And now, it is my privilege to introduce to you the 2019 WSMA High School State Honors Treble Choir and their distinguished conductor, Dr. Zachary Durlam. (audience applauding) Would you please stand for our national anthem? Oh, say can you see By the dawn's early light What so proudly we hailed At the twilight's last gleaming Whose broad stripes and bright stars Through the perilous fight O'er the ramparts we watched Were so gallantly streaming And the rockets' red glare The bombs bursting in air Gave proof through the night That our flag was still there O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O'er the land of the free And the home of the brave (audience applauding) ("Awake the Harp" by Franz Joseph Haydn) And the heavenly host proclaimed at the third day Praising God and saying Awake the harp, the lyre awake And let your joyful song resound Rejoice in the Lord, the mighty God Rejoice in the Lord, the mighty God For He both heaven and earth Has clothed in stately dress For He both heaven and earth Has clothed in stately dress For He both heaven and earth Has clothed in stately dress For He both heaven and earth Has clothed in stately dress For He both heaven and earth Has clothed in stately dress For He both heaven and earth Has clothed in stately dress For He both heaven and earth Has clothed in stately dress For He both heaven and earth Has clothed in stately dress For He both heaven and earth Has clothed in stately dress For He both heaven and earth Has clothed in stately dress For He both heaven and earth Has clothed in stately dress In stately dress For He both heaven and earth For He both heaven and earth Has clothed in stately dress In stately dress Awake, Awake the harp The lyre awake Rejoice in the Lord, the mighty God For He both heaven and earth has clothed in stately dress In stately dress In stately dress In stately dress In stately dress (audience applauding) ("The Music of Stillness" by Elaine Hagenberg) There will be rest There will be rest And sure stars shining Sure stars shining Over rooftops crowned with snow Rooftops crowned with snow Rooftops crowned with snow A reign of rest, serene forgetting A reign of rest, serene forgetting The music The music The music The music The music of stillness Stillness, holy and low Holy and low I will make this world of my devising I will make this world of my devising I will make this world I will make this world of my devising My devising, my devising My devising I will make this world of my devising I will make this world out of a dream Dream in my lonely mind Dream in my lonely mind I shall find the crystal of peace, above me I shall find the crystal of peace, above me I shall find the crystal of peace I shall find above me I shall find the crystal of peace I shall find the crystal of peace The crystal of peace Stars I shall find I shall find Stars I shall find Stars I shall find above me Stars I shall find above me Stars I shall find above me Stars I shall find The music of stillness Stillness, holy and low Holy and low Mmm ("Unclouded Day" by J.K. Alwood and arrangement by Shawn Kirchner) Oh, they tell me of a home far beyond the skies And they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise Oh, they tell me of an unclouded day Oh, the land of cloudless day Oh, the land of an unclouded sky Oh, they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise Oh, they tell me of an unclouded day They tell me of a home They tell me of a home They tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise They tell me of a land far away Where the tree of life in eternal bloom Sheds its fragrance through the unclouded day Oh, the land of cloudless day Oh, the land of an unclouded sky Oh, they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise Oh, they tell me of an unclouded day They tell me of a King in His beauty there They tell me that mine eyes shall behold They tell me of a King in His beauty there Where He sits on the throne that is whiter than snow In the city that is made of gold Oh, the land of cloudless day Oh, the land of an unclouded sky Oh, they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise Oh, they tell me of an unclouded day Oh, the land of cloudless day Oh, the land of Oh, the land of an unclouded sky Oh, they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise Oh, they tell me of an unclouded day (audience applauding) ("She Walks in Beauty" by Kevin A. Memley) (gentle piano music) She walks in beauty, like the night Of cloudless climes and starry skies And all that's best of dark and bright Meet in her aspect and her eyes Her eyes Thus mellowed to that tender light Which heaven to gaudy day denies One shade the more, one ray the less One shade the more Had half impaired the nameless grace Which waves in every raven tress Or softly lightens Or softly lightens o'er her face (gentle piano music) Where thoughts serenely sweet express How pure, how dear their dwelling place And on that cheek, and o'er that brow So soft, so calm, yet eloquent The smiles that win, the tints that glow But tell of days in goodness spent A mind at peace with all below A heart whose love is innocent (gentle piano music) She walks in beauty, like the night Like the night (audience applauding) ("Il Carnevale" by Gioacchino Rossini) (singing in foreign language) Do, re, mi, fa, so, la Do, re, mi, fa, so, la (singing in foreign language) (audience applauding) ("Crucifixus a 8" by Antonio Lotti) (sung in Latin) ("Indodana" a traditional South African song) (sung in isiXhosa) (audience applauding) For all of you out there who are friends, families, teachers of these students up here, I just want you to know what incredible human beings they are, and what a privilege it has been for me to be able to work with them over the summer, and again, over these past two days, here in Madison. They're incredible human beings, and if anyone dares to talk about the youth of today and complain about them, or to worry about the future and what leadership we might have coming down the pike, I dare them to come spend an hour with these young folks and not feel incredible hope for what the future of our world holds. They're not only amazing singers, but amazing young people. So thank you for sharing them with us here. (audience applauding) And those of you who are family members, friends, thank you for all you've done to support these folks, as they have developed their skills, as they've spent all the time and energy necessary to hone their craft, to be at the level to be a part of a group like this. I know that it doesn't happen just with them. That it takes a support network around them, and thank you for making that a priority and supporting them in these pursuits. And I also want to say-- You know what, would you think your family members and friends for supporting you in that? (choir members applauding) And for virtually all of these folks up here, they don't get to this level, they don't get this kind of opportunity, they don't even know about the kinds of experiences they can have, like this, if it isn't for one particular dedicated person in their life. And that is their choral director, their music teacher, who helped to prepare them for the auditions, who told them about this kind of experience, who encouraged them to audition. And those folks are heroes in our public schools, I believe. And they have inspired these folks. And I know that we have an incredible community of music teachers here in Wisconsin. I've been able to meet so many of them. Thank you to all of you for the passion, the hours, and the time you put in. (audience applauding) And now we hope you enjoy our final piece, "Balleilakka". ("Balleilakka" by A.R. Rahman and arranged by Ethan Sperry) (sung in Tamil) (upbeat percussion music) (singing in foreign language) (upbeat percussion music) (singing in foreign language) (audience applauding) (audience cheering) (audience applauding) (audience cheering)
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