Perhaps you saw this article in yesterday’s Business Courier, which says:
“Many musicians dream of performing at Carnegie Hall, America’s legendary concert hall in New York. This weekend, Cincinnati conductor and composer Howard Helvey will realize that dream when he leads members of the Choir of Calvary Episcopal Church and the Varsity Ensemble of Winton Woods High School in eight of his own works at Carnegie Hall. Helvey will lead a festival chorus of more than 150 singers – including the Cincinnati ensembles – in his music on March 15 in Stern Auditorium.”
Of course, that is not happening. I reached out to Howard to find out what happened.
He arrived in New York on Wednesday to work with collaborative pianists Brad Caldwell and William Averill for Sunday’s concert. Rehearsals with the combined choirs were to start on Friday morning. Some of the participating choral singers from Cincinnati were already in New York, and others were en route when Carnegie Hall announced its closure to the public.
“For a brief time, the potential of securing another venue was proposed, but ultimately the concert was completely canceled,” Helvey said.
About 60 singers from Cincinnati were to be involved in the production, presented by MidAmerica Productions. Many of the adults (from the Calvary Choir and connected friends) were already in New York.
The 40-plus high school student singers from Winton Woods were on a bus a little east of Harrisburg, PA when the cancellation was announced–and they were instructed to turn around and go back to Cincinnati. (Another 80-plus high school students from Arizona that were also participating were at the Phoenix airport about to check in for their flight when they received word about the cancellation.)
“It all happened so incredibly fast, and decisions had to be made quite quickly regarding travel plans,” Helvey said. “I was naturally disappointed, but mainly heartbroken thinking about all the young people who had worked so hard preparing for this trip during the last many months.”
There is a possibility the event might be rescheduled, but it will be complicated, he said.
Another local ensemble, Musica Sacra, directed by Brett Scott, was to have made its Carnegie Hall debut on March 23. Manhattan Concert Productions was presenting a triple-bill featuring the Masterwork Festival Chorus, New York City Chamber Orchestra, and soloists performing John Rutter’s popular cantata Gloria and Ériks Ešenvalds’ Trinity Te Deum. … Fauré’s Requiem was to be led by guest conductor L. Brett Scott.
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