Sunday’s concert by the Windward Choral Society marked the tenth anniversary of this choir, and it was on all accounts, a total triumph! This, in spite of the fact that “90% of the people don’t read music” according to director Susan McCreary Duprey.

Here’s the letter that she wrote to the singers, ringers and orchestra:

Mahalo for all that you did to make yesterday’s concert beautiful! I was deeply moved by our songs and John Alexander shared with me that it was the absolute best he has ever heard his own Pie Jesu! Congratulations!

This spring marks my 20 year mark as a professional choral conductor. I could not be more proud of the work you have done, the commitment you have expressed, along with the desire to do your best. We have grown and matured and are a healthy organization. MAHALO for all that you each bring to chorus. What we do matters and what we do is needed in this world, as small as an impact it might be. Little things add up to big things and as you know, our spirits need music!

The concert began with several spirituals and folk songs:

Halle, Halle, Halle (Traditional Caribbean, arr. Sedio)
The Storm is Passing Over (Charles Tindley, arr. Baker)
Sometimes I Feel (arr. Shaw/Parker)
Grace (arr. Mark Hayes)
Soon-ah Will Be Done (Labi Siffre, arr. Rice)

While the freewill offering was collected, Dr. Thomas Yee played two selections on the piano: “Melodie from L’Orfeo” (Gluck) and “Virtuoso Etude No. 4, Embraceable You” (George Gershwin, trans. Earl Wild). His sensitive and exquisite performance showed why he is a much sought-after accompanist in Honolulu! I especially appreciated his accompaniment to Mark Hayes’ “Grace,” with which I am very familiar, having heard the Iolani Chorus sing it many times.

The heart of the program was John Alexander’s gorgeous Requiem, and was the first time I have played this entire work in one sitting—I had played separate movements during Iolani Chapel services, but never the whole work in one piece. John and I had just come from a special Sunday rehearsal at Iolani School for its upcoming Spring Concert—he changed the rehearsal order so that I could leave early to drive over the Pali. When I arrived, I found an envelope on the organ’s music rack—and it’s the first time I’ve ever received a cookie with my check! Plus, look at the envelope—it has a picture of an organ console on it! The cookie was most appreciated since I didn’t eat lunch that day!!

Besides myself on organ, the rest of the instrumental ensemble for the Requiem included: Kathryn Johnson, flute, Sara Ricer, English horn, William-Jordan Goto, bass trombone, Frederick Mariano, timpani, Anthony Wong, percussion, Joshua Chang, cello, and Constance Uejio, harp. Soloists were Malia Ka’ai-Barrett, soprano and Karol Nowicki, tenor. The work called for huge crescendos and diminuendos for the organ, and I did the best I could having no pistons, and having to add and subtract stops all by hand. My organist friend, Samuel Lam, who sat in the audience right by the conductor, thought I could have been louder, but from my perspective at the console, the instrument was shaking although as in an earthquake when I played the loud sections!

As you can see, the audience gave John a rousing standing ovation.

Congratulations, John! Congratulations, Susie!
Congratulations, Windward Choral Society!

Here is a YouTube video of the performance.