Special Memories

Guest Blogger: Patti Tice, Alto I

I am so blessed to have had the opportunity to sing with The Washington Chorus for more than 25 years. I’ve been singing all of my life, ever since my parents would start singing rounds in the car when we were traveling somewhere to keep us four kids entertained. We all learned to harmonize before we started 1^st grade, and all have been singing ever since.

As an “old-timer” in this chorus, it’s so difficult to identify my favorite memories and performances. But a few certainly come to mind. I will never forget the tour to the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Austria in 2002 when we sang in Stephansdom, St. Stephens Cathedral in downtown Vienna where Mozart actually got married. Singing the Mozart Requiem there was certainly a risk, with the locals who know his music so well. But it was thrilling singing to a standing-room-only crowd, who gave us a standing ovation (not that common in Europe, whose audiences are typically more reserved than in the US). Mozart is one of my favorite composers because his music touches the soul in a way that few others do, whether it’s his moving Requiem or his more whimsical pieces, my spirits are always lifted after hearing or singing that music. And to be there in that setting, imagining what it would have been like when he was there, was a once in a lifetime experience.

Another remarkable performance was in Paris in 1996 at L’Èglise de la Madeleine, where we sang the Fauré Requiem, perhaps a risky move again, at Faure’s own church. He had written the Requiem specifically for that space and many of the chorus truly felt that he was actually there with us. Again, I can imagine what it would have felt like to be in that church listening to Fauré play that organ (from 1896-1905). And the truly remarkable experience was at the end of the concert when the ushers opened up the gigantic front doors to prepare for everyone’s exit. It was about sunset and the choristers had the perfect vantage point looking south down the avenue to see the Place de la Concorde gleaming in the sunlight. It was a spiritual experience and really took our collective breath away.

The chorus also has been a refuge for me in times of difficulty. About 10 years ago when I was going through treatments for breast cancer, coming to rehearsals and concerts was a reason for being, kept me going when I felt like I couldn’t, and lifted my spirits so many times. The friendships, the camaraderie, the support, and the music itself gave me the motivation and inspiration to keep moving forward.

I hope you’ll take a minute to explore this site; we’ve collected some of the most memorable parts of our history here. To see some images from the tours I mentioned above, and other historic moments from TWC’s first 50 years, take a look at our photo collection. It’s experiences like these, as well as others too many to count, that have kept me coming back year after year. I never would have imagined that this little preacher’s kid who sang rounds in the back seat of the car (that’s what I was doing 50 years ago!) would have had the good fortune to sing on world stages with world conductors with a group as life-giving as The Washington Chorus.