More than 80 alumni veterans of IC Choirs over the years joined in a memorable concert, held Saturday night in the Hockett Family Recital Hall in Whalen Center.

Don Bubé (fourth from left, standing) and his reunited singers

The concert --- for which there were three "very intensive" rehearsals over the weekend --- was a tribute to Professor Larry Doebler, who has directed the group for the past 25 years. Doebler led the rehearsals and concert, at which the audience was treated to renditions of choir standards including William Byrd’s "Laudibus," John Corigliano’s "Fern Hill," and the choirs’ favorite "Deep River" by Harry T. Burleigh. Choir alumni spearheaded by Nan Havens Van Wie ’56, from the late 1940s and 1950s also paid tribute to Don Bubé, who directed the choir from 1948 to 1959, with a special luncheon and singalong led by Bubé.

Larry Doebler with his wife, Patricia

Suzanne Winter ’82, who helped to organize the Doebler anniversary celebration along with assistant director of alumni relations Gretchen Schaffer DeBolt, M.M. ’93, says, "The reunion was a rousing success. It was overwhelming to be given the opportunity to sing in this world-class choir again. It was an opportunity I never thought I’d be offered. But it is very important to emphasize the fact that we had to drag Larry Doebler, kicking and screaming, into celebrating himself. I nudged him mercilessly; we all had to talk him into it. He is that humble and never, ever, in all these years, has ever called attention to himself. His approach has always been to disappear right at performance time and make the music and our voices the point.

"This is the humblest musician I have ever known. He kissed every one of us on the way out to the risers, and then again as we came back after the concert. It was all very emotional. In our final moments of rehearsal, someone yelled out, ‘Every five years!’ So we hope we can talk him into doing it again in 2008."

Photos: top and bottom, Tom Hoebbel;
center, Sheryl D. Sinkow