Wednesday, June 26th - 11:45 AM

Concert Program

Tucson Girls Chorus Bumblebees

The Tucson Girls Chorus (TGC) was founded in 1985 and continues to ensure that every girl knows that her voice matters. TGC’s 21 choirs include grade-level ensembles at Central and Northwest Tucson, a co-ed all-abilities ensemble led by a Board Certified music therapist, an early childhood program, and subsidized choirs in partnership with Title I schools. TGC provides vocal instruction, musicianship training, and social and performance opportunities. Our robust engagement program includes annual choral festivals, partnerships throughout the community, and a Music Educator Support Program to increase music teacher recruitment and retention in AZ.

Starting from the Bumblebee Singers (K-1), TGC creates a space for singers to develop artistry, musical excellence, and a sense of belonging. In 2022, the Bumblebees became the youngest choir to perform at a national ACDA event. We are very proud to showcase the Bees at AZACDA to continue demonstrating that singers of all ages are capable of meaningful performances that go beyond “cute”- although they certainly are also that!

The mission of the Tucson Girls Chorus is to prepare a diverse group of young women to be confident leaders through participation in a well-constructed educational program that emphasizes music, performance, leadership training, and community service.

Jess Edelbrock, Director

Jess Edelbrock directs the Tucson Girls Chorus Bumblebee and Mariposa Singers, along with TGC's Pop Acapella Groups. She oversees all programming in partnership with Dr. Molina as Director of Operations.

Jess earned a B.M. in Choral Education from Northern Arizona University in 2013 and an MM in Choral Conducting from Michigan State University in 2018. She has experience teaching students in grades K-12 and believes that all students deserve access to the many benefits of singing together.

Jess directed the choir program at Central High School in Phoenix for one year before moving back to Tucson, then spent two years as the music teacher at Mesa Verde Elementary and another two at the Tucson Hebrew Academy. Jess has found her passions in teaching children and young teens, as well as serving future and current music educators. In Spring 2023, she was appointed Adjunct Professor of Music Education at the University of Arizona Fred Fox School of Music. She has served on the board for the Arizona Choral Directors Association and has had the honor of leading the 2023 Cantaremos Treble Honor Choir and the 2024 Northern AZ Honor Choir. She enjoys spending time with her wonderful husband, two incredible children, two adorable dogs, and lots of plants.

Ingleside Middle School

Ingleside Middle School Choir has over 140 students involved each year. This choir is a select group of students chosen for their musical ability as well as their professionalism at their young age. Most of these singers have been singing for at least 1 year at Ingleside Middle School and a handful are a part of the curricular advanced choir at Ingleside. Through their learning of the piece, these students have been able to connect more deeply with this horrific part of history.

They first premiered Lost Nursery Rhymes of Innocent Children on November 3, 2023 at a public event entitled “Holocaust Through the Arts”. Later that same month they performed the piece for the Arizona Jewish Historical Society in honor and remembrance of Holocaust survivors.

Samantha Jorgenson, Director

Samantha Jorgensen just finished her 2nd year teaching choir and theater at Ingleside Middle School. She is a graduate of Northern Arizona University where she earned a degree in Choral Music Education and studied under the direction of Dr. Edith Copley. In addition to her work at Ingleside she is a staff singer and the childrens choir director at Pinnacle Presbyterian Church in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Mutsumi Mori, Piano

Thomas Strawser, Tenor Solo

Owen Smedley, Marimba

Ethan Chang, Cello

Lost Nursery Rhymes of Innocent Children

Christie Morrison, Composer

Composer Biography

Christie Morrison has built a long, successful career in music that matters more than ever to her now. The Canadian-born native gained a reputation for her composition “Lost Nursery Rhymes of Innocent Children”. Her piece was awarded 1st place in an open compositional competition for Canadian composers in 2020. Lost Nursery Rhymes of Innocent Children examines the atrocities and senseless murders of Jewish children and their families. Christie's piece is dedicated with respect, honour and love to her beloved friend, a child holocaust survivor Oskar Knoblauch. Oskar was born November 27th, 1925, in Leipzig. Germany. Oskar celebrates his 98th birthday in 2023! Christie holds music degrees in Voice Performance, violin, piano and music composition from R.C.M. (Toronto Conservatory of Music) V.CM. (Victoria Conservatory of Music) and W.W.U. ( Western Washington University ). Christie remains an active member of N.A.T.S (National Association of Teachers of Singing) and has acted as an adjudicator in the U.S. and Canada. Christie is also a contributing member of A.C.W.C. (Association of Canadian Women Composers). Christie and her husband Brent Morrison are tireless in their joined efforts to aid and support.

Information from Composer Christie Morrison Regarding Lost Nursery Rhymes of Innocent Children:

This music was inspired by the following event in history: In 1942, Janusz Karczak sacrificed his life to be with 192 orphans as they were led to the gas chambers. Eighty years later, Janusz is still being recognized and honoured for his selfless act of heroism.

During World War II, Janusz Karczak ran an orphanage for Jewish children. He had dedicated his life to children's welfare. When the Nazi's created the Warsaw Ghetto, his orphanage was moved there, and he refused to leave his children behind. Despite the lack of food and widespread misery in the Ghetto, Janusz fought constantly for financial resources to support the children's needs. Above all else, he fought so that, despite the Ghetto's hopeless conditions, the children could maintain a semblance of their previous lives. Various resistance groups repeatedly offered Janusz a way out of the Ghetto, but he turned down the chance every time, choosing to stay and take care of the 192 children in his orphanage. In July 1942, the extermination of the Jews in the Ghetto began. On August 5th, German soldiers came to collect the 192 orphans and take them to the infamous Treblinka extermination camp. Janusz, determined to soothe the children's fears and keep their spirits up, calmly told them to pack their belongings. He marched forward holding the hands of two small children, followed by the rest of the children, all dressed in their finest clothes.

When they were almost at their destination, an SS officer recognized Janusz and offered him one final chance to save himself. Once again, Janusz refused to leave the children, until the very end. Janusz sacrificed his own life to bring comfort and soothe the children. His kindness and humanity created a beacon of light in a time of cruel darkness.

"I exist not to be loved and admired, but to love and act. It is not the duty of those around me to love me. Rather, it is my duty to be concerned about the world, about man."

I visited Auschwitz in 2006 with my university choir, where my life was forever changed. It was here, through the camp experience, that "Lost Nursery Rhymes of Innocent Children" emerged.

The purpose of the music is two-fold, one being to share and educate people so that we never forget the horrors of the Holocaust, and the heroes that stood up for what is right. The music ends with a gesture representing a symbol of hope as we both honour and remember the millions of innocent lives so brutally lost.

I dedicate my music to Oskar Knoblauch, my Jewish friend, who survived the Holocaust. Oskar's tenacity, courage, and wisdom has also had a significant effect in the writing of this piece. Oskar celebrated his 94th birthday in November.

Arizona Collegiate Honor Choir

AzACDA is proud to host this year's Summer Collegiate All-State Choir. This is the 2nd year in its existance, and we are excited to contine this new tradition.

Victor C. Johnson, Director

Victor is a native of Dallas, Texas, and is currently in his 12th year of teaching at the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts. He is also in his twelfth year as director of the Children’s Choir of Texas. Victor attended the University of Texas at Arlington where he majored in music education with a concentration in organ. While attending UTA, he served as student conductor of the university’s choral ensembles and opera workshop accompanist. He was also honored with the awards of “Outstanding Music Freshman” in 1997 and also “Outstanding Musician” in 2001.

As a composer, Victor has won numerous composition contests and has received ASCAP Awards for the past 12 years. His first piece was published in 1994, while he was a sophomore in high school. To date, he has over 200 octavos and choral products in the catalogs of Heritage Music Press, The Lorenz Corporation, Chorister’s Guild, SoundForth, and Hal Leonard Corporation.

Victor has led reading sessions and choral workshops in numerous states and has conducted All-State and Regional Honor choirs in Texas, California, Oklahoma, Kansas and Kentucky. His own choir was selected to perform at the Texas Music Educators Association Convention in 2011.

His professional affiliations include: American Choral Directors Association, Texas Music Educators Association, Texas Choral Directors Association, ASCAP, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, Inc.

Page updated

Report abuse