The Colgate University Chorus performed in Carnegie Hall, one of the world’s most prestigious and storied stages, on Saturday, March 14. The Colgate Chorus, under the direction of Sinhaeng Lee, assistant professor of music and director of choral programs, and in conjunction with the Hamilton College Choir and their director, Charlotte Botha, director of choral activities and assistant professor of music at Hamilton College, put on a performance that showcased the combined musical strength and talents of both schools.
The opportunity grew out of Lee’s previous recognition as first runner-up in the inaugural MidAmerica Productions International Choral Conducting Competition. This earned him the invitation to perform at Carnegie Hall and showcase both his own talents and those of his students. Also key in making this opportunity possible was Lee’s strong working relationship with Botha at Hamilton College.
Botha serves as the director of Choral Activities and assistant professor of music at Hamilton College, where she conducts the Hamilton Voices and the College Choir while teaching courses in music theory and cultural musicology. The two collaborated on the organization and logistics of the enterprise, as well as the artistic vision of the performance.
“[Charlotte and I] selected a pair of works that complemented one another beautifully, similar in their orchestral needs and overall scale, still distinct in character, expression and musical language,” Lee said. “That made the collaboration both artistically compelling and practical from a programming standpoint, allowing us to build a coherent shared performance while making thoughtful use of closely aligned orchestration.”
Students valued the opportunity to connect with peers and fellow music-lovers from Hamilton.
First-year Nelle Madej is an alto in the Colgate Choir, and spoke about her experience collaborating with the other group.
“It was really amazing to be able to sing with the Hamilton choir students,” Madej said. “Even though we had never met before, we already had a connection from the shared pieces we were singing. That’s one thing I love about music — it acts as a universal language that can bring people together.”
The two pieces that Lee and Botha settled on were Johannes Brahms’ “Schicksalslied, Op. 54” and Felix Mendelssohn’s “Hear My Prayer.” The former was conducted by Lee, and the latter by Botha. These major works are technically difficult and require musical maturity from performers. Thanks to the months of practice and care, the joint chorus from Colgate and Hamilton was up to the task.
“These are demanding works that require both musical discipline and emotional depth, and I thought the students rose to that challenge beautifully,” Lee said. “I was especially proud of the way they carried themselves with focus, professionalism and heart throughout the experience. The entire event was a reminder of how powerful collaborative music-making can be, especially when students are given the opportunity to participate in something larger than themselves.”
Echoing this sense of accomplishment and pride, students saw the performance as a meaningful culmination of all their hard work and growth.
“It was an honor to be able to sing in Carnegie Hall. Our choir works very hard, and this felt like an amazing way for it to all pay off,” Madej said. “My family and my high school choir teacher came to the performance, and it was awesome to be able to show them how far I have grown under the community of Colgate Choir and the stellar teaching of Dr. Lee.”
The Colgate Choir stayed in New York City for five days and four nights in preparation for their concert, splitting their time between rehearsing and exploring. This unique opportunity allowed students to tour the wonders of the city as a group, resulting in further cohesion and bonding amongst the members of the joint choirs.
“We had the entirety of Friday afternoon free, so I went with a bunch of other students to a four-story Barnes & Noble in Union Square, and we shared with each other the books we loved,” Madej said.
The days before the performance also allowed students to get acclimatized and ready for performing in a venue the likes of which many of the students had never performed in.
Senior Shaelee DeCarolis, a soprano in the choir, spoke of how the group faced some challenges but still gave a great performance.
“Dress rehearsal was a bit difficult because it was our first time singing with the orchestra, so I was very relieved when the performance itself went smoothly,” DeCarolis said. “I think all of the performances were amazing. The acoustics of Carnegie were so wonderful!”
The final performance was indeed phenomenal, and the experience was one that the Colgate students, mentors and families will never forget.
“I have been in the choir since my freshman year, which is the year our conductor, Dr. Lee, began at Colgate,” DeCarolis said. “It was really special to see him walk onto that stage and conduct a song in front of a 100-plus person choir — I felt very proud to be a part of that moment for him.”
This pride was also profoundly felt by Lee towards his students.
“What moved me most was watching the students grow into the music with seriousness, commitment and genuine emotional investment,” Lee said. “There were many special moments throughout the process, but one of the most meaningful was seeing students realize that they were capable of much more than they imagined. For many of them, this was their first time performing in a venue of this significance, and sharing that sense of wonder and accomplishment with them was unforgettable.”
