Delta knows the way to Carnegie Hall

The Delta College Chorale and Chamber Choir will be going to New York City in June to perform at Carnegie Hall. A fundraiser was held at the Planetarium on March 28 and raised the money for the trip.

The fundraiser featured a spaghetti dinner catered by Grampa Tony's Restaurant and a silent auction of art items donated by the Delta College Art Faculty. The Jazz Singers, a combination of members from both the Delta Choral and Chamber Choir, provided the entertainment.

According to Timothy Hendrickson, Director of Choral Activities at Delta College, the total cost of the trip is $30,000 and the Delta College Foundation Office donated $15,000. Prior to the fundraiser, the students had already raised $11,000.

“This (was not) the only fundraiser,” Hendrickson said. “This is kind of a big event just because it involves the whole humanities division and the students coming together.”

Members of the Choral helped serve the food and set up for the silent auction while the Jazz Singers performed.

The choir plans to perform “The World Beloved: A Bluegrass Mass” composed by Carol Barnett at Carnegie Hall. Choir singer Hannah Hupfer, 21, an English Literature major from Midland, is impressed with how Delta is able to send its choir to New York.

“For a two-year community college to have that kind of experience under their belt is absolutely fantastic,” Hupfer said. “A lot of four-year college choirs actually have voice majors and are very serious about music don't have that kind of opportunity like we do.”

Hupfer said playing at Carnegie Hall was something she had hoped for ever since she was a little girl and was worth all the sacrifices she had made through the years.

“It's great to have worked so hard your entire life in a specific area like music and to be able to have the chance to go to Carnegie Hall,” she said. “Not many people get that opportunity.”

Hendrickson is pleased with how prepared choir Delta students are and noted playing the Midland concert is a nice tune-up in preparation for Carnegie Hall.

"I'm very proud of the choral program here at Delta. The fact that we are able to offer concerts like this each year is a testament to the student's dedication and sincere desire to perform great choral music,” Hendrickson said.