UpDate - Vol. 15, No. 33, Page 5
May 23, 1996
'Tell me, how do you get to Carnegie Hall?'

     Practice" is the well-known answer to that often-asked question,
and that's exactly what the members of Jubilieren, a 35-member,
Delaware-based ensemble of amateur and professional musicians, did.
     On Mother's Day, May 12, an 85-voice choir-consisting of
Jubilieren members plus singers from nearby states who were selected
through audition-performed Beethoven's Ninth Symphony  with the New
York Youth Symphony in the historic New York City concert hall before
an audience of more than 2,000.
     The performance was presented under the baton of Miguel Harth-
Bedoya, music director of the New York Youth Symphony. Peter J.
McCarthy, associate professor of music, conductor of the UD orchestra
and Jubilieren artistic director, led the choir, which included 22 UD
alumni and 13 faculty, staff and students.
     McCarthy and Harth-Bedoya initially discussed the possibility of
such a joint venture in 1995. After members of the two organizations
agreed to participate, plans were developed to recruit performers,
study parts and schedule rehearsals.
     This January, Harth-Bedoya held two preliminary rehearsals in
Newark with the choir, as well as a master class for McCarthy's UD
orchestra.
     Rehearsals were held in April and May in New York with Harth-
Bedoya's symphony in preparation for the Carnegie Hall event.
     Harth-Bedoya also serves as artistic director of the New Opera
Company of Peru and the Orquesta Filarmonica de Lima. For the past
three seasons, he has been engaged by the New York Philharmonic as
cover director and made his debut with the Philharmonic in January. He
is frequently in demand as a guest conductor.
     The New York Youth Symphony has been performing for more than 30
years in Carnegie Hall. It offers tuition-free opportunities for
talented young musicians to rehearse and perform classical music at a
professional level. Each year, its program in orchestra, chamber music
and conducting serve more than 150 gifted students from ages 12 to 22.
     McCarthy, at the University of Delaware since 1972, has conducted
vocal ensembles throughout this country and in Europe. Last fall, he
conducted a number of ensembles representing both the U.S. and Europe
at the Church Music Festival in Salzburg, Austria.
     According to Jubilieren member Marianna Preston, public
relations, "The choir, orchestra, soloists and conductors received a
standing ovation and five curtain calls. It was really a dream come
true. To perform on that world famous stage was both an honor and a
thrill."
     "The concert was exquisite," Adele Knopf, administrative staff
member at Newark's International Reading Association, said. "The hall
was breathtaking. It was exciting to sing for such a large and
appreciative audience."
     According to McCarthy, "This monumental creation of Beethoven is
one of the most popular and beloved symphonies in musical literature.
To have prepared this piece so diligently and intellectually with the
depth of commitment by these singers and instrumentalists was an
enormously moving experience.
     "I believe we achieved the objective of all immortal art, to
change the participant for the better. This was a truly spiritually
enriching performance for me, and I believe the members of Jubilieren
have become re-enthralled with music."