Event Details

Sunday, April 12, 2026, 4:00pm

Catherine Cassidy Gallagher Great Hall, GBPAC

Buy Tickets for Vespers - Concert Chorale & UNI Glee Club

$7-$10

Vespers

featuring 
Concert Chorale 
& Varsity Glee Club

John Wiles, conductor

Tonight’s program is designed as a kind of evening vigil. It is an encounter between ancient prayer and the contemporary voice. Movements from Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil form the foundation, each paired with a work that reflects, refracts, or responds to the text. Across these pairings, sacred liturgy meets modern expression, and familiar human questions emerge: why are we here, how we endure, what we fear, and what gives our lives meaning. The goal is not to resolve these questions, but to hold them lightly in song, allowing music from different times and traditions to speak to each other and to us. 

The questions that frame each section are offered as points of entry rather than definitive interpretations. They do not encompass the full theological or poetic scope of the texts, nor are they intended to represent a comprehensive account of Russian Orthodox thought. Instead, they reflect one way of hearing these works in relation to another. The questions function as an interpretive lens through which this particular program has been shaped.

I. Why are we here in this place?

II. What kind of world is this?

III. How are we to live in this world?

IV. How do we endure our fears?

Bryson Grove, tenor

V. What gives meaning to my life?

Bryson Grove, tenor

Linda Wiles, piano
 

VI. How does love enter my life?

Personnel

CONCERT CHORALE

Soprano
Sophia  Adkins, Sophomore, Theater for Youth & Communities, Theater Performance; Shenandoah, IA
Aleigha Ausman, Junior, Elementary and Middle Level Dual Major, SEL minor; Pella, IA
Sydney Barton, Graduate, Athletic Training & Rehabilitation Studies; Tipton, IA
Lana Cook, Sophomore, Choral Music Education; West Des Moines, IA
Grace Dinneen, Junior, Psychology; Sioux Falls, SD
Emma Malmberg, Junior, Choral Music Ed; Grimes, IA
Shannon Marley, Junior, Early Childhood Education; Glenwood, IA
Alison  Meagher , Senior, Poli sci/Spanish; West Des Moines, IA
Hannah Noethe, Freshman, Choral Music Education; Emmetsburg, Iowa
Tegan Owens, Senior, Choral Music Education; Cherokee, IA
Abby Perry, Sophomore, Choral Music Education; Albia, IA
Grace Roth, Freshman, Nursing; Cedar Falls, IA
Adelyn Sittig, Junior, Communication Sciences and Disorders; North Liberty , IA
Victoria  Smith, Sophomore, Vocal Music Ed; Hillsboro, IA
Lara Steinblums, Junior, Communication Sciences and Disorders; Pleasant Hill, IA
Aurelia Zylstra, Freshman, Music Composition; Pella, IA

Alto
Essie Bell, Senior, Liberal Arts; Cumberland, IA
Emma Brand , Freshman, Elementary Ed; Audubon, IA
Mattie Jo Dooley, Junior, Communication Sciences and Disorders; Emmetsburg, IA
Erin Epperson, Junior, Choral Music Education; Fairfield, IA
Piper Even, Junior, Choral Music Ed; Marion, IA
Lily Ford, Junior, Music History; Marion, IA
Lucy Galloway, Freshman, Communications + Spanish; Waterloo, IA
Kealy Hines, Freshman, Elementary Education; Decorah, IA
Darby Lake, Senior, Choral Music Education; Muscatine, IA
Laci McHenry, Junior, Choral Music Education; Cedar Rapids, IA
Elliana Nelson, Junior, Choral Music Education; Lewiston, MN
Megan Pierschbacher, Sophomore, Business Economics; Greeley, IA
Ayanna Reckman, Senior, Elementary Education; Clinton , IA
Akela Salter, Senior, Choral Music Ed; Boone, IA
Jenna Schmith, Junior, Choral/General Music Ed; Oelwein, IA
Sydney Seebecker, Sophomore, Elementary Education; Algona, IA

Tenor
Alan Beving, Graduate, Conducting; Harley, IA
Aaron Copic, Senior, Music Education Choral/General; Fort Madison, IA
Bryson Grove, Senior, Choral Music Education; South English, IA
Zach Midtling, Sophomore, Choral Music Education; Fort Dodge, IA
Juan Morales, Senior, General Music; Denison, IA
Braxton Nachtigal, Freshman, Instrument/Choral Music Education; Spencer, IA
Matthew Richardson , Junior, Music education; choral; Muscatine, Iowa, IA
Lex Taylor, Sophomore, Choral Music Education; Muscatine, IA
Michael  Wagner, Sophomore, Choral music education; Fort Dodge, IA

Bass
Kaden Carda, Freshman, Choral Music Education; Sioux City, IA
Kaleb Carda, Junior, Choral Music Education; Sioux city, IA
Bensen Foster, Freshman, General Music; Pella, IA
Noah Hartman, Junior, Choral Music Ed; Johnston, IA
Mason  Hatch , Junior, Digital Media Journalism; Knoxville , IA
Levi Hodge, Sophomore, Social science teaching ; Cedar Rapids, IA
Aidan Leahy, Sophomore, Choral Music Education ; Davenport, IA
Nicholas Perry, Senior, Business Management: Administration; Albia, IA
Eayon  Phipps, Freshman, Business Administration and Real Estate; Nevada, IA
Finnigan Riley, Sophomore, Chorale Music Education; Alburnett, IA
Brock Trenkamp, Senior, Physical Education; Delhi, IA
Jon Turner, Senior, Choral Music Education; Independence, IA
Opal Utsler, Junior, Choral Music Education; Indianola, IA
Nate VanDyk, Sophomore, Music Composition; Ames, IA
Gabriel Wagner, Junior, Choral Music Ed; Ankeny, IA
Logan Williams, Freshman, Business Analytics/Management Information Systems (MIS); Saukville, WI

VARSITY GLEE CLUB

Bryson Grove, piano

Tenor 1
Alan Beving, Graduate, Conducting; Harley, IA
Tyler Blauvelt, Sophomore, Political Science and Public Administration; Tiffin, IA
Bryson Grove, Senior, Choral Music Education; South English, IA
Dom Hammel, Alum, Theater: Design and Production; Dubuque, IA
Keelan Hunter , Junior, Environmental Resource Management; Earlham, IA
Garrett Lamp, Junior, Communications; Charlotte, IA
Pierson Lee, Junior, Biology Pre-Nursing; Adel, IA
Caleb Little, Freshman, Music General Studies + Cybersecurity & System Administration; Urbandale, IA
Benjamin Trainer, Sophomore, Biochemistry and Biology; Algona, Iowa

Tenor 2
Ethan Beneke, Sophomore, Nursing; Cedar Falls , IA
Mitchell Duesing, Junior, Math Education; Marion, IA
Nicholas Duncan, Senior, Biology (B.S.); Bettendorf, IA
Zackary Evans, Freshman, Math and Math Ed; Humboldt, IA
Blake Hoeft, Freshman, Music Composition; Charles City, IA
Treyton Hulbert, Junior, History Teaching; Waucoma, IA
Dalton Knox, Junior, Marketing; Johnston, IA
Zach Midtling, Sophomore, Choral Music Education; Fort Dodge, IA
Jackson  Mraz , Sophomore, Marine Biology; Waverly, IA
Gabriel Salazar, Senior, Digital Media Production and Political Communication; Muscatine, IA
Jamie Schafer, Freshman, Environmental Science & Geography; Cedar Falls, IA
Logan Williams, Freshman, Business Analytics/Management Information Systems (MIS); Saukville, WI

Baritone
Grant Behrens, Sophomore, History & Secondary Education; Fort Dodge, IA
Nathan Buelow, Junior, Psychology; Center Point, IA
Jack Buser, Junior, Digital Media Production; Lone Tree, IA
Emmett Clarke, Freshman, Accounting/business analytics; Waukee, IA
Jose Flores, Freshman, Psychology (with a minor in Mental Health); Charles City, IA
Bensen Foster, Freshman, General Music; Pella, IA
Alexander Franzen, Sophomore, Automation Engineering Technology ; Monti, IA
Noah Hartman, Junior, Choral Music Ed; Johnston, IA
Hank Hewitt, Sophomore, History/Spanish; Shakopee, MN
Samuel  Hoffmann, Junior, Music Technology ; Cedar Rapids, IA
Grant  Kramer, Junior, Biology; Manchester, IA
Will Krueger, Senior, Psychology & Family Services; Des Moines, IA
Brice Lund, Alum, Philosophy, History; Galva, IA
Jackson Minton, Junior, Environmental Science; West Des Moines, IA
Luke Nelson, Senior, Finance; West Des Moines, IA
Jack Noehren, Junior, Biochemistry and Biology; Cedar Rapids, IA
Alex Oswald, Junior, Accounting and Finance; Monticello, IA
Alex  Otterpohl , Senior, Biology & Biology Teaching; Missouri Valley, IA
Finnigan Riley, Sophomore, Chorale Music Education; Alburnett, IA
Ian Shelton , Sophomore, Interactive Digital Studies; Harlan, IA
David Sun, Freshman, Accounting; Waverly, IA
Luis Tapia, Freshman, Biomedical Biology, and Biochemistry; Eldridge, IA
Brock Trenkamp, Senior, Physical Education; Delhi, IA
Masen Tubbs, Sophomore, Communications; Miles, IA
Ethan Ver Helst , Senior, Elementary Education; Ankeny, IA
Josue Villatoro, Junior, Digital Media Production; Urbandale, IA
Ben Walstead , Freshman, Communication-Theatre Teaching; Armstrong, IA
Tom Wiles, Alum, Undeclared; Comanche, TX
Kolbe Workman, Junior, Social Studies Educator; Albia, IA

Bass
Jase Barrick, Freshman, History Education; Boone, IA
Joey Brinkmann, Sophomore, Social Work; Waverly , IA
Kaden Carda, Freshman, Choral Music Education; Sioux City, IA
Kaleb Carda, Junior, Choral Music Education; Sioux city, IA
Jason Dennis, Sophomore, Biology Education; Ankeny, IA
Jake Gochenouer, Alum, Art Education; Parkersburg, IA
William Huck, Freshman, Exploratory; Dike, IA
Ryland Kascel, Freshman, Elementary Education; Rowley , IA
Xander Porath, Freshman, Earth Science; West Des Moines, IA
Lucas Shirbroun, Junior, Elementary Education; Coon Rapids, IA, IA
Parker Sjomeling, Junior, Mathematics Teaching; Delano, MN
Aaron Tanay, Freshman, Elementary Education; Independence, IA
Isaac Thornton, Alum, Alumni; Oelwein, IA
Jon Turner, Senior, Choral Music Education; Independence, IA
Kolten Webber, Alum, Graphic Technology & Interactive Digital Studies; Fairfield, Iowa

Text and Translations

“Priiditye poklonimsya” from All-Night Vigil, op. 37, mvmt. 1

Music: Sergei Rachmaninoff
Text: Russian Orthodox Vespers Liturgy

Amen.
COME, LET US WORSHIP God, our King.
Come let us worship and fall down before Christ,
our King and our God.
Come, let us worship and fall down before the very Christ,
our King and our God.
Come, let us worship and fall down before him.

“Pulses” from Titration

Music: Shara Nova
Text: Shara Nova

Do you know
When we hold hands
Our pulses find
One another?
Did you know when we hold hands
Our pulses find each other?
Our pulses meet
(Meet)"
When we find

“Blagoslovi, dushe moya” from All-Night Vigil, op. 37, mvmt. 2

Music: Sergei Rachmaninoff
Text: Russian Orthodox Vespers Liturgy

BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL, blessed art thou, O Lord.
O Lord my God, thou art very great.
Thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
Blessed art thou, O Lord.
The waters stand upon the mountains.
Marvellous are thy works, O Lord.
In wisdom hast thou made all things.
Glory to thee, O Lord, who hast created all. 

“The Saddest Noise” from The Lost Birds

Music: Christopher Tin
Text: Emily Dickinson

Between the March and April line—
That magical frontier
Beyond which summer hesitates,
Almost too heavenly near.
The saddest noise, the sweetest noise,
The maddest noise that grows and grows,—
The birds, they make it in the spring,
At night’s delicious close.
The saddest noise I know.
It makes us think of all the dead
That sauntered with us here,
By separation’s sorcery
Made cruelly more dear.
It makes us think of what we had,
And what we now deplore.
We almost wish those siren throats
Would go and sing no more.
An ear can break a human heart
As quickly as a spear,
We wish the ear had not a heart
So dangerously near

“Blazhyen moozh” from All-Night Vigil, op. 37, mvmt. 3

Music: Sergei Rachmaninoff
Text: Russian Orthodox Vespers Liturgy

BLESSED IS THE MAN who walks not in the counsel of the wicked.
Alleluia.
For the Lord knows the way of the righteous but the way of the
wicked will perish. Alleluia.
Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice in him with trembling. Alleluia.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him. Arise, O Lord! Save me,
O my God! Alleluia.
Salvation is of the Lord; and thy blessing is upon thy people.
Alleluia.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
both now and ever and unto ages

Ubi Caritas

Music: Maurice Duruflé
Text: Traditional Latin Hymn

Where charity and love are, God is there.
Love of Christ has gathered us into one.
Let us rejoice in Him and be glad.
Let us fear, and let us love the living God.
And from a sincere heart let us love one.
Where charity and love are, God is there.
At the same time, therefore, are gathered into one:
Lest we be divided in mind, let us beware.
Let evil impulses stop, let controversy cease.
And in the midst of us be Christ our God.
Where charity and love are, God is there.
At the same time we see that with the saints also,
Thy face in glory, O Christ our God:
The joy that is immense and good, Unto the
World without end. Amen.

“Svyehteh tikhi” from All-Night Vigil, op. 37, mvmt. 4

Music: Sergei Rachmaninoff
Text: Russian Orthodox Vespers Liturgy

(Evening Hymn)
GLADSOME LIGHT of the holy glory of the Immortal One,
the Heavenly Father, holy and blessed, O Jesus Christ.
Now that we have come to the setting of the sun and behold the
light of evening, we praise the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, God.
Thou art worthy at every moment to be praised in hymns
by reverent voices.
O Son of God, thou art the giver of life; therefore all the world
glorifies thee.

Blackbird

Music: Paul McCartney (credited to Lennon-McCartney)
Text: Paul McCartney

Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these sunken eyes and learn to see
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to be free
Blackbird, fly
Blackbird, fly
Into the light of the dark black night
Blackbird, fly
Blackbird, fly
Into the light of the dark black night
Blackbird singing in the dead of night
Take these broken wings and learn to fly
All your life
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise
You were only waiting for this moment to arise

“Ninyeh otpoushchayeshi” from All-Night Vigil, op. 37, mvmt. 5

Music: Sergei Rachmaninoff
Text: Russian Orthodox Vespers Liturgy (Song of Simeon)

LORD, NOW LETTEST THOU thy servant depart in peace, according
to thy Word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou
hast prepared before the face of all people. A light to lighten the
Gentiles and the glory of thy people, Israel. 

I remember sky

Music: Stephen Sondheim
Text: Stephen Sondheim

I remember sky
It was blue as ink
Or at least I think
I remember sky

I remember snow
Soft as feathers
Sharp as thumb tacks
Coming down like lint
And it made you squint
When the wind would blow

And ice like vinyl
On the streets
Cold as silver
White as sheets
Rain like strings
And changing things
Like leaves

I remember leaves
Green as spearmint
Crisp as paper
I remember trees
Bare as coat racks
Spread like broken umbrellas

And parks and bridges
Ponds and zoos
Ruddy faces
Muddy shoes
And light and noise and
Bees and boys
And days

I remember days
Or at least I try
But as years go by
They're a sort of haze
And the bluest ink
Isn't really sky
And at times I think
I would gladly die
For a day of sky

Entreat me not to leave you

Music: Dan Forrest
Text: adapted from Ruth 1:16-17

Entreat me not to leave you,
nor to turn back from following after you.
For where you go, I will go
And where you live, I will live
Your people shall be my people
And your God, my God
Where you die, I will die
And there will I be buried.
The Lord do so to me, and more also,
If ought but death part you and me.

“Bohgorohditsehy Dyevoh” from All-Night Vigil, op. 37, mvmt. 6

Music: Sergei Rachmaninoff
Text: Russian Orthodox Vespers Liturgy (Ave Maria & Luke 1)

(Troparion)
REJOICE O VIRGIN Theotokos, Mary full of grace, the Lord is with
thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb, for thou has borne the Saviour of our souls.