FALL TOUR 2026 - NEBRASKA & FLORIDA
ABENDMUSIK AT FIRST-PLYMOUTH | NOVEMBER 8, 2026 | 4PM
PALMS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH | NOVEMBER 10, 2026 | 7PM
As a crossroads of Hispanic, Haitian, and American influences, Miami’s identity is reflected in our programming: pieces in Spanish, Haitian Creole, historical works ,and modern English selections. Together, these works honor the rhythm, resilience, and creative spirit that define our community.
PROGRAM
Order My Steps - Glenn Burleigh (1949-2007)/arr. Jack Schrader
Order My Steps stands as one of the most significant gospel masterpieces of the late 20th century. Burleigh conceived the piece in 1991 while serving as the minister of music at Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. As both active musician and educators, making music with our students is a priority. The beauty in this freedom is never performing it the same way twice. We invite you to join us in any way you are comfortable. Toward the end, we invite you to speak a prayer, sing the melody, or improvise right along with us.
Cielito Lindo - Quirino Mendoza y Cortés (1862-1957)/arr. Lazaro Alonso (b.2003)
Ft. Luis Iglesias, III. ('27), Daniel Tang ('28), Daniel Rodriguez ('29), Jude Galindez ('29), Allison Ruiz ('30)
We did not EXACTLY understand what we were asking for when requesting an original arrangement of a folk song in Spanish that "takes listeners on a tour of Latin America, pays homage to European classical influence all while using the human voice imitating instruments." Utilizing the beloved Mexican folk song, Cielito Lindo, as a vehicle, our MAS alumnus Lazaro Alonso artfully incorporates Baroque counterpoint alongside contemporary pop and folk influences, and showcases the rich diversity of Latin American musical traditions. He pays tribute to Latin music legends Eddie Palmieri and Tito Puente while also elevating the music of both Mariachi ensembles and Baroque orchestras. We invite you on this journey through time across Latin America. Enjoy!
Lux Aeterna - Z. Randall Stroope (b.1953) ft. Tom Trenney
Z. Randall Stroope wrote Lux Aeterna ("Light Eternal") for James Litton and The American Boychoir, and he has said the piece had two jobs: one was to honor Dr. Litton and the other was to teach head voice. What you are hearing is a beautiful prayer and, secretly, a voice lesson. We love music that does both.
Kyrie in D minor, K. 626 - W.A. Mozart (1756-1791)
Mozart was still working on his Requiem when he died in December of 1791, at just 35 years old. It had been commissioned anonymously, and he never finished it. His student Franz Xaver Süssmayr completed the score after his death. The text is only a few words, “Lord, have mercy, Christ, have mercy,” but Mozart builds them into something relentless and urgent. It asks a lot of the people singing it and that is exactly why we sing it.
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Here Comes the Sun - George Harrison (1942-2001)/arr. Rob Dietz ft. Julianna Llano ('29)
Pare Cochero - Marcelino Guerra (1914-1996)/arr. Conrado Monier (b. 1955)
This was arranged for the Cuban National Choir conducted by Digna Guerra. In our opinion, that choir is the epitome of Latin American musicianship. You can find them on all streaming services.
Student Spotlight
La Cigarra - Raymundo Pérez y Soto (1910-1991)
Allison Ruiz ('30)
Swing Down, Chariot - Traditional Spiritual/arr. Ken Burton (b.1970)
Ken Burton packs a lot of history into this spiritual: African influences, the gospel quartet sound of groups like the Fairfield Four and the Golden Gate Quartet, close-harmony jazz, big band, and classical choral writing, all with nothing but voices. Listen underneath the fun..this is a song about wanting to be free from slavery, and Burton never lets you forget it.
Kalinda - Sydney Guillaume (b.1982)
This one has a Miami story. Sydney Guillaume was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and came to the United States at 11 speaking only French and Creole. Kalinda was his first choral work, written while he was a junior at the University of Miami, and it went on to win an international choral composition competition. The Creole text gives thanks for the sound of the drum and ends with "Ayibobo!", a cry of victory. Haitian Creole is the language many of our neighbors speak at home, so this music feels close to us. Feel free to groove along!
SoFlo Harmony A Cappella Ensemble
Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better - Irving Berlin (1888-1989)/arr. Derric Johnson (b.1932)
Irving Berlin wrote this duet for the 1946 Broadway musical Annie Get Your Gun, where Annie Oakley and Frank Butler try to outdo each other on their way to a sharpshooting contest. Ethel Merman and Ray Middleton introduced it. Derric Johnson, one of the great a cappella arrangers, wrote for Disney's Voices of Liberty, and he knows how to entertain a crowd. We did not have to teach high school students how to one-up each other. We will let you decide who wins.
You and I - Stevie Wonder (b. 1950)/arr. Jacob Collier (b.1994) ft. Fabrizio Masella ('27)
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Student Spotlight
Malagueña - Ernesto Lecuona
Joshua Safont, ('27)
A senior currently auditioning for college, Josh is an aspiring pianist. His commitment to his craft is inspiring to students and teachers. Cuban composer Ernesto Lecuona wrote Malagueña as the final movement of his piano suite Andalucía, and it has been a showpiece ever since. Enjoy!
Gloria - Joshua Himes (b. 1987)
Joshua Himes offers a contemporary interpretation of the traditional "Gloria," infusing it with fresh harmonies and rhythms. This arrangement breathes new life into the classic text, emphasizing joy and reverence. Himes' composition bridges historic and modern choral traditions, inviting the audience to experience the "Gloria" in a new light. It is a favorite of the students because they get to showcase so many different tones and techniques while...still thinking of burgers.
Bridge Over Troubled Water - Paul Simon (b.1941); arr. Jacob Collier
Ft. Ashley Rodriguez ('29), Daniel Rodriguez ('29), and Gabriella Marquez ('27)
Paul Simon's lyrics and melody transcend a self-centered society. This song has inspired, comforted and been a familiar friend to millions since it premiered in 1970. Jacob Collier's brilliant arrangement won a GRAMMY for Best Arrangement in 2025. Jacob is patiently expanding the musical mind of our society. He consistently imagines the music beyond the music, and this setting has taught us to connect our hearts to the original text. With this arrangement, we give our voices, ears, passion, energy and hearts to you...the person who stopped to listen. Revoiced for SATB+++ by alumnus Lazaro Alonso specifically for this concert tour, we proudly present Jacob Collier's masterpiece to you, and we hope that it inspires you to expand your perceived musical boundaries.
Shower The People - James Taylor (b.1948)/arr. Lazaro Alonso
Ok folks, it is your turn to sing for us. James Taylor released this song in 1976 as the opening track of his album In the Pocket, with Carly Simon harmonizing alongside him, and it has been a concert favorite ever since. Our alumnus Lazaro Alonso wrote this arrangement, and the instructions are right there in the title. Thank you for spending this time with us. Now go shower the people you love with love, show them the way that you feel.
God be in my head - Alexander L’estrange
World O World - Jacob Collier
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Ryan Ellis is a jazz pianist and director of vocal music at Miami Arts Studio, a public arts magnet school in Miami, FL. Mr. Ellis received his Bachelor of Music degree from the University of Miami and his Masters in Music Education from Florida International University. After five years as the Director of Bands at Miami Southridge High School, he transitioned to Director of Choral Music. Currently, he leads vocal ensembles as well as a recording studio, record label and sound engineering program that provides students with a relevant music education in a rapidly evolving industry.
Mr. Ellis’ mixed ensembles have performed throughout the United States with concerts at FLACDA, Washington D.C., Chicago, Atlanta, Orlando, and New York, including five featured concerts at Carnegie Hall in 2009, 2011, 2014, 2018, and 2024. His ensembles frequently record backgrounds for artists such as Jennifer Lopez, Gloria Estefan, and multiple television award shows including the AMA’s, Latin AMA’s, and Latin Grammy’s, as well as on the Jacob Collier Djesse 4 world tour. Mr. Ellis is published as a contributing author on Jason Max Ferdinand’s “Teaching with Heart” and “Teaching Beyond the Music,” available from GIA Publications. As a professional jazz pianist, Mr. Ellis has worked extensively in the Caribbean, Florida and Hawaii.
Cindy Ellis is a Cuban-American choral conductor, jazz vocalist, and music educator currently serving as middle school and high school choral director at Miami Arts Studio in Miami, Florida. Recently named Co-Artistic Director of the Cincinnati Youth Choir, Ellis will relocate to Cincinnati in summer 2027 to begin this exciting new chapter in her career. Her award-winning ensembles have performed at prestigious venues and events, including Carnegie Hall, the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) State, Regional, and National Conferences, and the 2022 Summit of the Americas. Her students regularly record for major television broadcasts, including the Latin Grammy Awards and American Music Awards, and have collaborated with renowned artists such as Gloria Estefan and Jacob Collier.
As a conductor, Ellis has led performances at the New World Symphony Center in Miami, Carnegie Hall in New York, and Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles. As a performer, she has appeared on Saturday Night Live alongside Coldplay, at the 2024 BBC Proms Festival at London's Royal Albert Hall, and at the 2026 Edinburgh International Festival. A recognized leader in music education, Ellis was named Miami Arts Studio's 2025 Teacher of the Year and was a 2025 and 2026 GRAMMY Music Educator Award Top 25 Semifinalist. Most recently, her advanced ensemble, Bellarmonia, performed at the 2026 TED International Conference in Vancouver and represented the United States on a multi-city tour of South Korea and Japan.