University Men's Chorus & Volaré
University Men's Chorus
& Volaré
Friday, April 10, 2026
8 p.m.
Kobacker Hall
Program
Volaré
Dr. William Skoog, conductor
Heather Goldman, pianist
Grayson Abend, graduate assistant
Music that surrounds, undergirds, elevates, inspires
Prayer of St. Patrick | Ross C. Bernhardt
World premiere of this edition
Aure Volanti | Francesca Caccini (1587-c. 1641), ed. Carolyn Raney
Ashley Busch, flute
Allison Egts, flute
Kiersten Lowry, flute
Audrey Boyles, bassoon
Italian:
Aure volanti, augei canori,
Fonti stillanti, grazie e amori,
Quinci d’intorno
Fate più chiar’ il sol,
Più lieto il giorno.
English:
Wandering breezes, sweet warbling songbirds,
Soft trickling fountains, graces and pleasures,
All here surrounding,
Make the sun brighter,
Make the day much lighter.
In The Lavendar Stillness of Dawn | Jocelyn Hagen
Marion Joyce Johnson, violin
James A. Reed, cello
Heather McEwen, piano
Drifting on the edge of a dream
Dancing on the tail of a song
Swimming in a sea of violet soft clouds
In the lavender stillness of dawn
The quiet of the night does fade
As the first of the morning birds wake
From the spark of day shines a ray of hope
For this day is mine to make
Opportunity sits like a star
My heart its only voice
Do I reach out to grasp my destiny?
This journey is my only choice.
O Salutaris Hostia | Eriks Esenvalds
Mackenzie Jones, soprano and Karla Kunk, mezzo soprano, soloists
Latin:
O salutaris Hostia
Quae coeli pandis ostium.
Bella premunt hostilia;
Da robur, fer auxilium.
Uni trinoque Domino
Sit sempiterna gloria;
Qui vitam sine termino,
Nobis donet in patria.
Amen.
English:
O saving Victim, opening wide
The gate of heaven to man below.
Our foes press on from every side;
Thine aide supply, thy strength bestow.
To Thy great name be endless praise,
Immortal Godhead, One in Three;
O grant us endless length of days,
In our true native land with Thee.
Amen.
O Clap Your Hands | Stephen Chatman
Evelyn Flick and Mackenzie Jones, soprano soloists
No Time | Susan Brumfield
Grayson Abend, graduate student conductor
The next two pieces will be done without interruption…
Neither Angels, nor Demons, nor Powers | Timothy C. Takach,
World premiere of this edition
Music Down in My Soul | Moses Hogan
Soloists:
Abigail Blank
Kalayha Emory
Evelyn Flick
Brooke Jones
Mackenzie Jones
Karla Kunk
Rue Stammen
~intermission~
BGSU Men's Chorus
Dr. Richard Schnipke, conductor
C.J. Capen, pianist
Brock Burkett, graduate assistant
Gaudeamus Igitur | arr. Marshall Bartholomew (1885-1978)
Traditional German Melody
Latin:
Gaudeamus igitur
Juvenes dum sumus.
Post jucundam juventutem
Post molestam senectutem
Nos habebit humus.
Vivat academia!
Vivant professores!
Vivat membrum quodlibet
Vivant membra quaelibet
Semper sint in flore.
English Translation:
Therefore let us rejoice
While we are young!
After pleasant youth
After troublesome old age
The earth will have us!
Long live the university!
Long live the professors!
Long live any student!
Long live any students whatsoever!
May they always be the best!
Sing Dem Herrn | Michael Praetorius, arr. Wallace Depue
German:Sing dem Herrn,
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Alle Leben ihm (or Alle lieben ihn),
Lobe seinen Namen
Singe mit Tabourine und Harfe
English:
Sing to the Lord,
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Every living creature (or All who love him)
Praise his name
Sing with tambourine and harp.
The Last Words of David | Randall Thompson
Aaron Roos, conductor
He that ruleth over men
Must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
And he shall be as the light of the morning.
When the sun riseth,
Even a morning without clouds;
As the tender grass springing out of the earth
By clear shining after rain.
Hallelujah.
Amen.
Bell Tower | Katerina Gimon (b. 1993)
Text by Rainer Maria Rilke, translated by Joanna Macy and Anita Barrows
Quiet friend who has come so far,
feel how your breathing
makes more space around you.
Let this darkness be a bell tower
and you the bell.
As you ring,
what batters you becomes your strength.
Move back and forth into the change.
What is it like, such intensity of pain?
If the drink is bitter, turn yourself into wine.
In this uncontainable night,
be the mystery at the crossroads of your senses,
the meaning discovered there.
And if the world has ceased to hear you,
say to the silent earth: I flow.
To the rushing water, speak: I am.
Meestelaulud | Veljo Tormis (1930-2017)
Estonian Folk Songs
VI. Meremehe-laul (Sailor’s Song)
Estonian:
Vaal purjetes oli meital lust,
Kui kõveras oli laevamast.
Laev lendas nago lofja lind,
Et valges vahus tema rind.
Me Riia linna jõudsime
Ja tantsumaja nõudsime,
Kus nieu tantsib meile seal
Just kivisilla serva peal.
Just nõnamoodi madras
Ka peab järjest mastis turnima.
Ja kui sa kukud vette sealt,
Ei saa sing enam kätte sealt.
Ei seal pole hauaandijaid
Ega kirikaeda kandijaid,
Haug haigutab su haus lael
Ja särg on särav kirstunael.
Aamen - konks ja ha pud silgud.
English:
With sails full, we were in high spirits,
When the ship’s mast was bent in the wind.
The ship flew like a bird of the bay,
Its breast foaming white in the waves.
We came to the city of Riia
And demanded a dance hall,
Where a girl dances for us there,
Right on the edge of the stone bridge.
In just that same way,
A sailor must keep climbing the mast without pause.
And if you fall from there into the water,
You won’t be pulled out again.
There are no grave-diggers there,
Nor bearers to carry you to a churchyard;
A pike will gape above your grave,
And a roach will gleam like a coffin nail.
Amen - hook, line, and a haul of herrings.
VII. Teomehe-laul (Serf’s Song)
Estonian:
Muudel on sängid ja muudel mängid,
mul ei sängi, mul ei mängi,
mure minul on ja teomehe hool,
ei neist pääse kuskile poole.
Kui mina vaeneke väsind olen,
kus ma selle koorma panen?
Mure panen musta parre pääl,
hoole heidan õrre pääle.
Hommilkul, tilluke, jälle teole,
väeti, härra välja pääle, --
mure tuleb parrelt põue taas,
hool see jookseb õue kaasa.
Oi jumal, oi jumal, jumaluke,
viska alla vinnaköied,
et ma üles taeva teomeheks saaks
Maarja loole, Looja maale.
English:
Others have beds and others have games
I have neither a bed nor a game,
Trouble I have and a bondman’s care,
No escape from them.
When I, poor me, get tired,
Where shall I lay this burden?
Trouble I set on the black beam,
Care I cast on the perch.
In the morning, bond again for me, the tiny,
The wee me, (again) onto my master’s field.
Trouble comes back into my bosom,
Care runs along into the yard.
Oh Lord, dear Lord,
Throw down some hoisting ropes
So I could enter the heavenly bond,
Make hay for Maria in the Creator’s realm.
VIII. Tantsulaul (Dancing Song)
Micah Roth, Brock Burkett and Aidan Johnston, soloists
Estonian:
Las aga meie Mari tulla,
küll mina teen tal jalad alla.
Ait-tali-rali-raa, ali-ramp-tamp-taa.
Utireetu, utireetu, trallallaa.
Mul sukakannas suured augud
just nagu vana mära laugud.
Kõrv minul ajab jorupilli,
Alt-Tare Jüri torupilli.
English:
Let our Mari come,
I shall get her on her feet.
Ait-tali-rali-raa, ali-ramp-tamp-taa.
Utireetu, utireetu, trallallaa.
My sock heels have holes
Like an old mare’s blaze.
My ears are singing
As if Jüri from next door was playing the pipes.
We Toast the Days | Linda Kachelmeier (b. 1965)
Grayson Abend and Aaron Roos, soloists
When the clock strikes twelve
And another year has gone,
I give a kiss to you
As remembrance of the past we have shared
And the future yet to come.
We toast the days, both good and bad,
The old friends and the new.
When the clock strikes twelve
And another year has gone,
I give a kiss to you.
While the night is long
And the bitter cold has come,
We lengthen our embrace
To sustain us as we mourn our regrets
And the fear of days unknown.
We toast the days…
As we stand on the edge
Of another bright new year,
I take your hand in mine
With assurance of
The courage we will find
And the hope that leads us on.
We toast the days…
Leron, Leron Sinta | arr. Saunder Choi (b. 1988)
Traditional Filipino folk song
Tagalog:
Leron, Leron sinta, buko ng papaya
Dala-dala’y buslo, sisidlan ng bunga,
Pagdating sa dulo’y, nabali ang sanga.
Kapos kapalaran, humanap ng iba.
Gumising ka, neneng; Tayo’y manampalok.
Dalhin mo ang buslong, sisidlan ng hinog.
Pagdating sa dulo’y, lalamba-lambayog.
Kumapit ka, neneng; Baka ka mahulog.
Ang iibigin ko’y babaeng maganda.
Ang rosas niya’y pito; Ang saya niya’y siyam.
Ang lalakarin niya’y parte ng dinulang.
Isang pinggang pansit ang kanyang kalaban.
English:
Leron, Leron my dear, blossoms of the papaya tree,
With a bamboo basket, he’d gather some fruits.
But when he reached the top (of the tree) the branch broke.
Oh, what a trick of fate, he had to search for another.
Wake up, *neneng; let’s pick some tamarind fruits.
Take the bamboo baskets, to put the ripe ones in.
Upon reaching the top (of the tree), the branches swayed heavily.
Hold on tight, neneng, as you might fall.
The one I will love is a beautiful girl.
She has seven roses and nine dresses.
The journey she will take is the distance of a table.
A plate of noodles is her foe!
*neneng is a colloquial term referring to a girl and does not have an adequate English translation.
Traditional Songs of the BGSU Men’s Chorus
Brothers, Sing On! | Edvard Greig (1843-1907), arr. Howard D. McKinney
Come and let our swelling song
Mount like the whirling wind,
As it meets our singing throng,
So Blithe of heart and mind
Care and sorrow now be gone
Brothers, sing on!
Youth is a wand’ring troubadour
Sailing the singing breeze,
Wooing a maid on a distant shore,
Over the tossing seas;
Steering by the stars above,
His vessel a song of love.
Brothers, sing on!
Errant minstrels, thus we greet you,
List to our voices strong,
With glad and open hearts we meet you
In our festival of song.
Care and sorrow now be gone,
Brothers, sing on!
Forward Falcons! | Wayne Bohrnstedt, Gilbert Fox, & Edith Ludwig Bell, arr. Will Baughman (b. 1993)
Aaron Roos, conductor
Forward Falcons!
Fight for victory.
BGSU!
Show our spirit.
Make them fear it.
Fight for ol’ BG
Forward Falcons!
Make the contest keen.
Hold up the fame
Of our mighty name
And win for Bowling Green
When all is but a memory
Of the bygone days
We’ll remember them always,
Those good ol’ by gone days
Ay Ziggy Zoomba Zoomba Zoomba
Ay Ziggy Zoomba Zoomba Ze
Ay Ziggy Zoomba Zoomba Zoomba
Ay Ziggy Zoomba Zoomba Ze
Roll along you BG warriors
Roll along and win for BGSU!
Alma Mater | Edith Ludwig Bell (1929-1988), arr. John M. Hyde
Alma mater hear us
As we praise thy name.
Make us worthy sons and daughters
Adding to thy fame.
Time will treat you kindly
And some years from now you’ll be
Ever dearer to our hearts,
Our University
From the halls of Ivy
Over to the campus scene,
Chimes ring out with gladness
For our dear Bowling Green.
When all is but a memory
Of the bygone days,
Hear our hymn dear Alma mater
As thy name we praise.
Combined Choirs
O Filii et Filiae | Volkmar Leisring
Latin:
O filii et filiae,
Rex caelestis, gloriae,
Alleluia!
O filii et filiae,
Christus surrexit hodie,
Alleluia!
English:
O sons and daughters,
The heavenly King of glory,
Alleluia!
O sons and daughters,
Christ has risen today,
Alleluia!
Homeland | Grace Coberly
Dear love, dear friend, see how gentle the night
That warms us from the cold.
When we met, I could swear I had known you before
In a lifetime gentler still.
This is our homeland, our haven in the woods –
Familiar shadows, a sky we call our own.
And surely, we all will meet again.
In music, we’ll never be alone.
If the night falls too fast, I will seek out the sun
and paint it in the sky.
If the monsters return, I will drive them away
to keep you safe with me.
This is our homeland, our haven in the woods –
Familiar shadows, a sky we call our own.
And surely, we all will meet again.
When we’re centuries old and our voices are gone,
we will all come home.
William Skoog served as Professor of Music at Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee from 2009 to 2025, retiring from Rhodes this year. He served as Chair of the Department of Music from 2009 to 2018, subsequently serving as the Director of Choral Studies until 2024.
Prior to serving at Rhodes, he held positions as Director of Choral Activities at Southwestern Michigan College, Indiana/Purdue University at Fort Wayne, and at Bowling Green State University. Skoog has several publications, most significantly a monograph on the Choral Music of Jennifer Higdon published by Cambridge Scholars Press, and is under contract by the same publisher for a monograph on The Choral Music of Dave Brubeck.
Skoog currently serves as Interim Choir Director at Germantown Presbyterian Church, and as conductor for a choir at Trezevant Manor, in Memphis. At Rhodes he conducted the Rhodes Singers, Chamber Singers, and the Rhodes MasterSingers Chorale, conducting major choral-orchestral works with that 100-voice, semi-professional ensemble, performing with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra. He has conducted orchestras and choirs in international festivals in Prague, Vienna, Salzburg, Dublin, Rome, Venice, London, Paris and Lucerne, and national festivals at the Kennedy Center and at Carnegie Hall. He holds a Doctor of Arts degree in Music with emphases in conducting and in voice/opera from the University of Northern Colorado, two Master of Arts degrees, one in Voice and one in Conducting from the Lamont School of Music at Denver University (CO), and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and Theatre from Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter Minnesota. Bill is the father of three grown children and has six grandchildren. He resides in Shelby County, Tennessee with his wife Elaine and their two dogs, Nutella and Brisket.
Heather McEwen Goldman is a pianist at Bowling Green State University where she accompanies both Volaré and Collegiate Chorale. She is also the Music Director and Organist at First Presbyterian Church in Bowling Green, OH. She has an MM in Piano Accompanying and Chamber Music from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY where she played for Musica Nova, the Eastman-Rochester Chorus, and toured the country as part of the University of Rochester’s capital campaign. Prior to her time at Eastman, she was a New York City Teaching Fellow and obtained an MS in Math Education from City College in New York. She made her concerto debut with the Toledo Symphony Orchestra. Heather has collaborated with many opera singers and choruses, and enjoys playing chamber music both classical and modern.
Dr. Richard Schnipke serves as Associate Professor of Music Performance and Director of Choral Activities at Bowling Green State University. His duties at BGSU include conducting the Collegiate Chorale and Men’s Chorus, as well as teaching graduate courses in choral repertoire and graduate and undergraduate conducting. Previously, Dr. Schnipke held faculty positions at Xavier University and The Ohio State University and spent 15 years as a public-school choral director. He holds degrees from Bowling Green State University and The Ohio State University and has done additional graduate studies at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
Choirs under Schnipke’s direction have performed at national and regional conferences of the American Choral Directors Association and have made numerous appearances at the Ohio Music Education Association Professional Development Conference and the Ohio Choral Directors Association Summer Conference. Schnipke’s choirs have also sung for the American Musicological Society and for several national seminars of the IMC: The Tenor-Bass Choral Consoritum. Dr. Schnipke also regularly prepares professional choruses for the Toledo Symphony Orchestra and frequently presents at state, regional, and national conference on the incorporation of Dalcroze Eurhythmics in the choral rehearsal.
Schnipke performs regularly as a professional chorister and has served as tenor section leader for Cincinnati’s Vocal Arts Ensemble (Grammy Award winner, Craig Hella Johnson, music director). He is a Past-President of the Ohio Choral Directors Association, has served on the National Board of the National Collegiate Choral Organization, and is currently on the board of IMC: The Tenor-Bass Choral Consortium.
CJ Capen is musical coordinator and accompanist in the BGSU Department of Theatre & Film and collaborative pianist for the University Men's Chorus. He holds an MM in Collaborative Piano from University of North Carolina, Greensboro, a BFA in Piano Performance from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies in Choral Conducting from Messiah University.
He has been staff accompanist & vocal coach for Chicago Summer Opera, Elon University, Interlochen Center for the Arts, and American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. He has served as keyboard artist for Georgetown Chorale, Vienna Chorale Society, and the semi-professional choir, "Voce Chamber Singers" from 2013-2023. He has toured China with Baltimore Symphony Orchestra flutist Lauren Sileo in 2014, given lecture recitals for Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and he has given benefit concerts to include: S.O.M.E's 40th Anniversary Celebration, St Thomas More Cathedral Recital Series, Reston Drop-In Center, Cornerstone, and the Maryknoll Society.
He is also a conductor, having served as conductor for Opera Steamboat's production of "Frida", guest conductor for Reston Chorale's Messiah Sing-Along, conductor for the Arlington Diocese Choral Festival, choral director and musical director at Paul VI High School for many years, and he served as Director of Music at St John Neumann Church in Reston VA from 2008-2023, one of the largest churches in the Diocese of Arlington.
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Updated: 04/07/2026 02:01PM