For the Love of Music

It was my great privilege tonight to participate in the Cleveland Orchestra Joint Choruses Concert. The beneficiary of the proceeds of this concert was the Cleveland Orchestra Tour Fund, which is used to support the touring activities of the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus and the Youth Chorus.

The evening began with the beautiful young voices of the Cleveland Orchestra Children's Chorus, which is comprised of very talented young singers in 6th through 9th grades. They were lovingly led by Dr. Ann Usher. (There is also a preparatory chorus that begins at grade 5, who didn't perform tonight.) All I could think as these children were singing was that I hope when Boston is in 5th grade, I am in a position to drive him to Cleveland for rehearsal every week. What an incredible educational experience for these children! Dr. Usher said most of these COCC members are also in the band and/or chorus at their schools. When she asked for a show of hands, approximately half of the members indicated they also take piano lessons.

The children were followed by the Cleveland Orchestra Youth Chorus, led by Frank Bianchi, who is also the assistant conductor of the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus. The COYO performed a very eclectic program, including the second performance of A.R. Rahman's Jai Ho, which they had premiered yesterday at the Ohio Music Educators Association conference in Cincinnati. These young people represent over 40 high schools in six-county area around Cleveland. Frank Bianchi spoke of how honored he feels to be able to work with these young people, who are the most motivated of students at their respective schools. They sang beautifully. Their parents are, I am sure, proud beyond belief.

After the intermission, the Cleveland Orchestra Chorus took the stage and performed works we do not normally get to perform. As our normal repertoire is works accompanied by the full Cleveland Orchestra, we rarely get the opportunity to perform a capella works. Tonight we sang the Jonathan Dove "Seek Him That Maketh The Seven Stars", Benjamin Britten's "Rejoice in the Lamb", with soloists drawn from the chorus, two Bruckner motets—the exquisite Locus iste a Deo factus est and Christus factus est pro nobis obediens— and two American spirituals.

As Robert Porco, our conductor, addressed the audience a final time, the youth chorus came back on stage and the children's chorus prepared to process down the two center aisles in the House. Then, accompanied by Bill Shaffer on the pipe organ, we sang the Mack Wilberg arrangement of the hymn tune, "All Creatures of Our God and King." To say this performance was powerful is an understatement. As I stood at my normal spot in the center of the back row of the chorus, I was fighting back tears singing this beautiful old hymn. When we sang the final chord, we could see the audience erupting in applause and then jumping to their feet. I wanted to go hug every audience member. I was filled with the love of music that permeates my life, and with gratitude for the opportunity to sing with this chorus and with the wonderful new friends I've made through this organization.

Jill Harbaugh, our chorus manager, does a spectacular job of managing all the intricacies of concerts such as this. Jill is always calm, cool and collected, disguising the stress she must feel every day in her job. I admire her, deeply. We could not put on this complex of a concert without someone of Jill's stellar management skills running the show.

I am honored to be part of the Cleveland Orchestra family.