The Road to Freedom

Director Janice Hawthorne Timm has invited two guest artists: Katharine Zdunich Gunnick, world-acclaimed soprano, and Rebekah Zdunich, percussionist to perform. Other featured artists are Larry Ames, bassist; and Doug Shald, drummer; Martin Henebury, playing kalimba; Jasmine Byerley and Gina Henebury, soprano soloists for “The Time has Come.”

PHOTO: Katharine Gunnink, Internationally acclaimed American soprano

The concert features Ron Kean’s “The Journey of Harriet Tubman,” and Duke Ellington’s “Freedom Suite.” This is a not to miss concert!

Internationally acclaimed American soprano Katharine Gunnink has quickly made a specialty of performing opera’s most demanding roles. An Associate Resident Artist with Opera San Jose Gunnink has sung Fiordiligi in Cosi fan Tutte, Magda in La Rondine, Senta in The Flying Dutchman as well as Anna Sorensen in Kevin Putt’s West Coast premiere of Silent Night. This season (2018-2019) she covered and performed the role Nedda in Pagliacci and Cio-Cio San in Madama Butterfly. Her signature role is Mimi in La Bohème at Opera San Luis Obispo, In 2016 she sang an American Songbook recital to a sold-out crowd at the Cloverdale Performing Arts Center with collaborative pianist Robert Mollicone.
A native of Sonoma County, she completed her master’s degree and post-graduate work in Opera Performance at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Katharine studies with acclaimed soprano Nova Thomas.

When asked, “What led me to this concert?” Timm responded, “A multitude of things: the need for privileged white people to stand by the side of those who do not yet have freedom – and to help tell the stories; my visit to the National Memorial for Peace and Justice & The Legacy Museum (in my home town of Montgomery, Alabama)

https://museumandmemorial.eji.org/ ; my own choral ‘mission’ to include music of cultures other than western European – and African American Slave Songs are a good point to start, especially since a great deal of our own political and social climate here in the USA is a direct result of slavery, colonialism, and genocide; it seemed a natural outgrowth of the “Dream” concert from last semester; the availability of my former student (and wondrous soprano) Katharine Zdunich Gunnink to sing the Harriet Tubman solo – and then I went looking specifically for other music to complement the Harriet Tubman piece.”

Ron Kean’s “The Journey of Harriet Tubman” is a five-movement work paying tribute to one of the great heroes of the emancipation era. Kean brings authentic expression to the spirituals that served multiple functions for the African-Americans of that time. The African heritage sings true in the renderings he offers, and the journey of those who sacrificed becomes a story we can relive and honor. A simple percussive accompaniment provides the foundation for a truly artistic expression that will move an audience to tears.

Duke Ellington (“Freedom Suite”) called his music “American Music” rather than jazz and liked to describe those who impressed him as “beyond category.” He remains one of the most influential figures in jazz, if not in all American music and is widely considered as one of the twentieth century’s most prolific composer and best known African American personalities. As both a composer and a bandleader, Ellington’s reputation has increased since his death, with the continuous thematic repackaging of his signature music, often becoming best-sellers. Posthumous recognition of his work includes a special award citation from the Pulitzer Prize Board. When asked what inspired him to write, Ellington replied, “My men and my race are the inspiration of my work. I try to catch the character and mood and feeling of my people”. Duke Ellington influenced millions of people both around the world and at home. He gave American music its own sound for the first time. Duke used the suite format to give his jazz songs a far more empowering meaning, resonance and purpose: to exalt, mythologize and re-contextualize the African-American experience on a grand scale.

Timm is originally from Montgomery, Alabama, and has lived in the Ukiah area since 1987. She earned an MSM in Choral Conducting from Southern Methodist University (Dallas, Texas) and a BA in music from Duke University, and also holds a California Teaching Credential from Dominican University.

This is her fourth semester directing the Mendocino College Choir and Vocal Jazz Ensemble – and it’s her “dream job”.

In addition to her work here at the college with the choirs and musical theater productions (Legally Blonde, spring 2015; American Idiot, spring 2017; Once Upon a Mattress, spring 2019), she also works locally on productions with the Ukiah Players Theater (UPT) and Arnold and Near’s School for Performing Arts & Cultural Education (SPACE), and is Music Director for the upcoming UPT production of Sweeney Todd (opening June 20).