Lincoln-Way Area Chorale performs at Carnegie Hall

NEW LENOX – Almost a year ago, Gregory Day received an email inviting him and his chorale to perform Nov. 27 at Carnegie Hall in New York.

And Day, the artistic director for the Lincoln-Way Area Chorale, almost deleted it.

“To be quite honest, I thought it was a piece of junk mail,” said Day, of New Lenox. “Then I noticed that it said they would try to call me. I thought, ‘OK, I’ll wait and see if I get a phone call.’ ”

Day did, just before New Year’s Day, he said. The caller represented Distinguished Concerts International New York. Its selection team had listened to portions of the LWAC’s rendition of Handel’s “Messiah,” which it presented in 2013.

“I didn’t realize it, but after that concert we became nationally recognized,” Day said.

According to Day, the caller said, “We were just blown away. You’re the choir we want to help us out, and you would be a core choir.”

In mid-January, Day received a letter from Dr. Jonathan Griffith, DCINY artistic director and principal conductor, formally inviting the LWAC to take part in DCINY’s sixth annual performance of “Messiah ... Refreshed!” on Nov. 27 at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage.

According to a news release from DCINY, the performance featured an international choir comprised of 16 participating ensembles and performers from multiple countries and continents, including Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Poland and Canada, as well as soloists from the Metropolitan Opera and the award-winning Distinguished Concerts Orchestra led by maestro Jonathan Griffith.

“You can count on one hand the number of chorales from the Chicago area that ever had this opportunity, so I would say we’re in good company,” Day said.

Making a dream come true

But agreeing to the invitation meant overcoming several hurdles. For one, at least 72 of the 108 members needed to commit to the program – with an equal representation of parts.

“We couldn’t have 50 people going and 35 of them are sopranos,” Day said. “And people have jobs and finances they worry about.”

Which led to point No. 2: Committing members had to pay their way and agree to help raise the performance fee of $700 a member. Point No. 3 was promising to attend extra rehearsals.

“I remember telling my wife, ‘No way is this going to happen, fulfilling all three of those criteria,’ ” Day said. “Well, it did happen.”

Seventy-five chorale members participated. They set a fundraising goal of $50,000 and raised $35,000 through selling flowers for Mother’s Day in May, a country club gala in June, a dueling pianos event between Day and LWAC’s accompanist Jason Randall in July and a barbecue cook-off in August.

“Those not going were not required to help [fundraise],” Day said, “but many of them did it anyway.”

Jackie Pletsch of Frankfort headed up the fundraising. Pletsch, a lifelong singer who sang with the madrigals at Lincoln-Way Central High School in New Lenox in 1989 and 1990 and joined the LWAC in 2009, said she wanted to ensure everyone who wanted to participate could, “especially during the holidays.”

“To sing at a place like Carnegie Hall is a dream,” Pletsch said. “It’s like hitting a home run at Wrigley Field.”

And then it happened

Most LWAC members flew to New York either on the day before Thanksgiving or Thanksgiving Day. The singers rehearsed all day Friday and Saturday; a dress rehearsal was held Sunday morning, Day said.

Not until Day walked onto the stage did the magnitude of the opportunity “hit him square in the eyes.”

“The gentleman next to me was from Quebec City, Canada,” Day said. “He did not speak a word of English – he spoke French exclusively – but he knew the English pronunciation for the entire ‘Messiah’ beautifully. A gentleman behind me was from Japan. Another small group came from China and one from Great Britain – literally all over the world.”

Pletsch, a soprano, said the experience “took her breath away.”

“I started to cry and then thought, ‘I can’t cry. I have to sing,’ ” Pletsch said.

Ken Reed of Frankfort, a bass, participated, as did his wife, Marianna Reed, an alto. Ken said he now has performed on two of the greatest stages in the world. When Ken was in college 50 years ago he did a stint with the Purdue Marching Band at Radio City Music Hall.

He can’t believe he’s now sung at Carnegie Hall, too.

“It doesn’t get better than that,” Ken said.

The performance was live-streamed via DCINY’s Facebook page, Day said.

Day said the chorale has since received numerous invitations to sing at various concerts around the world. Although such invitations may be considered on an event-by-event basis, Day is firm about one thing.

“Our first loyalty and our first responsibility is to our community right here,” Day said. “No matter what the opportunity or where in the future, our first loyalty is to the Lincoln-Way community. I can’t say how strongly I feel about that.”

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For information about the Lincoln-Way Area Chorale, visit lwac.com. To hear LWAC singing Handel's "Hallelujah" chorus, visit http://shawurl.com/2ycy.