Magnolia Chorale
  • Home
  • Meet our new music director
  • About
    • Commitment to Anti-Racism
    • Music Director and Staff
    • Board of Directors
    • Past Music Directors
    • Past Concerts
  • Join Us
    • Student Scholarships
  • WE LOVE OUR SUPPORTERS
  • Blog
  • For Members
    • Membership Information
    • Rehearsal Info
    • Repertoire
    • Member Highlights
    • Pay membership dues

Music, Community, and Memories

3/6/2016

 
PicturePrinceton chapel stained glass.
Soprano Kitty Brown has been a chorale singer much of her life. In this blog post, she reflects on some of her most powerful experiences and how she came to Magnolia Chorale.

Last month, I attended the annual memorial service at Princeton University, where my father taught for forty years. His death was honored, along with that of every alumnus and every member of the university community who died in the past 12 months - from custodial staff to Nobel Laureate John Nash.

The service was beautiful, observing the many traditions of the community, but it didn't feel particularly personal. After all, dad was one of hundreds remembered that day. I sat in a front pew with other family members until I was absolutely undone by the procession of the choir.

This magnificent group is comprised of generations of singers, from the callow freshman to the white-bearded bass who boomed down the aisle. Memories flooded back: my high school, some 250 of us, sang Handel's Hallelujah Chorus there every Christmas. For years afterward, we Princeton High School alumni made the pilgrimage back to the chapel to join our voices with those of the current students.

All the joy of raising our voices together was remembered deeply and viscerally.

When I lived in New Jersey, I sang in choirs in college and in New York. But when I moved to Seattle, it took me nearly 20 years to find the Magnolia Chorale - just around the corner! Our music is so wonderfully varied, from the sacred to the silly. Every Sunday night I look forward to leaving the dishes behind and joining my community of sopranos - and know that when I'm very, very old, I'll cherish these memories too.

Ann Macfarlane
3/7/2016 05:10:01 pm

Kitty, please accept my condolences on the loss of your dad. And thank you so much for this lovely reminiscence. It gives me joy.

Ann


Comments are closed.

    Magnolia Chorale

    A community of singers who enjoy spending time together making great music.

    Archives

    February 2023
    December 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    May 2020
    June 2019
    April 2019
    November 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    May 2017
    January 2017
    August 2016
    May 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    August 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    October 2014
    August 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    November 2013
    September 2013

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Magnolia Chorale
3213 W. Wheeler St.
PMB 377
Seattle, WA 98199
​contact@magnoliachorale.org
  • Home
  • Meet our new music director
  • About
    • Commitment to Anti-Racism
    • Music Director and Staff
    • Board of Directors
    • Past Music Directors
    • Past Concerts
  • Join Us
    • Student Scholarships
  • WE LOVE OUR SUPPORTERS
  • Blog
  • For Members
    • Membership Information
    • Rehearsal Info
    • Repertoire
    • Member Highlights
    • Pay membership dues