg

Mass in G-Schubert

Song for Athene (1993)-Tavener

Nov. 8, 1997

 

St. Paul Oratorio-Mendelssohn

Nov. 30, 1997

 

Requiem- Mozart

Requiem - Michael Haydn

April 5, 1998

 

The Creation

Joseph Haydn

Nov. 15, 1998

 

Messiah

Handel

Christmas Oratorio

J.S. Bach

Dec. 13, 1998


 

 


 

 

 

 

Fourth Decade


 


Classical Masters

Lord Nelson Mass in D Minor

Joseph Haydn

Choral Fantasy, Opus 80 - Beethoven

Symphony #39- Mozart

March 28th, 1999

 

A Mahler Celebration

Resurrection Symphony

(with the Las Vegas Philharmonic)

May 8, 1999

 

A Mozart-Haydn Celebration

Harmonie Mass – Haydn

Piano Concerto No. 21-Mozart

Nov. 14, 1999

 

Mass in B Minor

J.S. Bach

April 9, 2000

 

The Magnificence of Mozart, Mendelssohn, and Schumann

Piano Concerto in A Minor-Schumann

Hymne, Op. 96 - Mendelssohn

Grand Mass in C Minor-Mozart

Nov. 26, 2000

 

Manzoni Requiem

Verdi

May 20, 2001

 

Let Freedom Ring!

Song of Democracy-Hanson

Testament of Freedom-Randall Thompson

Mass in A-flat-Schubert

Nov. 11, 2001

 

Messiah

Handel

Dec. 16, 2001

 

A Beethoven Festival Concert

Mass in C

Creatures of Prometheus

Piano Concerto No. 3

March 24, 2002

 

Elijah

Mendelssohn

Nov. 24, 2002                                                        

 

 

Ceremony of Carols-Britten

Christmas Day - Holst

Dec. 15, 2002

 

Sunday with  Schubert

Mass in E-flat

Symphony No. 4 “Tragic”

April 13, 2003

 

Liebeslieder Waltzes-Brahms

Frostiana

Randall Thompson

May 6, 2003

 

Johannes Brahms Concert

A German Requiem

Alto Rhapsody

Academic Festival Overture

Nov. 23, 2003

 

A Christmas Cantata-Pinkham

Dec. 5, 2003

 

Judas Maccabaeus-Handel

March 24, 2004

 

Alleluia-Randall Thompson

May 13, 2004

 

Gilbert & Sullivan to Broadway Irving Berlin

June 4, 6, 2004

 

Songs of Our Politics

Wilhelm (IV)

Oct. 21, 2004

 

Choral and Symphonic Delights

Psalm 42- Mendelssohn

Symphony No. 41 (“Jupiter”) Mozart

Mariazeller Mass- Haydn

Nov. 14, 2004

 

The Three Kings-Orwall

Dec. 17, 2004

 

Down a River of Time

Exsultate Jubilate-Mozart

Down a River of Time - Ewazen  (oboe concerto)

Requiem, ‘Feel the Spirit’-Rutter

March 13, 2005

 

 

 

 

A Mozart-Haydn-Mendelssohn Celebration

Coronation Mass, K. 317-Mozart

Ave verum, K. 618-Mozart

Te Deum for Maria Therese  

Joseph Haydn

Hymne, Op. 96-Mendelssohn

Hear My Prayer-Cantata Mendelssohn

Vesper Psalms, K. 339-Mozart

Nov, 13, 2005

 

A Day for Dancing

Pfautsch

Dec. 18, 2005

 

Requiem

Vesper Psalms, K. 339

Mozart

March 26, 2006

 

Resurrection Symphony - Mahler

(with L.V. Philharmonic)

May 6, May 7, 2006

 

The Seasons

Joseph Haydn

October 29, 2006

 

Cantata 150-J. S. Bach

Coronation Anthem No. 4-Handel

Sancta Maria – Mozart

Nov. 12, 2006

 

Christmas with the Musical Arts Society

Magnificat –Rutter

A Christmas GarlandSusa

December 17, 2006

 

Lobgesang  (Symphony-Cantata)

Mendelssohn

April 1, 2007

 

 

Thamos, King of Egypt – Mozart

St Theresa Mass- Haydn 

Nanie-Brahms

November 11, 2007

 

St. John Passion

J.S. Bach

March 16, 2008

 

Thirty-Eignt Years of Performing the Great Masterworks!

J.S. Bach:

            Cantatas:

BWV           Christ lag in Todesbaden

            11                Lobet Gott

21                Ich hate viel bekummernis

34                O ewiges Feuer

50                Nun das ist heil

105            Herr, gehenicht ins Gericht

146            Wir mussen dich sie Trubsal

182            Himmelskonig, sei wilkommen

191            Gloria in excelsis Deo

196            Wedding Cantata

208      Was mir behagt

 

BWV   232      Mass in B Minor

                        Mass in A Major

BWV   244      St. Matthew Passion

BWV   245      St. John Passion

BWV   248      Christmas Oratorio

 

P.D.Q. Bach

            The Seasonings

Beethoven:

            Choral Fantasia

            Mass in C

            Ninth Symphony

Brahms:

            Ein deutches Requiem

Gypsy Songs

            Liebeslieder Waltzer, Op. 52, 65

Bruckner:

            Mass in F Minor

Dvorak:

            Mass in D

            Stabat Mater

            Te Deum

Fanshawe:

            African Sanctus (American Premiere 1977)

Faure:

            Messe Basse

            Pavanne

            Requiem

Floyd:

            Molly Sinclair

Gilbert & Sullivan:

            H.M.S. Pinafore

            Mikado

            Pirates of Penzance

            Trial by Jury

Handel:

            Coronation Anthems Nos. 2 & 4

            “Let Thy Hand Be Strengthened”

            “The King Shall Rejoice”

            Dettingen Te Deum

            Dixit Dominus

            Israel In Egypt

Judas Maccabaeus

Laudate Pueri Dominus

Messiah

Saul

Hanson:

            Song of Democracy

Joseph Haydn:

            Ave Regina

            Creation

Harmonie Mass

Heilig Mass

Hymnus Venerabilis

Mariazellermesse

Missa Bevis in F

Pauken Mass

Symphony 28

 St. Cecilia Mass

St. Theresa Mass

The Seasons

            Te Deum in D

Johann Michael Haydn:

            Requiem

Honegger:

            King David

Hummel:

            Te Deum

Mendelssohn:

            Choral Cantatas:

            Ach Gott Vom Himmel

            Jesu meine Freude

            Elijah

First Walpurgis Night

Hear My Prayer

St. Paul

            Von Himmel Hoch

            (U.S. Premiere-Carus Edition)

            Resurrection Symphony (Hymn of Praise)

            42nd Psalm

Mozart:

            K. 222 Misericordias Domine

            K. 262 Missa Longa

            K. 273 Sancta Maria mater Dei

            K. 275             Missa Brevis in B

            K. 276             Regina coeli in C

            K. 321 Vesperae solennes de Domini

            K. 339 Vesperae solennes de confessore

            K. 427 Grand Mass in C

            K. 467 Piano Concerto No. 21

            K. 543 Symphony No. 39

K. 618             Ave Verum

K. 626             Requiem

Orff:

            Cantus Firmus Satze

            Carmina Burana

Parker:

            Remembering Those Who Fly (World Premiere, 1995)

Redford:

            A Paschal Feast (1987 World Premiere)

Rossini:

            Petite Messe Solennelle

Schubert:

            Mass in G

            Mass in Eb  

            Mass in Ab

Schumann:

            Piano Concerto in A minor

 

Randall Thompson:

            A Psalm of Thanksgiving

Frostiana

Peaceable Kingdom  

Testament of Freedom

Vaughan Williams:

            A Sea Symphony

            Dona nobis Pacem

            Fantasia on Christmas Carols

Flos campi

            In Windsor Forest

Verde:

            ManzoniRequiem

Vivaldi:

            Credo

            Gloria

Zelenka:

            Magnificat in D

 

 

Copyright © 2004, Southern Nevada Musical Arts Society