Mercy, truth and jazz

meet the artists

Meet the Artists

mitos andaya hart

Mitos Andaya Hart has served as the Artistic Director of PhilHarmonia since 2014. She is the Associate Director of Choral Activities at Temple University where she conducts the Temple University Singers, works with undergraduate and graduate conductors, and teaches choral literature. Prior to her appointment at Temple, she served as Associate Director of Choral Activities at the University of Georgia where she was awarded one of the university’s highest honors, the Richard B. Russell Undergraduate Teaching Award. Dr. Andaya Hart has taught choral and jazz at the university level in the United States, South Africa, and Australia. She served as guest conductor of the Netherlands Chamber Choir in Amsterdam and Arnhem in 2007 and conducted the Eric Ericson Chamber Choir in concert at the Lund International Choral Festival in Sweden. Additionally, she has served as a guest conductor, master teacher, clinician and adjudicator nationally as well internationally in Germany, Kenya, and South Korea. Dr. Andaya Hart has served at the State level as ACDA R&S Chair for Jazz and also served President of the National Collegiate Choral Organization.

 tonya taylor-dorsey

Tonya Taylor-Dorsey is currently the choir director of the Philadelphia Catholic Gospel Mass Choir, Archdiocese of Philadelphia – Office for Black Catholics, and the Minister of Music at St. Martin de Porres Church (Phila.) Her vocal compositions have been performed at various venues around the United States, including Juilliard; and, is noted for creating the musical score for the stage play, ManShop that debuted on Philadelphia’s Avenue of the Arts; and, has held workshops and webinars on such subjects as, The Importance of Reading Music, Increasing the Music Ministry, and Music in the Catholic Church from an African American and Hispanic Perspective. Tonya was the first woman to serve as Musical Director of the 12th National Black Catholic Congress. Tonya sits on several philanthropic boards, including the National Black Sisters Conference, and the Women’s Sacred Music Project. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas at San Antonio. For more information about Tonya visit her website: www.TonyaDorsey.net

 kendrah buter-waters

A force of musical brilliance and boundless creativity, Kendrah Butler-Waters is a Philadelphia-based pianist, violinist, vocalist, composer, and educator whose artistry seamlessly intertwines jazz, classical, and gospel into a sound uniquely her own. A multi-instrumentalist with an academic foundation in political science and sociology from Temple University and a master’s degree in elementary education from Drexel University, Butler-Waters brings both intellectual depth and emotional resonance to her work.

A 2015–2016 Jazz Resident at the Kimmel Center, Butler-Waters has captivated audiences as a featured artist at the Cape May and Lancaster Avenue Jazz Festivals and has lent her compositional brilliance to projects such as ConsenSIS, a collaboration with former Philadelphia poet laureates Yolanda Wisher and Trapeta Mayson. Her original works have graced the viewership and airwaves of NPR, WRTI, PBS, WHYY, and countless other platforms, reflecting her ever-expanding impact on the contemporary jazz and arts scene.

Her career is marked by ambitious, deeply meaningful projects that explore the African American experience. In 2015, she and then collaborator Shamika Byrd embarked on a yearlong residency at the Kimmel Center, creating a 12-song suite tracing the African American journey from the Transatlantic slave trade to the then emerging Black Lives Matter movement. Featuring a 10-piece ensemble, this evocative body of work culminated in a sold-out world premiere at the Kimmel Center. Butler-Waters’ passion for honoring musical legacies is evident in her 2021 REC Philly grant project, where she paid tribute to Trudy Pitts—a pioneering Philadelphia pianist, organist, and composer—through a sacred jazz suite recorded at Turtle Studios. In 2023, she was commissioned by the Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts (PAFA) and World Café Live to compose Sunday Morning and Sunday Afternoon, pieces inspired by famed artist Edward Loper and his iconic Sunday Morning painting.

In 2024, Butler-Waters was immersed in an innovative collaboration with former Philadelphia poet laureate Yolanda Wisher and New York based architect/visual artist Nina Cooke-John, in scoring a work for Ascendance, an interactive sculpture dedicated to West Philadelphia’s historic “Black Bottom” neighborhood. This permanent art installation located at 37th and Cuthbert streets features Kendrah’s score which is played out of the architectural structure at 12pm each day. Most recently, Philadelphia based organization Journey Arts, Kendrah and three other pianists were awarded the prestigious Pew Grant in 2024 for Kendrah’s compositional and performance based project 88 Time. This project premiered in April 2025 and brought together Butler-Waters and three phenomenal pianists—Terry Klinefelter, Sumi Tonooka, and Miriam Suzette Ortiz who created a body of work centered on advocacy and social impact. With each composition, performance, and collaboration, Kendrah Butler-Waters reaffirms her place as a visionary and artist, crafting music that is as intellectually profound as it is soul-stirring.

 nimrod speaks

Born in Philadelphia, Pa, Nimrod Speaks is a well-trained bassist, composer and educator both on electric and double bass. He began playing at the age of 16 on an electric fender bass while in high school under the tutorship of Ricardo Jackson. He later was introduced to the double bass during his first semester in college. He brings his individual soulful tone to many styles of music. Much of his musical studies in classical and jazz concentration include training with Ben Blazer, Ralph Bowen, Douglas Mapp, Conrad Hewig, Maria Cadieux, Scott Lee, Kevin Kjos, Mike Richmond, Victor Lewis, Vic Juris, and Stanley Cowell. While obtaining a B.A in Music Education from Kutztown University and a Masters in Jazz Studies from Rutgers University, these schools landed him opportunities to play with renowned artist of today. Some include Boostie Barnes, Ronnie Burrage, Doc Gibbs, Hannible Lokumbe including performance at premier jazz venues such as the Blue Note in NYC and the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia.

 sadayah roberts

Born and raised in Camden, NJ Percussionist Sadayah Roberts started playing drums at the tender age of 8 at her grandfather’s church. Not knowing where music would take her, Sadayah started to study with Philadelphia’s own Craig McIver who taught fundamentals, ability and technique on not only drums but also timpani and marimba. Currently, Music Director at her church, El Bethel Community Church Inc., under the leadership of Bishop Joseph Roberts, Jr, Sadayah continues to give back to God what he has given to her. The Berklee College of Music alumni has played on the bandstand nationally and internationally with greats such as Bootsie Barnes, Mike Boone, Nina Bundy, Ella Gahnt, Rebirth Brass Band, Nasir Dickerson and the Renaissance Messengers and a host of many more great musicians.

 elijah j. Thomas

Elijah J. Thomas (he/him) is a Black Philadelphia-born, Harlem-based flutist, multi-instrumentalist, educator, producer, and composer/experimentalist. Elijah studied woodwind performance/improvisation with Dick Oatts, Tim Warfield, Jr., Walter Bell, and Dr. Cynthia Folio; composition with Kevin Rodgers, Dr. Cynthia Folio, and Dr. Maurice Wright; and music education studies with Dr. Rollo Dilworth and Dr. Allison Reynolds. Elijah has held teaching positions with Temple University Music Prep, Settlement Music School, Tune Up Philly (Philadelphia Youth Orchestra), Education Through Music, BASIS Independent Schools, and Carnegie Hall. Elijah creates what he calls “enuff music”: music for Black healing and spiritual transcendence. Notable work includes the commission and premier of his site-responsive work For Harlem for the new music organization Music At The Anthology. Elijah is Musical Director of the non-profit performance-based organization Honk NYC!, whose mission is to “make events that reclaim, reuse, and redefine public space and connect communities through music-making, pageantry, audience participation, and education.”

 kim rojo celestino barroso

Kim Rojo Celestino Barroso is a highly sought collaborative pianist in the Delaware Valley region. Originally from the Philippines, where he is a graduate of the prestigious Philippine High School for the Arts, he finished his undergraduate studies at Winthrop University in South Carolina and his Masters at Temple University majoring in Piano Performance and Chamber Music Accompanying. He would go on to become the director of music at St. Augustine Church in Old City, Philadelphia as well as become an Artist-in-Residence at Temple University. His other engagements also included Curtis Institute of Music, University of the Arts, Rutgers University in Camden, Rowan University, Jefferson University, Rowan University, University of Delaware, and performances for dignitaries and guests at Philippine Ambassador’s residence in Washington, DC.

Kim is no stranger to some of the biggest stages in the region including Weill Recital Hall in Carnegie Hall, The Kimmel Center’s Verizon Hall and Field Concert Hall at the Curtis Institute of Music. Furthermore, he has collaborated with the Atlantic Coast Opera Festival, Opera Seabrook, International Opera Theater and the Delaware Valley Opera Company, Greater South Jersey Chorus and Singing City.

 ajibola rivers

Ajibola Rivers is a Nigerian-American-Cherokee performing artist currently residing in Norristown, PA.. He received his Cello Performance degree from the Boyer College of Music and Dance and is a proud recipient of the prestigious TU 30 Under 30 award for 2024. Ajibola is also a self-taught composer and arranger. He began informally composing during his junior year of high school. When he applied to Boyer, he applied for a Music Composition degree as well as Cello Performance. He was accepted into a double major program but quickly found that the popularized twentieth and twenty first century writing styles were not in line with his interests. Ajibola left the program and after a two-year hiatus he resumed composing, following his own instincts. He now regularly writes and premieres original compositions and arrangements, and he has been commissioned several times.​Ajibola has a strong passion for teaching, viewing it as the final evolution of performing art, and he heavily incorporates learning into both composition and performance. He wishes to revive several "unfinished conversations" in classical music and to facilitate a healthy dialogue between classical music and other genres.

Texts and Translations

miserere by marianna martines

Miserere mei, Deus, secundum magnam misericordiam tuam:
et secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum, dele iniquitatem meam
Amplius lava me ab iniquitate mea: et a peccato meo munda me
Quoniam iniquitatem meam ego cognosco: et peccatum meum contra me est semper
Tibi soli peccavi et malum, coram te feci: ut justificeris in sermonibus tuis, et vincas cum judicaris
Ecce enim in iniquitatibus conceptus sum: et in peccatis concepit me mater mea
Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti: incerta et occulta sapientiae tuae manifestasti mihi
Asperges me hyssopo, et mundabor: lavabis me, et super nivem de albabor
Auditui meo dabis gaudium et laetitiam: et exsultabunt ossa humiliata
Averte faciem tuam a peccatis meis: et omnes iniquitates meas dele
Cor mundum crea in me, Deus: et spiritum rectum innova in visceribus meis
Ne projicias me a facie tua: et spiritum sanctum tuum ne auferas a me
Redde mihi laetitiam salutaris tui: et spiritu principali confirma me
Docebo iniquos vias tuas: et impii ad te convertentur                   
Libera me de sanguinibus, Deus, Deus salutis meae: et exsultabit lingua mea justitiam tuam
Domine, labia mea aperies: et os meum annuntiabit laudem tuam
Quoniam si voluisses sacrificium, dedissem utique : holocaustis non delectaberis
Sacrificium Deo spiritus contribulatus: cor contritum et humiliatum, Deus, non despicies
Benigne fac, Domine, in bona voluntate tua Sion: ut aedificentur muri Jerusalem
Tunc acceptabis sacrificium justitiae, oblationes et holocausta: tunc imponent super altare tuum vitulos

TRANSLATION:

Have mercy on me, O God, in your great goodness:
in your great tenderness wipe away my faults
Wash me clean of my guilt: and purify me from my sin
For I am well aware of my faults: my sin is constantly in mind
Against you, you alone, I have sinned, I have done what you see to be wrong: that you may be justified in your words, and victorious when you give judgement
You know I was born sinful:   a sinner from the moment of conception
But you delight in sincerity of heart: and in secret you teach me wisdom
Purify me with hyssop until I am clean:   wash me until I am whiter than snow
Let me hear the sound of joy and gladness: and the bones you have crushed will dance
Turn your face away from my sins:   and wipe away all my guilt
Create a clean heart in me, O God: and renew a resolute spirit within me
Do not banish me from your presence: do not take away your holy spirit from me
Give me back the joy of your salvation:   keep my spirit steady and willing
I shall teach transgressors your way: and the sinners will return to you
Deliver me from bloodshed, O God,  God my saviour: and my tongue will acclaim your righteousness
Lord, open my lips: and my mouth will speak out your praise
Sacrifice gives you no pleasure, or I would offer it: but you do not desire burnt offerings
Sacrifice to God is this broken spirit:   you will not scorn this crushed and broken heart, O God
In your graciousness do good to Zion:   rebuild the walls of Jerusalem
Then there will be proper sacrifice to please you – holocaust and whole oblation: then shall young bulls to be offered on your altar

truth by rollo dilworth

And if sun comes
How shall we greet him?
Shall we not dread him,
Shall we not fear him
After so lengthy a
Session with shade? 

Though we have wept for him,
Though we have prayed
All through the night-years—
What if we wake one shimmering morning to
Hear the fierce hammering
Of his firm knuckles
Hard on the door? 

Shall we not shudder?—
Shall we not flee
Into the shelter, the dear thick shelter
Of the familiar
Propitious haze? 

Sweet is it, sweet is it
To sleep in the coolness
Of snug unawareness. 

The dark hangs heavily
Over the eyes.

-  Gwendolyn Brooks (1917-2000)

st. martin de porres by mary lou williams

St. Martin de Porres, his shepherd’s staff a dusty broom
St. Martin de Porres, the poor made a shrine of his tomb
St. Martin de Porres, he gentled creatures tame and wild
St. Martin de Porres, he sheltered each unsheltered child

This man of love, born of the flesh, yet of God,
This humble man healed the sick, raised the dead, his hand is quick
To feed beggars and sinners, the starving homeless and the stray
Oh Black Christ of the Andes, come feed and cure us now we pray

Spare, oh lord
Spare my people
Lest you be angered with me, forever

This man, this man
Of love, born of the flesh, yet of God
This humble man healed the sick, raised the dead, his hand is quick

St. Martin de Porres, he gentled creatures tame and wild
St. Martin de Porres, he sheltered each unsheltered child

mary Lou’s Mass (Mass for Peace) by mary lou williams

Kyrie (Lord, Have Mercy)

For our lack of hope, Lord, have mercy.
For our lack of faith, Lord, have mercy.
For our failure to care, Lord, have mercy. 

For lettin’ ourselves be paralyzed with fear, Christ, have mercy.
For our division, Christ, have mercy.
For our jealousies, Christ, have mercy. 

Oh! For our hatred, Lord, have mercy.
For not being peacemakers, Lord, have mercy.
For our lies, Lord, have mercy on our souls.

Have mercy on my soul. Have mercy, Lord.
Lord, have mercy on our souls.

Act of Contrition

Oh, my God, I detest all the sins of my life.  Sorry for having offended thee who art all good.
I resolve with the help of thy grace, O God, never to sin again.

Gloria

Glory to God above all things; peace on earth to men loved by God.
We praise you, we bless you, we thank you because you are who you are.
Lord, God, King, Father, Holy Spirit, Jesus Christ,
Lord, God, Lamb of God, Lod, God, Son of God.

Lazarus

There was a selfish rich man
Who clothed himself in purple and fine linen
There also was a beggar man named Lazarus
Who laid at the gate of the rich man’s door
Full of sores and hungry,
Begging crumbs from the rich man’s table.
Even his dogs came to lick his sores. 

The rich man showed no pity to Laz’rus’ plea
and scorn was Lazarus’ lot.
So God took pity on poor Lazarus
And gave him peace. 

He sent his angels to carry poor Lazarus into the Bosom of Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried,
And as he burned in hell he saw the beggar man, Laz’rus
Safe in the bosom of Abraham.

And he cried:
“Father, Father, send Lazarus to cool my parching tongue
‘cause I didn’t mean all the mis-ry I’ve caused
And all the bad things I have done.
Have mercy on me, Father, send Laz’rus to cool my tongue
‘cause I didn’t mean all the mis-ry I’ve caused
And all the sad things I have done.”

But the Lord said,
“Son, in your time you received all the good things in life,
But poor Lazarus, beggar, received nothing but pain and strife.
Now Lazarus is comforted and you are burning
In the halls of flame and there’s no way for you to cleanse your deeds
For God never knew your name.” 

“Laz’rus, Laz-‘rus, Laz’rus, cool my parching tongue
‘cause I didn’t mean all the mis-ry I’ve caused
And all the bad things I have done. 

Father, send Laz’rus to my house that he may warn them about the flames
And what it’s all about.
Then Abraham said, “They have Moses; let them hear his cry.
For if they don’t repent their evil ways, they will surely die.” 

“Laz’rus, Laz-‘rus, Laz’rus, cool my parching tongue
‘cause I didn’t mean all the mis-ry I’ve caused
And all the bad things I have done.

People in Trouble

Give us peace, O Lord,
Send us peace, O Lord.

People in trouble, Children in pain,
Too to care, too mean to share,
Worked so hard try’n to find a brother;
Became inpatient:
Now we hate each other.

O God, come to our aid make haste to help us. 
O God, if you will, you can save us.
O Jesus, who has loved us so much, have pity on us,
For we believe; increase our faith.
You are the resurrection and the life.
Save us, Jesus, before we perish. 

Give us peace, O Lord,
Send us peace, O Lord.
People in trouble, Children in pain,
Too to care, too mean to share,
Worked so hard try’n to find a brother;
Became inpatient:
Now we hate each other.

Anima Christi

Soul of Christ be my Sanctification (Help, Help!)
Body of Christ be my salvation. (Help, Help!)
Blood of Christ fill my veins.
Water of Christ side wash out my stains, (Help, Help!)
Passion of Christ my comfort be
O good Jesus listen to me
Lord have mercy on me. 

In your wounds I would hide (Help, Help!)
Never to part from thy side (Help, Help!)
Guard me should foe assail me
Call me when my life fails me (Help, Help!)
Bid me come to thee above
With thy saints to sing thy love,
Lord, have mercy on me.

Lord, I’m not worthy that shouldst enter under my roof (Help, Help!)
Say but the word (Help, Help!)
And my soul shall be cleansed
O God by your Name save me,  (Help, Help!)
For haughty men have risen up against me
They set not God before their eyes
They have prepared a net for my feet.
The fool says in his heart there is no God,
Lord, have mercy on me. (Help, Help!)
Lord, have mercy on me. (Help, Help!)
Lord, have mercy on me. (Help, Help!) 

Turn Aside/Sanctus

Turn aside from evil and do good;
Seek and strive after peace.

Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God of hosts,
Heaven and earth are filled with your glory,
Hosanna in the highest.
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,
Hosanna in the highest.

Amen

Glory to God and Jesus Christ, Amen!

The Lord Says

The Lord says

I think thoughts of peace

And not of affliction

You shall call upon me

And I will hear you

And I will bring back your captivity from all places.

Lord, you have favored your land.

You have restored the well being of Jacob.

Thank you, oh, thank you!

Praise the Lord (Clap Your Hands)

Come Holy Spirit, in nature one
With both the Father and the Son
Shed forth Thy grace within our breast
And dwell with us, a ready guest.

By every power, by heart and tongue
By act and deed, Thy praise be sung:
Inflame with perfect love each sense
That other souls may kindle thence.

In this, Most Gracious Father hear
Through Christ Thy equal Son our prayer,
Who with The Holy Ghost and Thee
Doth live and reign eternally.

Clap your hands
.
Praise the Lord from Heaven. Praise!
Praise Him in the heights. Praise!
Praise Him, all you angels
Praise Him, all you hosts
Praise Him, Sun and Moon
Praise Him all you shining stars Praise!!!!

And clap your hands
Oooh, yeah
 
Praise Him, you highest heavens,
And you waters above the heavens
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
For He commanded and they were created:
He established them forever and ever:
He gave them a duty which shall not pass away.

Clap your hands

Praise the Lord from the earth,
You sea monsters and all depths;
Fire and hail, snow and mist
Stormwinds that fulfill His word:
You mountains and all you hills,
You fruit trees and all you cedars:
You wild animals and all you tame animals,
You creeping things and you winged fowl.

Clap your hands!

Let the kings of the earth and all peoples,
The princes and all the judges of the earth
Young men too, and maidens
Old men and boys
Praise the name of the Lord, for His name is
exalted.
Clap your hands!

Clap your hands! Praise Him!

Clap your hands! Praise Him!