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Sunday, October 10 2026, 7:30 PM

Sally Freeland with Topher Ruggiero

Sally Freeland – soprano
Topher Ruggiero – piano

Love and Strife:
The Human Condition

Program

S’il est un charmant gazon (Liszt) [13:30”]
Si J’étais roi 
Comment, disiaent-ils
Oh, quand je dors 

Strauss Lieder [14” or 10” without Als mir]
Die Nacht 
Allerseelen
Amor 
Morgen! 
Als mir dein Lied erklang

Two Poems of Agueda Pizarro (Schwantner) [13”]
Shadowinnower
Black Anemones

The Princess (Mykola Lysenko/Shevchenko)  [16:30”]
Oriental Melody (Mykola Lysenko/Ukrainka) 
The Jilted Maiden (Mykola Lysenko/Shevchenko)
The Setting Sun (Mykola Lysenko/Voronyi) 
I Believe in Beauty (Mykola Lysenko/Chaika) 

About the Artists

An adventurous performer of both classical and new music, Soprano Sally Freeland holds a Doctor of Music in Voice from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. Recent roles include Mrs. Clancy in Lee Hoiby’s one-woman, one-act opera The Italian Lesson with Loudoun Lyric Opera and Odarka in the Ukrainian folk opera Zaporozhets za Dunayem with the same company. She has been a guest artist on the George Mason University faculty concert series, a guest artist with Festival Ballet of Virginia, a soprano soloist and featured dancer with Helping Hearts Through the Arts dance ensemble, and a soloist and guest recitalist at the Washington DC Temple Visitors’ Center. She is a solo performance member of the Friday Morning Music Club of Washington DC. Previously she appeared as Muffin in the collegiate premier of William Bolcom’s A Wedding and as Velma in West Side Story with Indiana University Opera Theater, as well as being a recurring soloist with the Indiana University New Music Ensemble and a frequent collaborator with composers in premiering new works. In addition to her work as a singer and voice teacher, Ms. Freeland has experience as a church choir director, is a lifelong dancer, and is a certified dance fitness professional with Jazzercise, Inc. She resides in Sterling, VA with her husband Jon and their three daughters. Learn more, see upcoming events, and connect with Sally at www.sallyfreelandsoprano.com.

Topher Ruggiero is a classical pianist, educator, collaborator, and a promoter of new music. 

Music is something that has been a part of Topher’s life from a very young age. He was fortunate enough to have many talented and influential teachers, mentors, and supporters throughout his growth as a musician. Topher is extremely passionate about continuing and promoting the love of piano and the arts, the importance of music and performance, and the high quality of teaching and education needed to influence musicians of all ages.

As an arts advocate and passionate musician, Topher has performed in a variety of concerts and events including solo, concerto, collaborative, choral, and master class settings.

Topher began his musical career at the age of 10 where he took piano lessons in his hometown of Shrewsbury, New Jersey. His natural talent for piano, influential piano teachers, and many lessons and performances sprung his musical journey forward to Ithaca College where he studied Piano Performance. From there, Topher received his Master’s in Piano Performance at Kent State University and completed his education at Ball State University with a Doctor of Arts degree in Piano Performance and Music Theory. 

Throughout his career as a teacher and performer, Topher has worked at several universities, including his most recent as Assistant Professor of Music at Alderson Broaddus University in West Virginia. Currently, Topher serves as the Associate Chair of Piano at Levine Music’s Virginia campus where he manages piano faculty and student placement and teaches a full piano studio. During the summers, he also teaches at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Twin Lake, Michigan. Topher also concertizes throughout the Washington D.C. area as a performing artist with the Friday Morning Music Club, a non-profit organization that promotes the arts and presents free concerts for the community. 

In his spare time, Topher enjoys reading, watching sports and movies, exploring restaurants and breweries, and spending time with family and friends. He currently resides in McLean, Virginia with his wife, daughter, son, and two cats.

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