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2012-2013The Swingle SingersSunday, Feb. 24Shirley MacLaineSaturday, Feb. 23

Performing Arts SeriespresentsJoanna Goldsmith-Eteson, sopranoSara Brimer, sopranoClare Wheeler, altoOliver Griffiths, tenorChristopher Jay, tenorKevin Fox, baritone/vocal percussionEdward Randell, bassHugh Walker, sound engineerSunday, February 24, 2013Yardley HallJohnson County Community College7

For five decades, the unmistakable sound of “Swingle singing,” virtuosic vocal agility andtrademark blend combined with high-level entertainment, has thrilled audiences aroundthe globe. Now as the group celebrates their 50th anniversary in 2013, the current line-upof young and talented voices represents the transformation from pioneering classical/jazzcrossover artists to contemporary vocal super-group with a celebratory program to match.Since the release of their ground-breaking debut album Jazz Sebastian Bach in 1963, thisa cappella group has performed in every continent and on the world’s most famousstages, as well as releasing over 50 recordings and winning five Grammy Awards. TheSwingles have been pushing the boundaries of what is possible to achieve with the humanvoice for the past 50 years – and the current line-up is no different:50 th Anniversary ProgramWeather to Fly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Elbow Arr. C. Wheeler (4:00)Gemiler Giresune . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Traditional Turkish Song Arr. K. Fox (2:30)Reservoir Kids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Edward Randell (3:10)Spain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Chick Corea Arr. S. Stroman (5:00)After the Storm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Mumford & Sons Arr. T. Anderson (4:30)Hiding Your Smile . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Joanna Goldsmith-Eteson (2:30)Shake It Out/Danse Macabre . . . . . . . . . . F. Welch/C. Saint Saëns Arr. C. Wheeler (3:30)Don’t Explain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Billie Holiday/Arthur Herzog Jr. Arr. C. Wheeler (3:30)The Diva Aria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Donizetti Arr. S. Brimer (3:00)IntermissionPiper Clare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Wheeler (4:00)Lady Madonna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lennon/McCartney Arr. C. Canning (4:00)Clair de Lune . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Claude Debussy Arr. W. Swingle (4:30)Badinerie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J.S. Bach Arr. W. Swingle (1:30)Swingle Ladies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Beyoncé Knowles Arr. N. Girard (2:30)You Oughta Know . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alanis Morissette Arr. Calum Au (4:00)Poor Wayfaring Stranger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Traditional Arr. T. Anderson (4:30)Libertango . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Astor Piazzolla Arr. K. Erez (3:30)Program is subject to change. Any alterations will be announced from the stage.8

Swingle Singers BioFor half a century, the Swingle Singers have pushed the boundaries of what the humanvoice can achieve. Their effortless agility and blend, combined with captivatingshowmanship, have thrilled audiences around the globe. Today’s Swingle Singers are aninternational a cappella phenomenon.These seven extraordinary voices deliver folk ballads, funk jams and fugues with equalprecision and passion – keeping the classic Swingle sound alive while fearlesslyexploring new styles and approaches. The history of the Swingle Singers is a remarkabletale of renewal. In 1963, American-born Ward Swingle assembled a group of Parisiansession singers to sing some of Bach’s keyboard music. The resulting album, JazzSebastian Bach, launched the group to fame. Now based in London, the group hassustained a level of international renown beyond its founder’s wildest dreams, as eachnew singer brings something fresh to the group’s sound. The Swingles have sung at theworld’s most famous stages from La Scala to Ronnie Scotts, been featured on thesoundtracks of Sex and the City and Glee; won 5 Grammy Awards and made over 50recordings. Recent releases include Ferris Wheels (featuring unique versions of songs byBjörk, Joni Mitchell and Nick Drake) and the winter EP Yule Songs.The current line-up has never been stronger, with singers trained in a multiplicity of stylesfrom opera to jazz to pop, and featuring a dynamite vocal rhythm section. For the firsttime in many years, their repertoire also includes original songs. The Swingle Singersoffer a variety of shows, from their a cappella programs “Voice Fusions” and “ClassicReinventions” to programs with orchestra. This versatility has given rise to collaborationsacross the musical spectrum, from the Modern Jazz Quartet to Jarvis Cocker. LucianoBerio was one of the first composers to explore the sound of the Swingles’ amplifiedvoices combined with acoustic instruments, and the group continues to perform hisSinfonia with some of the world’s most prestigious orchestras. John Dankworth, MichaelNyman, Pascal Zavaro and Azio Corghi have also written for the group.In 2013, their 50th anniversary year, the group’s concert schedule will take them to Northand South America, Russia, China and Dubai, in addition to extensive touring throughoutEurope and the UK. In their hometown, the Swingle Singers curate the London ACappella Festival at Kings Place each January. The festival is the first of its kind in thecapital, and welcomes the finest international talent from the world of vocal music. Asthey enter their sixth decade, the Swingle Singers invite you to join them for the nextstage of their extraordinary journey.www.SwingleSingers.com9

Swingle Singers Individual BiosJoanna Goldsmith-Eteson (soprano) started singing at school invarious groups including an a cappella/barbershop group which sheled herself. While still at school she joined the Ionian Singers,recording several contemporary music albums. She was a memberof the National Youth Choir of Great Britain from 2001 to 2006,serving as the Soprano I section leader for four years. She has beena member of Laudibus (the National Youth Chamber Choir) since2002. Joanna went on to study singing at the Guildhall School ofMusic and Drama in London and has sung with numerousprofessional ensembles as a session singer, singing everything fromchurch services to film soundtracks including The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, theWitch and the Wardrobe, War Horse, Arthur Christmas, Green Lantern, Prometheus andHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows parts I and II. She joined the Swingle Singers in2006.Sara Brimer (soprano) was born and raised in east Tennessee.Throughout her high school and college years, she was active in herschool choir and community productions. While inhigh school she took part in The Music Man, Joseph and theAmazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and played the role of Eliza in MyFair Lady. During her years at East Tennessee University, whereshe studied Music Education, Sara was given the roles of Suzannain Le Nozze di Figaro, Mabel in Pirates of Penzance, The Diva inLa Divina, and also took part in productions of Carmen and Didoand Aneas. In 2006 Sara toured in Germany as a soloist andensemble singer with the ETSU Chorale led by Dr. Thomas Jenrette. In the summer of2008 she auditioned for the Swingle Singers, and moved to London in January 2009 tobegin touring with the group.Clare Wheeler (alto) grew up in Kenya before moving toManchester to attend Chethams School of Music, where she trainedas a classical violinist and also studied classical voice. During thistime she met bassist Steve Berry of Loose Tubes and started gettinginto jazz. She followed on to Guildhall School of Music and Dramain London to study composition and voice in the jazz course ofstudy under Lee Gibson, Pete Churchill and Tim Garland, as well asclassical singing with Penny Mackay. Clare freelanced in London asa jazz singer, composer and arranger, and taught Music Theory andHarmony at the Academy of Contemporary Music, before joiningthe Swingle Singers in the summer of 2007. Although the group takes her abroad formuch of the year, she still writes prolifically for her own ensembles.10

Oliver Griffiths (tenor) was born and raised in Bristol. Heattended Clifton College and while there discovered his love formusic. He was involved in many choirs, and was able to explorevarying styles of song, including musical theatre and madrigalsinging. He was a soloist in the chapel and chamber choirs, andthrough these had many opportunities to travel and sing in some ofEurope’s finest venues. He was also involved in recording projectsincluding the world premiere of a commissioned work by GrahamFitkin and a series of live broadcasts on BBC Radio 4. He went onto study English and Related Literature at the University of York, where he was active inthe Music Department, singing with the Zamar Gospel Choir and semi-chorus, theYorkshire Bach Choir and the University Chamber Choir amongst others. He wasinvolved in the theatre, directing and producing a number of productions and taking leadroles in the university musical each year he was there. Oliver joined the Swingle Singersin the autumn of 2010.Christopher Jay (tenor) graduated as a manufacturing engineerfrom Nottingham University before training in Musical Theatre atthe Royal Academy of Music. He began singing as a chorister atNew College Oxford before joining the National Youth Choir ofGreat Britain. Shortly after, he secured a place in its fantasticchamber choir Laudibus. Christopher now sings Tenor II in theSwingle Singers, and in his spare time is a session singer for AnnieSkates and Capital Voices. Theatre credits include Sweeney Toddcover in John Doyle’s Sweeney Todd, Jacob in Joseph and TheAmazing Technicolour Dreamcoat (UK tour), also Swing/Jacobunderstudy (New London Theatre) and Count Ludovic/Lieutenant Barri in Passion(Bridewell Theatre).Kevin Fox (baritone/vocal percussion) is a Toronto native and arecognized voice in the North American a cappella scene. Hestudied Anthropology and Archaeology in university while directingand producing several albums for the award-winning collegiatechoir WIBIJAZZ’N’. During this time he co-founded the Junonominatedvocal band Cadence. After nine years as the quartet’sbass and vocal percussionist, Kevin relocated to London, in 2007 tojoin the Swingle Singers. In his spare time, Kevin continues hiswork as a sought-after arranger and clinician. He is also a residentcomposer for the Driftwood Theatre Group, Toronto’s acclaimed summer Shakespearecompany.11

Edward Randell (bass) hails from south London. His love of acappella music began when he arrived at Oxford University to studyEnglish, and joined collegiate group The Gargoyles. His stint as aGargoyle included performances at New York’s Alice Tully Hall, anappearance on Aled Jones’s Radio 3 show… and a support slot withthe Swingle Singers. He was also featured as a soloist withLast Minute on BBC’s “One’s Last Choir Standing” in 2008. Aftergraduating, Edward joined Thierry Lalo’s award-winning Frenchjazz group, the Voice Messengers, as their low bass, and sang with awide variety of other vocal ensembles. As well as writing songs, Edward moonlights as ajournalist, and recently obtained an MA in Magazine Journalism from City UniversityLondon. He joined the Swingle Singers in the summer of 2012 and is delighted to betouring the world with them and singing their incredible music. When the SwingleSingers’ schedule permits, Edward continues to perform with sunshine-pop band Zig ZagBirds, and with his own jazz quartet.Representing Agent for The Swingle SingersJohn MacAdamsKnudsen Productions LLC1737 Blake St. • Berkeley, CA 94703 • 510 549-177712