Yesterday was when Carthage paid its major tribute to Dr. Sjoerdsma on the occasion of his retirement after 39 years of teaching. One of his nephews got up at the reception to say that he had just retired from some company and his departure was acknowledged with two dozen doughnuts that someone brought to the office, and then he sort of chuckled as he looked around the elegantly appointed dining room and said that Carthage knew how to do things right. And how! Dr Sj was feted with an extraordinary concert, a public reception, a sumptuous banquet, and a program in which well-deserved accolades were piled high from family members, colleagues, and most memorably by some of his former students. And after 38 years of service to Carthage, it was all well deserved.
Where to begin?
The concert was superbly conceived to showcase various facets of Dr Sjoerdsma’s work – as an educator, as a scholar, as a mentor, etc. – and the printed program reflected that nicely. The concert was partly a showcase for Carthage’s bands, which have grown stupendously under the leadership of Jim Ripley, our new department chair. They played so well in a variety of works, including a piece especially composed for the occasion by Matthias Kern, a long-time dear friend of Dr Sjoerdsma’s. They also rendered William Walton’s complex “Facade” with Dr Sj as narrator, which ended the concert. Especially memorable were the performances of four former students of Dr Sj’s, one from each of his four decades – Jeannie Moerke Mezzano, Roberta Mulder, Scott Jones, and – most thrillingly, Dean Peterson, who is a bass with the Metropolitan Opera. I got to play for Dean and for once in my life I didn’t have to worry about holding back and drowning out the singer and could just thunder to my heart’s content- Dean has a massive voice that makes the walls quiver and it was amazing to have him here for the celebration. And it was so nice that HE was so nice, so easy-going, so cooperative, so appreciative- – – not a trace of prima donna attitude.
For all that happened, I don’t think I’m overstating anything when I say that the most special moment of all was when Dr Sj’s daughter Rhonda (with her husband at the piano) surprised her dad with a lovely performance of “Try to Remember,” which apparently was a favorite encore for his recitals. Originally, a lot of what happened yesterday was going to be a surprise, but the powers-that-be wisely decided that Dr Sj would enjoy the day even more if he wasn’t suffering a stroke every ten minutes when another huge surprise was unfurled. But this moment remained a surprise and it was very very special. Kathy and Polly were both bawling their eyes out – as was Kathy Ripley, sitting between them, who tearfully exclaimed right afterwards “and I don’t even know this person!”
After the concert was a lovely reception in the Siebert narthax and it was great to catch up with Nikki Phelps Krenke, Shauna Anderson and Eric (oops – she’s Shauna Something Else, isn’t she) – the Thompson sisters- Jeff Brewer – and more recent grads like Justin Maurer, JD Strauss, and Agnes Wojnicki – plus various singers from over the years . . . and of course lots of old-timers that I don’t even know. My former student Paul Marchese (he started with me, and then eventually switched to Dr Sjoerdsma) and his wife were there as well and it’s always nice to see them.
Ah, the banquet! Delicious food, fun conversation, and a great program afterwards. Kathy and I sat with the Marcheses and also Jeannie, Kathy’s good friend, who stayed with us all weekend. Dr. Hodges was the master of ceremonies and he did an absolutely terrific job – and those who spoke did such a nice job of saying why they so admired Dr. Sjoerdsma or some way in which he had powerfully affected them. There was lots of humor and a few tears – in just the right proportion – and well-deserved praise for Herr Sjoerdsma.
In the few words I spoke in tribute to Dr Sj – rather bumpily, because I hadn’t expected nor prepared to speak – I said something about the Deep Footprints which he has left at Carthage. And it’s true- one doesn’t work at one place for such a long time with such passion and drive and focus- and not leave a gigantic impression. And that was so profoundly underscored as person after person after person spoke so eloquently about the difference which Dr Sj had made in their lives. I think it’s cool, by the way, that Dr Sj included both the women in the registrar’s office and the JAC maintenance men in his guest list for the banquet. He wanted a chance to convey to them how much he has appreciated their help over the years.
As fun as last night was, it was very difficult not to give in to a terrible sense of inadequacy. Dr. Sjoerdsma is like one of the faces on Mount Rushmore – and next to that, I feel like one of the Three Stooges. My life is a crazy juggling act most of the time, thanks to my multiple jobs, and although all this running around means I’m leaving a lot of footprints behind me, very few are the kind of Deep Footprints left by Dr Sjoerdsma. There are a precious few, I suppose – a tiny handful of students whom I have touched profoundly – but I would hope that as time goes by, I will learn to make a more powerful and lasting difference in my students’ lives.
(Pictured above- Dr Sjoerdsma with past and present voice students who were at his farewell banquet. Can you find Kathy in the back row? Polly is standing right in front of her. And I think it’s cool that also in the group are several current members of our music faculty, including Michael Burkhardt, Peter Dennee, Amy Haines, and Sarah Gorke. )