Home of Carolyn Diamond

Arrival 7:00 pm, Concert 7:30 pm
Reservations are required and can only be made by members. Please email info@thursdaymusical.org for the link to RSVP to this home. Address will be provided in the RSVP.

Performances by:

Mark Countryman, baritone & Carolyn Diamond, piano
Nancee Soteroplos, soprano & Thomas Bartsch, piano
Amos Lucidi, piano

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Singing has been a part of Mark's life since his freshman year of high school in 1976, at the former Crosier Seminary in Onamia, MN. Mark sang at St. John's University with the CSB/SJU Chamber Choir under the direction of Dr. Axel Theimer, and at the College (now the University) of St. Thomas, in the CST/CSC Chorale, directed by the late Dr. Maurice Jones. Mark is active in the Twin Cities choral music community, on the rosters of Singers In Accord and The Minnesota Chorale. He also serves as a volunteer church cantor at Our Lady of Peace and Annunciation Catholic Churches in South Minneapolis. A past MacPhail student, Mark holds an AFA in music from Normandale Community College,and a Master's Certificate in Theory & Harmony from Berklee College of Music. He currently studies voice with Teresa Tierney.

Active as both pianist and pipe organist, Carolyn Diamond performs regularly on concert series and in salon settings. As a recitalist, she has been praised for her buoyant style and interpretive vigor, and has the reputation of delivering passionate and colorful performances. Selections from her CD of piano music, SCANDINAVIAN SUITE, have been played on Minnesota Public Radio/American Public Media.
Diamond has been a frequent performer at the TCU/Van Cliburn Piano Institute in Texas where she was a winner of their Piano Concerto Competition, performing with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.

Having been a church musician since high school, she has served large congregations as Director of Music/ Organist, and most recently as Staff Musician at Central Lutheran Church (2001-2016). Currently she is a regularly featured musician at Wayzata Community Church.

She is active as a performing member of the American Guild of Organists (has served the on the Executive Board of the TCAGO), Friday Club, and is an Artist Member of Thursday Musical. She has worked with the American Symphony Orchestra and was a performer with the National Arts Club in New York City.

A Valedictorian from Robbinsdale High School, she went on to receive her B.A. degree (with highest distinction) from the University of Minnesota where she studied piano with Bernard Weiser and organ with Heinrich Fleischer. Postgraduate work includes keyboard studies with Howard Don Small, Dean Billmeyer at the University of Minnesota, Kent Tritle of the Juilliard School, and Igor Resnianski of Westchester University. A winner of the Young Artist Competition, she was also a recipient of the Dimitri Metropolous Scholarship.

Nancee Soteroplos attended the U of MN and continued her vocal studies at the Mozarteum, Salzburg, Austria, later singing in German opera houses. She moved to London, there performing in theatre, concerts and recitals. After moving to Arizona, she sang leading roles with the Tucson G & S Society and concerts with the Chamber Music Society. While living in Boston, MA, she sang in concerts and recitals at the Goethe Institut Boston, Longy School of Music and New England Conservatory. She then moved “back home” performing with CORO! (an ensemble of soloists) as well as Thursday Musical and Opera On Tap and is looking forward to performing this May with Raison d’Être Opéra. She currently studies with Debra Gilroy.

Pianist Thomas Bartsch pursues an active career as a free-lance pianist/accompanist. In addition to being the Organist at St. Michael's Lutheran Church in Roseville, he is the pianist at Temple of Aaron Synagogue in St. Paul. Tom is also the staff accompanist at Carleton College in Northfield, MN and at Augsburg University in Minneapolis.

Amos Lucidi is a highly accomplished musician based in Saint Paul, Minnesota, known for his belief in music's transformative power. He earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in Piano Performance at the University of Minnesota under Professor Alexander Braginsky's guidance.

Amos is an active performer and teacher, influencing the local music scene significantly. He believes that music serves as a creative force, inspiring individuals to envision a better world and encouraging positive change in their lives. His performances have taken him to various countries and important festivals.

His repertoire encompasses a wide range, from Baroque to contemporary music, with a special emphasis on pieces by Mexican composers like Manuel M. Ponce, José Rolón, and José Pablo Moncayo. Amos is dedicated to promoting Mexican musical heritage.

Beyond performing, he is part of the faculty at the Saint Paul Conservatory of Music and the Anthem Academy of Music, passing on his musical knowledge and passion to aspiring musicians.

Program

Du bist die Ruh (You Are Rest) Franz Schubert (1797-1828)
Ständchen (Serenade)

À Chloris (To Chloris) Reynaldo Hahn (1875-1947)

Mark Countryman, baritone
Carolyn Diamond, piano

Du Meines Herzens Krönelein, Op. 21, No. 2 (Felix Dahn) Richard Strauss (1864-1949)
Nichts, Op. 10, No. 2 (Hermann von Gilm)

Two songs from Five Betjeman Songs (John Betjeman) Madeleine Dring (1923-1977)
Undenominational
A Bay in Anglesey

Four Songs Joseph Marx (1882-1964)
Marienlied (Novalis)
Waldseligkeit (Richard Dehmel)
Es Zürnt das Meer (Paul Heyse)
Selige Nacht (Otto Erich Hartleben)

Nancee Soteroplos, soprano
Thomas Bartsch, piano*

*guest artist

Were You There? Arr. Moses Hogan (1957 - 2003)
He Never Said a Mumblin’ Word

Poor Wayfaring Stranger Arr. Jay Althouse, Alfred Publishing, 1975

Mark Countryman, baritone
Carolyn Diamond, piano

Suite Cubana Manuel M. Ponce (1882-1948)
1. Serenata marina (Sea serenade)
2. Plenilunio (Full moon)
3. Paz de ocaso (Sunset peace)

Scherzo no. 2 in B flat minor, Op. 31 Frédéric Chopin (1810-1849)

Amos Lucidi, piano