Some of you may have received an email message from the Oahu Choral Society about their spring fundraising banquet and silent auction on March 10th. The Oahu Choral Society sponsors all the activities of the Honolulu Symphony Chorus and the Honolulu Chamber Choir. Their mission is “to present and promote choral music at the highest artistic level for the cultural enrichment, education, and aesthetic enjoyment of its members, the people of Hawaii and the global community.”
What’s happening is that this group will be honoring Carl Crosier, called “a renowned conductor, harpsichordist and countertenor soloist” who “retired in 2011 after 38 years as Cantor of the Lutheran Church of Honolulu,” according to the OCS website. “Haven’t I been honored enough?” Carl asked. “I don’t want such a fuss made again about me until my funeral!”
Back on November 18, 2006, Carl was honored by another choral organization, the Hawaii Vocal Arts Ensemble in their fundraiser called Crescendo. (If you click this link, you’ll see the same picture of Carl there. You mean he hasn’t changed in 6 years?) At that time he also received a Proclamation from Mayor Mufi Hannemann which proclaimed “Carl Crosier Day in Honolulu.”
Vivace! 2012 will be held on Saturday, March 10th at 6:30 pm at the Honolulu Country Club and tickets may be purchased by going to the OCS website. Proceeds from this gala event will be used in support of the Honolulu Symphony Chorus and the Honolulu Chamber Choir for the 2012-2013 season. The award which will be given to Carl is called the “Dale R. Noble Award,” named for our dear friend, Dale Noble, who taught choral music for many years at Kamehameha Schools and even sung in the LCH Compline Choir, and occasionally, in the LCH mixed choir. Carl has asked Ian Capps and John Renke to speak on his behalf at the banquet.
I hope many of you will be able to join us in honoring Carl, who according to the OCS website, “conducted highly-acclaimed performances of Bach’s major choral works including the St Matthew Passion, St John Passion, and the Mass in B minor, as well as historic performances of Claudio Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610.”
Yes, that and a whole lot more.