My college choir friends and I said goodbye to our beloved conductor today. Professor Joseph Huszti inspired the lives of many people under his baton, and the ceremony showed it all.
The pianist played "Come, Come, Ye Sons of Art", a tune familiar to those of us that sang in the annual Madrigal Dinner fundraiser, as King Henry and his court would enter while singing the song.
The introduction by JH's brother-in-law was reverent and witty at the same time. Just like Jo was: reverent of the music we created together, and full of "Huszti-isms" that so many folks remember. It set the tone for the rest of the speeches.
One of Jo's conductor colleagues recalled being in Jo's choir, and told stories with themes familiar to what we all experienced with Jo, and what an honor it was to become his friend.
My friend John, now an accomplished and renowned choral conductor himself, invited everyone to sing "O Schone Nacht" by Brahms. Before we sang, though, he told us that when JH was in hospice, John visited him and said that he needed to choose the music for his memorial. JH said that he didn't want a memorial. John said, "I don't care. You won't be there." JH, realizing that we needed closure, picked the three songs that everyone was invited to sing along. In the announcement of the memorial date/time, the songs were listed so we all could be prepared for today. There was also music available in the lobby in case we forgot it. John wisely asked his choir to join us so that there would be someone actually singing without crying, just to keep us all in tune. When he said, "If you are able, please stand and join us in singing," I looked around the sanctuary and saw that at least 90% of people in attendance were ready to sing. There were probably about 200 people in attendance. It was not surprising, but still very moving to see how many people were present and ready to sing for Jo.
My friend Vicki started her speech about Madrigal Dinner by reciting the Crier's opening speech, and fittingly ended with his goodbye that he would recite at the end of the evening. She told the former court members to refrain from singing after her speech, but all of us had to really resist from starting "Stille Nacht". I loved the impression she did of Jo during one particular rehearsal when he was clearly disgusted with what he was hearing as he had one hand on his forehead in SMH pose, and the other conducting the choir while not looking at them.
One of Jo's music projects was founding "Men in Blaque", a men's chorus that started with his students and now includes alumni and others in the community. One of the original members talked about how much Jo loved rehearsal because of the collaboration we shared.
MIB sang their signature song, Biebl's "Ave Maria". This is one of my favorites, as you can probably tell whenever I post Pacific Crest playing this, their corps song. MIB's rendition is beautiful, and I cried right along with some of the guys as they wiped away their tears. They also sang "Bright Morning Star", which they chose because it ends with the lyric "Oh how can I be lonely? My friends are all around me. Their loving arms surround me. Day is-a breakin in my soul." I talked to conductor Andy later and he said that he was just glad that his arms couldn't cry because it was really tough up there.
Jo's nephew spoke of his uncle's love for all of the Cleveland teams and spending time with him at Bonnie Brae farm with their elks. I loved hearing that while we all talked about "Jo and Melinda", he knew them as "Melinda and Jo". Jo's wife, Melinda, was like our choir mom. She became an expert on the Henry VIII history and designed and created many, many Madrigal Dinner costumes through the years. She accompanied us on all of our choir tours. She remembered all of our names. She was a wonderful lady, and none of us doubted their love for each other. When she passed a couple of years ago, we all felt for Jo and their daughter, Heather.
A woman from Jo's Bakersfield College choir told us about Jo's first choir tour as a conductor. It was an amazing story of how they became the first American choir to win first place at the Eisteddfod in Wales, and met the Pope and President Lyndon B. Johnson. Heather even gave LBJ a kiss on the cheek at the White House! I learned later in the day that Melinda wrote a book about the experience, and picked up one of the copies available to those in attendance.
John led us in singing "Esti Dal", a Hungarian piece due to Jo's heritage. My first choir tour included a trip to Hungary to participate in the Bela Bartok Choir Festival in Debrecen. We sang different Hungarian songs, but I'm always happy to sing some Magyar for Jo.
We then heard from Jo's daughter, Heather, whom was very grateful for all of our support of her and for our love of Jo. She told us to think of what Jo was like in our rehearsals, then try to apply that to being his daughter and hearing him every day, which was hilarious to us. She even said that they're probably watching the ceremony right now and Jo is writing notes as to how it could have been better. "I'm pretty sure I'll be getting that list soon."
John led the RCC choir in a goodbye song that was beautifully done, and sounded like it was very difficult to sing due to the chords and all of the nuances of the piece. Typical John. :) He told me later that it was our choir tour to Spain that made him decide to be a choral conductor, as he helped Jo assist a Russian women's choir to learn American Barbershop. Hmmm...and I remember that as the tour where John and I got drunk a lot. Perspective. The choir was wearing t-shirts with "Huszti" on the back like a sports jersey, with the number 19. I asked John about the significance of 19, and he said that was the number he chose at baseball camp.
Richard gave a final blessing before the final group song. Anyone that sang with Jo learned to sing Randall Thompson's "Alleluia". It means so much to me that it is my favorite song in the whole world. I looked at the music this morning, just to make sure I hadn't remembered anything incorrectly. But I didn't even open my folder to look at it for the event itself. As I'm sure it happened with many people today, the first notes took me to that beautiful place that we all reach when we sing this song together. My voice forgot that I wasn't 20 years old anymore and I sang my heart out, remembering the dynamics, and making sure to follow my friend Buddy as he conducted all of us through the tempo changes. I somehow got through the piece without sobbing, but I did need to really breathe during a rest at one point because I needed to gather myself together. Those last 4 alto notes closing the piece were like a last tribute to Jo musically for me. I don't know if I'll ever get to sing it again, but if I do, I will dedicate that last "Alleluia" to him. Jo taught me how to *feel* music. Anytime anybody says to me that they could see that I brought emotion to a song, I attributed it to him.
The service ended with "Come Come Ye Sons of Art".
The reception was really nice as they had tables set up representing the many facets of Jo.
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| Heart: MIB Valentine's Concerts Elk: Bonnie Brae Farm Cleveland Guardians Baseball Madrigal Dinner Medallion |
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| Madrigal Dinner |
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| The Boar's Head |
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| Jo's Costume |
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| List of Choir Tours |
Music was available for us to take, as well as the aforementioned book. There were also baseball cards of when Jo got to go to baseball camp with the then-Cleveland Indians.
They had buttons of different Jo eras, and the first one I got was of him and Melinda. Then they had a lot extra so I was able to get one of each of the rest of the designs.
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| I wore my Knights of Christmas medal from Madrigal Dinner as my tribute to Jo. |
It was great to see my friends, albeit under unhappy circumstances. We reminisced a lot, and some of us continued the conversation at an impromptu dinner afterward.
It was a good day, made possible because we love Jo so very much. Below is what I wrote for Jo while he was in hospice. Heather was able to read all of our messages to Jo when he was awake and lucid, and sometimes he would tell his own story to her. I appreciate that she and others close to Jo knew that he would want to hear our individual thoughts for him. It did help with the closure so that we all felt comforted in knowing that he was aware of what he meant to all of us.
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Hi, Jo.
Ever since the day I met you, you've made my life better. I was a nervous freshman the day I met you to audition for choir, which I had never done before. You checked my range and said I was a first soprano. I told you that I was a good sight reader but not so much while singing. So you had me sing Alto, and now I can sight sing with the best. I've made great friendships with fellow Happy Altos Kristina Engel, Shannon Hartigan because of that decision.
Some of my greatest memories of traveling on choir tours are thanks to you, even the day after a bunch of us were drunk in Spain and the next day on the bus, you said to all of us: "I have one word for you: 'Moderation'."
But probably what I owe most to you is my gratitude for the love of music. I had just returned from a choir tour in South Korea, and wrote a paper for a psychology course for my Master's Degree. My professor, a musician himself, told me, "Sherry, it looks like you need to make a decision. Will you focus on counseling or music?" I got down on my knees and prayed to God for guidance. I could have done both but still needed to work for pay. Should I give up something and still work at my State job? That week, I received 3 phone calls for opportunities to sing, and you were one of them. I finished my degree, kept my job with the State, and took all 3 opportunities. I never regretted my decision.
Just recently, when you asked me to join Women in Whyte, I told you that I didn't know if my voice was up to it anymore. You told me that I needed to exercise those muscles again. And again, you were right. I may not be 100% or even 80%, but I'm better and happier than I was before that one piece of advice.
You have been one of my champions and I love you for that. I will always, ALWAYS cherish singing with you, the friendships I made because of you, and the things I've seen on our travels because you believed in me.
Thank you, Jo, for your wisdom, your honesty, and your love for all of your "kids".
With much love,
Sherry
Sherry, Melinda, and Jo at
Jo's 80th birthday celebration in 2016.
