On the Anniversary of Our Carnegie Hall Debut
It was one year ago tonight that my church choir joined with several other choirs to sing a Mozart concert at Carnegie Hall. This was a very big deal for me — singing at Carnegie Hall — because, well, it just was!
(HUGE thanks to my choir director, Brenda!)
The entire experience of it, from learning the Latin words and difficult rhythms to the all-day rehearsals leading up to the big event, ranks with my grandest days. And it’s not just because I stood on that famous stage, but also because my brother was there with me. Bill and I share a love for music, always have, but unfortunately we don’t get to see each other very often. Now every time I think of Carnegie Hall, I think of Bill.
The only negative was that I wasn’t allowed to take my camera. I did anyway, being the rebel that I am, but of course, not during the performance. And none of my photographer friends in the audience brought cameras either. (They have rules about that.) And so, for the longest time, the story of our Carnegie debut was told using a fake picture — some other choir on some other night.
And then one day the picture above arrived in my e-mail. I don’t know who took it, but I am ever grateful for the rounds of forwarding it took to get to me. It’s actually not a bad print, considering all the photoshop work it took to render it a decent picture from a point-and-shoot that had seen 12-too-many rain drops on its lens. At normal resolution (not scaled down for the Web), I can spot everyone in my choir! That’s Brenda, 5th row, 3rd from the left, and Larrie, 1st row, 7th from the right. Bill’s on the back row next to that bass who could really sing, and that’s me, 2nd row center behind the bassoons.
So to that anonymous person who took this really special picture, Tuesday night, March 21, 2006, from about the 2nd tier, Carnegie Hall, just before the beginning of the Coronation Mass, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Sometimes it’s not the quality of a photograph that counts, but just the fact of its very existence.
Wow! A Mamarazzi and a Pavarotti! You are a very accomplished woman, my friend. I am very excited for you that you now have documentation of this day. How very, very cool.
Comment by Leah — March 21, 2007 @ 8:21 am
Thanks, Julie, for marking a very special anniversary for us all. My nephew Frank, who attended the performance, called me and reminded me last night while watching American Idol that though these idol wannabes may be on TV singing, they haven’t been on stage at Carnegie Hall, and I have. His comment brought back every minute of the experience, and I smiled contentedly.
Comment by Pat Collelo — March 21, 2007 @ 9:10 am
That’s great, Pat! I was with the Carol Choir yesterday and Brenda whispered to me, “Do you know where we were this time last year?” I think we’re all thinking about it! Be sure to check out tomorrow’s blog post for another trip down memory lane!
Love to all my choir buddies!
–Jules
Comment by Jules — March 21, 2007 @ 10:47 am
Well, here is a quick comment from Julie’s brother, Bill. I have been waiting for this day for 364 days! As I came home from New Jersey last March, I thought: “Hmmm, what will I be doing one year from Tuesday, March 21, 2006?” In preparation for it, I have been listening to a recording of the Mass (King’s College Choir) on my office computer for weeks now. Today, I put it on infinite repeat and as I walked in and out of the office, doing other things, I would hear a different part of it each time. I actually find it hard to sit down and listen to the whole thing at one sitting because it makes me weepy. I am sentimental that way… I get it from my father. So to all my friends in the choir at Julie’s church in Metuchen, know that I am there with you tonight in thought. I know all of you are silently reminiscing, just like I am tonight. So if you have a recording of the Mass, get it out and listen to the whole thing and think of great times that will probably never happen again, but did, in fact, happen! We all know they did and the picture above is proof. I also thank that anonymous person from the bottom of my heart for giving us a little proof! I hope to get up to NJ again to see you all soon.
Ahh… here’s my favorite part on the stereo now… “Dona nobis pacem” …translated “Give us peace”
See you soon, Bill
Comment by Brother Bill — March 21, 2007 @ 5:48 pm
Hey, that’s pretty cool. I can imagine how wonderful you felt at the time.
Comment by Adam Squier — March 21, 2007 @ 7:24 pm
I have to add that being on stage in one of the world’s most famous concert halls was great and all… but equally great was the experience of being able to spend time with my beloved sister for the first time in many many years. How many siblings who live so far apart… 600 some odd miles…and have families of their own and don’t really get to travel too much because of work and various other reasons… ever get a chance like this? I got to spend over 4 days with my sister, basically one on one, in “her” city, and I have to say, I had a BALL. Even if we had not had the Mozart music to learn and latin lyrics to slave over, it would have been fun. We have a lot in common, as Julie said in her essay, and I think that has given us the pleasure of many enjoyable hours on the phone and lengthy email trails, late at night. We certainly have that familial bond, but there is more than that… something many families don’t have. I am glad and blessed to have such a loving and talented sister. Julie, I salute you and I am so proud of you. Always know that you are loved! Your Bill
Comment by Brother Bill — March 21, 2007 @ 8:11 pm
Thanks for the photograph, who ever was responsable! It was a great, great experience for everyone and this is my second time around at Carnegie Hall. Of course it was thirty years between performances and although I enjoyed thirty years ago when I sang with Rutgers University Choir it was even more special to do it with the people of my church choir! Heres hoping I don’t have to wait another thirty years to do it again.
Comment by Scott K. Randolph — March 21, 2007 @ 8:39 pm
Ok, Bill, you’re making me CRY! Love you! You’re gonna DIE when you see tomorrow’s post.
Comment by Jules — March 21, 2007 @ 9:48 pm
This links to the slide show! This is a teeny tiny version of the one I showed after church one Sunday last year.
Comment by Jules — March 21, 2007 @ 10:02 pm
Just watched the slide show - awesome!
Comment by Leah — March 22, 2007 @ 8:27 am
No–it can’t possibly be a full year already.
What a night! What a week!
It was an experience I’m sure none of us will ever forget.
Thanks, Brenda, for giving us the opportunity and spending so much extra time getting us ready.
Thanks, Julie, for the wonderful slideshow and for being our unofficial historian / keeper of digital images.
Thanks, Unknown Photographer, for giving us a chance to see ourselves actually standing on that amazing stage in that wonderful hall.
Comment by Margo — March 22, 2007 @ 9:01 am
Years ago, my mother was called by my Aunt from Liverpool. They were having a function in Liverpool in which all World War II children evacuee’s were to meet, after years and years. My mother flew to Liverpool, met my aunt and went to this function. At this place they had a black and white picture of a bunch of school girls walking to buses at the start of WWII to drive them out of Liverpool and to their destinations. Wouldn’t ya know, my mother was one of those schoolgirls and leading the pack…. she never knew this photo even existed!!! Can you imagine? Over 50 years go by, and BANG- a moment in time, relived….it was amazing. The stories, the pictures, the people… if only I could have been a fly on the wall.
and here ya go… a photo which comes out of no where… some things are meant to happen.
Comment by Steve — March 22, 2007 @ 8:08 pm
Dear Julie, my daughter Praycilia once said ” The Camera is a weapon to freeze the time”, You are doing a good Job in using your Weapon. Thanks a lot. God Bless
Comment by Mercy — March 29, 2007 @ 10:04 am
Julie this Website ia Amazing.
To have you, is a Blessing.
I am at friends house in the City
I so proud to show your works
God Bless
Mercy
Comment by Mercy Rumengan — May 27, 2007 @ 9:02 pm