Bach and Blue
June/22/2024
This week, I returned to Decatur, Illinois for a Residency at the Five City Baroque Festival. Now, some of you are probably surprised that I'm taking on Baroque music at this time of my career. I have never sung Bach as a soloist but will sing the role of Jesus in the "St. John's Passion" tonight. It has been a great week of taking on something new, teaching, and just being back in Decatur. Decatur is also the home of my undergraduate alma mater, Millikin Univeristy (home of the Big Blue). This is also where my wife and I met and were married so many years ago.
It is always great to visit areas from your past. However, sometimes seeing the changes is difficult as well. A favorite restaurant may be missing or somebody put up a stop sign where it just shouldn't be. But, for the most part, things are very much the same. And, to me, that's a very good thing.
I'll be headed up to Eureka, Illinois tomorrow for a very special event. Five of us, all former students of Jack and Linda Schepper, will gather to put on a memorial recital in honor of our teachers who both passed away over the past few years. They had such a profound and lasting impact on so many people in Central Illinois. Jack and Linda were HIGHLY influential in me coming to Decatur as a college student as Millikin was their alma mater as well. I'm really looking forward to the performance tomorrow where I will sing some old favorites (no opera) and be reunited with old friends.
Millikin is a special place. I had a bit of a falling out with the University a few years back but am hoping amends can be made. It has educated so many musicians who are performing all over the world. A small school with incredible facilities, it is a leading liberal arts college that has done much good. May it always be so.
The first time I came to Decatur was in 1972. I was part of the Junior High School Band of America and Decatur was "home base". I was a tuba player. We rehearsed here and then headed out on tour before returning for our final concert. The location of that concert was the Masonic Temple which is basically next door to where the Bach concert takes places this evening. It is amazing how things come full circle…and, I'm glad that music has so often been the center of it.
Five years later, I returned to Millikin as a Music Major (Tuba). I gave up the tuba (for the most part and after years of playing) during the first week or so and took on vocal studies. Once I heard the Millikin Choir, I knew I just had to sing. I was also soon, thereafter, cast in my first opera (The Marriage of Figaro). I was so green. I had never seen an opera. Actually, I didn't see an opera until I was in two or three. I remember, during my first month at Millikin my teacher, Jocelyn Reiter, gave me the fairly simple Italian piece, "Caro mio ben" to learn. She also wanted me to visit The University of Illinois (about 40 miles away) to hear a tenor who was coming to give a recital. She was hoping her young student would become more and more inspired to sing. So, I went to the concert. When I got to the Great Hall at The Krannert Center, I was amazed at the beauty and size of the auditorium. But, when I picked up my program and opened it, I was shocked that the first thing on the recital was "Caro min ben". I thought, what kind of a putz is this who is singing one of my earliest learned songs. Well, let me assure you, Luciano Pavarotti gave a tremendous recital that day. Fortunately, I was able to go on and sing with the great Maestro many times. But, this kid from a small farm town got a great education that day.
Oh, and lest you think that all of those years playing the tuba went for nought….my son took up playing the tuba and now has a master's degree in tuba performance. Jack and Linda Schepper's influenced lives in so many ways. Again, the circle remains unbroken.
It is always great to visit areas from your past. However, sometimes seeing the changes is difficult as well. A favorite restaurant may be missing or somebody put up a stop sign where it just shouldn't be. But, for the most part, things are very much the same. And, to me, that's a very good thing.
I'll be headed up to Eureka, Illinois tomorrow for a very special event. Five of us, all former students of Jack and Linda Schepper, will gather to put on a memorial recital in honor of our teachers who both passed away over the past few years. They had such a profound and lasting impact on so many people in Central Illinois. Jack and Linda were HIGHLY influential in me coming to Decatur as a college student as Millikin was their alma mater as well. I'm really looking forward to the performance tomorrow where I will sing some old favorites (no opera) and be reunited with old friends.
Millikin is a special place. I had a bit of a falling out with the University a few years back but am hoping amends can be made. It has educated so many musicians who are performing all over the world. A small school with incredible facilities, it is a leading liberal arts college that has done much good. May it always be so.
The first time I came to Decatur was in 1972. I was part of the Junior High School Band of America and Decatur was "home base". I was a tuba player. We rehearsed here and then headed out on tour before returning for our final concert. The location of that concert was the Masonic Temple which is basically next door to where the Bach concert takes places this evening. It is amazing how things come full circle…and, I'm glad that music has so often been the center of it.
Five years later, I returned to Millikin as a Music Major (Tuba). I gave up the tuba (for the most part and after years of playing) during the first week or so and took on vocal studies. Once I heard the Millikin Choir, I knew I just had to sing. I was also soon, thereafter, cast in my first opera (The Marriage of Figaro). I was so green. I had never seen an opera. Actually, I didn't see an opera until I was in two or three. I remember, during my first month at Millikin my teacher, Jocelyn Reiter, gave me the fairly simple Italian piece, "Caro mio ben" to learn. She also wanted me to visit The University of Illinois (about 40 miles away) to hear a tenor who was coming to give a recital. She was hoping her young student would become more and more inspired to sing. So, I went to the concert. When I got to the Great Hall at The Krannert Center, I was amazed at the beauty and size of the auditorium. But, when I picked up my program and opened it, I was shocked that the first thing on the recital was "Caro min ben". I thought, what kind of a putz is this who is singing one of my earliest learned songs. Well, let me assure you, Luciano Pavarotti gave a tremendous recital that day. Fortunately, I was able to go on and sing with the great Maestro many times. But, this kid from a small farm town got a great education that day.
Oh, and lest you think that all of those years playing the tuba went for nought….my son took up playing the tuba and now has a master's degree in tuba performance. Jack and Linda Schepper's influenced lives in so many ways. Again, the circle remains unbroken.