The choir prepares for their trip to New York City by rehearsing once a week on Friday afternoons. These practices are being called Carnegie Choir practices, as the College Choir still practices every Wednesday at noon. (Photo by Anthony Spangler)
The Adrian College choir will be traveling to New York City to sing at Carnegie Hall May 27 to June 2. There are 75 students going on the trip along with 30 additional people.
“I was thinking 50 to 60 [students] would be going,” Thomas Hodgman, professor of music, said. “I’m really pleased more signed up.”
Hodgman said he is also glad that so many people are coming to support the choir.
They will perform two shows at Carnegie Hall. The first performance is Saturday night May 29 at 8 p.m. The AC choir is one of three choirs that were asked to perform a thirty minute set in Carnegie.
Hodgman said the songs that the choir will perform have a great variety, ranging from classical and contemporary to gospel and even an original piece composed by AC’s own, Pete Ford, professor of music theory.
According to Hodgman, Ford dedicated his song to the college choir and finished it a couple of weeks ago. He said that the lyrics in this piece celebrate AC’s history and AC’s first president, Asa Mahan. The lyrics in the song have to do with meaningful quotes that Mahan is known to have said.
There are seven songs that the choir will be performing. They are: Hodie Christus Natus Est by Palestrina, Kyrie from Mass in G Major by Franz Schubert, Blow, Blow, Thou Winter Wind by John Rutter, Laughing Song by George Mabry, Nahamasa by Pete Ford, South Sami People by Frode Fjellheim, and Praise His Holy Name by Keith Hampton.
“I love choosing music,” Hodgman said. “Songs are like beautiful gems, each one is unique and has its own beauty.”
The second performance the choir will participate in will be on May 31 at 8 p.m. They will be singing Mozart’s Requiem with several other choirs.
Junior Trevor Alger is attending the NYC trip and said he is looking forward to the choir performances.
He said his favorite song is the Mozart Requiem because it is the most challenging and is also a very well-known piece.
“It’s kind of a once in a lifetime opportunity for me,” Alger said. “To perform in Carnegie Hall.”
Hodgman said he works for the trip every day.
“The business side of the trip is monumental,” he said.
He has to keep track of about 100 accounts, think about rooming, rehearsal times in NYC, meals and transportation details.
“There’s a lot to consider,” Hodgman said.
Hodgman said one of his favorite memories is from twenty years ago when he sang at Carnegie Hall with a college choir. He said that it is really great to have the opportunity to go back and conduct there.
“It’s a major life achievement,” Hodgman said.
Freshman Kelly Friend has been to New York State before, but not New York City. She said she is going on the choir trip because it sounds like a lot of fun and because she gets the chance to sing in Carnegie Hall.
“I’m psyched to sing in Carnegie Hall,” Friend said. “[And] not just sit in the audience.”
Hodgman said he feels that the choir is on track in terms of music preparations, and that they will be ready for the Carnegie Hall performances.
“Have a great time,” Hodgman said he would encourage his students going on the trip. “It will be something you remember for the rest of your life.”