When more chairs must be brought into a concert venue minutes before the show starts to accommodate a growing audience, you know it’s going to be a performance to remember.
The latest Flute Choir concert, “Final Farewell: Flute Choir Favorites” on March 27, was the last hurrah for ensemble director, Tammi Carlson, as she sets her sights on retirement at the end of July after 27 years teaching at Moraine Valley.
For a more immersive experience, the audience sat atop risers arranged on the Dorothy Menker Theater stage facing the choir, as Carlson commented she thought no more than 10 people would attend her send-off. Little did she know that about 150 people were eager to see this concert comprising all her favorite tunes.
Carlson started the Flute Choir in 2008 and has grown it into a powerhouse group of high school, college and community members. To begin, Carlson explained the shimmery tone and watery theme of the first composition, “A Short Nautical Journey,” which the ensemble fluttered through along with delicate percussion elements added for effect. And so it went for each piece; Carlson told a story, asked the audience questions and expressed her love for the arrangement.
When the choir arrived at “Running Away,” Carlson addressed the audience, asking if, hypothetically, anyone ever thought about running away from home when they were young. She proceeded to dole out some humorous tips she found online for making an escape before a child in her line of sight agreed with her on some of the advice. The crowd erupted in laughter when he mentioned to Carlson how much money he saved if he decided to run away. Once the choir began to play, the repetitive musical pattern revealed itself 114 times within the piece, inspiring a sensation of rolling or moving forward.
When thinking of the flute, a standard-sized silver instrument or its pint-sized version – the piccolo – may come to mind. Carlson explained each type of flute as musicians rotated seats to play the different instruments. From the tiny piccolo to the oversized contrabass, which requires standing to play, each flautist performed a short, recognizable ditty to showcase the various profiles of each.
Throughout the concert, each piece was accompanied by a slideshow, curated according to stories shared from images of mountains to a boat journey down a European river. Before the final number, Nick Thomas, professor of Music, department chair and choral director, took the microphone to acknowledge all of Carlson’s work over the years, even acting as his left and right hands on many occasions. He also quoted lyrics from “For Good,” a song in the musical “Wicked,” noting, “I know I’m who I am today because I knew you,” stirring teary eyes in the crowd. “Thank you for being an important part of our lives,” he added.
To close, members of the ensemble shared kind words about Carlson, gave her some sentimental gifts and embarked on one last musical endeavor alongside their fearless leader, playing, “So Long, Farewell,” from “The Sound of Music.” After the first chorus, Carlson exited the stage with a wave and a jaunty dance. Ensemble members, still playing their instruments, slowly filtered out after her according to each remaining chorus, finishing their goodbye behind a curtain to rousing applause.
