Sunday, the 8th of May, was a day of farewells at Carthage- although these are the best kind of farewells because they involve people who are not really going anywhere – but simply turning a page in order to enter a new chapter. But both farewells are not without their pain … not without an acute sense of loss, as is almost always the case with farewells.
One set of farewells came with that afternoon’s Spring Choral Concert, which was the final performance of the Chapel Choir under the leadership of my colleague, friend and office neighbor, Dr. Dimitri Shapovalov. When Dimitri was first hired at Carthage (I don’t remember the year but am guessing maybe 7 years ago) it was as our Music History professor – and to teach piano . But wasn’t too long after he began at Carthage that Dimitri made it known that he would welcome the opportunity to be part of Carthage’s choral program, if it would be helpful to the department- and soon thereafter he was entrusted with Carthage’s Chapel Choir.
The rest, as they say, is history. Under Dimitri’s inspired leadership, the Chapel Choir has become a truly first class ensemble that has contributed mightily to the music department- and to the school as a whole. Dimitri has demanded excellence and sophistication from his singers – and they have given it to him! But somehow he has managed to achieve this gigantic leap of quality while also making it tremendously fun for all involved – which is no small feat.
Earlier this year, Dimitri decided that it was time to shift the focus of his professional energies – which meant relinquishing leadership of the Chapel Choir- and his students sang their hearts out for him at Sunday’s concert, which was the best thank you gift they could have possibly given him.
As is traditionally the case, this concert was also an opportunity for each of the ensembles to pay tribute to the seniors in their ranks – which is always a bittersweet moment, to say the least. As they each step into the spotlight, one feels tremendous gratitude for all that they have meant to the group- as well as sadness that life must take them away and onward into new adventures. Of course, for me personally, it is the seniors leaving the Carthage Choir who leave me with such a sense of loss because those are the seniors I know the best. And after all these years, such goodbyes do not get any easier. Not one little bit.
(pictured below – the seniors in Carthage Choir)
Amidst the sadness of all these goodbyes, I appreciated the reminder I was given of the sheer joy that music gives us. The concert opened with an exciting and energetic set sung by the Women’s Ensemble under the director of Dr. Peter Dennee. As I was walking through the lobby in order to move up to the balcony to get a different view, I caught sight of this little girl at the very back of the hall – joyously dancing to the music that the Chapel Choir was singing (a piece commissioned by the group from Moira Smiley.) I just had to snap a few pictures of this little girl and her unbridled delight at what she was seeing and hearing. Would that all of us took in the music around us with this same spirit!
That evening, a number of us gathered in one of the meeting rooms in the Todd Wehr Center to honor Dr. Jane Livingston, the head of our keyboard program, who is about to retire after 20 years as a full time member of the music faculty. Jane and I became full-time the same year, so in a strange sort of way we feel like classmates- and over the years we have collaborated on all kinds of projects and recitals ….. and become close friends. So it was a very special honor indeed for me to emcee the program in which the department sought to honor Jane for all she has meant to our department and to our school. Jane has always been one of those teachers who gave all she had to give and then some, caring for her students with every fiber of her being. It was no surprise whatsoever to hear her showered with heartfelt praise – both by guests who were present (including former music department chairman Dr. Richard Sjoerdsma) as well as various students (ranging from young elementary children to recent Carthage graduates) via a lovely video put together by Mike Anderle.
One of the most special moments of the evening came when Deb Maslowski, another member of our piano faculty, stepped to the podium to introduce a very special guest who was with us that night – a beloved mentor of both Deb’s and Jane’s from the piano faculty at Northwestern University. It was a neat way for everyone to be reminded that even college professors were once students themselves- and were shaped by the teachers which they had, once upon a time. That blending of the generations right before our eyes was so touching to see.
And at the end of the evening, when I invited Jane forward to say whatever she wanted to say – she did something that was amazing and yet not the least bit surprising for anyone who knows her. Jane went around the entire room and acknowledged and thanked every single person for being there and said something about who they were and what they meant to her. Jane has always been one of the most generous, open-hearted, sensitive people I know …. and this gesture on her part was vintage Jane ….. and one more reminder of how much we will miss her. For me, the special memories are many. They include playing the two-piano version of “An American in Paris” for a spectacular 1997 concert that celebrated George Gershwin’s 200th birthday …. having Jane as my pianist for three of my voice recitals …. working with Jane in the pit (as it were) of several musicals at the Racine Theater Guild, as well as at Carthage ….. and most recently, collaborating with her in a final faculty recital in which we played stunning piano music from a host of movie scores as film clips were screened for the audience. It was something Jane has long dreamt of doing, and I was honored to play a small part in helping her cross this off of her proverbial Bucket List. Jane moves on now to devote a bit more of her time and energy to being a proud and loving grandmother- but we are all glad that she is not going anywhere, as it were, and we hope that we will see a lot of her in the years to come.
