Homecoming 2005 – 60th Choir Reunion
October 7–9, 2005

2005 Homecoming Choir Reunion Recap:
Another Song of Love and Inspiration
By June Amoss Karschner ’60
November 6, 2005

Ten years have come and gone—another song to be sung!
Another time to listen as the schoolbell has rung!
Time for choir alums to gather for a celebration in tune.
Let’s deliberate on 60 years of singing very soon.
While we rehearse for another song of love and inspiration.

What a marvelous quality is the ability to remember! The gathering of choir alums to celebrate 50 years of choral music at Lycoming College was still vivid while I reminisced about the schedule of events culminating in that special occasion on May 4, 1996. It seemed like such a brief period of time since we had raised our voices in song; yet, ten years had faded into the past. Once again, we came together to commemorate another milestone – 60 years of choral music at Lycoming!

What promised to be an exciting weekend of making music and entertainment began on Friday, October 7, 2005, as alums greeted one another at Clarke Chapel to complete the process of registration and to prepare for rehearsal. Amidst all the chatter and enthusiasm, we could “glance back” to our college days when daily practices in the Chapel involved considerable warming up to tune our voices for those important concerts.

A misty rain did not dampen the spirits of our singers on Saturday morning as we assembled eagerly for a rehearsal at the Mary Lindsay Welch Honors Hall, Lycoming’s new recital/ministry building. Soon, I recognized some familiar faces of the 1957 England Choir – Marge Kramer ’57, Jean Thompson ’58, Kay Stenger Huffman ’60, Mary Hoffman Bower ’60 Dale Bower ’59, and Marianna Ciraulo-Eisenberg ’57. Greetings were then shared with Sue Bingaman McCormick, a fellow classmate of 1960, and with Nancy Hall Gieniec ’59
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Dr. Fred Thayer, current director of the Choir, had selected Joseph Haydn’s “The Heavens Are Telling” from The Creation and Richard Lakey’s “I Lift Up My Eyes,” Psalm 21, as the two major works to be sung on Sunday morning. We felt honored to be accompanied by Richard Lakey during practices and also at the concert. Just as Walter McIver had instructed us to do, so Fred Thayer, too, reminded us of our commitment to listen to one another and to sing together. That is a special part of the bond uniting the Lycoming College Choir.

All alums were grateful for the competent assistance of members of the current choir and delighted by the performance of the Lycoming Chamber Choir, thus finalizing the morning’s rehearsal. Everyone then welcomed a visit by President James Douthat, who related pertinent facts about the Honors Hall, which has quite an unusual history: built in 1884 for the German Turn-Verein Social Club, Faith Tabernacle congregation later used it as a church for a number of years.

We learned from Dr. Douthat that Dr. and Mrs. Marshall Welch gave a gift to help restore the brick exterior and the cathedral-style windows. Gradually, the interior, as we could see, was renovated to make it functional, resulting in a blending of the old and the new to provide pleasant surroundings for the pursuit of musical activities.

At this point in our Homecoming agenda, we were waiting to practice our National Anthem, but Dr. Thayer announced that the rainy weather had prompted him to cancel our performance before the football game and that Molly Costello was ready to film our group. I was somewhat surprised when I glanced up at the balcony, as Molly proceeded to snap a picture of the entire group with her digital camera.

The afternoon provided a brief respite to refresh ourselves for a banquet at the Scottish Rite Great Banquet Hall, a spacious facility that did accommodate about a hundred choir alumni. Congregating at 6:15 p.m. on the upper floor gave us another opportunity to chat informally before moving downstairs to the dining area. Martha Getman Zanker ’57, another 1957 England choir member, was on hand to greet friends.

A buffet, with an assortment of entrees and desserts, was enjoyed by all, affording everyone time to relish food and to socialize in a leisurely way before the program began. Emcee Dale Bower ’59 introduced the participants, who each performed in a manner worthy of commendation. The order of presentations was prepared by John Shorb ’76, yielding a balance of speakers and singers, all performing on various themes.

Speakers included Melanie Harris Taormina ’94, Director of Alumni Programs; Cindy Bell ’82; and Marianna Ciraulo-Eisenberg ’57. The singers were Missy Marsland ’73; Tim Oliver ’94; and Kevin Speicher ’99, who also played the guitar. We were all appreciative of the way in which these former students have cultivated skills developed while at Lycoming College.

Present in the audience were officers of the current choir, intent upon welcoming those in attendance, along with James Sheaffer and Mary Landon Russell, both of whom have demonstrated an outstanding level of musicianship at Lycoming for many a year! To add a touch of the unusual to the scene, two alumni from the 1940s, Max Harbach ’47 and Phyllis Harbach ’46, were also present.

It is no secret that Jennica Musselman ’98 has done a superb job in creating and maintaining the Lycoming Choir’s website and the choir alumni website. As a result of her endeavors, she has prepared a professional video of the choir’s history. Spanning the entire history of the choir from 1946 to 2005, the photo presentation was a delight to see, particularly for me as I could reminisce about being part of the 1957 England Choir—the first choral group to represent the College in a goodwill tour of another country. As scene upon scene appeared upon the screen, many members cheered amidst sounds of laughter, while recognizing familiar incidents of trips, during concerts, or in some other choir activity. We are grateful to Jennica for recapturing our history in this memorable reproduction.

With the excitement of the evening celebration still permeating our very beings, choir alums were preparing for the final phase of the Choir Homecoming—the concert on Sunday morning at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church—the moment for which we had practiced. What a thrilling experience to gather for rehearsal and then take our places in the sanctuary of such a magnificent house of worship! Truly it was an inspiration to sing in the front pews, facing the congregation, who sat in the rear section of the sanctuary.

Throughout the order of worship at the 10:30 a.m. service, our choir presented the two major selections, “The Heavens Are Telling” and “I Lift Up My Eyes,” along with “Beautiful Savior” and “Let Us Break Bread.” Surely, in this setting, our hearts were in tune with our voices, lifted up in exultation to sing our very best! It was the spirit of performing together that motivated us to rise to the occasion!

Singing the Benediction has always been a tradition at choir functions, and so it was at the closing of the service that Sunday morning. Our Choir Homecoming had ended on a note of joy and gladness, followed by words of commendation from Dr. Thayer. Farewells were touching, signifying sadness but perhaps a little euphoria at the moments of departure.

The 60-year celebration of the Lycoming College Choir is now an event steeped in history – an opportunity to remember and reflect about our time spent at Lycoming, and particularly the growth we encountered as members of the Choir. On the evening of the banquet, Cindy Bell had alluded to many fine experiences shaping her life since gradation; yet, not one of those could compare with the life-changing feelings associated with being a member of the Lycoming College Choir.

Experiences become more meaningful with the passing of time! How true this is when I ponder on some words spoken by a man who said, “People, you will remember this adventure. Don’t allow yourselves to become annoyed with one another. You may never have this opportunity again.” That message was given by Walter McIver to the 1957 Choir while touring England.

The experience of sharing the Choir Homecoming with other choir alumni will also become more meaningful with the passing of time because we can remember the efforts of two outstanding composers and musicians, Fred Thayer and Richard Lakey. Dr. Thayer had remarked to me that his relationship with Richard Lakey as a professional colleague could be compared to that of Walter McIver and Mary Russell – he at the helm and she by the piano. The quality of the musical programs at Lycoming has been enhanced greatly by the contributions of all four performers, each working harmoniously with dedication.

As Director of Music and Organist at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Richard Lakey is Instructor of Song at the College, as well as Accompanist for the Lycoming College Choir. His background and credentials have lent credence to the level of excellence exemplified by the Choir. We shall remember his composition sung by our choral group in celebrating yet another song of love and inspiration.