2007 - New York - Carnegie Hall
New York City, New York.
I was so happy to have helped members of the Albuquerque Civic Chorus get to sing in Carnegie Hall. They worked very hard to put together a program for the spring that included the music we were to perform in New York. I was excited that they were going to meet my mentor, Dr. Lee Kjelson.
When we arrived in New York and while getting ready for the first rehearsal, we were informed that Dr. Kjelson was not able to conduct due to health problems. I was really disappointed but ‘the show must go on’.
After the first rehearsal many of the ACC members realized that many of their fellow choir members from other choirs did not know their music well at all. The ACC were commended on not only being prepared but acting as leaders in the chorus as a whole. I was very proud to be their director.
The crowning moment of the whole weekend for me was watching the faces of those from Albuquerque walk out on the stage of Carnegie Hall. Between the tears of joy and unbelief I think they were flying high. This was the second time singing in Carnegie for me so I was able to observe my choir members and just beam myself. What a great weekend for us.
Veralle Kleinhenz
Music Director
From one of our members:
In recognition of the quality and high level of
musicianship demonstrated by the Albuquerque Civic Chorus and the personal
recommendation given by the late Dr. Lee Kjelson, the Albuquerque Civic
Chorus was invited to perform in Carnegie Hall on Sunday, May 27, 2007.
The singers joined forces with several other outstanding
and recommended ensembles (for a total chorus of approximately 175
singers) for five days in Manhattan, from May 24 through May 28. Three
days of rehearsal culminated in a performance of Bernstein’s Chichester
Psalms, Third Movement; Handel’s Coronation Anthem No.1: “Zadok the
Priest”; Thompson’s The Last Words of David; Mozart’s Te
Deum, K. 141; and Thiman’s Go, Lovely Rose, accompanied by the
New England Symphonic Ensemble. The chorus was scheduled to perform under
the direction of Maestro Kjelson, a nationally recognized musician and
clinician; but due to health reasons was replaced by Terry Russell, who
had received her Doctor of Musical Arts degree in choral conducting at the
University of Miami under the noted Dr. Kjelson.
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