Hello and welcome to our home page!  This page is designed to assist you in learning a little more about our choral programs. 

It began with a phone call in September of 2002 and ended with a triumphal concert on April 27, 2003 as the Fayetteville State University Concert Choir performed with one of the five leading orchestras of the world, The Vancouver Symphony on April 27, 2003 in Orpheum Hall.  The concert, held in Vancouver, British Columbia, was entitled Songs of a People and featured selections reflecting the ideals of democracy, freedom, and American ideas.  the FSU Choir was given the unique opportunity to open the choral portion of the concert performing my composition, City On the Hill.  His work was written and premiered at the first inauguration of President Bill Clinton in 1993.

 

The concert was conducted by Dr. Will Kesling, Director of Choral Activities at the University of Florida at Gainesville and sponsored by Classic Concerts International, that initially invited the FSU Choir to perform.  The FSU Choir was joined by three other choral groups in John Rutter’s composition, Feel the Spirit, that featured soprano Denise Payton was soloist.  She accompanied the choir at the invitation of Dr. Curtis after Dr. Kesling approached him about a soprano soloist.  Ms. Payton, who was the featured soloist with the FSU on their first tour of Europe in 1998 is the choral director at Spring Lake Middle School. She is the director of the Restoration Heritage Chorale, a choral ensemble specializing in African American.  She has appeared in the role as “The Mother” in FSU productions of Amahl and the Night Visitors and performed that same role with The Long Leaf Opera Company.

 

The trip began with a departure from the FSU campus at 4 a.m. on Friday, April 25, 2003 to the RDU airport.  For the 45 students that traveled, many of them were flying and traveling out of the country for the first time.  The threat of SARS was on the mind of many because they were traveling to Canada, but parents, administrators, and students were assured that the SARS concern was centered in Toronto, not in Vancouver, some 3,000 miles away. 

 

Arriving at RDU with luggage and wide eyes, we checked in record time and passed through security to board our Southwest Airlines flight at 7 a.m. to Chicago.  Many students braced themselves for the take-off and soon found themselves 35,000 feet in the air flying over clouds and watching the sun appear. Within a hour and a half, we were looking down at a large body of water and many students saw Lake Michigan for the first time and made our way to Chicago.  There was excitement and a little it of fear as we  landed at Midway airport and changed for the three and half hour flight to Seattle, Washington.

 

This flight gave students their first look at the snow covered Cascade Mountains

As we approached Seattle.  Our landing meant a frantic look for luggage that we had not seen  since 5:30 a.m.  It was now 11:15 a.m. in Seattle, but 2:15 p.m. in Fayetteville. Our bodies were beginning to show signs of jet lag, but excitement still reigned.  By noon, our bus arrived and we began the three hour drive to Vancouver, British Columbia.  However, this drive included a view of downtown Seattle.  There in front of us was The Space Needle, Seahawk Stadium, and a mountain range with snowcapped peaks.  Mount Rainer was partially cloud covered but we were in for a treat on our way home.

 

Our students got their first taste of border crossing as we approached the Canadian border and had to fill out custom forms. Trying to get the form right provided for a lesson in following directions. We reached the border and soon found ourselves in Canada and the land of the metric system. Gallon was replaced by liters and speed signs were in kilometers.  The scenery was spectacular and we arrived at our hotel around 3:30 p.m., Vancouver time, 7:30 p.m. Fayetteville time.

 

Rooms were assigned, food was consumed and our first rehearsal with two other choirs commenced  at 8 p.m.(11p.m. in Fayetteville).  Dr. Kesling took command and we found ourselves well prepared to sing Feel The Spirit and Ms. Payton stunned the other choirs with her vocal abilities.  We were all quite proud, however by 10 p.m. at the end of rehearsal, sleep was needed as we realized that it was 1 a.m. in Fayetteville.

 

Saturday began with breakfast at 7 a.m. and rehearsal followed at 8 a.m.  By now, word had spread that other choirs were saying,  “We’ve heard about the FSU choir and we can’t wait to hear you.”   The pressure was on, but first there was a trip into the city of Vancouver and shopping. We managed to take the city bus and found the Pacific Coast Mall and helped the Canadian economy, complete with learning how to exchange money. We retuned back to our hotel to prepare for a dinner and evening of fun and rest before our big day on Sunday.

 

We donned our blue polo shirts and convened in the Richmond Room at the Ramada Park Plaza and without a piano rehearsed  City On The Hill.  It seemed to work, but the test was still to come when we faced the Vancouver Symphony in rehearsal.  We boarded buses to the Orpheus Concert Hall.

 

We arrived to find ourselves in one of the most beautiful building in the world.  Built in 1902, the hand painted ceiling, red seats and curtain, yielded a venue seating 3,000.  There we stood on the stage of one of the world’s great orchestra about to take our preparation to the test.  After we were seating in the front of the choral sectional the other choirs files in behind us.  All of sudden there was a sea of Bronco Blue polo shirts standing out on this world famous stage.  Soon it was our turn to rehearse City on the Hill, and there I stood in front of the Vancouver Symphony.  AS I lifted the baton, a look of confidence came over ht effaces of FSU students as they sang with bravura.  It was rehearsal but chills ran through me as the music came alive.  They received applause from those in the choir and orchestra following our run through, but I knew there was more to come. We were ready.

 

After a quick return to the hotel, we dressed in our formal attire and returned to the hall.  Soon every seat in the hall was filled and the choirs were in place.  I began to reflect on what these students were about to experience and paced backstage.  After Dr. Kesling performed Copland’s Outdoor Overture, it was my turn to take the stage and it was FSU’s turn to be at the center of the world.  I walked out to applause, and found myself facing smiling, nervous, but confident students who were prepared to battle.  In eight minutes it was over and thunderous applause greeted our efforts.  There we stood and received our reward for hard work, perseverance, and dedication to our craft.   We had traveled 4,000 miles to deliver our message and it was well received.  I looked at the faces of my students as they stood receiving the gratitude of people we did not know.  What I saw stunned me at first, because their faces shown with the counterance of angels.  We had been blessed by God to do what some had said was impossible. Once again FSU had become international.

 

Ms. Payton took the stage next and let them know that Fayetteville and the State of North Carolina had arrived in Vancouver.  Her solos in Feel the Spirit with the orchestra and choir led tow extended applause and she too became an international star. Bronco Pride was once again worldwide.