Darke County Senior Scribes
Our Carnegie Hall Trip
By Delbert Blickenstaff 

We could see Times Square looking out our window on the 19th. floor of the Crown Plaza Hotel on 49th. and Broadway.  We were there to prepare for a concert in Carnegie Hall.  As a former member of the Manchester College A Cappella Choir I was invited to join the 2001 Choir, and about six other choirs from across the country, to present a concert.  I decided that I wouldn’t get another invitation to sing in Carnegie Hall, so I accepted. 

In 1946 Professor Clyde Holsinger started the A Cappella Choir at M.C.  I was a senior and was privileged to be in it.  The choir has continued to this day under several directors.  The present director is Professor Debra Lynn, and she was in charge of the trip to NYC in 2001. 

Our trip started on May 20th. and Louise went along for the ride and the fun.  We drove to North Manchester, IN, and stayed over night in Helman Hall on the campus.  I had made arrangements for us to ride on the big tour bus with the 40 choir members, and they made the trip very enjoyable.  Debra had advised them that if they did not behave they would be put on a bus and sent home at their own expense.  They behaved. 

We made four stops along the way: Massilon, Eastville, and Lancaster in Ohio, and Hershey, PA.  Various Churches of the Brethren congregations had made arrangements for us to stay overnight with their members.  We were always comfortable and well fed.  On May 23rd. Louise and I stayed with her nephew, Dean Rust, and his wife Shirley. 

We arrived at the Crown Plaza Hotel in the afternoon of May 25th., and spent the rest of the day getting oriented and visiting with college friends.  On the next day the choirs met the director, John Rutter, for the first time.  I was impressed.  We 300 choir members were getting acquainted, all talking at the same time.  John Rutter walked on stage and didn’t say a word.  He sat on a stool and waited for us to quiet down.  Then he explained how he was going conduct the rehearsal of his number, “Gloria.” 

The next day was Sunday and the choirs rehearsed in the morning.  In the PM Louise and I went to a Broadway play, “The Dinner Party” by Neil Simon, and starring Henry Winkler and John Ritter. 

The next morning we were awakened by a malfunctioning smoke detector.  It was repaired.  In the PM we dressed for the concert (I had borrowed a tux) and we walked to Carnegie Hall in beautiful weather.  The 300 voice combined choir performed well on the “Gloria” number, and with orchestral accompaniment really did sound different in that famous hall.  The M.C. A Cappella Choir did well on their numbers and received many compliments.  Louise’s favorite was “Sing Me To Heaven.” 

After the concert the entire group was bussed to the waterfront for a big dinner and a boat ride around Manhattan Island.  When we were boarding our bus I heard someone call my name.  It was my niece, Nancy, and her daughter who had attended the concert.  We had a nice but brief visit.  When I climbed on the bus I heard someone ask “Where’s Delbert?”  Another person answered “He’s out there kissing all the girls good bye.”  (I wish.) 

The dinner was sumptuous and lasted until early AM.  I celebrated with some champagne while Louise had 7-up.  We got back to the hotel and to bed by 2 AM. 

After 4 hours of sleep the M. C. crowd started its bus trip back to Indiana.  During the ride Debra shared a letter from John Rutter congratulating her and the choir.  I thanked her and the choir for allowing Louise and me to be a part of their memorable trip. 

Delbert Blickenstaff, M.D.