End of 2019

I am a fortunate fellow.

Now in my 21st season with the Augusta Choral Society, I can clearly see that the ensemble has navigated its way through several distinct phases, each with its own assets and liabilities.  And although the current iteration does have both, it also has risen to the occasion famously twice this fall.  Our "Hallow E'en" concert in October was, in my opinion, an artistic success, with the chorus wrestling with and conquering an interestingly challenging Puccini Messa.  And then there was the distinctly differently Jabberwocky on the same bill.  Polar opposites, but performed with equal aplomb.

This past Saturday night (12/14) the ACS undertook what I describe as a collage program: lots of different pieces (related by theme) with some "fluff" and "meat" and something in-between. The "meat" came with the Vaughan-Williams and Holst selections and the chorus met both of those meritoriously.  The "fluff" was actually more demanding that was first thought, but the chorus also worked through those issues and delivered all selections with insight and inspiration.

More fortunately, perhaps, was that we were joined in our concert not only by the outstanding and uplifting Lyra Vivace Chamber Orchestra, but also by Palmetto Girls Sing from Greenwood, SC.  Prepared and directed by Amy Fennell, these young women joined with the ACS for two selections and performed by themselves on a third.  We were amazed and left breathless by their concert awareness and demeanor. Their angelic voices simply soared.

Further, our two soloists, who also sing frequently with the ACS, Laurie Orth and Sawyer Branham brought not only professional preparation and talent to the performance, but raised our bar of expectations for all other guest soloists.  Augusta is so fortunate to have vocal musicians of their caliber in our midst.

One of the blessings and curses of music-making is that the final product is ephemeral: it's transitory, temporary, and intangible.  It's a wisp of smoke and dissolves into the ether leaving us with the memory and, hopefully, with a lasting and noteworthy impression.  That's the blessing. The curse is that, once performed, the smoke dissolves and it's time to move on to another musical challenge.  Our next challenge begins in January as we begin our preparation of the Cherubini Requiem.  Let's take what we learned about making music, singing together, and performing as we take up this next major work.

So, a success concert behind us and another challenge before us. I am a fortunate fellow.