Last night was Kenosha Unified’s Choral Festival. . .which even after all these years remains an awe-inspiring event for any of us privileged to be even a small part of it. Basically every high school and middle school choir performs a piece, as well as a new all-city children’s choir- and all of those songs amount to a rich and entertaining musical buffet. What really sets this event apart, of course, is when you get all of those voices singing together, sending forth a massive, magnificent, roof-rattling sound that most people go all their lives without ever hearing – except maybe on television – but to be in the actual presence of that kind of sound is a truly amazing experience….. and not just in the hearing of it, but in the seeing of it. To see that many young people lifting their voices together is awe-inspiring and great cause for hope that maybe there’s a bright future for this corrupt human race and problem-plagued planet after all.
The highlights were many, but they included a spine-tingling performance of “Ritmo” by the Tremper Chorale (with yours truly as one half of the piano-four-hands accompaniment) that actually inspired a standing ovation- a rarity at these concerts, aside from big finish. To have people on their feet in mid-concert was really exciting. Which reminds me- one of the elements of this concert that makes it so exciting is a spirit of competition that simmers just below the surface. You get that sense when you look at the physical setup, which involves a gigantic set of bleachers where the mass choir sits- and then choral risers to the right and left from which the individual choirs take turns performing. There is something about that image of music sailing forth from opposite ends of the gym which underscores that healthy sense of competitiveness which drives each choir to do the very best of their abilities. (I don’t mean for a moment to imply that this amounts to a Tremper’s #1 / Bradford’s #1 battle royal. I have never heard a word uttered by either directors or singers that carried even a whiff of such sentiment. I mean a different kind of competitiveness which involves mutual respect and a hunger for excellence.)
Anyway, even if such a contest were the order of the evening, the “winners” would not have been Tremper, Bradford, Indian Trails, Harborside . . . nor any of the middle schools. . . but rather the Elementary All-School Choir. Their spirited and assured performance of the “Craw-Dad Song” – conducted by none other than guest conductor Maestro Eduardo Garcia-Novelli, resplendent in his white tie formal wear! – scored the biggest ovation of the night. There was something mighty odd about seeing this exacting conductor who has led the Carthage Choir to new levels of excellence and sophistication having a riotous good time with “you get a line and I’ll get a pole, honey.” But it just goes to show that great singing is great singing, whether it’s an intricate polyphonic masterwork from the renaissance or a rollicking children’s song. (By the way, what was especially gratifying about that ovation was that it was not just a roar of approval from the parents and grandparents gathered there – but if anything, the biggest roar emerged from the middle schoolers and high schoolers on the bleachers.) Of course, the impact of this particular performance went way beyond what one thinks of as standard choral excellence- although they did perform this song wonderfully. It was probably more about the fearlessness and delight with which those children sang on what I’m sure was the biggest stage and most imposing spotlight any of them have yet experienced in their young lives.
But beyond that, I wonder how many people in that packed gym were also thinking – as I was – about what might or might not be ahead for these young singers in the years ahead. You can’t help but hope with all your heart that these young singers will have their musical gifts lovingly nurtured year after year. . . through the middle school years when life can be so turbulent and singing can be a steadying and affirming influence. . . and into the high school years, when their talents can be woven into the fine young men and women they are becoming and they can experience mountaintops of magnificence like they never dreamt possible. My experience is that the happiest people in the world are singers. . . and whether they sing because they’re happy or they’re happy because they sing, I know of nothing that is a more unfailing source of joy. It’s among the most precious gifts that God gives to us. And in these tumultuous times in which we find ourselves, with the future looking so uncertain, and with painful choices needing to be made, I am hoping – trusting – praying – that nothing will rip the gift of great singing – and love of music – out of any of these young people’s lives. It’s something far too precious to give up without a ferocious fight – and I suspect that there are thousands upon thousands of ordinary citizens like me who completely agree.
pictured at the top: Maestro Eduardo Garcia- Novelli conducting the Elementary All-City Choir in ‘The Crawdad Song.” He also led the older mass choir in some thrilling and surprisingly nuanced performances. My hat also goes off to the other directors who did themselves proud- with a special word of praise to my former student/ now friend Paul Marchese, in his first KUSD Choral Fest, who led his Tremper Treble Choir with great skill and affection. I had the pleasure of playing for them as well as for fine performances conducted by Rita Gentile, John Nepper, and of course, Polly.
pictured below: Maestro Garcia-Novelli at the morning’s dress rehearsal.
