I’d like to share with you, a moment…a very special moment. Let me start by saying that I have very fond memories of my high school years at Archbishop Chapelle, with the fondest of all coming from my time in Chorale.
Last night, April 22, 2013, my high school had its annual spring concert, but what made it extra special this year, is that some of the Chorale Alumnae, from the 80’s, made a very special appearance. Yes, under the direction of our former music teacher/director, we sang again, to honor her, and her up coming retirement! I was amazed that having not sung together in nearly 30 plus years, and with only 30 minutes or so of rehearsal, we sounded amazing! This is a direct result of having such a wonderful and skilled teacher, all those years ago.
Getting back to, “The Moment”… My husband and I were talking about how great moments always have to start somewhere, and there is always going to be work involved. You won’t come by a memorably great moment by sitting around waiting for it to happen…you have to move!
I’d like to share with you how last nights moment began, for me. Back in November of 1981, my mom and I attended an Open House at Chapelle High School. I knew nothing about the school except that my aunt, who was an alum (Class of ’77), seemed to have had a wonderful time there, and knowing it was the best school in the area, it seemed like a given that I would go there, too.
At the Open House, we listened to different speakers talk about the wonderful aspects of the school, and the friends and memories to be made there. It was all very nice, but then it happened… the Chorale took the stage! I was mesmerized! As this group of singers was being lead and directed by their fearless leader, who I would later come to know as Mrs. Frosch, I knew that I had to be part of this elite group, as well! I grew up around opera singers, which included my parents, and had always been very interested in music, singing, and songwriting, so I knew this is where I needed to be! I took my placement test and to my surprise, did well enough to be accepted into the school! The making of the moment was moving ahead!
I remember my first day of music class. Our classroom was located above the gym, of all places. I was excited and nervous at the same time, because the only music class I had ever known was my grammar school “once a week sing along and play various percussion instruments, badly”, class. I knew THIS was going to be a serious music class, and I was thrilled!
When we met Mrs. Frosch for the first time, I knew she was a great teacher. She was obviously extremely knowledgeable about music and singing, but also was not going to put up with a lot of horsing around! She was a tough cookie and I was glad!
I learned a lot about music during my freshman year and even more as a sophomore. As Sophomores, we were officially the Chapelle Chorus. I remember we got to wear the green robes for performances, which to me and I’m sure all the other girls, was a very big deal! We were moving up!
Then finally, when we became juniors, we joined forces with the seniors and officially became the Archbishop Chapelle Chorale… black dresses and all! We had made it…I had made it! We were the singing “stars” of the school!
By this time in our singing “careers” we had moved from the room above the gym, to what used to be the convent, aka, “the round building”, and we also knew Mrs. Frosch, very well. Not only could we read her Choral direction to a “T”, but we could read her as a teacher and a person, as well. We were a very close group… we spent a lot of time together working as a well oiled machine, with Mrs. Frosch at the controls. I can remember, many times, we’d be sitting on the risers at the beginning of class and everyone would be talking away, having a great time... my friend Barbara and I just sitting there looking at each other, just watching and waiting for it to happen, as Mrs. Frosch sat behind the piano, appearing to be calm and aloof to all the chatter…then it would come… the dreaded, yet classic piano “BANG!”, directly followed by the attention grabbing, “LADIES!!!!”. All talking would cease in an instant… It never failed to get our attention for the rest of class. Mrs. Frosch was brilliant, that way.
So, for the next two years, she continued to teach us and make us a better and better group of singers, appreciators of classical music, and most importantly, young women. As a result of Mrs. Frosch’s amazing skill, we went to State competition two years in a row and took superior ratings both times. I know she was very proud of her girls, and WE were proud of her! I know that I speak for every girl in Chorale when I say that we had such pride in her being our teacher. She was ours!
So, in 1986, we graduated, and for me, having to leave Chorale was bitter sweet. It was the most wonderful part of Chapelle. But all of this has led to the moment I was talking about earlier. Last night, April 22, 2013 a few of our 1986 girls, along with some other ‘80’s representatives came together to sing, once again, under the amazing direction of Mrs. Frosch! It was wonderful! For me it was like stepping back in time. Mrs. Frosch still commands attention and is still the same outstanding director she was when we were in school. None of that has changed! She began by warming us up with vocal exercises, just as she would do so many years ago… and what was so amazing to me was that no one skipped a beat… not Mrs. Frosch and not us. It was as if we had never left her class.
We practiced our song, “Hitch Your Dreams”, which we had all sung under her direction
in school, and we sounded amazing… all credit to Mrs. Frosch! After practice we all headed over to the gym, a place I had not been in since 1986…it was like stepping back in time. We all took a seat and the concert soon began. We watched the present music teacher direct her girls through various numbers, and they were wonderful! Watching them, I kept being brought back to when I was their age and standing on that stage under the direction of Mrs. Frosch… such truly wonderful memories!
Then came our turn… the alumnae would take the stage. We walked up and took our places on the risers, with all eyes glued on Mrs. Frosch…our leader. We began our song, and I have to say, I savored every moment we were up there. I can’t even explain in words how wonderful it was to be there in the gym with old Chorale members and our teacher, doing one more time what we worked so hard to do all those years ago. It’s a night I will always remember and cherish. The look on Mrs. Frosch’s face, when we finished our rendition of “Hitch Your Dreams”, seemed to be the same look she had when we would compete at district and state competitions… a look of, “that’s my girls”…a look of pride. That look means a lot to me and I know we gave her the same look because we could not be more proud of our teacher, Mrs. Frosch… then and now!
Maybe I am far too sentimental and nostalgic… maybe to a fault, I don’t know… but what I do know is that my years in Chorale with Mrs. Frosch meant more to me than I can express. Not only did she teach me the technical aspects of music theory and singing, but she taught me to appreciate discipline and hard work. She me taught me what it meant to be a team, and what good music is comprised of and how to perform it. She was a role model and mentor to me... and I know, to so many other girls as well. I am thankful to God for Mrs. Frosch and the days and years I was able to spend with her… and I am I thankful that they led to last night’s moment. A moment I will always, always treasure.
Mrs. Frosch, I wish you all the best in your retirement and want to sincerely thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for all you taught me and for putting up with me all those years ago! And thank you for including us, your girls, in your retirement celebration the way you did. It was an honor to be your student in the 80’s and again, last night! I know I speak for every Chorale member when I say… we love you with all of our hearts!
Songs of Joy - My Journey In Classical Voice
Friday, April 26, 2013
The Moment… A small piece of my experience as a member of the Chapelle Chorale
I’d like to share with you, a moment…a very special moment. Let me start by saying that I have very fond memories of my high school years at Archbishop Chapelle, with the fondest of all coming from my time in Chorale.
Last night, April 22, 2013, my high school had its annual spring concert, but what made it extra special this year, is that some of the Chorale Alumnae, from the 80’s, made a very special appearance. Yes, under the direction of our former music teacher/director, we sang again, to honor her, and her up coming retirement! I was amazed that having not sung together in nearly 30 plus years, and with only 30 minutes or so of rehearsal, we sounded amazing! This is a direct result of having such a wonderful and skilled teacher, all those years ago.
Getting back to, “The Moment”… My husband and I were talking about how great moments always have to start somewhere, and there is always going to be work involved. You won’t come by a memorably great moment by sitting around waiting for it to happen…you have to move!
I’d like to share with you how last nights moment began, for me. Back in November of 1981, my mom and I attended an Open House at Chapelle High School. I knew nothing about the school except that my aunt, who was an alum (Class of ’77), seemed to have had a wonderful time there, and knowing it was the best school in the area, it seemed like a given that I would go there, too.
At the Open House, we listened to different speakers talk about the wonderful aspects of the school, and the friends and memories to be made there. It was all very nice, but then it happened… the Chorale took the stage! I was mesmerized! As this group of singers was being lead and directed by their fearless leader, who I would later come to know as Mrs. Frosch, I knew that I had to be part of this elite group, as well! I grew up around opera singers, which included my parents, and had always been very interested in music, singing, and songwriting, so I knew this is where I needed to be! I took my placement test and to my surprise, did well enough to be accepted into the school! The making of the moment was moving ahead!
I remember my first day of music class. Our classroom was located above the gym, of all places. I was excited and nervous at the same time, because the only music class I had ever known was my grammar school “once a week sing along and play various percussion instruments, badly”, class. I knew THIS was going to be a serious music class, and I was thrilled!
When we met Mrs. Frosch for the first time, I knew she was a great teacher. She was obviously extremely knowledgeable about music and singing, but also was not going to put up with a lot of horsing around! She was a tough cookie and I was glad!
I learned a lot about music during my freshman year and even more as a sophomore. As Sophomores, we were officially the Chapelle Chorus. I remember we got to wear the green robes for performances, which to me and I’m sure all the other girls, was a very big deal! We were moving up!
Then finally, when we became juniors, we joined forces with the seniors and officially became the Archbishop Chapelle Chorale… black dresses and all! We had made it…I had made it! We were the singing “stars” of the school!
By this time in our singing “careers” we had moved from the room above the gym, to what used to be the convent, aka, “the round building”, and we also knew Mrs. Frosch, very well. Not only could we read her Choral direction to a “T”, but we could read her as a teacher and a person, as well. We were a very close group… we spent a lot of time together working as a well oiled machine, with Mrs. Frosch at the controls. I can remember, many times, we’d be sitting on the risers at the beginning of class and everyone would be talking away, having a great time... my friend Barbara and I just sitting there looking at each other, just watching and waiting for it to happen, as Mrs. Frosch sat behind the piano, appearing to be calm and aloof to all the chatter…then it would come… the dreaded, yet classic piano “BANG!”, directly followed by the attention grabbing, “LADIES!!!!”. All talking would cease in an instant… It never failed to get our attention for the rest of class. Mrs. Frosch was brilliant, that way.
So, for the next two years, she continued to teach us and make us a better and better group of singers, appreciators of classical music, and most importantly, young women. As a result of Mrs. Frosch’s amazing skill, we went to State competition two years in a row and took superior ratings both times. I know she was very proud of her girls, and WE were proud of her! I know that I speak for every girl in Chorale when I say that we had such pride in her being our teacher. She was ours!
So, in 1986, we graduated, and for me, having to leave Chorale was bitter sweet. It was the most wonderful part of Chapelle. But all of this has led to the moment I was talking about earlier. Last night, April 22, 2013 a few of our 1986 girls, along with some other ‘80’s representatives came together to sing, once again, under the amazing direction of Mrs. Frosch! It was wonderful! For me it was like stepping back in time. Mrs. Frosch still commands attention and is still the same outstanding director she was when we were in school. None of that has changed! She began by warming us up with vocal exercises, just as she would do so many years ago… and what was so amazing to me was that no one skipped a beat… not Mrs. Frosch and not us. It was as if we had never left her class.
We practiced our song, “Hitch Your Dreams”, which we had all sung under her direction
in school, and we sounded amazing… all credit to Mrs. Frosch! After practice we all headed over to the gym, a place I had not been in since 1986…it was like stepping back in time. We all took a seat and the concert soon began. We watched the present music teacher direct her girls through various numbers, and they were wonderful! Watching them, I kept being brought back to when I was their age and standing on that stage under the direction of Mrs. Frosch… such truly wonderful memories!
Then came our turn… the alumnae would take the stage. We walked up and took our places on the risers, with all eyes glued on Mrs. Frosch…our leader. We began our song, and I have to say, I savored every moment we were up there. I can’t even explain in words how wonderful it was to be there in the gym with old Chorale members and our teacher, doing one more time what we worked so hard to do all those years ago. It’s a night I will always remember and cherish. The look on Mrs. Frosch’s face, when we finished our rendition of “Hitch Your Dreams”, seemed to be the same look she had when we would compete at district and state competitions… a look of, “that’s my girls”…a look of pride. That look means a lot to me and I know we gave her the same look because we could not be more proud of our teacher, Mrs. Frosch… then and now!
Maybe I am far too sentimental and nostalgic… maybe to a fault, I don’t know… but what I do know is that my years in Chorale with Mrs. Frosch meant more to me than I can express. Not only did she teach me the technical aspects of music theory and singing, but she taught me to appreciate discipline and hard work. She me taught me what it meant to be a team, and what good music is comprised of and how to perform it. She was a role model and mentor to me... and I know, to so many other girls as well. I am thankful to God for Mrs. Frosch and the days and years I was able to spend with her… and I am I thankful that they led to last night’s moment. A moment I will always, always treasure.
Mrs. Frosch, I wish you all the best in your retirement and want to sincerely thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for all you taught me and for putting up with me all those years ago! And thank you for including us, your girls, in your retirement celebration the way you did. It was an honor to be your student in the 80’s and again, last night! I know I speak for every Chorale member when I say… we love you with all of our hearts!
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