I am so embarrassed - I neglected to thank two people critical to Cantabile’s success this year!
Kristin Heiges, our wonderful accompanist, was there with us every step of the way in preparation for both our concerts and our trip!
Emily Crowe was our helper during rehearsals and assisted with the flow of information.
We could not have done it without them! Thank you so much, and please accept my public apology for not listing you with everyone else.
KB
NYC - many different people here!
You can buy Spider Man stuff!
I don’t want to leave!
Ellis Island - take time to READ THE SIGNS!
Newsies is amazing!
Don’t you ever get tired of singing the same old tune?
Well, don’t say that like it happens every day!
I was on stage, singing “For the Beauty of the Earth”… It finally dawned on me how important it all was - how much of a gift it all was.
I had no voice left… Scared… Texted my mom… She said to drink tea… I stood by our hotel room window, looking at Carnegie Hall.. I said a prayer… It was like God helped me… At the concert my voice was better!
My grandma is really sick… Mom said, “Sing for your Grandma. If she dies, she wants you to be in NYC, singing your heart out!”
Heartfelt thanks to:
Sue Hahn for her outstanding work behind the scenes, both in preparation for and during the trip. Hers will be very large shoes to fill.
Debbie Lind for her work preparing the music with our students, and for building the community of Cantabile singers throughout the year.
Chaperones Karrie Been, Amber Evey Schmidt, and Karen Bruno for giving up significant time with their families to accompany the choir, for shepherding the girls safely through the city, and for keeping the girls safe and happy (Debbie and Sue belong in this paragraph, too!).
The families of our chaperones for keeping up with kids, beasts, carpools, chores, and more while we were gone.
Cantabile members for diligently practicing their music, listening carefully to instructions, and being respectful at all times of the other singers, chaperones, hotel guests, and festival staff.
Cheryl Meyer and Patty Merrifield for teaching girl choir members how to be successful in a choral setting.
Cantabile parents/families for entrusting the girls to our care.
Ellen Skinner, Academy Registrar and Lawton Hall, Academy Assistant Registrar for their additional support and help in the Academy office.
Sara Rezin, Academy Program Coordinator for setting up the blog, encouraging me not to be afraid of it, and assisting with the marketing and communications aspects of our trip.
Rick Peterson, Lawrence University Associate Director/Manager of Media Relations, for getting publicity for our trip in various local media outlets, including WHBY.
The choral directors at the girls’ schools for their dedication and support of our girls, the girl choir program, and the choral art.
We have an amazing team and could not do what we do without the support of every person on this list. “Thank you” feels inadequate. Girls, I charge you with taking the experience of this weekend and holding it in your heart for years to come. May it help you continue to grow as musicians and as human beings.
With deep gratitude,
Karen Bruno
The flashing lights. The sky-high buildings. The giant crowds. The wailing sirens, street vendors, taxis, and crazy city people. new York really is all that it has been promised to be. And for small town girls like us, it’s a lot to take in. We joke that we look like crazy tourists as we walk down the street snapping pictures of buildings we have to crane our necks to spy the top of, or flashy billboards that demand your attention. While I have no clue why it’s called the Big Apple, the “big” part I definitely get. Everything is so much larger than life! It’s nothing like I ever imagined. There are billboards. Large as small buildings, and buildings as small as large mountains. The city that never sleeps is also a nickname New York lived up to. Sirens pierce the dark and people can be found walking at all hours of the night. It was wonderful! New York City has me in awe as soon as I step on the street. Central Park is a special mystery to me. How such a large piece of nature could exist in the middle of this concrete jungle, I just don’t know. But the park is this beautiful green island full of trees and grow and happy people. I loved walking through it and kicking pretty yellow blalloons someone zhad left for childish people like me. New York City has been an amazing experience that will be in my heart forever, and the amazing musical songs will stay in my head forever.
