The Columbia Pro Cantare Chorus, with Laura Lee Fischer conducting and Isaiah Shim on piano. Photo by Barry Page.
On Saturday, May 6, 2023, Columbia Pro Cantare performed its last concert of the season, “American Tapestry,” conducted by Laura Lee Fischer at the Jim Rouse Theatre in Columbia. Sadly, it was also the last concert under musical direction of the founder, artistic co-director and conductor, Frances Motyca Dawson (Read our interview here).
It was a most memorable night and one that will certainly be the last jewel in Dawson’s crown as her reign with Columbia Pro Cantare ends.
The concert was like a breath of spring. The first few pieces—”In Bright Mansions Above,” a traditional spiritual arranged by Roland Carter; “When Jesus Wept,” arranged by Gwyneth Walker with text by William Billings; “Caminante,” a soft Spanish piece by David L. Brunner with a poem by Antonio Machado; and, finally, “Girl I Left Behind Me,” an American folk song arranged by Dan Forrest—were all very soft sounding and sometimes somber. It recalled the beginning of the spring season, waiting for the blossoms and leaves to appear, tired of the final, drearier days of winter. These selections were all performed by the wonderful Columbia Pro Cantare chorus with their beautiful and rich harmonies.
We were then treated to more upbeat pieces with an instrumental interlude performed by Ronald Mutchnik on violin and Isaiah Shim on piano. They played “Cloggin” from “Appalachian Dances and Ditties” by Robert Ward; “Ashoken Farewell” by Jay Ungar, a piece heard in the Ken Burns’ series, “The Civil War;” and “Hoedown” by the great Aaron Copland. It was a wonderful break, listening to these top musicians.
After intermission, tenor James Farlow stepped out of the chorus to perform selections from “Songs of Travel” by Ralph Vaughan Williams written from poems by Robert Louis Stevenson. Farlow’s clear voice was delightful. The chorus then performed “My Gentle Harp.” Alice Parker arranged Thomas Moore’s text to the Irish tune “Londonderry Air.”
One of the most interesting selections was “Nine Hundred Miles,” an American folk song arranged by Rollo Dilworth. The song was probably originally meant for a male to sing based on when it was written and the words. However, Fischer used three women from the chorus—Lori Crossland, Luisa Russell and Emily Knosher—to sing with some wonderful harmonies which brought a different texture to the song.
The chorus ended the performance with two upbeat selections—”Unclouded Day” from “Heavenly Home: Three American Songs” by Shawn Kirchner and “I Hear America Singing” from the traditional spiritual, “Walk together, Children,” arranged by André J. Thomas. It felt like the time had come for the birds to chirp, to feel the warm spring air and smell the rain. Special thanks to Shim and Pei-Hsan Lin who accompanied the chorus so superbly on the piano.
It was a most memorable night and one that will certainly be the last jewel in Dawson’s crown as her reign with Columbia Pro Cantare ends. Maryland Theatre Guide wishes Frances Motyca Dawson a enjoyable retirement and thanks her for many years of bringing exciting and different music to the Columbia area. We also wish Maestro Fischer all the best on her new role leading this wonderful group of performers.
Running Time: One hour and 15 minutes with one intermission.
“American Tapestry” was performed on May 5, 2025 by Columbia Pro Cantare at the Jim Rouse Theatre, Wilde Lake High School, 5460 Trumpeter Rd, Columbia, MD 21044. Columbia Pro Cantare will begin its next season on October 21, 2023 at the First Evangelical Lutheran Church with “Hispanic Heritage” and America Consortium commissioned work by Venezuelan born Cristian Grasses. For more information about Columbia Pro Cantare and their upcoming season, go to their website.
