perfect harmony

It’s always nice to return from Christmas vacation and find Lisa Pennington, Connie Tuttle, and Helen Coulson alive and sane.

They’re the shakers and movers behind the music for the wealth of holiday programs on the north end of the campus each year, and I have absolutely no idea how they find the time and energy to pull off such a daunting task so masterfully.

Collegiate’s version of the Superstar Concert Series   begins with the fall instrumental performance  in early November.  “That’s when the craziness starts,” says Tuttle, who directs the handbell choirs and plays the piano for all concerts as well as the Middle and Upper School Thanksgiving services.

Helen oversees Collegiate's instrumental program comprising 150 students and 11 private instructors including Pat Werrell, who teaches the winds players, serves as band director, and assists with the Upper School orchestra. Throughout the holiday season, they perform in various groups for such events as the Candy Cane Cafe and Holiday Boutique (both sponsored by the Parents' Association) as well as Lessons and Carols plus several off-campus, by-invitation-only engagements including "Music at Midday" at the Jefferson Hotel. 

All Lisa does is direct the nine different choral groups from grade level choruses in the Middle School to the Select Chorus to the Camerata (an ensemble within the larger Collegiate Chorus) to the Glee Club to the Penningtones, which is composed of Upper School boys whose focus is contemporary and pop music. She's responsible for the music for the Pageant and Lessons and Carols, by any standard a monumental undertaking.

Collegiate's instrumentalists and singers are in such demand that Helen and Lisa regularly receive requests for their students to perform in the community; their dilemma is sifting through the choices and determining which to accept and which to decline graciously. 

Attend any of the myriad performances, and you're left with one enduring impression: our various ensembles, both choral and instrumental, make beautiful music together. At their best, as always seems the case, our musicians and their mentors appear to lose themselves almost Zen-like in the effort as the parts blend so cohesively to create a beautiful synchronicity. Through untold hours of planning and rehearsals wedged among their many other responsibilities, they somehow reach a point as close to perfection as high school students can attain. So how do they pull it off?

"Honestly, I take it one day at a time," said Lisa, who's in her 12th year at Collegiate. "Jrest as much as I can when I'm not teaching. And organization is a big key. I usually take Thanksgiving break to plan out the next few weeks. When I look back and realize just how much we've accomplished during this time frame (between Thanksgiving and Christmas), it amazes and overwhelms me at the same time."

Because Connie, Helen, and Lisa are true professionals, they know very well how the finished products should look. They expect nothing short of excellence, and they and their students always seem to rise to the occasion. 

"In order to get a good product," said Helen, "everyone needs to earn an A." And then there's the happy medium between being prepared and not worrying, an interesting dichotomy when you often have just one opportunity to display our talents before moving on to the next performance. "There's never enough rehearsal time," said Connie, "but we'd feel like we didn't have enough time even if we rehearsed every day. It all gets done." 

For the last couple of weeks, they've had some time to decompress, but the concert series continues shortly. The Winter Choral Concert takes place on Wed., Jan. 9, just three school days after we return. On the lath, the 5th grade boys and girls choruses perform in the Lower School, the next day all the Middle School choral groups will perform at a 5-8 assembly, and on the 14th the 6th grade chorus will do a gig at Lakewood Manor. On January 24 in Oates Theater, the Upper School strings, the jazz band, and the Upper School flute ensemble will perform "An Evening of Chamber Music." Then, on the 30th, the Collegiate orchestra will perform in the Lower School. 

Somehow, the musicians will go to class, take their exams, compete on athletic teams, try to have a life. But when the curtain rises, they'll bring their A-game. Trust me.