Choir sets sights on Carnegie Hall

Nicholls State Concert Choir hopes to shine on one of the oldest stages in America.

Since 1891, 881 7th Ave has been a hallowed destination for musicians, activists, geniuses and their audiences to experience one of the most revered concert halls in the world. The address is that of Carnegie Hall in New York, NY, and in May of 2018, the members of Nicholls Concert Choir hopes to leave their mark on a stage that has hosted its fair share of famous personas.

Dr. Kenneth Klaus, Director of Choral Activities at Nicholls State, who is no stranger to performing in Carnegie Hall, is just as excited for his fourth performance as he was for his first. After performing in 2005, ’07, and ’09, Dr. Klaus looks forward to making the trip to New York, which will be his first as the conductor of the performance.

“It’s an experience like no other…you have the history of performing on that stage…they talk about the ghosts of Carnegie Hall.” Klaus said.

A few of these “ghosts” are renowned composers such as George Gershwin and Igor Stravinsky, and famous musicians like Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Frank Sinatra, Bob Dylan and even The Beatles. Influential people such as world leaders Winston Churchill and Theodore Roosevelt, and other important historical figures like Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King Jr. and Ernest Hemingway.

The choir itself is buzzing with excitement for the opportunity to perform in arguably the greatest concert hall in the world.

“People I have spoken with are very excited. I’ve got a whole bunch of new students coming in this semester…I would not see any reason for them not to be excited.” says Dr. Klaus. He believes that performing in Carnegie Hall is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and to have done it three times previously is a feat few have achieved.

“I’m excited about it, and I’ve done it three times before. Not being able to conduct, but that is an entirely different level of excitement.”

The only hindrance the choir may run into is the task of raising the funds to make the trip to New York. With the state adjusting budgets across the board, the university is having a difficult time producing the funds to send the choir to Carnegie Hall. Dr. Klaus hopes that people can see the opportunity that the students in the choir have in this trip, and that they may be willing to help out any way that they can.

“Because it’s something really, really special, I’m hoping that folks in the area…will do so.” says Dr. Klaus.

Dr. Klaus believes that with the help of the university, and help from donors within the community and surrounding areas, both he and the choir will be able to make the trip to Carnegie Hall.

On Saturday, May 26, 2018, Dr. Klaus will be conducting the Nicholls Concert Choir, along with the New England Symphonic Ensemble, a professional orchestra, in a performance of Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem.

“It is a drop dead gorgeous piece of music.,” says Dr. Klaus, who has conducted this piece before, but has never conducted Requiem with a professional orchestra. Performing with the orchestra allows the audience to experience the piece with all of its components as opposed to just the choir or orchestra alone. The performance will be held on Perlman Stage in Issac Stern Auditorium, the main arena of Carnegie Hall.