Singing for Bob: Tales and Testimonials

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I’ve been singing with Bob for the Oratorio Society, Washington Chorus, and now the City Choir of Washington since sometime in the late 1980s. Henning Sieverts, a friend from Ithaca, New York, who had moved to DC and joined the Oratorio Society, told me about Bob and the Oratorio Society, invited me to a concert of The Creation and I was hooked. When Bob was looking for more Tenors and Basses for a multi-chorus concert of Stravinsky’s Oedipus Rex, I eagerly auditioned. The music required a huge men’s chorus, so it was a good chance to take part in a spectacular and rare event. (Sadly, I’ve never heard it performed since…) The first rehearsal was scary: everyone seemed to come in on pitch without hesitation. I was awed. Later I realized the other singers had already been rehearsing for a few weeks and were better acquainted with the intricacies of Stravinsky’s masterpiece. Bob was an excellent teacher of the individual parts, then of the whole chorus. Yes, he was demanding but the whole group responded with the excellence that I came to know Bob expected of us. It was such a pleasure to sing the piece. Now, many seasons later, I continue to thank Bob for his rigor, his cultural knowledge, the precision of his conducting, and the way in which he brings the music together for each performance. It’s been a delight to sing with Bob and learn so much about the classical choral repertoire. One of the best moments of the City Choir’s trip to England was the opportunity to have a quiet breakfast with Bob in one of the hotels we stayed at. We have known each other a long time now. Thanks for the hard work, Bob! And I wish you many years of hard and joyous work in the future. ~ Bill Gilcher
I have sung with Bob for almost 37 years now and have been one of his biggest promotors. He has always been submissive to the music and elevated it as the master. He looks inward to it for its majesty, message, beauty and mystery. He has been able to pull things out that others cannot see or hear and shared those things with the full choir. I have continued to learn about music, singing and the wonder of it all since I began singing as a young child. I am grateful to have had the pleasure of making music nearly all of my life and these years with Bob have only been enhanced for the better. Happy 75th Birthday and may he continue on for years to come. ~ James "Hutch" Hutchinson, Jr.
Page 1 and 2: Singing for Bob Tales & Testimonial
Page 3 and 4: The Phoenix that is Bob Shafer A ma
Page 5: Education via Bob began for me in t
Page 9 and 10: Dear Bob, Happy 75th Birthday! What
Page 11 and 12: Dear Bob, Listening to the “Momen
Page 13: Marv & Elaine Wunderlich with Bob a

Singing for Bob: Tales and Testimonials

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