Notes

When planning this performance, I wanted to utilize our platform to showcase musical excellence through impactful storytelling, share a glimpse of the resilience of my people, and raise awareness about the ongoing struggles faced by women in Afghanistan.

Call and Response reflects both a musical idea and a human one: voices reaching out and being heard. Throughout our preparation, the members of Lightridge Chamber have taken intentional steps to understand the Afghan experience and the strength of Afghan women. We were honored to welcome Afghans for a Better Tomorrow, who shared a presentation on Afghan history and art as a form of resistance. Later, through a partnership with the School of Freedom, we met virtually with young Afghan women to listen to their stories firsthand. Under the Taliban rule, girls cannot continue their education after sixth grade.

In these conversations, we discovered that while women around the world may live vastly different lives, our hopes, fears, and dreams often echo one another. We heard their call. You have now heard it too.

Our journey began this August at the Mountain Shepherd Adventure School in Catawba, Virginia, where our ensemble took part in a women’s empowerment camp. We learned survival skills, built trust, and strengthened our bonds — lessons that carried into every rehearsal and this performance. Through this performance, we honor the women of Afghanistan, whose resilience has had a profound impact on us.

We encourage you to continue this dialogue by learning more about Afghanistan, its people, and its global diaspora — beyond what is often shown in the media. Afghanistan is a nation of poets, artists, scholars, and dreamers —a people defined not only by hardship but also by extraordinary resilience, warmth, and creativity.

To deepen your understanding and support ongoing efforts toward education and empowerment, we invite you to explore the work of Afghans for a Better Tomorrow and the School of Freedom — both registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations uplifting Afghan communities and advocating for women’s education.

Our journey leading to today’s performance is our response. Your curiosity, compassion, and continued engagement are part of your response.

Helai Karim Rutan

CALL & RESPONSE

A dedication to the young women of Afghanistan.

Women around the world are vastly different, yet somehow, the same.

When the world calls, how do we respond?

To the hands: prelude [wordless]

In 2016, The Crossing, a Philadelphia-based choir, sought to understand the suffering of others. Drawing on the 1680 seven-part cycle of cantatas by Danish composer Dietrich Buxtehude, titled Membra Jesu Nostri patientis sanctissima (loosely translated as "Most Holy Limbs of Our Suffering Jesus"), they created the Seven Responses project. Seven contemporary composers were chosen, each riffing off one of Buxtehude's “limb” cantatas. Caroline Shaw was selected for His hands.

The first of the six-movement work depicts an unsettling feeling through the use of polyrhythms and dissonance. To us, the quintet’s harmonics portray windows opening into the world of the wordless. In 2024, the ruling Taliban in Afghanistan issued a sweeping morality law. Among other things, it bans women's voices outside the home, prohibiting them from laughing, speaking loudly, or singing.

“Let us open our hands to those of others. (What are these wounds, in my hands, and in yours?) Walls are not the answer. We are all creatures.”

— Caroline Shaw, 2017

Thank you to Caroline Shaw and her team for this SSAA arrangement of the movement and to David Mann for introducing it through the Voce Chamber Singers.

panta rhei

Panta Rhei, meaning everything flows, feels like anxiety that leads to heightened anger, but anger can turn into resistance.

“The text of Panta Rhei combines several phrases and words in Greek that convey qualities exemplifying inner strength. The rhythms and vocal patterns are varied, as life is; the structure is as traditional as the cycles of life, with a strong female presence defining it.”

— Jim Papoulis, 2007

Thank you to Dr. Bret Amundson and the Bella Voce ensemble of the College of St. Scholastica for their thematic albums, which have inspired much of what we do at Lightridge High School in SSAA ensembles.

Panta Rhei - VA Grade 5

RUNNING UP THAT HILL

With the final season of Stranger Things set to release shortly after this performance, it felt appropriate to bring back last season’s iconic music selection, “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush. The experience of the women in Afghanistan feels like the Upside Down, a dark, archaic world that shouldn’t exist but is very much real. The lyrics lean into the idea of the desire to swap places and exchange the experience with those who walk with privilege, like many of us on stage.

Thank you to John Mills for the heart you pour into the arrangements we have worked on together and for asking the tough questions others shy away from in music education.

THEY MAY TELL YOU

And they may tell you, mountain woman, that you were never meant to rise this high,

But you, of the snowy skies and purple skies, were born to climb.

Forget the rocky footing; you have nowhere to go but up.

And they may tell you, river woman, that your mouth would be prettier shut.

But you, of the swift words and clear currents, were born to speak.

Forget the icy stares; from your source springs only truth.

And they may tell you, meadow woman, that you are not worth the air you breathe,

But you, of the green roots and pure blooms, were born to grow.

Forget the empty hearts; everything you touch opens up.

They may tell you, but ocean woman, sometimes your waves will break,

The tides can’t come in strong every day, and even the moon makes mistakes.

So when your waters falter, they may ask you,

‘Who do you think you are?’

And you can tell them, 'I am a woman; I keep the company of others like me.'

Women of forest, women of fire, women of sunshine, women of sea,

And we lay claim to everything from coral reef to redwood tree.

And even still, they may tell you, don’t get ahead of yourself.

Ignore them!

Go as far as you can.

— Isabella Cook, 2019

Andrea Ramsey and her music have helped us love ourselves a little more and reclaim our power from those who claim to have control over us.

They May Tell You - not yet graded

REFUGE

From my spirit’s gray defeat,

From my pulses, flagging beat,

From my hopes that turned to sand,

Sifting through my close-clenched hand,

From my own fault’s slavery,

If I can sing, I still am free.

For with my singing I can make

A refuge for my spirit’s sake,

A house of shining words, to be

My fragile immortality.

— Sara Teasdale, 1917

Elaine Hageberg and her music … there is nothing but gratitude that we have for the memories we have made through singing her music. The shift to major in this piece … there are no words.

Refuge - VA Grade 4

AZAADI

Here I stand ‘till the very end,

With determination, I move forward,

I will not deviate from my path,

Believing in myself, I will stay strong, and I stand till the very end.

‘Till this life lasts, I will move ahead,

‘Till this life lasts, I seek freedom.

Freedom.

No matter what the obstacle, this is our path

Freedom.

Although this choral arrangement is not authentic to Afghan music, Aryana Sayeed has taught us that sometimes we need to meet people where they are. As this generation's leading Afghan female artist and a loud objector of the Taliban Regime, it felt fitting to follow her path in engaging with Western music norms to help highlight Afghan stories. Aryana Sayeed is currently one of the Taliban’s most hated people - and she wrote an album in response! Afghan music is not this song or arrangement; it is so much more. Despite what the Taliban thinks, music is essential to our culture and our people.

Thank you to Nyla Smith for this arrangement and for taking the time to learn more about our program and actual Afghan music.

Lightridge Chamber Ensemble

Seniors

Left to Right

Layla Jackson - Jyotsna Gopianand - Sophie Coyle - Lilly Coyle - Laura Mlaker - Hasini Wilson - Jaida Stukes - Amara Pope - Nisha Gupta - Jayem Averion - Mihira Nagireddy - Kimya Afshar - Kashvi Topiwala - Penny Ehring - Chloe Steverson - Keira Kavulic - Alanna Jackson

Juniors

Left to Right

Mia McDonald - Nikki Chima-Orji - Imogene Sigler - Gigi Nelson - Anisha Prabhu - Inaaya Rasul - Alyssa Hernandez - Nadira Aleem

Sophomores

Left to Right

Sofia Barrett - Elyssa Asare - Phoebe Monas - Lily Meyer - Deetya Pentapati - Oriane Pare - Rae Lee - Ainsley Young - Liv Andersen

Helai Karim Rutan

Mrs. Helai Karim Rutan is the Director of Choral Activities at Lightridge High School in Aldie, Virginia. An alumna of James Madison University, she holds a Bachelor of Music in Music Education and is currently pursuing her Master of Music Education at Florida State University.

Mrs. Rutan opened Willard Intermediate (now Middle) School in 2018 as its first choral director, where she built a strong foundation for choral excellence and inspired students’ passion for music. The program grew from 126 to 253 students in just two years. In August 2020, she continued with her students to open Lightridge High School, helping to establish its strong music department. Today, the Lightridge choral program serves over 200 students, representing a thriving community of young musicians.

When she isn’t at Lightridge, Mrs. Rutan serves on the committee of the Afghan-American Community Organization and sings with the Voce Chamber Singers. As an Afghan-American music educator, she is passionate about using music as a bridge for storytelling, empowerment, and cultural understanding. Mrs. Rutan is honored to continue building a vibrant community of musicians who use their voices to connect and inspire change.

Gratitude

We are deeply thankful to the many individuals and organizations who have supported the Lightridge Chamber Ensemble in preparing for Call and Response.

First, I want to thank the girls in Lightridge Chamber for their dedication, talent, and love for this story — it inspires me to see you succeed. I am honored to know you!

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to our exceptional instrumentalists: Dr. Hsin-Yi Chen [piano], Jayem Averion [electric piano], Jamieson Carr [percussion], Stephen Readyoff [percussion], Ivan Hodge [violin one], Molly Sgrecci [violin two], Robert Salzberg [viola], Gerald Fowkes [cello], Robyn Ambrose [bass], Maxwell St. Andre [bass], and Mateen Akrami [tabla]. Your talent, dedication, and artistry have brought immense depth and beauty to our performance, and we are truly grateful for your invaluable contributions.

Thank you to the Lightridge Administration and Counseling Team for their significant support of the performing arts at Lightridge. We would not be here without you! Thank you to the Lightridge Music Department Team — I am grateful for our friendship, collaboration, and shared commitment to our students’ growth as musicians. Thank you to the Lightridge Chorus Boosters for your support through this journey and for believing in the vision!

These students would not be the musicians they are today without the dedication and inspiration of the elementary and middle school music teachers throughout the Lightridge Cluster:

Aldie Elementary: Denise Fumagali

Buffalo Trail Elementary: Miranda Borhauer, Ceri Fogarty, Danielle Appiah Kubi

Goshen Post Elementary: Grace Foote, AJ Jones, Andrew Foote

Hovatter Elementary: Brittany Williams, Stephen Readyoff, Ronald Holmes

Pinebrook Elementary: Andrew Foote, Dr. Dana Varona

Willard Middle School: Erik Jacobs, Damaris Odebode, Ross Hedlund, Kate Gibson

Special thanks to Mike Horanski for igniting my passion for choral music—you are the reason I am here! Being part of the Select Women’s VMEA performance in 2011 was a pivotal moment that inspired me to dedicate my life to choral music. I am also grateful to my mentors, Dr. Jo-Anne van der Vat-Chromy, Dr. Bryce Hayes, Dr. Kevin Fenton, Dr. McKenna Stenson, Pat Vaughn, and Bryan Case for their guidance, inspiration, and unwavering support throughout my musical journey.

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Caroline Player, AJ Rodriguez, My-Van Nguyen, Jordan Markwood, and Keri Staley for their mentorship, friendship, and encouragement over the years. We are also grateful to Brittany Williams, Laura Lazarevich, Theodore Thorpe, Alexis Hedlund, and Dr. Lynda Hasseler for their invaluable help in preparing Chamber for this performance. I am especially honored to have shared this experience with Theodore Thorpe - you inspire me!

Finally, a special acknowledgment to Dr. Patrick Chiu, whose vision, creativity, and collaboration were instrumental in shaping our staging and bringing the message of Call and Response to life on stage. Your contributions have elevated this performance and helped make our storytelling unforgettable.

Gratefully,

Helai Karim Rutan

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