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Hi all,
I'm going to take tonight's obvious opportunity to segue from the speech of our U.S. President to reflecting on the speech by our own FCO President, Bryan Gonzalez, at this week's rehearsal! As you remember, Bryan announced that next season will be his 8th and final year as president of our choir. He had announced that decision at a board meeting earlier this year, and I must tell you that we were unanimously glad for him!
It's been our unwritten custom that the FCO President serve two years, preferably having served first as Vice-President in order to get an idea of what the presidency involves. That has worked pretty well over our 45 years of existence, with a few exceptions. No former President has served for 8 years—not even close!
A bit of math can show you that just as Bryan was nearing the end of what should have been the standard term, COVID hit. A lesser leader would have ducked and run, since every choir's very existence was in peril then: singing was known to be the most efficient way of spreading the virus. I will never forget the Tuesday night in early March 2020 when Bryan informed me (not asked) that that night would be our last rehearsal for the foreseeable future. What a gut punch! We were just a few weeks away from our scheduled performance of Schubert's Mass No. 6 in E-flat Major, so of course I tried to talk him into letting us keep going through that concert. Good thing that he is not only strong-willed but also employed by the state, so was informed about COVID long before the general public got the whole picture! Other groups that went on meeting actually lost people.
Bryan was at the helm of our choir right on through the whole course of those terrible years, as we found ways to feel connected as a group (remember sing-alongs, game nights, and watch parties over Zoom?), leading long and difficult board meetings as we kept trying to decide what to do. As you know, we came out on the other side and have finally managed to climb back to a new normal. I absolutely credit Bryan for our survival. He willingly offered to stay in the leadership role far beyond our mere resumption of concert seasons, wanting to be sure safeguards are in place and many improvements have been made to keep us in the very strong fiscal shape we're in.
Over all of these past years he has gone over and above what might be expected, and has given untold hours for the benefit of FCO. And even now as he prepares to settle back into the role of singer, we offer our gratitude for his amazing gifts. Please know that future job leaders will find the job easier through the guidelines and habits he's instilled in board work. He's absolutely the reason our board has had such stable membership: it has been a worthwhile place to serve.
As we look for new leadership over the coming season, I hope that people will step forward to help with the rewarding work ahead. There may be other turnover besides the position of President, but the various roles will be made clear. Those new to the Board always say they had no idea how much was involved in preparing and presenting concerts: it's as if you step inside a clock in motion, with all of its steadily functioning parts—all of which have been invisible. But I believe that all our board members find their work rewarding and worthwhile, preparing super concerts! We're also lucky that three former presidents have continued to sing with the group: tenor Rebekah Wozniak (1999-2003), alto Trudy McKinnell (2003-2005), and soprano Anita Blanchard (2005-2006). Each of them certainly faced challenges of many kinds, but I think they'd all agree that a global pandemic tops the list.
Looking forward to the fun we'll have next Tuesday improving these choruses:
- Eia Mater p.38
- Fac ut ardeat cor meum p.46
- Tui nati vulnerati p.53
And check out the new YouTube recording listed below featuring the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. Bonnie Hiller Fullerton shared this fine example of the kind of text treatment we're aiming for. Bonnie especially recommends the Virgo Virginum movement!
Take care,
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