Farewell, Winona

 This spring, St. Mary's University, where I went to school, decided to discontinue all of their fine arts majors.  This was gut-wrenching to hear, and our thoughts instantly went to the music faculty who have spent the last many years (decades, even) building wonderful programs.  We wanted an opportunity to say goodbye to them, and to St. Mary's, and Winona, as without those amazing people there, it is unlikely we will be visiting our alma mater again.  

The King's Singers, a professional singing ensemble, was giving a concert as part of the MN Beethoven Festival.  Brigid and I got tickets to take the O'Sheas with us to hear one last amazing concert at the Chapel of Mary of the Angels.  It was an absolutely stunning performance in such a magical place.

As I sat in the audience, I thought about the beautiful music and memories that have been a part of in that building...Lesson and Carols, the Homecoming Concerts when we arrived home from our choir tours, singing together at the wedding of Patrick and Lindsy, and the hours of rehearsing and performing there with Dale Warland and the MN Beethoven Festival Chorale.  It is such a sacred, special place filled with the voices and faces of some of the people I love most.  

The King's Singers' encore was "And So It Goes," a perfect fit to the closing of a chapter.  It was the first recording I had ever heard of their ensemble, back when I was still a high school student.  It made me tear up.  It was so very beautiful.

We spent the rest of the evening listening to Jazz performed by Eric Heukeshoven and John Paulson, two other of our music professors.  Dr. H was there too.  It was great to see them all and have the opportunity to tell them how much their instruction, leadership, and dedication meant to us.  Afterwards, we went to Garvin Heights to get a final look at the city on the river, and back to campus for one last goodbye to Yon's Hall.  

It was such an emotional trip, but it felt so important to be able to find closure and say goodbye to what was a beautiful chapter in our lives.  We know our friends will be on to wonderful new beginnings and that we will keep in touch.  And we know we will always be bound together by the deep love of music.