NEW YORK - NAU swimming & diving head coach Andy Johns got a chance to perform last week at the legendary Carnegie Hall in Midtown Manhattan. Johns is a member of the Master Chorale of Flagstaff, which performed along with NAU's Shrine of the Ages Choir on the stage of the one of the most prestigious musical venues in the world. Johns chronicles his visit to New York for the Lumberjack Talk Blog:
We departed for New York, all 166 of us from Flagstaff, on Thursday morning March 8th. Members of the Master Chorale of Flagstaff, NAU’s Shrine of the Ages Choir, alumni from both choirs, and friends and family of everyone. Upon arrival, we were bused to the Park Central Hotel on 7th Avenue, between 55th and 56th streets, a great location, as it is across the street from Carnegie Hall and only a few blocks from Central Park, Times Square, Broadway, 5th Avenue – you name it! Friday morning included a four-hour rehearsal for the combined choirs that were gathered for the first time to perform at Carnegie Hall. After dinner at the Carnegie Deli that included a pastrami sandwich stacked so high we made it into four sandwiches, we were off to the theatre district for the Disney classic “Mary Poppins”. My daughter and I were not disappointed. The staging, the sets, the costuming and singing and dancing were all fabulous. The New Amsterdam theatre on 42nd St was quaint and filled to capacity. After the show, we wandered through Times Square and stopped at yet another great café to enjoy a slice of New York cheesecake. Not a bad start to the trip, for sure.
Saturday morning started with a walk through Central Park and meeting Coach Luciano and his wife, Lori, at the Time Warner Center. I had another rehearsal, while my daughter was shown around Greenwich Village, Soho, Little Italy, and Chinatown, by two of the best tour guides NYC has to offer (Coach Luciano and Lori). Saturday night was capped off after dinner with cupcakes from the Magnolia Bakery – yes, that magnolia bakery from “Sex in the City” fame. Sunday morning we headed south on the subway and went to the 9/11 memorial and ground zero. A very somber setting, but an important part of the trip to NY to pay respects. Sunday afternoon included more rehearsal and more shopping on 5th Avenue.
And finally the hour arrived for our first peak inside Carnegie Hall. We were escorted in the side stage doors and to a rehearsal room on the 3rd floor and arranged in our rows. The sound check was scheduled from 7:10 – 7:40, and that was our first rehearsal on the stage with the New York City Chamber Orchestra. Walking on to the stage and into an empty hall for my first glimpse of Carnegie was enough to begin to understand the specialness of this place - The cream colored walls and red seats. The balconies that extend to the ceiling. The intricate details of workmanship. The perfect acoustics.
At 8:00, I was able to meet my daughter and the Luciano’s in the hall as we got ready for the downbeat at 8:30. Northern Arizona University’s Shrine of the Ages Choir started the evening with an incredible set of acapella singing that really stole the show. These collegiate singers are vocal performance majors and some will undoubtedly end up singing again at Carnegie or on Broadway or perhaps even with the Metropolitan Opera. It was an honor to sing with them during all of the rehearsal hours and especially on stage. After intermission we gathered again in the rehearsal room and then made our way on the stage to sing John Rutter’s “Magnificat”. The house was full and singing to a full house anywhere is great, but a full house in Carnegie – “are you kidding me?” - incredible!
Dr Edith Copley, the Director of Choral Studies at Northern Arizona University, told us right before going on to enjoy the moment, have fun and smile. I did all three, especially the smiling part apparently, as my daughter and others told me afterward. I couldn’t help it. Beautiful music in an historic place. This was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience for me and for the performance to coincide with my birthday and to share the moment with my daughter and great friends made it all the better.
My trip to New York concluded with a serendipitous free ticket to the taping of The Late Show with David Letterman. Will Ferrell was the special guest. Unbelievable! Awesome, Baby! – March Madness had begun 3 days early. What a trip!
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