Section Tenor in Transept

Transept returns to the Cathedral to open the 2024-25 Season with a journey from darkness to light. This varied program includes ethereal plainchant, the splendor of Renaissance polyphony, and a selection of exciting music from contemporary composers. Works by Tallis, Lassus, Macmillan, Caroline Shaw, Dobrogosz, and Kirchner.

In this session, Dr. Juan Carlos Mendoza will offer an introduction to Puerto Rican and Cuban Song repertoire in the Meisel Room, Westminster Presbyterian Church. Free and open to the public!

The OpenSource Recital celebrates 11 years of Source with two Minnesota premieres, the first A Path Home with words by Minnesota baritone Rodolfo Nieto and composer Victor Marquez-Barrios, a result of the American Composers Forum and the McKnight Visiting Composer Grant, and the second, Anger in Open Mouths: three sweet songs by Laura Nevitt, a collaboration between Source Song Festival Artistic Director Clara Osowski, and Sparks and Wiry Cries Artistic Director Erika Switzer.

Also featured on the program are songs that composers Janika Vandervelde, Carol Barnett, and Libby Larsen wanted to hear again. Performers include Maria Jette, Ahmed Anzaldua, Clara Osowski, Casey Rafn, Stephen Swanson, Juan Carlos Mendoza, and Erika Switzer. We’ll honor and tribute our wonderful friend, Paul Sperry, as we celebrate his long life of American song, and present the Paul Sperry American Song Initiative Award, an annual award given to advocates of song performance, creation, and scholarship.

I will be performing as section tenor with Transept. Here is some information on the performance:

Coming for the first time to the Cathedral of St. Joseph, Transept’s beloved Christmas program interweaves sources ancient and modern, from plainchant to medieval carols to modern gems. Featuring music by Lassus, Praetorius, Distler, Frank, Stopford, Weir, Mahler, and more, Transept Christmas is not to be missed!

Juan Carlos Mendoza and Diane Van Den Oever present a recital of Mexican and American Songs. Composers include Copland, Savoy, Ponce, Kilenyi, and Rolon.

Perform as a faculty member of The University of South Dakota’s Voice and Opera program.

$150 Admission Ticket- Includes Dinner, Dessert, 2 Glasses of Wine, and a $75 donation made towards the USD Opera Program to support Scholarships, Financial Assistance for Student Opportunities, and High Quality Mainstage Productions.

Juan Carlos Mendoza will be featured as the tenor soloist in Missa in Tempore Belli (Mass in the Time of War) by Haydn with The University of Iowa Symphony Orchestra and Choirs.