Shewan Hall was crammed. They set up more chairs - as many as they legally could - and people were still standing at the back of the hall. He is a popular singer. His resonant baritone rings with clarity and his selection of music is both fun and serious. It doesn't hurt that his co-performer is an excellent pianist and was performing some interesting repertoire as well.
I sat next to the RWC Men's Barbershop Quartet. I glanced around the room - so many familiar faces, such a close community. While we waited for the concert to begin, I wondered how he had time to prepare what with a full teaching load, gigging about, working on recording a CD, and having a family to care for. I wondered if he, like me, longed to just do the music he wanted to do and drop all the "pay the bills" work that must be done.
Suddenly the side doors opened and in came two gentlemen in tuxes, ready to offer us the music of so many composers. Mostly, it was sacred music, and mostly pieces I know and love. It was an hour of enjoyment and encouragement. If I work with this gentleman long enough, maybe, just maybe, I can learn to have that same brilliant spin in my tone that he always has. Every once in awhile I actually manage to produce it in a lesson.
He is a patient man, thank goodness. It takes the better part of twenty minutes for me to reach a place where I am ready to sing something. I sure hope I improve more quickly than I have managed to do so far. A whole semester and I have yet to sing more than a third of a piece, and I still don't have that right by a far shot!
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