Excellence in the Vocal Arts: The PBA Concert Choir
Whether through music, art, dance, theatre, cinema, sports broadcasting, digital media, graphic design, journalism, communication, public relations, game design, or the Preparatory Department, the College of the Arts at Palm Beach Atlantic University is a place where creativity and calling meet. We equip young artists to exceed their potential and to do so in a way that reflects our University’s unwavering commitment to the glory of God. Inspired by our motto—Enlightening Minds, Enriching Souls, and Extending Hands—we foster academic excellence, spiritual growth, and a spirit of service that shapes leaders through meaningful, transformative relationships.
In the Department of Music, students answer their calling in a musically vibrant, Christ-first environment. Here, their God-given talents are nurtured by internationally recognized faculty through personalized instruction in voice or instrumental music, and through a rich curriculum that includes music history, music theory, aural skills, music technology, and keyboard studies. Students thrive both in the classroom and through collaborations with professional organizations, preparing for impactful careers in Music Education, Commercial and Classical Performance, and Worship Leadership.
At the heart of this community is the PBA Concert Choir, one of the University’s premier music ensembles and a living expression of unity, excellence, and ministry. This select SATB ensemble explores a broad and dynamic repertoire and performs regularly at both campus and community events. While primarily composed of music majors, it is open to all advanced vocalists with prior choral experience who seek to grow in faith and artistry.
Our Choir’s influence reaches far, with members regularly collaborating with prestigious organizations such as the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, Palm Beach Symphony, The Society of the Four Arts, The Palm Beach Opera, The Choral Society of the Palm Beaches, The Royal Poinciana Chapel, The Church of Bethesda-by-the-sea, First Presbyterian Church of North Palm Beach, Young Singers of the Palm Beaches, and The Palm Beach Round Table. Choral members actively serve in the worship ministries of numerous area churches of all denominations. From the local stage to national platforms, such as our performance of Mozart’s Requiem at Carnegie Hall, the Choir consistently bears witness to the power of music as ministry. This year, the ensemble continues its mission of global outreach, with a tour through Czechia, Germany, and Austria—sharing the light of Christ through the universal language of song.
Together, we believe that every note we sing, every harmony we craft, and every stage we grace is an offering—for the glory of the Lord.
Love is A Circle: Prologue, Spherical Madrigals
Ross Lee Finney (1906-1997)
Text Robert Herrick
Edition Peters No. 6833
“Love is a circle that doth restless move in the same sweet eternity of love”
Esto Les Digo
Kinley Lange (b.1950)
AMP 0402
Sophie Cory, Soloist
“Where two or more are gathered in My name, there will I be also.” Matt 18:19-20
I’m Gonna Sing ‘til The Spirit Moves in My Heart
Moses Hogan (1957-2003)
HL 08740284
Dariel Peguero, Soloist
Elijah Castle, Joseph Yuen, Sarah Donovan & Johanna Caceres, Soli
This Path
Hans Bridger Heruth (b.1997)
Text Robert Bode
ECS 9249
Sophie Cory, Juliette Del Pozo, Avery Larsen, Peyton Hardesty,
Juan Plaza & Elijah Castle, Soli
Light Beyond Shadow
Dan Forrest (b.1978)
Text Paul Wigmore
DF1014
“Light beyond shadow, Joy beyond tears, Love that is greater when
darkest our fears; deeper the Peace when the storm is around,
nearer the Hope to the lost who is found.“
Hope
Zachary J. Moore (b.1992)
Music Spoke
The Lord Bless You and Keep You
Peter C. Lutkin (1858-1931)
Numbers 6:24-26
Sonia Santiago, Director of Choral Activities
Loni White, Collaborative Pianist
| Dr. Nicholas Tavani, Violin Nicholas Signo, Violin Sebastian Alvarez, Djembe |
Juan Plaza, Viola Christopher Bodensiek, Cello Declan Deroux, Shaker |
Love Is A Circle is the prelude to a set of seven madrigals by Ross Lee Finney. The unifying theme in this collection is the use of 17th century texts, each having to do with something round such as a circle, ball, or sphere. This canon for unaccompanied four voices appears only on the cover of the collection and is drawn as a circle.
Drawn from the text in Matthew 18:19-20 “Where two or more are gathered in My name, I am there in the midst of them;” Esto Les Digo offers a message of faith, unity, and community. This evocative a cappella arrangement is beautifully set by Houston-based composer Kinley Lange. The warmth of the lush harmonies and the lyrical nature of the writing effectively convey the text’s central message of divine presence and comfort.
Exuberant, Jubilant, Timeless—I’m Gonna Sing ‘Til the Spirit Moves in My Heart by Moses Hogan takes you on a spirited journey singing, praying, and shouting until Jesus comes. The spiritual is a testament to the powerful, transformative nature of faith and music. The text progresses through different actions as a response to the Holy Spirit’s presence and power. “It was grace that brought, it was grace that taught me, it was grace that kept me, and it’s grace that will lead me home.”
This Path was commissioned by Dr. R. Paul Crabb for his final concert with the University Singers of the University of Missouri before his retirement.
Dr. Bode’s poignant and evocative poem speaks of our future. While it is uncertain, we are reminded that every moment we live, every breath we take, and every song we sing carries us on the beautiful path we take in finding home, and in finding the lives we’re meant to lead.
This piece is an homage—and a deeply heartfelt thank you—to the brilliant man and musician who has dedicated his life to enriching the lives of those around him with his stellar musicianship and his heart of gold.
— Hans Bridger Heruth
Written during the events of 2020, Dan Forrest’s exquisite setting of Paul Wigmore’s Light Beyond Shadow invokes light, love, joy, peace, and hope. At the heart of the composition lies Wigmore’s powerful and intimate poem, which evokes a deep sense of resilience. Through a nuanced and lush musical setting, Forrest amplifies Wigmore’s evocative text, speaking to the universal search for hope in difficult times. With thoughtful harmonic and dynamic contrasts, the work responds to uncertainty and darkness with a message of comfort and renewal. A single note expands and grows—an image of light overcoming darkness.
“Light beyond shadow, Joy beyond tears, Love that is greater when darkest our fears; deeper the Peace when the storm is around, nearer the Hope to the lost who is found. Light of the world, every shining, shining! Hope in our pain and our dying.
In our darkness, there is Light, in our crying, there is Love, in the noise of life imparting, Peace that passes understanding.”
Inspired by Zachary Moore’s deeply personal journey through loss and eventual celebration of new life, Hope is an uplifting piece that conveys a strong sense of optimism and joy through its energetic and creative musical language. After suffering loss, this piece is a direct response to the ultrasound that captured the first sound of his son’s heartbeat. Moore weaves the tension and excitement of this moment into the fabric of the music incorporating body percussion, along with varied rhythmic textures to create a vibrant listening experience that reflects the excitement and relief of this moment in his life.
The Lord Bless You and Keep You—God’s blessing, protection, favor, and peace upon the people. The Aaronic benediction from the Old Testament, specifically Numbers 6:24-26. Peter Christian Lutkin was a prominent American organist, conductor, and composer who co-founded the American Guild of Organist, but was a strong proponent of unaccompanied choral singing. Written in 1900, the piece is a timeless and enduring staple of the choral repertoire, beloved for its comforting and elegant simplicity.
Loni White is a Canadian pianist and began studying at age nine in the Royal Conservatory of Music. She competed annually in the Manitoba Festival of the Arts and studied with pianist and composer Dr. Kenneth Nichols. At the age of 15, she began teaching piano privately and working as a church pianist. She graduated high school with the Governor General Bronze medal, a national award, for having the highest academic achievement in her graduating class.
Loni went on to earn an Associate of the Royal Conservatory of Toronto in piano performance and was a finalist in the prestigious Snjolaug Sigurdson Piano Competition. She later earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in music with concentrations in math, physical science, and psychology from Minot State University in 2006. She won the Music Teacher’s National Association Young Artist Competition for North Dakota and two years later performed as a guest soloist with the Minot Symphony Orchestra, playing Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1.
She obtained a Master of Arts degree in 2008, studying with Judith Burganger. Loni’s work as a chamber musician is a significant part of her career, and she performs regularly in this capacity as an adjunct faculty member in the music department of Palm Beach Atlantic University. She has extensive experience as a collaborative pianist, working with various instrumentalists and vocalists for recitals and concerts both in Canada and the United States. Loni and her husband, violinist Lehins Aragon, are co-owners of LaRae Music Academy and co-founders of the Pops Orchestra of the Palm Beaches. Loni is also the proud mother of Dylan Aragon, who is studying to carry on the musical legacy to the next generation.
Performing artist and veteran educator Sonia Gonzalez Santiago is a distinguished music educator and voice instructor. Known for her dynamic teaching and inspiring leadership, she maintains a thriving voice studio and has earned widespread recognition as a master teacher and vocal clinician. Her work emphasizes vocal freedom through healthy, sustainable technique across all styles and genres, and her expertise is regularly called upon as an adjudicator and clinician.
Mrs. Santiago currently serves as Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at Palm Beach Atlantic University in West Palm Beach, Florida, in addition to maintaining a select private voice studio. Her acclaimed choirs are active throughout the school year and play an important role in outreach and recruitment for the university. Prior to her position at the university, she served as Director of Vocal Arts for the nationally acclaimed Conservatory of the Arts at The King’s Academy in West Palm Beach for twelve years. In this highly successful and well recognized conservatory program, she inspired countless young artists and aspiring musicians who are now pursuing successful careers in the industry. Sonia is also part of the amazing artistic staff of the Young Singers of the Palm Beaches in residence at the Kravis Center, where she continues her work with young vocal artists.
An accomplished mezzo-soprano, Sonia has captivated audiences around the world with her rich, lyric, expressive voice. Since her much-praised debut with the late conductor Anton Guadagno and the Palm Beach Opera, she has gone on to entertain audiences throughout the US, Europe, Japan, and South America.
Born in Miami, Florida, Sonia Gonzalez Santiago is the daughter of Cuban immigrants. A product of Florida music education, Sonia was the first in her family to pursue higher education in the United States. She holds degrees in Music Education and Vocal Performance from the University of Florida and Florida State University. She is an active member of multiple professional organizations including the American Choral Directors Association, National Association for Music Education, and the National Association of Teachers of Singing.
Sonia and her husband Felix reside in West Palm Beach with their three sons—Nicholas, Christopher, and Jonathan—and are deeply involved in the music ministry of First Presbyterian Church of North Palm Beach. Her son Christopher is an award-winning jazz trumpeter and singer.
SOPRANO I
Sophie Cory ’28
B.A. Music / Piano / English
Winter Springs, Florida
Homeschool
*Juliette Del Pozo ’27
B.M. Vocal Performance / Education
West Palm Beach, FL
G-Star School of the Arts
Young Singer of the Palm Beaches
Shawn Berry & Connie Drosakis
MS: Denise Nisman
*Sarah Donovan ’26
B.M. Vocal Performanc
Brevard
County, Florida
Satellite High School
Timothy Liscum, Director
MS: Lauren Benzel
*Emaline Montgomery ’25
B.S. Psychology / Music
Woodstock, Georgia
Woodstock High School
Emily Alderman, Director
Amy Pantoja ’29
B.A. Music / Voice
West Palm Beach, Florida
Forrest Hill High School
Sterling Frederick, Director
SOPRANO II
Ella Brueckner ‘28
BA Popular Music / Creative Writing
Florida Virtual School
*Johanna Caceres ‘25
BA Music / Voice / Education
Lakeland, FL
Harrison School of the Arts
T Jordan McCarthy, Director
MS: John VanClief
*Sabrya Chavers ‘28
BA Music / Voice / Screenwriting
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Palm Beach Gardens High School
Ashley Osorio & Karista Macrostie
MS: Lauren Stoddard
Annette Fregio ‘28
BA Music / Voice / Bio & Graphic Design
West Palm Beach, Florida
Forrest Hill High School
Sterling Frederick, Director
MS: Denise Nisman
*Summer Kazim ‘28
BA Popular Music Industry
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
*Yanel Quinteros ‘26
BA Popular Music Industry / Voice /
Apologetics Minor
Wellington, Florida
Palm Beach Central High School
Scott Houchins, Director
ALTO I
Genesis Altamiranda ‘28
BM Music Education
Homeschooled
Godfrey Mullings
Lindy Castle ‘27
BS Nursing
Tallahassee, FL
Homeschool
Brody Castle, Director
*Peyton Hardesty ‘26
BM Music Education
West Palm Beach, FL
Young Singer of the Palm Beaches
Shawn Berry & Connie Drosakis
Atlantic Christian Academy
HS: Maha Bouhamdan & Brody Castle
MS: Sumitra Rios
Adrianne Ramirez-Dukes ‘25
BM Music Education
Port Saint Lucie, Florida
Somerset College Prep Academy
Eileen Walentin, Director
Daynah Ridgley ‘27
BM Music Education
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Calvary Christian Academy
Brittany Sica, Director
MS: Julianne Norman
ALTO II
*Shana Dhaity ‘27
BM Music Education
Palm Beach State College
Allen Webber, Director
Avery Larsen ‘29
BA Music / Voice
Keswick Christian School
Aaron Trill, Director
MS: Dr. Steve Ko
*Emily Puentes ‘28
BA Music / Voice / Business
West Palm Beach, Florida
Forest Hill High School
Sterling Frederick, Director
BAK Middle School of the Arts
Connie Drosakis & Jorge Vals
Kaitlin Reilly ‘29
BA Music / Voice / Psychology
Viera, Florida
Viera High School
Kevin Albright, Director
Mari Rodrigues ‘28
BM Music Education
Jacksonville, Florida
Douglas Anderson School of the Arts
Holly Hammond & Joshua Cook, Directors
MS: Shawn Pendry & Theresa Moreau
TENOR I
Cooper Coffin ‘25
BA Popular Music
Fort Lauderdale, FL
Calvary Christian Academy
Brittany Sica, Director
Holbys Gonzalez ‘27
BA Music / Voice / Computer Science
West Palm Beach, Florida
Forrest Hill High Schoolf
Sterling Frederick, Director
*Jospeh Yuen ‘27
BS Biology / Music Minor
Hawthorne, New Jersey
Hawthorne Christian Academy
Beth Prins & Anne Paynter, Directors
TENOR II
Sebastian Alvarez ‘27
BM Worship Leadership / Voice & Percussion
Miami, FL
Florida Christian School
Jeanine Stemmer, Director
Adam “AJ” Leatherman “26
BS Computer Science
Wellington, FL
Wellington High School
Bradford Chase, Director
MS: Brett Bailey
*Juan Plaza ‘27
BA Music / Voice / Pre-Law
West Palm Beach, Florida
A.W Dreyfoos School of the Arts
BAK Middle School of the Arts
MS: Connie Drosakis & Kent Taylor
Timoteo Quinteros Hofkamp ‘28
BS Behavioral Neuroscience
Wellington, FL
Palm Beach Central High School
Scott Houchins, Director
BASS I
*Robbie Barrett ‘27
BM Music / Voice / Computer Science
West Palm Beach, FL
A.W Dreyfoos School of the Arts
Kent Taylor, Director
BAK Middle School of the Arts
Connie Drosakis & Jorge Vals, Directors
*Elijah Castle ‘26
BM Vocal Performance
Tallahassee, FL
Homeschool
Brody Castle, Director
Sebastian Krupa ‘28
BM Vocal Performance
Trumbull CT
Christian Heritage school
Robin Hannibal, Director
BASS II
Declan Deroux ‘25
BM Vocal Performance
Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Calvary Christian Academy
Brittany Sica, Director
Daniel Matos ‘27
BA Popular Music Industry / Education
Santiago, Chile
Colegio Pedro de Valdivia Providencia
*Dariel Peguero ‘26
BA Popular Music Industry / Dance
West Palm Beach, Florida
A.W Dreyfoos School of the Arts
Kent Taylor, Director
MS: Elizabeth Phillips
*Denotes Section Leaders & Choral Dept. Officers
What Unites Members of the PBA Concert Choir:
- Our faith is central to everything we do.
- Many members of the choir are graduates of Florida schools.
- Four PBA Choir members attended the same high school as Professor Santiago.
- Those students studied under a PBA alumnus who now serves as director.
- 12 PBA Choir members have sung in choirs led by PBA alumni.
- Five members worked under directors who also attended the same high school as Professor Santiago.
- One singer’s former high school choir was also selected to perform at this ACDA conference.
- Professor Santiago is a proud product of Florida schools—South Olive Elementary, Conniston Middle, and Forest Hill High School, all in Palm Beach County. She earned her college degrees at Florida universities, and many of her mentors are lifelong ACDA members who continue to inspire her work today.
We dedicate this performance to the countless individuals who came before us, those who blazed the trail and inspired our path. This is for the part of our community that, through their example, has reminded us to rejoice in all things, to hope endlessly, and to let our love grow a little deeper each day.
In loving memory of:
- Ray Robinson, Choral Director PBA
- Lloyd Mims, Dean Emmeritus PBA
- Scott W. Leland, Director Forest Hill High
- Harold G. Bradley, Mentor & founder of Dimension 20 Forest Hill High
- Lee Bradley, Director Forest Hill High
A Message from the Associate Dean and Voice Division Coordinator
It is my sincere delight and pleasure to add my congratulations to Professor Sonia Santiago and all the members of the Palm Beach Atlantic University Concert Choir for their invitation to perform at the 2025 FLACDA State Conference. This is a prestigious honor not only for Professor Santiago and the students but also for the Department of Music and all of its professors who continually pour into the lives of these young professionals.
The Department of Music is housed in the larger College of the Arts at Palm Beach Atlantic University. Selected by audition only, the membership of the PBA Concert Choir is not just comprised of Music Majors (including BA, Performance and Music Education) but also of Non-music Majors and Music Minors as well. This elite group of singers is one of the outward faces of The College of the Arts, and they perform multiple times a year in and around the South Florida area, often collaborating with other prestigious arts organizations. They recently appeared at Carnegie Hall in New Your City singing Requiem by W. A. Mozart.
Knowing these students, their hearts and their passion for musical excellence, makes it even more exciting that they have been given this opportunity to share their talents at the state level. I wish Professor Santiago, their collaborative pianist Professor Loni White, and each member of this ensemble Godspeed as they sing for you!
Blessings,
Professor S. Mark Aliapoulios
Associate Dean, Coordinator of Voice Studies
College of the Arts
Palm Beach Atlantic University
A Message from the Dean of the College of the Arts
On behalf of the faculty, staff, students, and alumni of Palm Beach Atlantic University’s College of the Arts, I am honored to extend heartfelt congratulations to our exceptional Concert Choir and Professor Sonia Santiago on their performance at the Florida American Choral Directors Association Conference. Your artistry, dedication, and pursuit of excellence uplift and inspire our entire university community. We are deeply proud of your achievements and thrilled to see your talents recognized on this distinguished stage.
At PBA, we celebrate the transformative power of the arts through a vibrant range of performances, exhibitions, and creative collaborations. Our programs in the performing, visual, media, and communication arts embody the spirit of storytelling and service. These experiences empower our students to learn, lead, and create with purpose, fulfilling our mission to grow in wisdom, lead with conviction, and serve God boldly.
Appreciatively,
Jason Lester, D.M.
Dean, College of the Arts
Professor of Music
Palm Beach Atlantic University