About the Program
Emily Dickinson’s poem, “Hope is the thing with feathers” from The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson, is our springboard for an exploration of the theme of Hope. We wander between the lines of this poem, using music to illuminate and extend the meanings within Dickinson’s words.
The program includes music from Schubert, Vaughn-Williams, Beach, Köhler, Bach, Mahler, Barber, Duparc, Ravel, Saint-Saëns, as well as a New Mexico premiere from California composer Elliot Z. Levine, and a Chinese pop song from the 1970s.
The performance is free but donations are appreciated. No reservations are required.
Participants' Bios
Richard Bentley, piano
Richard earned his B.M. in Piano Performance from Oberlin Conservatory and his M.M. from U. of Michigan’s School of Music. From Boston to Palm Springs to Santa Fe, Richard taught in community schools of music, performed in solo and chamber ensembles, worked as a catering chef, owned and operated a catering company, and served as the registrar at U. of Massachusetts, Longy School of Music, Babson College and Harvard Graduate School of Education. In “retirement,” he was a staff pianist at the U. of Redlands Music School (CA) before moving to Santa Fe, where he is a sought-after collaborative pianist. He has served on the boards of directors for Emmanuel Church, Boston; The Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra, Boston; The Gay Men’s Chorus, Palm Springs; The Desert Winds Freedom Band, Palm Springs; Santa Fe Desert Chorale; and Santa Fe Pro Musica.
David Foushee, reader
David is a relatively recent arrival in Santa Fe, having moved here from California in 2021, but he is already an enthusiastic supporter of the TGIF concerts. During his 19 years in the Napa Valley, his theatrical career included performances in “I Am My Own Wife,” “The Man Who Came to Dinner,” “Sweeney Todd,” “Mauritius,” “1776,” “Laura,” “Blithe Spirit” (Madam Arcati), “The Sound of Music” (a nun, a Nazi officer), “Born Yesterday,” “The Little Mermaid” (King Triton, Chef Louis), “Bell, Book and Candle,” and most recently via Zoom, “Romeo and Juliet” (Friar Laurence).
Gerardo Lopez, flute
Gerardo (Gerry) Lopez (he/him/his) is a PhD student in Music Theory at Ohio State University (OSU). Before his time at OSU, he earned an MM in Music Theory from Michigan State University. Before his shift towards research and scholarship, he also earned a BM and a MM in Flute Performance from the University of Redlands, having studied and worked with flutist Sara Andon.
Elaine Wang Meyerhoffer, mezzo-soprano
Elaine began classical singing late in life and committed to its rigors by completing a B.A. in Music in Vocal Performance (Class of 2017, U. of Redlands, CA – over three decades after her first college degree in English Literature from Stanford University). She lives in Palm Springs, CA; the San Francisco Bay Area; and Santa Fe, NM. Elaine’s focus is the solo recital, such as a 2018 TGIF program entitled East in West: Chinese Art and Folk Songs and a 2019 TGIF recital interweaving poetry and songs – Woman: Wiles, Woes and Wows – in collaboration with Santa Fe Poet Laureate (2010-12) Joan Logghe. She also delights in every opportunity to collaborate in music ensembles and with other arts.