2025 Athenas Winter Concert

The Los Angeles Athletic Club presents

Athenas at 25: At the Beginning
Sunday, December 7, 2025
4:00 p.m.
John R. Wooden Award Court

Dr. Stephen Pu, Artistic Director
Jim Furmston, Pianist

The Athena Women’s Chorus

The Athenas’ first full concert, a quarter-century ago this year, was titled New Beginnings. The Los Angeles Athletic Club was 120 years old that year, and it had hosted a men’s chorus since 1932. But this was something new. Started by six women in the club, this fledgling choir was already 30 voices strong. Today, the Athenas are one of the largest intraclubs within LAAC, with an active governing board, two concerts a year, and comprise 60 singers. Our ambitions are still growing, and even after 25 years, we are still “At the Beginning” of a long and wonderful musical journey. Thank you for celebrating our 25th year with us!


PROGRAM
PERSONENT HODIE
Arranged by Lara Hoggard and Adapted by Stephen Pu
JOURNEY TO THE PAST
From the TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX Motion Picture “tANASTASIA”
Music by Stephen Flaherty and Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
Arranged by Teena Chinn
LIGHT THE LEGEND
Music by Michael Isaacson, Lyrics by Susan Nurenburg and Hebrew Lyrics by Stephen Ruben
SOLSTICE
From Fearful Symmetry
Music by Randall Thompson and Lyrics by Robert Lee Wolff
STARS I SHALL FIND
Composed by Victor C. Johnson from the poem by Sara Teasdale
MY FAVORITE THINGS
Music by Richard Rodgers and Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein, II
Arranged by Mac Huff

DONA NOBIS PACEM
Traditional Latin Arranged by Mary Lynn Lightfoot

DING-A DING-A DING
Words and Music by Greg Gilpin

MERRY CHRISTMAS, DARLING
Words and Music by Frank Pooler and Richard Carpenter
Arranged by Mac Huff

IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR
Words and Music by Eddie Pola and George Wyle
Arranged by Carl Strommen

THIS IS MY WISH
Words and Music by Kevin Ross
Arranged by Stephen Pu
Soloist: Amy Rowe

HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS
Words and Music by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane
Arranged by Roger Emerson

HAPPY HOLIDAY/A HOLIDAY TO REMEMBER
“Happy Holiday” by Irving Berlin, arranged by Mac Huff
“A Holiday to Remember” composed by Mac Huff

MARY HAD A BABY
Words and Music by Roland Carter
Arranged by Stephen Pu
Soloist: Trang Nguyen

AT THE BEGINNING
Music by Stephen Flaherty and Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
Arranged by Stephen Pu