© 2021
In touch with the world ... at home on the High Plains
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

From Amarillo to Carnegie Hall: How St. Mary's Cathedral Choir Landed a Gig in "The Big Room"

Vanessa & Jim Rauscher, Music Directors at St. Mary's Cathedral
Isaac Stern Auditorium at Carnegie Hall

"Everywhere in the world, music enhances a hall, with one exception: Carnegie Hall enhances the music." —Isaac Stern

It all started with a YouTube clipVanessa and Jim Rauscher stopped by the HPPR studio today to chat with me on High Plains Morning, sharing the story of how they'll be heading to the world-renowned Carnegie Hall this weekend to debut some special music arranged and developed right here on the High Plains. The Rauschers serve as Music Directors of St. Mary's Cathedral Choir in Amarillo, and they were invited to perform Immortal Invisible: The Music of Pepper Choplin and Mary McDonald in the Isaac Stern Auditorium (aka "The Big Room") on Sunday, May 26 at 2:00 pm.The concert was produced by the Distinguished Concerts InternationalNew York. According to Malcom Moon, who handles marketing and the box office for DCINY, "The ensemble had to go through an intensive audition process and were selected by members of our artistic board. The St. Mary's Cathedral Choir received this invitation because of the quality and high level of musicianship demonstrated by the singers as well as the exceptional quality of their audition recording."? The choir will be performing compositions by Mary McDonald, the composer-in-residence, who will also accompany the choir on piano during the performance. The show will be under the baton of DCINY Artistic Director, Jonathan Griffith. 

So I guess in this case, the best way to get ot Carnegie Hall is to upload, upload, upload (you know, after you practice). Click the link below to hear our full interview, as well as St. Mary’s Cathedral Choir singing Be Still by Mary McDonald:

Jenny Inzerillo joined HPPR in 2015 as the host of High Plains Morning, our live music program that airs weekdays at 9 am to noon CST. Broadcasting from KJJP in beautiful downtown Amarillo, she helps listeners wake up with inspired music from our region and beyond. Tune in for new voices in folk/Americana, deep cuts from your favorite artists, soulful tracks from singer/songwriters across the world, and toe-tapping classics dating as far back as the 1920s. Plus, discover underground greats that just might be your new favorite band.