Trinity UMC choir to sing at Carnegie

By Paul Huggins
DAILY Staff Writer
mailto:phuggins@decaturdaily.com· 340-2395

TRINITY — Hallelujah!

That's the jubilant chorus you'll hear from the Trinity United Methodist Church choir even when they're not singing.

The 30-member group from the small church has an invitation from MidAmerica Productions to sing on the nation's premier musical stage, Carnegie Hall in New York City, accompanying the New England Symphony. One of the world's foremost conductors, John Rutter, will direct the concert.

Trinity Music Director Ray Phillips said initially he was sure the invitation was a hoax.

"Matter of fact I checked the Better Business Bureau, mainly because I never heard of MidAmerica," he said. "I figured this was some type of scam. Somebody wanted to get our money."

His research, however, showed MidAmerica is the largest independent producer of concerts at Carnegie Hall and has been at it for 23 years.

MidAmerica wants Trinity to help it perform its annual Christmas production of Handel's Messiah on Nov. 26. The concert typically sells out the historic 2,804-seat hall.

The choir will sing eight songs with at least six other groups from across the country in what will become a chorus of 180 to 200 voices.

"It's kind of humbling," Philips said. "Everyone who is anyone in the entertainment business, their hopes and dreams were to finally perform at Carnegie Hall. Up until then, they didn't feel like they arrived."

Candace Wicke, conductor in residence at MidAmerica and one of the concert series organizers, affirmed the invitation is a rare honor, especially for a small town church with 165 members.

"It is not as common an occurrence as a large church from a large town that has a larger program . . . and it speaks well of Ray's initiative and what he's been able to accomplish there," she said.

To perform with MidAmerica at Carnegie, a choir must have the recommendation from an expert in the field, or by one of the more than 100 guest conductors who have appeared in the concert series. Otherwise ensembles must submit an audition recording.

An unknown expert recommended Trinity. The company does not have access to the information because it's in the middle of transferring databases.

Wicke said MidAmerica has an obligation to maintain the standards of Carnegie Hall, and she explained getting chosen has a lot to do with musical foundation and vision directors instill in their choirs. MidAmerica also requires directors to have organizational skills to plan the five-day trip and participate in rehearsals.

After arriving in New York, Trinity will have two 3-hour practice sessions and a dress rehearsal in Carnegie Hall. The choir will have free time each night to tour the city and after the concert will receive a special midnight cruise around lower Manhattan with dancing music and a buffet.

Wicke said combining chorus groups from around the world is part of MidAmerica's mission, and the results are "a phenomenal exchange of not only talent but also culture and experiences."

She added that while MidAmerica uses a wide range of choruses, church choirs play a vital role.

"Our western music as we know it today is directly related to the history of the church, and it's very important to have Ray Phillips and church choir directors that understand the integration of faith, worship and how it relates to great music. And more and more those things have a tendency to not be combined," she said.

Sixteen of Trinity's 30 choir members chose to travel to New York. Though some can afford it, Phillips said the church must raise $37,000 by September so all 16 can go. The choir has organized a couple of fundraisers and requests sponsors from the community.

On March 11, the choir will have a Songfest at the church on North Seneca Drive. The come-and-go event will feature 2½ hours of music and offer attendees a chance to donate to the trip. The church will have a yard sale April 29, and more fundraising activities throughout the year.

Anyone who wishes to help can call Phillips at 353-8213 or 227-5998.

Phillips said he believes divine intervention has set up the trip and while he wants his choir to enjoy itself, he hopes they will use the time to be a Christian witness.

"I don't know if other choirs are Christian," he said. "So I think the most important part is we can take a handful of people from a small church in a small town and be a Christian witness to others, who might not know the Lord like we do."

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