Seattle Peace Chorus presents “Resilience: Sources of Strength,” recorded at UCUCC, Seattle, Sunday 23 November 2025. Click here to open the recording; click on the timestamps below to go to a particular title in the recording.

Pre-Concert Q & A (00:00)

Débora Oliveira from the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network

Moderator: Steve Bauck

Calling In

Hope (23:18)

Margarita Rodriguez and Peter Colino, soloists

If we want hope to survive in this world today,
then every day we’ve got to pray on.

If we want hope to survive in this world today,
then every day we’ve got to walk on.

If we want hope to survive in this world today,
then every day we’ve got to work on.

If we want hope to survive in this world today,
then every day we’ve got to move on.

If we want hope to survive in this world today,
then every day we’ve got to sing on.

Land Acknowledgement (30:26)

Urban Native Education Alliance

Breaths (33:06)

Listen more often to things than to beings.
’Tis the ancestors’ breath when the fire’s voice is heard.
’Tis the ancestors’ breath in the voice of the waters.

Those who have died, have never, never left.
The dead are not under the earth
They are in the rustling trees, they are in the groaning woods
They are in the crying grass. They are in the moaning rocks.

Those who have died have never, never left.
The dead have a pact with the living.
They are in the woman’s breast, they are in the wailing child.
They are with us in the home. They are with us in the crowd.

Stories of our Grandmothers

Lady Louse (39:08)

tsi sq́ʷalʔalq́ʷal Lora Pennington, Upper Skagit Elder and Storyteller

Grandmother Cedar (41:43)

tsi sq́ʷalʔalq́ʷal Lora Pennington

Lineage (49:58)

My grandmothers were strong.
They followed plows and bent to toil.
They moved through fields sowing seed.

My grandmothers were strong.
They touched the earth and grain grew.
My grandmothers were strong.
They were full of sturdiness and singing.

My grandmothers are full of mem’ries.
Smelling of soap and onions, and wet clay,
with veins rolling roughly over quick hands
they have many clean words to say.

My grandmothers were strong.
Why am I not as they?

Learning from our Kindreds

Stories of Resilience (54:15)

Martha Cohen and Niuvis Ferro

Reading from Cole Arthur Riley (59:34)

Cee Adamson

Sure on this Shining Night (01:00:41)

Cee Adamson, soloist

Sure on this shining night
Of starmade shadows round,
Kindness must watch for me
This side the ground.

The late year lies down the north.
All is healed, all is health.
High summer holds the earth.
Hearts all whole.

Sure on this shining night
I weep for wonder
Wandering far alone
Of shadows on the stars.

Wade in the Water (01:03:23)

Cee Adamson, soloist

God’s gonna trouble the water.
Wade in the water, children.

See that host all dressed in white.
The leader looks like an Isralite.

See that band all dressed in red.
Well it looked like the band that Moses led.

Reading (01:06:54)

Martha Baskin

When Thunder Comes (01:07:29)

Dekoboko Taiko

The poor and dispossessed take up the drums
for civil rights—freedoms to think and speak,
petition, pray, and vote. When thunder comes,
the civil righteous are finished being meek.

Why Sylvia Méndez bet against the odds,
why Helen Zia railed against tin gods,
how Harvey Milk turned hatred on its head,
how Freedom Summer’s soldiers faced the dread

are tales of thunder that I hope to tell
from my thin bag of verse for you to hear
in miniature, like ringing a small bell,
and know a million bells can drown out fear.

For history was mute witness when such crimes
discolored and discredited our times.
Take up the drums and speak. When thunder comes,
the civil righteous are finished being meek.

INTERMISSION

Justice Choir Community Sing (01:13:30)

I Lift My Voice (01:15:04)

When I lift my voice, let it be in song,
a defiant note in the face of wrong.
I won’t stand alone, we’ll stand side by side
’cause we know that love is always justified.
When they try to divide us, it will only unite us.
I lift my voice.

¡No nos moverán! (We Shall Not Be Moved) (01:17:25)

¡No, no, no nos moverán!
We shall not, we shall not be moved!

Como un árbol firme junto al rio,
Just like a tree that’s planted by the water,

¡no, no, no nos moverán!
we shall not be moved!

Unidos en la lucha,
United in the fight,

¡no, no, no nos moverán!
we shall not be moved!

Singing to Remember

Courage to Be Who We Are (01:19:33)

We are here in the mem’ry of those who have fallen.
We are here for the courage to be who we are.

There Was a Time (01:22:18)

There was a time when meadow, grove, and stream,
The earth, and every common sight,
To me did seem
Apparell’d in celestial light,
The glory of a dream.

The rainbow comes and goes,
And lovely is the rose;
The moon doth with delight
Look round her when the heavens are bare;
Waters on a starry night
Are beautiful and fair;
The sunshine is a glorious birth;
But yet I know, where’er I go,
That there hath pass’d away a glory from the earth.

Though nothing can bring back the hour
Of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower;
We will grieve not, rather find
Strength in what remains behind.

Becoming a Community of Courage

Stories of Resilience (01:26:52)

Débora Oliveira from the Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network

Bridge Over Troubled Water (01:35:06)

I’ll be your bridge o’er troubled water,
when you’re down, I will carry you
like a bridge over troubled water,
I will lay me down.

When you’re weary, feeling small,
when tears are in your eyes,
I will dry them all; I’m on your side.
Oh, when times get rough
and friends just can’t be found,
like a bridge over troubled water,
I will lay me down.

When you’re down and out,
when you’re on the street,
When evening falls so hard,
I will comfort you; I’ll take your part.
Oh, when darkness comes
and pain is all around
like a bridge over troubled water,
I will lay me down.
. . .
Like a bridge over troubled water,
I will ease your mind.

If I Had a Hammer (01:38:19)

If I had a hammer, I’d hammer in the morning;
I’d hammer in the evening, all over this land.
I’d hammer out danger; I’d hammer out warning;
I’d hammer out the love between my brothers and sisters,
all over this land.

If I had a bell, I’d ring it in the morning,
I’d ring it in the evening, all over this land.
I’d ring out danger; I’d ring out warning,
I’d ring out the love between my brothers and sisters,
all over this land.

If I had a song to sing, I’d sing it in the morning,
I’d sing it in the evening, all over this land.
I’d sing out danger; I’d sing out warning,
I’d sing out love between my brothers and sisters,
all over this land.

Well, I’ve got a hammer and I’ve got a bell,
and I’ve got a song to sing all over this land.
It’s the hammer of justice; it’s the bell of freedom;
it’s a song about love between my brothers and sisters,
all over this land.

Hold On (01:47:22)

Keep your hand on the plow, hold on!

Nora, Nora let me come in
doors all fasten and the windows pinned.
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on!

Nora said, “you lost your track;
can’t plow straight and keep a lookin’ back.”
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on!

When my way gets dark as night,
I know love will be my light.
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on!

Freedom’s name is mighty sweet.
Soon one day we’re gonna meet.
Keep your hand on the plow, hold on!

Concert Co-Creators

Seattle Peace Chorus

Will Rand, Music Director

Altos		Sopranos
Donna Austin	Viveka Hall-Holt	Martha Baskin	Norah Lih
Carol Brown	Rachel Hamstra	Miriam Blau	Beth Loots
Meta Chessin	Sue Hurley Rector	Janette Brown	Nikki Nichols
Beth Clemetson	Margarita Rodriguez	Molly Brown	Rosalyn Schiller*
Kamie Davidson	Molly Ryan	Pat Clayton	Kate Scully
Mary Giordano	Sherry Tuinstra*	Jennifer Hardin*	Mary Wilson
Kristina Zawisza		Emily Leslie
Tenors		Basses
Trevor Asbury		Bob Andrews	Dale Rector
Jeff Carter*		Steve Bauck	Peter Colino
Martha Cohen		Straton Spyropoulos	Stephen Ernst
Bill Cote		Markos Weiss*	Wolfgang Kluge
Sylvain Slaton
*Section Leader

Artistic Co-Creators

• Xinzhu Zoe Ma, Collaborative Pianist
• Cee Adamson, Soloist
• Natsuko Porcino, Daniel Kwan, & Mira Pomerantz, Dekoboko Taiko
• Scott Farkas, Percussionist

• Vicki Farmer, Coordinator from University Congregational United Church of Christ
• Jeff Coleman AV Specialist: Livestream, Projection, and Sound Engineering
• Philip Chance, Recording Engineer
• Liz Douthitt Sharp, Lyrics and Video design and projection
• Joan Weiss, Front of House Manager
• Carol Brown and Tamara Brown, Program Design
• Donna Austin, Production Coordinator
• Miriam Blau, Personnel Liaison
• Xavier Moore, UCUCC Host

Dr. Cee E. Adamson (she/they)

In the distinguished sphere of classical music, Dr. Cee E. Adamson (she/they) stands as a beacon of versatility and excellence, seamlessly weaving together her roles as a choral conductor, opera singer, voice teacher, arts administrator, and student affairs practitioner with grace and passion.

As a mezzo-soprano, Cee occupies a fluid place as an operatic talent, capable of treading the beguiling and liminal space between the countertenor and mezzo-soprano, and her vocal versatility has been well showcased in a multiplicity of roles from Britten to Purcell to Glass. As a choral educator, Dr. Adamson assumes the role of a visionary choral director whose leadership has transformed vocal ensembles into beacons of musical excellence.

Through her academic and professional practice, Cee aims to reshape the narrative around who is seen and heard in classical vocal and choral music. Visibility is not just important; it is critical—it means ensuring that underrepresented populations and identities are represented across all facets of the arts, from historical pioneers to contemporary innovators.

In December 2024, Cee completed the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Washington, specializing in vocal performance under the guidance of Dr. Carrie Shaw, as well as choral conducting with Dr. Geoffrey Boers and Dr. Giselle Wyers. Cee is the Artistic and Executive Director of STANCE: Seattle Trans and Nonbinary Choral Ensemble (stanceseattle.org)

Scott Farkas

Scott Farkas is a musician, educator, and creative artist based in Tacoma, Washington, with a passion for connecting communities through music and art. He believes that everyone can—and should—make music for their whole lives. With a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in percussion from the University of Washington and degrees in percussion and composition from SUNY Fredonia and the University of Akron, Scott has built a career rooted in creativity, collaboration, and lifelong musicianship.

Scott draws inspiration from composers like Danny Clay, Kenneth Maue, and Jenny Beck, creating and performing participatory, instruction-based pieces that blur the line between audience and performer.

His projects celebrate music as a universal, joyful language, making experimental art accessible to people of all experience levels. Growing up near New York City, Scott studied percussion with Glenn Rhian, a Broadway percussionist, and later explored classical and experimental music with Kay Stonefelt and Bonnie Whiting, drum set with John Bacon and Ted Poor, and music from non-Western cultures with Bernard Woma and Tiffany Nicely. His performance credits include the Seattle Symphony, Boise Philharmonic, and Greenwich Symphony.

Now based in the Pacific Northwest, Scott continues to lead impactful projects like Playsound | Playground, an interactive sound installation co-created with Paulina Michels and exhibited in Seattle and Portland in the spring of 2023. He currently teaches percussion and chamber music at Pierce College, South Puget Sound Community College, and Graham-Kapowsin High School. Whether teaching, performing, or developing collaborative works, he remains committed to fostering a world where everyone has the opportunity to make and share music. Follow his journey on Instagram at @scottfarkaspercussion or visit scottfarkas.com.

Dr. Xinzhu (Zoe) Ma (ABD)

Dr. Xinzhu Ma is an YAMAHA Young Performing Artist and is now finishing her Doctoral degree in Piano performance and Literature under the tutelage of Marina Lomazov at Eastman School of music. Prior to her study at Eastman, she received her Master’s of dual-degree in Piano Performance and Chamber Performance from University of Michigan under the tutelage of Arthur Greene and bachelor’s degree under Tianshu Wang at Capital University.

Xinzhu has won many awards and scholarships and most recently, she has been awarded second prize in the Sugree Charoensook International Music Competition in 2021. Xinzhu has won her title of YAMAHA Young Performing Artist in 2019 along with many scholarships including NR- GRAD Merit Scholarship, like NR-JAMES A Walgreen Keyboard Scholarship, and NR-Joan Elizabeth Volz Scholarship. In her undergraduate years, Xinzhu was a finalist in the 7th Bösendorfer and Yamaha USASU International Piano Competition, and Grand Prize Winner in Pan Asian Young Artist Music Competition. In addition, she was also the finalist of Nomea International Competition and was a young juror of Author Fraser International Piano Competition in 2021.

She was the recipient of the Perrini Award for Outstanding Sophomore and Keller Award for Outstanding Freshman. Winning the first prize in Women in Music Columbus Audition and Student Concerto Competition, Xinzhu played Beethoven Piano Concerto No.2 with McConnell Chamber Orchestra and David Maslanka Piano Concerto No.2 with Capital Symphonic Winds in 2016. In Music Fest Perugia (Italy), Xinzhu also played Beethoven Piano Concerto No.3 with Virtuosi Brunenses Orchestra in 2018.

Zoe currently teaches at the Chopin Academy as a piano instructor. She is the principal keyboardist for Symphony Tacoma and the Seattle Philharmonic Orchestra.

Dekoboko Taiko

Dekoboko Taiko (凸凹太鼓) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit taiko (Japanese drumming) group based in the Pacific Northwest. Founded by alumni from Taiko Kai at the University of Washington in 2017, the group has grown to include members from a variety of backgrounds. Dekoboko Taiko hopes to create a safe place for creative expression through positive encouragement and joy, between both fellow members and the audience. In 2022, Dekoboko Taiko began rehearsing at the Cornish College of the Arts in downtown Seattle. Dekoboko Taiko is a proud member of Regional Taiko Groups of Seattle (RTG-Seattle). (dekobokotaiko.wordpress.com/)

Will Rand, Seattle Peace Chorus Music Director

Will Rand is a creative visionary who is passionate about spiritual wholeness, social justice, ecological wellness, and building new communal practices of healing in our world. Will has facilitated storytelling festivals where people shared stories of their lives, concerts cultivating a multiplicity of creative disciplines, and communal gathering spaces where people come to heal and be spiritually renewed.

As the founder of EarthStory, a project that convenes community in the pursuit of ecological wholeness, Will draws together creatives, storytellers, and community members to remember their stories of belonging as a part of the biotic community. Will is currently the Music Director of the Seattle Peace Chorus, a community dedicated to bending the arc of justice toward everlasting peace. As a collaborative pianist, composer, and conductor, he has created music with others around the world. Will has served local churches as a Minister of Worship Arts in Seattle, Washington, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Toledo, Ohio.

Will graduated Summa Cum Laude from St. Olaf College where he received his Bachelor of Music in Composition. Will’s deep passion is creating in collaboration with co-conspirators who share the intention of bringing more healing, joy, and grace into the world.

Resilience Partners

The Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network is the largest immigrant justice network in Washington that convenes and cultivates a statewide transnational solidarity coalition to protect and advance the power and rights of all immigrant and refugee communities. As a queer and transgender founded and led nonprofit, we organize from a place of abundance and commit to intersectional, multifaith, intergenerational, multi-lingual, multiracial, multiethnic immigrant-led efforts by investing in base building and growing the leadership of forced migrants. Learn more at waisn.org.

The Urban Native Education Alliance was founded in 2008 to engage generations of Native youth through education, culture, and tradition. UNEA offers culturally responsive and relevant support to Native youth and families through social, cultural, and educational support services. UNEA provides consultation, advocacy, support and resources for Native families and students. We are inspired by our 100% graduation and advancement of Native learners participating in the Clear Sky program. Our organization is driven by our grass roots community volunteers and we are committed to our core values; Integrity, Interconnectedness, Inclusion, and Service. Our programs are all youth centered, youth driven and designed for promoting health, wellness and academic, socio-cultural success for youth, families and community. Learn more at urbannativeeducation.org.

The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project strives for justice and equality for all, regardless of where they were born. They are the largest organization in Washington state providing free, comprehensive immigration legal services for people with low or no income. They have four offices in the state: Granger, Seattle, Tacoma, and Wenatchee. In 2024, they served over 20,000 people from 145 countries, speaking 63 different languages. Learn more at nwirp.org.

The Jewish Coalition builds a Jewish voice in the Pacific Northwest advancing immigrant justice and domestic policy, following the leadership of impacted communities. We accompany immigrant community members to high stakes immigration appointments like ICE check-ins and court hearings, engage in state and federal advocacy, and bolster community engagement. Founded in 2017, JCIJ’s work is rooted in deportation defense with the goal of building collective power and creating structural and systemic change, while centering those directly impacted. Learn more at jewishcoalition.org.