Saint Anselm College Choir - Student and Alumni Mail

Dear Fr. Bede: I just wanted to thank you, Bobby, Bro. Andrew and Prof. Cox so much for all the work you put into our choir, as well as the choir members. For the past three years that I've been involved in choir I've always sung the music as written and kept my attention on your direction while singing; I've never actually listened to the words we sing. I've been going through a somewhat stressful semester thus far and had been praying for peace about certain issues and last Saturday at St. Raphael's concert I experienced that peace and healing that I had never encountered before. Instead of paying attention to breathing with everyone and when to come in on songs (which of course I did haha), I was able to relax and actually listen to the words we sang as well.

It is so difficult to get into the meaning of the songs when we sing them repeatedly and memorize the words without thinking about them: praying the words makes a world of difference. I noticed the calming power of Be Still And Know That I Am God, especially. I felt as though everyone in the choir, including myself, and God was singing the song to me reminding me that in times of pain, I need to be still and take a step back and realize everything is in God's hands, which was again reiterated with Father I Put My Life In Your Hands. It was very moving realizing this; I can't really explain it.

I have always shrugged off the thank you's from people because I didn't understand how our singing was so helpful and healing, but now that I have experienced it I am grateful as well, beyond words. Even last night, coming to choir late and hearing everyone singing the Ave Verum, I never realized how beautiful everyone sounds as one. I would encourage everyone in the choir, at some point, to stop singing for a second (not all at the same time obviously) and just listen to the amazing sound we are able to create. We need to listen, pray, and believe the messages in the songs when we sing them.

Mail from students and alumni through the years:

The choir was the two nights a week you could get together with friends you didn't see often during the week, have a hysterically fun, relaxing time -- and at the same time, create the most beautiful music for church. Suzanne Surette

Choir was the glue that held my remarkable four years at Saint Anselm College together. Choir was a consistent, calmful and rewarding experience that made me feel as if I was an integral part of the Benedictine community. I would not be who I am today without it and learned much more than notes and pitch. Choir taught us humility, silence, beauty and the ability to blend with others in life as well as with music. Julie Byrne ‘06

The music the choir performed during my time as a student demonstrated the true healing and creative powers of God. To take those songs to my own heart and to share them with others was a gift that has strengthened my relationship with God. Chris Doyon ‘06

For me, the choir served as an artistic outlet that I always enjoyed, but never fully appreciated until my experience with it was over. In retrospect, I feel that the four years I sang with the choir was one of the most rewarding and enriching periods of my life. It remains one of my most valued college experiences for the discipline it instilled, the camraderie that developed, and the opportunities it presented for creating beauty on a weekly basis. Amalea Schrader-Rank ‘06

Singing with the choir provided me with some of the most meaningful memories of my entire life. Joining this organization gave me a sense of peace and calmness that has cannot be matched in the hectic reality of life outside college. I can, however, do my best to return to that sense of peace when I listen to the music at home; music that continues to feed my Catholic faith and spirituality. Christina Buehler Young ‘94

The choir is a very visible part of the school. I would bet that more students have heard/seen the choir on a regular basis, more than any other group or team in the school. Christina Buehler Young ‘94

NOT A STUDENT - -JUST A DEVOTED PARENT!!! BOTH JIM AND I FELT FOR VICTORIA'S WONDERFUL 4 YEARS AT "ST.A'S" THAT AMONG THE EDUCATIONAL,MIND-BUILDING,

AND SOCIAL BLESSINGS - - - YOUR GLORIOUS GUIDANCE AND CHOIR WERE AMONG THE MOST POIGNANT & MEMORABLE . I STILL PLAY THE TAPES -LOVE THEM!!!

choir was a club i was hesitant to join, but was so glad i did for many reasons. it gave me such a sense of peace, lifting our hearts to God in song, in the beauty and magnitude of the Abbey Church. it was also a time in my life that I felt most close to God..because it was time planned into my busy week specifically to meditate and pray, whether at choir practice or weekly Mass. choir was one of the best parts of my college experience! thank you for all the time and effort you put into making the choir wonderful.

Being members of the choir allowed us to fully appreciate the beauty of the Abbey Church which, when filled with its inspired songs and chants, makes the complete Saint Anselm College experience more meaningful and memorable. Men and women who join the choir become friends (and sometimes, spouses!) and remain forever bonded by this unique experience very few colleges can provide.

1) Whether a student sang in the choir, religiously attended the 7PM Sunday Mass or at a minimum went to one Family Weekend Mass during a student's four years, at least every student who has attended Saint A's in the last 20 years has been touched by the music of the choir or somehow exposed to it.

2) The Choir was not simply about music, it was a class in and of itself - about learning to live life with faith, prayer and balance.

I can say with certainty that being a member of the Saint Anselm College choir was the single most important experience in my four years of college. Choir provided balance and peace; it gave me the discipline to be quiet, to listen, to express myself within a group that became larger than itself in song. Danielle Fabrizio Reinhart ‘98

When I think about my college years, the choir meant an instant sense of belonging...a community in which I instantly felt at home. The music we sang was a way to express my gratitude for this blessing. The songs fed my soul and developed my faith and theology. My four years as a member of the choir was the single most important decision I made at St. Anselm. The college taught my mind about the world and God; the choir guided my spirit.

Choir was a twice-a-week outlet for everybody who wanted to take a break from campus life. When life was too stressful to think about, when it was too fun to be able to handle, choir was the one constant that we could always count on to provide peace of mind. Frank Mandosa ‘96

During my four years at St. Anselm, choir really helped me stay focused. The Masses and rehearsals often helped me relax as well and the music was such a joy to sing and wonderful way to worship the Lord. Emily Quartararo

"Participating in the Saint Anselm Choir was one of my most rewarding experiences at Saint Anselm College. It provided a sense of comradery (comroderie?) and an opportunity to be successful at something we truly loved to do." Cristina Fuoco ‘92

Choir was the one place on campus where I knew I could go and find peace within myself. I knew that no matter what had been going on during that day or week, that once I entered the Abbey, none of it mattered, at least for a little while. Choir helped me find a path, when I did not know there was one to be seen. And I could always count on Choir and you to bring a smile to my face, no matter how bad a mood I may have been in.

I miss the Choir all the time. I miss the people, I miss the music, and I miss the peace that came from both.

When I first came to Saint Anselm's College in 1989, I wasn't sure if I was going to stay. I came from a competitive High School, I wasn't concerned about my success but more in whether or not I would follow in my family's footsteps at Boston College or Holy Cross. During my first weekend at School I heard there was a party for the Choir, and as a former singer in High School I expected a small intimate choir of say thirty or forty individuals, at the very least I knew there would be girls there. What I didn't expect was that I would meet incredible people, and a family so far from home. The Saint Anselm College Choir is as much an integral part of my education and maturation as any of the classes I took at the College. When thoughts wander back to my education I find myself up on the risers singing my heart out before Father Bede Camera and among my friends. Every arrangement I ever sang with the College Choir I can sing without error nearly fifteen years after my graduation; the spirtuality I gathered while a member of this organization is the foundation of my adult life.

If the intimacy of my Benedictine Education attracted me to Saint Anselm College, it was truly the music of the College Choir that kept within the College. Every time I receive a copy of Portraits I read through the magizine in search of a tidbit about the College Choir, and word of those I sang with every weekend. Congratulations on this the Twentieth Anniversary of the Saint Anselm College Choir, I look forward to April 2007.

The choir provided all of us with a respite from our somtimes chaotic life on campus, an outlet for our creative energies, and the opportunity to make and keep friends for a lifetime. It was, and I'm sure still is, a group of students who understand faith and spirituality can grow through music. (And we have to be some of the select group of alumni that know ALL the words of the college anthem)

In addition to being one of my most memorable and favorite experiences during my college career, the St. Anselm College choir had the most impact on my spiritual life than any other class, activity or encounter. Through the fellowship, singing, prayer, praise and worship, and fun of course, Choir was home for me. And to this day, I’ve still never sung under a director with as much passion and enthusiasm for his singers, our music and our purpose.

An alumnus 12 yrs now, I continue to listen to the CD’s regularly, and find myself incorporating some of the lyrics in my prayers. Many of the songs I learned provide even more comfort and encouragement to me now in my current life and situations.

First hearing the choir as a freshman made me feel a part of something very special at Sunday Mass. Hundreds of my fellow students in the congregation were united through song. I knew I had chosen my college well. I was so inspired that I became a part of the choir as a sophomore. I joined a very diverse group of people, all coming together with a common purpose. I was a part of a group of students, professors and Benedictines who dedicated time and talent to deepen the Mass experience. This truly helped me to mature as an adult. These people are lifelong friends, as I return to several Masses each year to be reunited in song and prayer. I chose my current parish because of the choir - it feels like home.

When I arrived at St. A's as freshman in 1998, choir was the first thing I signed up for, but I had no idea then what an experience I was in for. I had never before been a part of something so beautiful. Choir was my welcome break from study and a spiritual retreat for me throughout college, and now that I have graduated it has left me with so many gifts, from basic sight reading skills and understanding of melody and harmony to a library of beautiful music stashed away in my memory that I can call upon at any time for comfort or inspiration. Rosemary MacMahon McAvoy ‘05

Choir was the way I related to God, it was my prayer. It was the one constant beautiful endeavor in my college years that saw me through the most difficult times, including my grandfather's death.

I had an amazing experience at Saint Anselm, one that I will always hold close to my heart, and a large part I owe to the choir. Choir gave me the opportunity to see the world, the chance to use my voice in ways I never imagined, and most importantly, friendships. If there was one place at Saint Anselm where I felt home, it was in the Abbey.

Father Bede is famous for saying that "choir is like life." That concept seems eternally far away and tough to access when you're sitting with a person in the throes of a mental health crisis.Sometimes the clients that I see as a mobile mental health clinician are homeless, and are often hopeless,despondent and angry. So how is this life like choir? Where does choir fit into this desperate a scene? Sometimes it's hard to get clients to be able to give me the information I need to make a clinical decision to be of maximum help to them, to get them where they need to go to get better, and that's where choir comes in. With children and adults of all ages, I teach them lessons I learned long ago in a musty church basement. I show them how to belly breathe to calm their frazzled nerves, to help them tame the voices in their heads and be able to coherently tell me what's happening. I teach them to take a silent minute to listen to their bodies, to their hearts, to help me understand how I can understand their reality and enable them to manage their illness better. So maybe choir is like life after all - I've found that you can create a sort of music in the strangest of places.

As this year marks the twentieth anniversary of the St. Anselm Choir, I believe that a story on the choir would be a welcome addition to the Portraits magazine. As a member of the choir I was directly involved in the music we would produce every week for mass and for our yearly spring concert and Advent program. My friends and fellow classmates also felt that the choir was an important part of the mass they attended every week. Last year was the first year I attended a choir concert as an alumnus. The music was beautiful and brought back many memories. When we were invited to join the current choir in singing a few old standards, I realized how much I missed it. The choir has touched many people in the past twenty years - choir members, friends and family, and of course those who attended mass every week. I think many people would be interested in reading about the choir and how it has changed and grown in the past twenty years.
Amber Byron, 2001

For me, the choir was a chance to step outside myself and experience belonging and accomplishment in a way I have yet to experience in another place. It was a rock of calm and peace in an ocean of hurry and anxiety that gave me a base upon which to build my success at Saint Anselm. I truly believe that I was brought closer to the heart of God in my experience of choir. This is a college institution that deserves recognition and the continued support of the community both among students and alumni. Chris Labbe

The Saint Anselm College choir embodies tradition, committment, friendship, humility, and spirituality. How could it not be seen as one of the most highly respected and appreciated groups on campus?

Choir has been spiritual renewal and a fountain of peace in an often hectic college life. It has been a privilege to be part of a group that is a source of healing for others. Christina Zajac ‘06

Throughout my four years at Saint Anselm College, Choir was a sanctuary for me. It was a place I went to be with friends, be with God, relax, think, and do something I love; sing. Choir is an unbelievable part of the community. The music at Sunday night mass and the concerts during the year provide people with peace and worship. For 20 years the Saint Anselm College has been improved by this choir, not just the participants in choir but the people who are touched by their sound. Lauryn Walker 06

I just wanted to respond to your e-mail. The impact that choir had n my life while I was at Saint Anselm and maybe even more so now is that I am able to meditate whenever I am feeling stressed or overwhelmed. When I meditate I sing either I love you lord or lord hear my prayer and I almost instantly feel better and less anxious. This is a private thing that I often do before I fall asleep to help clear my mind but I am sharing this with you in hopes of helping you and the choir be recognized for the impact that both have. I hope this helps. Hope you are well. ~Mariel Lancaster ‘05

Ask anyone, "why is Choir so important to you?" and they will likely say that it has something to do with retaining one's sanity (actually, I've this from dozens of former choir members). For me, it was nice having a place to go to that was full of a wonderful combination of people (as big of a combination as a homogenous college in the suburbs can have) which I loved. But the most important part of choir was that it made me feel close to God - singing in Choir brought Him closer to me, and because of my experience in the St. Anselm College Choir, I am forever changed.Congratulations on 20 years! Melissa Jeanne

Singing in the College Choir was one of the best decisions I made while at Saint Anselm; the opportunities it gave me, the friendships I made, and peace I took from it are beyond compare. I didn't realize that it would be this way, but one of the things I miss most about Saint Anselm after being out for just a few months is the choir.
Joe Parodi 06

My time in the choir was so central to my college experience and to who I am today that I wanted to give my enthusiastic support of featuring the choir in the next issue.My entire college experience is entwined with my memories of the choir. My very first college memory is when I was walking through Davison Hall with my parents during orientation, passing by information tables and eager recruits for various clubs. I slowed a fraction of a moment to look at the choir display, and with a conspiratorial grin Fr. Bede immediately whisked me away for a terrible and terrified rendition of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.” He must have seen past my shyness and intuitively understood that I could usually sing on-key. I immediately felt at home that day.

In addition to the wonderful education I received, I feel very lucky to have had such incredible extra-curricular opportunities while at St. A’s: I was a terrible (but enthusiastic) rower in the Crew Club, sleepless editor-in-chief of the Crier, vice-president of the Italian Club, member of the Oxford Companions, and participant in various other volunteer opportunities. I enjoyed every moment of these busy times, but I would not have been able to appreciate or juggle all of these experiences had it not been for the Saint Anselm College Choir. Despite the rigorous time commitment, the choir was my lifeline and sanity. Fr. Bede expected the best from us and pushed his choir members to work hard and be committed to the choir. Every ounce of effort and commitment was returned to us a hundredfold in the self-discipline we learned and the profound spirituality, wonder and serenity we experienced through song. To this day, I use music and meditation techniques Fr. Bede employed when I feel overwhelmed. I have a better sense of my own part of a larger system in my workplace, my personal relationships, my life overall.

In June, Fr. Bede officiated at my wedding ceremony. It was such a special moment for me because I consider Fr. Bede family; the choir and its music forge a special bond. Even those not directly involved in the choir (whether they be parents, students, alumni, faculty, administrators, or members of the Goffstown community) feel as though they are part of this bond. I look forward to returning in April for the annual concert, and I know I will feel as if I never left when I stand with the choir when the alumni are invited up to sing.

Being a member of the choir was definitely the highlight of my 4 years at Saint Anselm, not only because of the joy and peace I felt spiritually, but also because of the amazing friendships and bonds I created with fellow choir members - friendships which to this day, 17 years later, still remain. My time at St. A's would not have been the same were it not for those bbq's on Professor Hechtle's (sp?) farm, the enjoyment of participating in the concerts and other big masses, or the fun we had during rehearsals (and we sure did laugh alot!) - it is with gratitude and pride that I call myself a choir alumna.

Yes, choir means a lot to me. Being able to be part of such a wonderful, spiritual group helped keep me focused through my time at St. A’s. My very best friends in the world were part of choir and they are the ones I keep in touch with over the years.

NOT A STUDENT - -JUST A DEVOTED PARENT!!! BOTH JIM AND I FELT FOR VICTORIA'S WONDERFUL 4 YEARS AT "ST.A'S" THAT AMONG THE EDUCATIONAL,MIND-BUILDING,

AND SOCIAL BLESSINGS - - - YOUR GLORIOUS GUIDANCE AND CHOIR WERE AMONG THE MOST POIGNANT & MEMORABLE . I STILL PLAY THE TAPES -LOVE THEM!!!

2) The Choir was not simply about music, it was a class in and of itself - about learning to live life with faith, prayer and balance.

I miss the Choir all the time. I miss the people, I miss the music, and I miss the peace that came from both.

The choir provided all of us with a respite from our sometimes chaotic life on campus, an outlet for our creative energies, and the opportunity to make and keep friends for a lifetime. It was, and I'm sure still is, a group of students who understand faith and spirituality can grow through music. (And we have to be some of the select group of alumni that know ALL the words of the college anthem)

Having started in choir sometime around the eleventh season it hardly
seems possible that the fifteenth is about to begin. Choir may be like
life, as you say, but life is not like choir - I miss the chant and
hymns, but most of all I miss the silence. When I go to church now with
all of the little kids crying and people whispering and talking around
me I miss Saint Anselm so much - I'd love to be back in those horribly
uncomfortable seats and listen to the sound of a favorite choir song
floating through the Abbey Church. Believe it or not, I've been doing
yoga for about eight months now, and my main attraction to it is that
it's based on silence and concentration. In a very choir kind of way it
always makes me feel better afterward, like my troubles have lifted and
that I've been heard without having had to even speak. Still there
really won't ever be a substitute, but that's what tapes and CDs are
for, right? Erica Savino '00

I am sitting at my desk listening to the 2001 Choir Concert CD I received
today in the mail. All I can say is that it couldn't have come at a more
apropos time. It not only returns me to the comfort of my days in school,
but listening to the words also gives me a sense of strength, especially at
a time when I have so many questions that will only answers themselves in
time. I wish you and the choir all the best in your preparations for your European
excursion, and I personally wish you all the best that anyone can give.

All my best,
Mark Shura '96

I never would have guessed I that I would ever have sang in a choir, let alone stuck it out for four years. Tonight when you went over the piece,
emphasizing what the composer was trying to accomplish, allowing us to appreciate and feel ever note we sing, is a great quality that our choir has.
Keep up the good work! Thanks! Jason Tremblay '02

I'm working at
Plymouth Plantation in Massachusets now. On September 11th our managers decided we would stay open to the public.
In between trying to find out how our friendsand family in NY and DC were and watching the newscasts in the staff lounge
my co-workers and I had to continue portraying 17th century settlers with no idea of the happenings of the modern day.
As shell shocked as we all were we still had to maintain a calm even make believe world for our visitors, several of
whom took the time to thank us for providing a "safe place" and "something to keep their brains occupied"
while they were now stranded due to grounded planes.
     I just wanted you to know that the thing that kept me going, the one thing that allowed me to appear calm
and welcoming and focused in front of the public, and more importantly to be able to keep my sanity long
enough to help comfort and calm my co-workers were the songs I learned in choir. Everytime I started to lose
it I went "backstage" and sang one of the prayers you taught us. "My Shepherd","In the Shadow of your
wings", "Shepherd me" and especially "Lord hear my prayer" became the lines I could cling to. I kept
hearing your voice telling us "now sing for the people who have lost a loved one, now sing it for the ill,
for the injured, make it a bright blue of rejoicing, make it a comforting velvet, it's a prayer, sing with
your soul" The songs you taught us in choir have stayed with me "the lord is my strength my salvation,
whom shall I fear" and as such I thought you might like to know what a difference you made. Thank you
Father Bede.                          love,
                                        Rachel Walsh
                                            alto
                                        class of '96

Dear Father Bede:

We write to you not only as Saint Anselm parents but also as the parents of a choir member: Lindsay Halliday.
We want you to know how impressed and moved we were by the concert. We knew we would be treated to lovely music,
but what we didn't know was how touched we would be by it. The choir did more than sing last Saturday evening.
They reached out to everyone in that chapel and helped us to experience the true meaning of Christmas.
Their voices came together so beautifully that we were carried away from the often manic pace of the holiday,
and treated to one hour of peace and thus, the real meaning of Christmas.
We arrived at the school early that evening, so we sat in on the last few moments of the rehearsal.
We wish to thank you and commend you for the words you spoke to the choir at the end of rehearsal.
They were words of comfort, encouragement, and appreciation. The journey of choosing a college with ones child is a
long and often arduous process. Sitting in the chapel that day, hearing you speak to the students ,
and ofcourse, hearing the concert, was another day of gratitude for us....gratitude for Saint Anselm College,
for all of you who make it such a special place of learning, and gratitude that our daughter chose this school.

We want you to know that as we listened to the music we witnessed so many of the other people who were there
being moved to tears as the choir sang. You told the members that they never know who they might touch with their singing.
Those words are so true. We saw it first hand and we experienced it ourselves.

Thank you so much, Father Bede. Your dedication to this choir is a shining example of what makes Saint Anselm such a great college.
The concert was absolutely wonderful, moving, and inspiring.   We wish you a beautiful and peaceful Christmas.

Sincerely,
Dan and Andrea Halliday

It was the one constant beautiful endeavor in my college years that saw me through the most difficult times, including my grandfather's death.

Father Bede is famous for saying that "choir is like life." That concept seems eternally far away and tough to access when you're sitting with a person in the throes of a mental health crisis.

Sometimes the clients that I see as a mobile mental health clinician are homeless, and are often hopeless,despondent and angry. So how is this life like choir? Where does choir fit into this desperate a scene? Sometimes it's hard to get clients to be able to give me the information I need to make a clinical decision to be of maximum help to them, to get them where they need to go to get better, and that's where choir comes in. With children and adults of all ages, I teach them lessons I learned long ago in a musty church basement. I show them how to belly breathe to calm their frazzled nerves, to help them tame the voices in their heads and be able to coherently tell me what's happening. I teach them to take a silent minute to listen to their bodies, to their hearts, to help me understand how I can understand their reality and enable them to manage their illness better. So maybe choir is like life after all - I've found that you can create a sort of music in the strangest of places.

The Saint Anselm College choir embodies tradition, committment, friendship, humility, and spirituality. How could it not be seen as one of the most highly respected and appreciated groups on campus?

Choir has been spiritual renewal and a fountain of peace in an often hectic college life. It has been a privilege to be part of a group that is a source of healing for others.

Ask anyone, "why is Choir so important to you?" and they will likely say that it has something to do with retaining one's sanity (actually, I've this from dozens of former choir members).

For me, it was nice having a place to go to that was full of a wonderful combination of people (as big of a combination as a homogenous college in the suburbs can have) which I loved.

But the most important part of choir was that it made me feel close to God - singing in Choir brought Him closer to me, and because of my experience in the St. Anselm College Choir, I am forever changed.

My time in the choir was so central to my college experience and to who I am today that I wanted to give my enthusiastic support of featuring the choir in the next issue.

My entire college experience is entwined with my memories of the choir. My very first college memory is when I was walking through Davison Hall with my parents during orientation, passing by information tables and eager recruits for various clubs. I slowed a fraction of a moment to look at the choir display, and with a conspiratorial grin Fr. Bede immediately whisked me away for a terrible and terrified rendition of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.” He must have seen past my shyness and intuitively understood that I could usually sing on-key. I immediately felt at home that day.

Recent letter from a student: (The concert spoken about in this letter was on February 16 at Saint Raphael Church in Manchester)

Mail from students and alumni through the years: