(That title only makes sense- to whatever extent puns make sense – if you know that the name Kryl rhymes with “kill.”)
The concert at Carthage tonight that finishes up No Hate Week will begin with two lovely anthems sung by the Carthage Choir- and on the podium to lead them, in place of Dr. Eduardo-Garcia will be a young man who graduated from Carthage less than a year ago. John Kryl was a member of the music department’s stellar class of 2015, but because of some complicated logistical issues (he was actually a transfer, so he began his college education someplace else) he wasn’t able to complete his Music Ed degree. So he is in the midst of pursuing certification, and one project that folds into that effort is to help prepare and conduct two pieces with the Carthage Choir. So this past week, John was back in the choir room- a place he practically lived during his four years at Carthage- except that this time, he was on the other end of the equation, up at the front of the room, leading the way.
Watching John lead these rehearsals with such assurance got me thinking back to ancient history- the spring of 1982 to be precise, when I found myself leading a Nordic Choir rehearsal because Mr. Noble had to be out of town. (I was pegged for that responsibility not because I was exceptionally capable of doing such a task well, but rather because I was choir president.) I remember being excited and even thrilled when he first asked me to do this (or was it that he told me?) but as the big day approached, the thrill of it all gave way to sheer terror. Who was I to step on to Mr. Noble’s podium and lead a group as great as Nordic? (Even for one little rehearsal.) What was I thinking? And the piece that had to be rehearsed, Sir William Walton’s “Coronation Te Deum,” was complicated. All these years later, I can still remember the sensation of cold waves of fear sweeping through my body as I walked to K5, the room above the college’s heating plant, where Nordic often rehearsed in those days – fear that tripled when I walked in and saw my peers sitting there, probably feeling more than a little skepticism. The rehearsal actually didn’t go too horrendously (I hope) but I most vividly remember several moments when I could see Deb Rusch (now Deb Fordice) at her seat in the first soprano section, methodically beating time to herself trying to work out some of the really complex rhythmic issues in the piece (involving 2 against 3) which I then realized I was not doing quite right. It didn’t really occur to me then but I know now that I should have known that piece of music- and have all of its difficulties mastered- better than anyone else in the room. That’s the responsibility of whoever stands on that podium. But beyond that, there is also the whole matter of standing before one’s own peers and suddenly assuming a leadership role (however temporary it might be). It’s a peculiar challenge unlike any other.
I really felt for John Kryl this week as he stood in front of the choir in which he himself had been a member just months earlier – particularly because he had only received the music a day ahead of time and thus had scant opportunity to prepare himself as he would have wanted. But I’m happy to say that John handled the challenge quite well, leading the group firmly and with assurance. I especially enjoyed watching his actual conducting, which is quite elegant and musical- and I found myself quite impressed with just about all of his musical ideas. And if he was nervous about conducting a group that was largely made up of his peers (only the freshmen in the room hadn’t sung with him as a fellow choir member) it certainly didn’t show. He took charge and did quite well.
Of course, what allowed him to do that was the receptiveness of the students – and the respect which they gave him. They were attentive and responsive to everything he asked them to do. And by the end of the rehearsals, they were singing these two pieces – “Clear Blue Morning” and “If Music be the Food of Love” beautifully – and I know that they will sing them even more beautifully tonight.
One last thing: I appreciated how John took time after each of the rehearsals to ask me to appraise how the rehearsal went and to offer any suggestions I might have. I wish everyone were wired with that kind of hunger for improvement. It’s what ultimately makes the most difference in whether or not one is successful. And I can already tell that John is going to be a fine conductor.
(The concert tonight at Siebert Chapel starts at 7:30.)