Members of the Concert Choir from Central Christian College of Kansas in McPherson just returned from the experience of a lifetime. Eighteen singers and six VIP members traveled to New York City on Nov. 24-28 to sing in the world-famous Carnegie Hall.
Central Christian choir director Tiffiney Harms, a Great Bend native, worked with Distinguished Concerts International New York and Artist Travel Consultants to put together this trip.
“We are excited about the chance we received,” Harms said. “It was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Performers received a personal invitation to be a part of this event by nationally recognized composer and conductor Joseph M. Martin. Martin was a guest artist for the Chaney Music Symposium at Central Christian College in March of 2016.
While at CCC, Martin worked with the Concert Choir and select ensemble, Chanter Tigres, to perform a concert of his works. Martin personally contacted Harms to invite Concert Choir members to perform with him on the stage of Carnegie Hall on Monday, Nov. 27.
“It was an honor to be invited to sing at Carnegie Hall by Mr. Joseph Martin,” Harms said. “Standing on the same stage as iconic musicians such as Bernstein and Tchaikovsky, the Beatles and Gershwin, was a dream come true.”
Harms said the singers joined over 200 choir members from across the United States to perform a world premiere of “Rhapsody in Bluegrass” by Martin. The cantata was accompanied by Grammy-award winning bluegrass group Dailey & Vincent, along with soloists Sue Martin and Sarah Whittemore. Dr. Brad Nix, former Music Department chair of Sterling College, accompanied the choir on piano.
“I got to share the experience with my students,” Harms said. “As both a performer and educator, it was truly an experience I will remember for the rest of my life. The students represented the college and CCC Music Department with pride and excellence, as evidenced by the many compliments received about their preparation and character.”
While in New York City, the group enjoyed attending the new Broadway show “Anastasia,” and visiting sights including Times Square, Central Park, Rockefeller Center, the Statue of Liberty, and the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, Harms said.
Harms currently serves as instructor of vocal and choral music at Central Christian College of Kansas. She holds her master of music in piano pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma and her bachelor of arts in piano performance from Sterling College.
Growing up in Great Bend, Harms was a voice student of Glenna Gaunt and a piano student of Karole Erikson.
Harms is the daughter of Ron and Gwenna Harms of Great Bend.
