Naperville concert an emotional end for former college singers
By David Sharos And Dan Cassidy Sun-Times Media July 12, 2011 10:54PM
Singers roll their heads Saturday morning as they stretch out their necks during warm up exercises at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church as they rehearse for a concert celebrating 80 years of Augustana College's choir. Jeff Cagle / For Sun-Times Media
Article Extras
Updated: November 16, 2011 1:36AM
To say that the concert given at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Naperville Saturday was an emotional one would be an understatement.
“It was goose bumps for a lot us,” said David Westman of Naperville.
Westman was one of more than 270 alums from Augustana College who came together for a whirlwind day of rehearsals leading to a special performance showcasing their musical talents.
All the participants were members of the choir at Augustana College in Rock Island. The singers ranged from those in their 80s to students who are still attending the college. Some came from as far away as Finland to take part in the unique reunion event in Naperville.
Something different
Many college reunions involve formal dinners, or pig roasts or big parties. The reunion of former Augustana choir members was different to say the least. The group got together to learn new pieces of music during the day and then, that night, put on a public concert.
Westman said the unique nature of the event isn’t a surprise.
“This is like the most super-charged sorority-fraternity ever,” said Westman, who attended the college from 1976 through 1980. “We never belonged to any of the traditional groups like that on campus, so this is the closest thing to it.”
It was an emotional beginning of the day at 9 a.m. Saturday as the participants began drifting into the church to begin rehearsals.
“There were some people there I hadn’t seen since I graduated 30 years ago,” Westman said. “Name tags helped.”
Rehearsals for the 75-minute musical program ran all the way to 5 p.m. Trying to put on a show in one day is a daunting task.
“There were some rough patches during the day,” Westman said.
However, he said it was amazing how quickly people absorbed what they needed to do.
Brian Warner of Geneva was largely responsible for this year’s show.
“It actually took about two years to put this together but I had a lot of help along the way,” Warner said Saturday morning. “Vocal-wise, some of the people have asked to sit out some numbers because they don’t feel they can sing all the notes any more.”
Naperville resident Sue Boozell, 57, said she was a graduate of the Class of 1976 and that she has lived here 12 years and taught music classes at Graham Elementary School. Boozell said being at rehearsals Saturday was “fantastic” and made her feel like she had never left Augustana.
“The music program there at the school is incredible and is something that still is very deep within us,” Boozell said. “There is a piece we’re going to do called, ‘Hail, Thou Gladdening Light’ and the melody is so lush and beautiful. I feel an emotional and spiritual attachment to it because it focuses on God and the love of Him. I also am excited about seeing all the people from the college because a lot of us know the people in the classes that came before and after us.”
Sonya Hurty, the wife of current Augustana choir director Jon Hurty, said some of the challenges for Saturday’s group were to work with new directors as well as sing music that had not been sung for as much as four decades.
“It was amazing how the show came together,” Westman said.
It worked because of a lot of team spirit, he said.
“We coached each other.”
On stage
All the work came to a crescendo Saturday night when the combined choir of alums performed before a packed house at the church.
For many, this was their first public performance of any kind in years.
“I haven’t been in a choir since college,” Westman said. He said the same was true for many performing that night.
But any concerns about singing in public after many years off the stage melted away when the music begin, Westman said.
“When the concert hit, everyone was on their game,” he said.
That moment was electric, Westman said.
“It was very emotional to sing with all these people from my college,” he said.
Naperville’s Bobby Olson, a graduate of the class of 2010, said the bond the alumni share through their college and music helped bring the show home.
“I was a musical education major at the college and there is definitely a strong musical tradition at the school that all of us feel,” he said. “There is a passion all the people here bring, and when you’re in the music program at the college, you work hard each day and bond with the people around you. We’re all excited to come together and sing again.”
Those feelings came to a head at the end of the show, as the group sang one last song together. It was Augustana’s “Alma Mater.”
Westman said the emotions of that moment will stick with him, and with many of the other choir members.
“There were a lot of tears flowing,” Westman said. “There were not a lot of dry eyes in the house.”
Comments Click here to view or make a comment