| Me and my big mouth:My Singing Career:Part One |
| My singing career began in the 12th grade, when I joined the chorus at Fairfield Prep. I only joined because I needed to be part of school music in order to audition for All-State on the violin. I am so glad I sang at Prep, because it opened the door for all of the singing I did ever since. While I enjoyed singing at Prep, it was at Cornell where I discovered my love of choral music. I sang with the Cornell University Chorale for 4 wonderful years. The Chorale was the best part of my Cornell experience. All of those hours of wonderful music-making in Sage Chapel with its acoustics and organ were an unforgettable experience! |
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| Click here for a picture of the 1996-97(my senior year) Cornell University Chorale. This was done by David Ruether Photography. |
| Above is the official Cornell Chorale logo. To the right is the program from my last concert. I had several singers and the conductor sign it as a momento. Jeremy O'Connell was the most wonderful condcutor I've ever had the privilege of singing for. I have never seen anyone else with the same passion and love for the music that gets the best out of both him and the singers lucky enough to work wit him. Jeremy, you're the best! |
| 4 years of music Professor Thomas Sokol(Fall 1993-Fall 1994): Fall 1993:Rossini Petite Messe Solenelle Spring 1994:Beethoven's 9th(with Cornell Symphony Orchestra) Fall 1994:Bach Magnificat(with Cayuga Chamber Orchestra), Ives Psalm 90 Michael Slon(Spring 1995) Spring 1995:Bizet Carmen(full concert performance with Cornell Symphony Orchestra and soloists from the Met) Fall 1995:The Chorale did not meet because the music department dumped us in favor of starting a chamber choir. Apparently, they thought that starting a group for 15 singers was more important than having the Chorale of 75 singers who just worked their tails off and did a great job in the Carmen performance. Jeremy O'Connell(Spring 1996-Spring 1997) Spring 1996:Faure Requiem, Britten Rejoice in the Lamb Fall 1996:Mozart Solemn Vespers of the Confessor, Pinkham Christmas Cantata Spring 1997:selections from Handel's Messiah, Brahms Nanie, Brahms Lass Dich nur nichts nichts dauren |
| To the right and below are pictures from the reception after my last concert my senior year. To the right is a picture of me with Randi Rotjan, a fellow Chorale member. To the bottom are two pictures of Jeremy. To the bottom left is Jeremy giving an impromptu speech after receiving his presents from the Chorale. To the right is a picture of Jeremy cutting his cake. All the way below is a picture of me and Jeremy. |
| For much more on the Cornell Chorale(I did not want to cram too much onto this page), please look at my old web page. Much of my old web page is outdated, but the Chorale info is still good(it's a time capsule, after all). Mike's Old Cornell Chorale Page. |
| Leaving the Cornell Chorale after 4 years and many hours of wonderful music was painful. The only time I ever cried while singing was the day of my last concert-it was so hard to say goodbye, but I had to. After Cornell, I started graduate studies at UCONN in Fall '97. Unfortunately, I was unable to sing with the UCONN chorus in the 97-98 school year to to academic conflicts. I sang at Eastern Connecticut State University in Fall '97 and performed a program of Christmas music and the Schubert Mass in G. I did not sing in spring '98 because of time constraints. The most memorable choral experience of the 97-98 school year, however, had nothing to do with school. Please see the textbox to the right! |
| In November 1997, I had the privilege of singing with the first ever AOL Chorus and singing Handel's Messiah with John Rutter at Carnegie Hall. I felt like a pioneer being a member of the first chorus put together online! The choir members were chosen from audition tapes sent in from all over the country. It was a crazy Thanksgiving weekend in 1997 but a lot of fun! Rutter ws a lot of fun to work with-he had great enthusiasm and sense of humor! Below are the stagebill from Carnegie Hall and John Rutter's autograph on my Messiah score. |
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