New Years Eve: Beethoven’s Ninth
December 31, 2025
James Lowe, conductor
Dr. Meg Stohlmann, chorale director
Spokane Symphony Chorale
SOLOISTS
- Malinda Wagstaff – Soprano
- Nicole Sonbert – Alto
- Michael David Ash – Tenor
- Jadrian Tarver – Bass
Ring in the New Year with the grandeur of Beethoven’s monumental Ninth Symphony! This work dedicated to freedom, joy and unity is an uplifting masterpiece, with its crowning jewel — “Ode to Joy” chorus performed by the Spokane Symphony Chorale. It’s a beautiful way to look boldly to the new year ahead.
DOORS 6:30PM | SHOW 7:30PM
Malinda Wagstaff has been hailed as “a voice to keep listening for” (Spokesman-Review). In 2025, Ms. Wagstaff joined Festival Napa Valley’s Manetti Shrem Opera Studio, performing in scenes from “Fidelio” and “Ariadne auf Naxos” and training with Angela Meade, Martin Katz, Noah Lindquist, and more. She also premiered the role of Venus in the prologue of Jake Heggie’s “The Judgement of Paris.” She was featured as an emerging artist with Opera Bend with performances from “Tannhäuser,” “Die Fledermaus,” and “Tosca.”
A regular performer in the Pacific Northwest, Ms. Wagstaff recently performed the titular role in Tosca for the Seattle Opera Guild’s season preview event. She also performed with Puget Sound Concert Opera as Medora in “Il Corsaro” and in the season preview with scenes from “Il Corsaro” and “Fidelio.” In the 2023-2024 season, Malinda was a featured soloist with the Spokane Symphony for their performances of Beethoven’s 9th Symphony and Ralph Vaughan Williams’s “A Sea Symphony.” Of her performance of the Vaughan Williams, the Spokesman-Review said Malinda “took on the challenges of Vaughan Williams’ writing for the solo soprano and vanquished every one.”
Ms. Wagstaff earned her master of music degree from Indiana University while studying with Carol Vaness and her bachelor of music from the Eastman School of Music under the tutelage of Ruth Hennessy. While at Indiana University, she performed as Mutter in “Hänsel und Gretel” and First Lady in “Die Zauberflöte.” Opera workshop performances included scenes from “Manon Lescaut” and “Tosca.”
No stranger to the competition circuit, Malinda holds multiple encouragement awards from the Metropolitan Opera Laffont competition, as well as first prize awards in the Seattle Opera Guild (2024), Coeur d’Alene Symphony Young Artist (2020), and Musicfest Northwest Competitions (2023). Additionally, Malinda was awarded the Bel Canto prize at the Oprheus Vocal Competition (2024) and 3rd place in the Seattle Opera Guild Competition.
Outside of performing, Ms. Wagstaff also maintains a private voice studio and teaches at Gonzaga University.
Mezzo-soprano Nicole Sonbert has earned recognition for her rich timbre, emotional depth, and thoughtful storytelling across opera, oratorio, and recital stages. She is known for her resonant tone, compelling dramatic presence, and an interpretive approach that places equal value on musical precision and emotional authenticity. Whether portraying complex operatic characters or shaping intimate recital narratives, Nicole brings a deep commitment to honest storytelling and human connection through song.
Praised for performances that balance vocal power with nuanced dramatic insight, she has appeared in signature roles such as Madame Flora in Menotti’s The Medium, the Mother in Menotti’s The Consul, Aunt Lou in William Grant Still’s Highway One, USA, and Buttercup in Gilbert and Sullivan’s H.M.S. Pinafore. Nicole gravitates toward roles that require theatrical intensity and psychological nuance, and she has been praised for her ability to balance strength, vulnerability, and dramatic clarity on stage. As a concert soloist, she has appeared in major choral-orchestral masterworks, including Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem in D minor, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D minor with several symphonies across the country.
Beyond the stage, Nicole is committed to collaboration, mentorship, and community-centered artistry. She has partnered with symphonies, festivals, and arts organizations to produce performances, masterclasses, and engagement initiatives that broaden access to vocal music and support the next generation of artists. She currently serves as Director of Voice at Eastern Washington University, where she leads the applied voice area and mentors developing singers through artistic, academic, and professional growth. She also serves as Assistant Editor for Youth Vocal Repertoire with the African Diaspora Music Project database. This database provides thousands of entries on vocal and orchestral works by African-diaspora composers, giving performers, teachers, and students an accessible way to discover meaningful repertoire for recitals, concerts, and study.
Grounded, generous, and personable both onstage and off, Nicole approaches her work with a spirit of curiosity and care. She is dedicated to cultivating spaces where music is not only performed, but deeply felt, where audiences are welcomed, students are encouraged to take creative risks, and collaboration serves as a powerful force for connection.
Dramatic tenor Michael David Ash is a native of Vancouver, Washington.
He is known for his performances in leading tenor roles throughout the romantic repertoire such as Ruggero in Puccini’s La Rondine, and Don José in Bizet’s Carmen in which he “carried the emotional weight of his role with great stamina” (South Florida Classical Review). Other recent roles include Harold Mitchell in André Previn’s A Streetcar Named Desire and Tamino in Mozart’s The Magic Flute. As a young Wagnerian Heldentenor he has garnered significant interest from programs domestically and abroad.
Mr. Ash attended Central Washington for his BM in vocal performance and recently graduated from the University of North Texas with his Master’s Degree in Voice. In the summer of 2023 Michael was featured in the world premiere of a restored Czech Oratorio by Daniel Milcinsky with performances in the Czech Republic in Olomouc and Brno.
Dr. Jadrian Tarver, baritone, is a native of Haines City, Florida. Dr. Tarver is a dynamic educator, performer, conductor, and clinician. He has performed with the Spokane Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Opera, Peach State Opera, Capitol City Opera Company, Michigan State University Opera, Inland Northwest Opera Company, and Opera Grand Rapids. His career has also extended internationally, with performances across Europe and Asia, further solidifying his reputation as a distinguished global artist.
As an educator, he has taught choral and band ensembles in middle and high schools across Metro Atlanta and Florida, experiences that continue to enrich his work in higher education and community music-making. Through these various roles, Dr. Tarver plays a pivotal role in shaping both academic programs and community engagement initiatives, utilizing music as a means for education, cultural celebration, and social connection.
Currently, he serves as the Director of Voice at Gonzaga University, where he oversees the voice program and acts as the music director for the university’s musical productions. He is also the first Assistant Professor of Applied Voice in Gonzaga’s 136-year history. In addition to his university role, he serves as the Music Director at Manito United Methodist Church and is the Founding Director of the newly established performance ensemble, Black United Voices of Spokane.
Dr. Jadrian Tarver’s research interests delve into the ways in which Black musical traditions—specifically spirituals, gospel, soul music, and jazz—serve as powerful instruments for emotional healing, cultural memory, and community resilience. His work positions music as a therapeutic and restorative force that intersects with themes of spirituality, identity, and social justice. Focusing on the relationship between music and wellness, he emphasizes how performance and pedagogy can promote holistic well-being for both artists and their communities.
Dr. Tarver is a dedicated advocate for amplifying underrepresented voices in classical music. He spearheads initiatives like “Beyond the Canon: A Tribute to Composers from the African Diaspora” (2023) and has performed a prominent Juneteenth recital in Hamburg, Germany, celebrating African diasporic composers on an international stage. These performances weave together scholarship, artistry, and community engagement, honoring the rich cultural heritage of Black music while expanding the repertoire of vocal performance.
At Michigan State University, Dr. Tarver also served as Project Manager for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) initiatives at the Wharton Center for the Performing Arts and the College of Music, where he helped foster meaningful goals to strengthen equity and inclusion across campus.
Dr. Tarver holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music Education from Bethune-Cookman University, a Master of Music in Vocal Performance from Georgia State University, and a Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance from Michigan State University.
Bag Policy
All bags (with the exception of clutches 6 1/2 by 4 1/2 inches) are subject to visual inspection by venue security.
Large bags are not allowed in The Fox, and must be checked in our Coat Check (located in the North Gallery) for the duration of the event.
Programs are subject to change
Cancellation Policy
All sales are final and nonrefundable.
