2025
Maluhia: Time of Peace
Bios, Texts, and Translations
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Dr. Joshua Habermann
Artistic Director Dr. Joshua Habermann is in his fifth season as Artistic Director of the O'ahu Choral Society. Under his leadership, the OCS Symphonic Chorus has grown to include over 80 members and taken on collaborative projects with the Hawai’i Symphony Orchestra, community and collegiate choirs, and professional singers and instrumentalists. A native of California, Habermann is a graduate of Georgetown University and the University of Texas at Austin where studied under Craig Hella Johnson. He has led honor choirs and choral festivals in North and Latin America, Europe and Asia. As a singer (tenor) he has performed with the Oregon Bach Festival Chorus (Eugene, Oregon), and Conspirare (Austin, Texas) and the San Francisco Symphony Chorus. Recording credits include three projects with Conspirare: Through the Green Fuse, Requiem, a Grammy nominee for best choral recording, and Threshold of Night, a Grammy nominee for best choral recording and best classical album. Habermann is in his seventeenth season as Artistic Director of the Sante Fe Desert Chorale, one of the nation's premier professional chamber choirs, and was director of the Dallas Symphony Chorus from 2011 to 2022. Previously he taught on the faculties of the University of Miami and San Francisco State University, and led the Masterchorale of South Florida. He is a frequent guest with symphonic and professional choirs, and in 2023 prepared the San Francisco Symphony Chorus for performances of Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem, and Ravel’s Daphnis and Chloe. In 2024, he was a guest of the Houston Symphony, preparing the chorus in Czech Rhapsody of Bohuslav Martinů, and John Adams’s nativity oratorio El Niño. |
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Dr. Alec Schumacker
Associate Director Dr. Alec Schumacker is the Director of Choral Activities and Assistant Professor of Music at the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa. He presently serves as the Vice President of the Hawai'i Chapter of the American Choral Directors Association. He completed his DMA in Choral Conducting at the University of Miami, where he studied with Joshua Habermann and Karen Kennedy. An active educator and sought-after presenter, Alec delivered lectures at the 2023 and 2019 International Kodály Symposia in Los Angeles and Malaysia, the 2020 Western Division ACDA conference in Salt Lake City, the 2018 and 2016 Asia Kodály Symposia in Taiwan, the 2017 National ACDA conference in Minneapolis, and various others. His written work on incorporating popular music in the choral curriculum was recently published by GIA in the textbook Becoming Musical. An award-winning composer and arranger, Alec’s choral music is published by Alliance Music Publications, earthsongs, ECS publishing, Hinshaw Music, Santa Barbara Music Publishing, and World Projects. |
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Georgine Stark
Soprano A native of Buffalo, New York, Georgine Stark, is an award-winning soprano who calls Hawai’i home. Georgine received a master’s degree in music from the Peabody Conservatory of the Johns Hopkins University and participated in the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. Ms. Stark recently made her Diamond Head Theatre debut as Sophie DePalma in Terrence McNally’s Masterclass. She has performed as a soloist in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra and has mesmerized Honolulu audiences with epic vocal/orchestral works by Haydn, Mozart, Bach, and Monteverdi. On the operatic stage, Georgine has appeared in various roles with the Hawai‘i Opera Theatre. In New York City, she performed the title role in Carmen, Musetta in a production of La Boheme, and Kate Pinkerton in Madame Butterfly. An advocate for music education, Georgine was invited to Shanghai, China, to teach and perform in concert with her musical family, which included her daughter, Sophia Stark, who served as the inaugural title holder of Miss Hawaii Teen Volunteer 2021. Georgine regularly conducts a series of vocal masterclasses and concerts with Central Arizona College. Locally, her voice students perform roles with Diamond Head Theatre, Hawai‘i Opera Theatre, Ohana Arts, as well as ‘Iolani School and Punahou School productions. Outside of music, she enjoys acting as a background extra on television and in national and international films such as Jurassic World and Next Goal Wins, directed by Taika Waititi. On an episode of Hawai‘i Five-O, Georgine had the privilege of working as a “stand-in” for the multi-Grammy Award winner, Gladys Knight. Ms. Stark performs in concerts with Early Music Hawaii, her husband, Darel, violinist, as “The Stark Duo”, and sits as board secretary for CHATS, a nonprofit founded by her 19-year-old son, Raphael. |
Texts and Translations
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Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming
Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming From tender stem hath sprung! Of Jesse's lineage coming As men of old have sung. It came, a flower bright, Amid the cold of winter When half-gone was the night. Isaiah 'twas foretold it, The Rose I have in mind: With Mary we behold it, The virgin mother kind. To show God's love aright She bore to men a Savior When half-gone was the night. This Flower, whose fragrance tender With sweetness fills the air, Dispels with glorious splendor The darkness everywhere. True man, yet very God, From sin and death He saves us And lightens every load. |
Bring a torch, Jeanette, Isabella!
Bring a torch, Jeanette, Isabella! Bring a torch, to the cradle run! It is Jesus, good folk of the village; Christ is born and Mary's calling. Ah! ah! beautiful is the Mother! Ah! ah! beautiful is her Son! It is wrong when the child is sleeping, It is wrong to talk so loud; Silence, all, as you gather around him, Lest your noise awake the baby Hush! hush! see how fast he slumbers; Hush! hush! see how fast he sleeps! Softly to the little stable. Softly for a moment come; Look and see how lovely the child is How full of light, with cheeks so rosy Hush! hush! see how fast he slumbers; Hush! hush! see how fast he sleeps! |
Brightest and Best
Hail the bless’d morn, see the great Mediator down from the region of glory descend! Shepherds, go worship the babe in the manger, lo, for his guard the bright angels attend. Brightest and best of the stars of the morning, Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid. Star of the East, the horizon adorning, Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid. Cold on his cradle the dew-drops are shining, Low lies his head with the beasts of the stall. Angels adore him in slumber reclining, Maker and Monarch and Savior of all. Brightest and best of the stars of the morning, Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid. Star of the East, the horizon adorning, Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid. Shall we not yield him, in costly devotion, Fragrance of Edom and off’rings divine, Gems of the mountain and pearls of the ocean, Myrrh from the forest or gold from the mine? Brightest and best of the stars of the morning, Dawn on our darkness and lend us thine aid. Star of the East, the horizon adorning, Guide where our infant Redeemer is laid. |
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Break Forth O Beauteous Heavenly Light
Break forth, o beauteous heav'nly light and usher in the morning. O shepherds, shrink not with affright but hear the angel's warning: This child, now weak in infancy our confidence and joy shall be, The pow'r of Satan breaking, our peace eternal making. |
Vivaldi: Magnificat (sung in Latin)
Magnificat anima mea Dominum Et exultavit spiritus meus in Deo salutari meo, quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae; Ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes.Quia fecit mihi magna, qui potens est, et sanctum nomen eius, Et misericordia eius a progenie in progenies timentibus eum. Fecit potentiam in brachio suo; dispersit superbos mente cordis sui; Deposuit potentes de sede, et exaltavit humiles; Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper: et in saecula saeculorum. Amen. My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden. For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath magnified me and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations. He hath showed strength with his arm. He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seat and hath exalted the humble and meek. Glory be to the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen. |
The First Noel
The first Noel the angel did say Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay, In fields where they lay keeping their sheep, On a cold winter’s night that was so deep. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel. They looked up and saw a star Shining in the east beyond them far; And to the earth it gave great light, And so it continued both day and night. Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel, Born is the King of Israel. Tomorrow Shall Be My Dancing Day Tomorrow shall be my dancing day: I would my true love did so chance To see the legend of my play, To call my true love to my dance: Sing, O my love, O my love, my love, my love; This have I done for my true love. Then was I born of a virgin pure, Of her I took fleshly substance; Thus was I knit to human nature, To call my true love to my dance: Sing, O my love, O my love, my love, my love; This have I done for my true love. In a manger laid and wrapped I was, So very poor, this was my chance, Betwixt an ox and a silly poor ass, To call my true love to my dance: Sing, O my love, O my love, my love, my love; This have I done for my true love. |
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A Feast of Carols
Wassail, wassail, all over the town, Our toast it is white and our ale it is brown; Our bowl it is made of the white maple tree, With the wassailing bowl we'll drink to thee, Then hereʻs to the maid in the lily white smock Who tripped to the door and pulled back the lock Who tripped to the door and pulled back the pin For to let these jolly wassailers in! Veni veni Emanuel (O Come, o come Emmanuel) Captivum solve Israel (And ransom captive Israel) Qui gemit in exilio (Who mourns in lonely exile here) Privatus Dei filio (Until the Son of God appear) Gaude, gaude Emanuel (Rejoice, rejoice, Emmanuel) Nascetur pro te Israel (Is come to thee, o Israel) God rest ye merry gentlemen let nothing you dismay Remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day To save us all from Satan's pow'r when we were gone astray Oh tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy Oh tidings of comfort and joy From God that is our Father the blessed angels came Unto some certain shepherd with tidings of the same That there was born in Bethlehem the Son of God by name Oh tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy Oh tidings of comfort and joy God bless the ruler of this house and send him long to reign And many a merry Christmas may he live to see again Among our friends and kindred that live both far and near And God send you a happy new year, comfort and joy May God send you a happy new year We wish you a Merry Christmas We wish you a Merry Christmas We wish you a Merry Christmas And a Happy New Year! Good tidings we bring to you and your kin. Good tidings for Christmas and a happy new year! |
Sing Along
O come, All Ye Faithful O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant, O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem! Come, and behold Him, born the King of angels! O come, let us adore Him; O come, let us adore Him; O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord! Sing, choirs of angels; sing in exultation; Sing, all ye citizens of heav'n above! Glory to God, all glory in the highest! O come, let us adore Him; O come, let us adore Him; O come, let us adore Him, Christ, the Lord! Hark the Herald Angels Sing Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King: Peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!" Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With th'angelic hosts proclaim, "Christ is born in Bethlehem!" Hark! the herald angels sing, "Glory to the newborn King" Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of Righteousness! Light and life to all he brings, Risen with healing in his wings. Mild he lays his glory by, Born that we no more may die, Born to raise us from the earth, Born to give us second birth. Pō Laʻi E/Silent Night Pō laʻi e, pō kamahaʻo Maluhia, mālamalama Ka makuahine aloha e Me ke keiki hemolele e Moe me ka maluhia lani Moe me ka maluhia lani Silent night, holy night All is calm, all is bright Round yon virgin mother and child Holy infant so tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace Sleep in heavenly peace |