CAS CONNECT 2015

7 I n only 20 minutes, 44 Oklahoma State University students realized a dream. The members of the OSU Concert Chorale performed at legendary Carnegie Hall in New York City in March 2015. OSU professor Z. Randall Stroope conducted the choir, which performed as part of the historic venue’s annual Masterworks Festival. He has conducted this festival for years, but 2015 was the first time OSU participated. Five universities from across the coun- try made up the festival choir, and OSU began the program with a 20-minute solo set. “I thought this time it would be lovely to bring an OSU group and do our own special thing,” Stroope says. Such a huge opportunity required a memorable piece to perform; Stroope selected Mozart’s “Coronation” Mass. “It is not an easy work by any means, but it is a very accessi- ble, uplifting work,” junior vocal education major Reagan Pool says. The trip took place over spring break, allowing the chorale ample practice time. Rehearsals, with five different ensembles from across the country, lasted several hours a day for three days. Stroope knew his students could handle the grind. “The core strength of this ensem- ble is its work ethic,” he says. “Their talent is very high, but the one thing that stands out to me is the work ethic is second to none. If they don’t get it in rehearsal the first time, you can bank on them getting it the second time.” Stroope takes his proud descrip- tion a step further. “As educators, we should mostly be about creating great individuals who happen to have this passion, yes, but no matter what they touch, they approach their life with purpose, meaning and the neces- sary work ethic to get whatever it is done.” Getting the trip to New York City done required creative funding from a collection of student contri- butions, ticket income from OSU’s annual “Messiah” concert, and the Doug & Nickie Burns Endowed Chair, held by Stroope. All of those sources allowed the chorale to perform in one of the great concert halls in the world. Stroope has conducted other ensem- bles in Carnegie many times and holds the venue in the highest regard. “In my view, Carnegie and Chicago Orchestra Hall are the two finest acoustics in the United States,” he says. “It is still iconic. Anyone on the street would readily know that Carnegie Hall is one of the finest performing arts centers in the United States.” Nick Chabot, a vocal music education major from Dallas, recognizes the significance of performing at Carnegie Hall: “It is a breathtaking and humbling expe- rience to be able to perform in a space like that.” The audience was appre- ciative and responsive, the applause for the 20-minute set overwhelming vocal music education junior Judith Prenzlow. “I might have shed a tear or two,” she says. “It was a very powerful experience.” Prenzlow, a Stillwater native, had performed at Carnegie Hall when she was still in high school. Did that previous expe- rience lessen the impact of perform- ing there? “Not at all,” she says enthusiasti- cally. “It’s amazing. In the rehearsal room, they have pictures of all these greats, like Yo-Yo Ma, and to know that we were being placed on the same pedestal, for want of a better word, was incredible.” The travelers did explore New York. Many attended Broadway plays or the Metropolitan Opera. Some simply took in the sites and did the things that tourists do. Energy from the city and the venue combined to give this group of OSU students an unforgettable experience. “It was our chance to say we are creating some seriously great music at OSU,” Chabot says. Brian Petrotta In Perfect Harmony ‘America’s Brightest Orange’ performs in America’s greatest concert hall Z. RANDALL STROOPE