HGC Foundation

Hello All!

Happy to report back in with more tales from the Glee Club's 150th Anniversary Celebration Tour!  I would have sent an update sooner, but you will quickly see what the hold-up was in the details below.  Before that, however, I would encourage everyone to take a look at the many photographs we had taken from LA at:

http://www.salemphoto.com/mp_client/pictures_welcome.asp?categories=no&keywords2=no&eventid=130311

The trip to LA - during which I emailed previously - turned out to be a rather quiet affair through the valleys of California.  We managed to leave one member behind at a rest stop when those around him conveniently forgot his existence, but swung back through to pick him up shortly thereafter.  Upon arrival the majority of HGC was able to go home with hosts, but HGC Lite was lucky enough to have a charity concert to perform that evening. 

Despite the rough travel-concert timing, our shared performance with (of all things) the Elm City Girls Choir of New Haven was extremely well received.  They were unbelievably talented and sang a very moving and serious set of music from Renaissance motets to shape-note hymns.    Unfortunately, after the long bus ride, three of our members had fevers by our performance.  They were easy to spot twenty minutes into our performance, however, when my Advil kicked in for them and their fevers broke...  Despite all this, Lite held its own and even had to make up an encore on the spot simply to keep pace.

The following day was a free and relaxation day for the entire Glee Club.  Remarkably, it seems like everyone used it for just that.  Jim was on the radio three times and HGC found itself in six or so different newspapers in preparation for the concert - fortunately all were flattering and free of any Yalie sabotage.  A few of us went to the Zuma beach at Malibu, some went to Hollywood, several went to a concert by the Gay Men's Chorus of LA, and many went to a showing of the new movie "Wall-E" at some point during the day.  Believe me when I say that the sound effects from the movie are no longer cute when repeated by 50 HGC members in a small space, repeatedly.

Saturday was the big day for HGC.  After a free morning, we all met for a hefty lunch of Korean BBQ near downtown in LA.  A short ride later, we were at Walt Disney Concert Hall (WDCH) and getting ourselves settled in for the performance.  The acoustic was as fabulous as advertised - remarkably clear for picking out parts yet very warm and welcoming.  In other words, it was perfect for HGC.  The Argento sounded remarkable in the space and went so well in rehearsal that Jim decided to perform all three parts in the concert.

We had a quick break for dinner and to get changed before call, then had photos taken for future publicity (a very important consideration in this concert).  After that, the group got itself ready for the performance and - after hearing well-wishes from LA's mayor - went out on stage to find a very full and enthusiastic audience.  In a word, the concert was wonderful.  We have an "archival" recording that will soon be serving as "archives" for all HGC members and will certainly be available (for free download) to interested alumni.  The audience numbered somewhere in the 1200 range and really looked and felt great.

The only thing that could make the concert better was a nice reception, and fortunately the Harvard Club of Southern California really came through on that.  It was in a gorgeous courtyard just across the street from the hall and featured much good cheer, talking, and a good deal of snacking and drinking by the Glee Club.  It was fantastic to see so many alumni of HGC in attendance, and there were a good number of pictures taken for posterity sake.

After saying thank you to our hosts and audience members, however, I quickly became far less popular in HGC and started loading them into cabs for our AM departure from LAX.  I will not bore anyone with details from our 4 hours in LAX or the horrendous experience of flying out of that airport, but let it be known that everyone in the group appreciated downtime and sleeping upon our arrival in lovely Kansas City.

We are actually now on our way out of Kansas City, but as we just finished the concert I am going to take some more time to collect my thoughts.  It was another terrific concert with a sold-out audience... but more of that tomorrow!

Best Wishes,
Kelby