POHC Sings at Castle Clinton and Federal Hall for 9/11 Commemoration and Community Healing

Peace of Heart Choir, directed by Robert René Galván, sings at Castle Clinton in Battery Park on September 11, 2011, in cooperation with September Concert. A camera from WPIX 11 news stands in the foreground. POHC was featured on the 10 o'clock news later that evening.

As part of our 9/11 commemorative concert series, POHC was scheduled to perform at Castle Clinton in Battery Park, in cooperation with September Concert and the U.S. Parks Department. The Castle Clinton concert was attended by passers-by and various members of the public including 9/11 first responders, tourists, POHC members, and a camera operator from WPIX 11 news. After the Castle Clinton concert, the choir performed two more impromptu concerts at the Federal Hall Building for the 9-11 Healing and Remembrance Program (part of the Mental Health Association of New York). A summary of the day is below. Readers of our blog may remember that our post-concert write-ups are usually done by a singing member who participated in the concert that day. Well, this time, the singing members were in for a pleasant surprise when we found that two of our audience members shared their concert write-ups, seen below. Thank you to both Wilfred, a singing POHC member and Tenor Section Leader and John, a POHC Board of Trustee member and father of Tenor, Alex, for your support, encouragement and caring words.

Sunday, September 11, 2011, 3pm, Castle Clinton, Battery Park

Wilfred here and just wanted to take my time to say that all of you are doing a wonderful job singing out there! All of you must've put some good time and effort to exercise your voices, rehearsing every song just right, and let it out. It was my first time ever hearing y'all sing. Also I want to thank all the classic members who I haven't seen for approx. 3 to 5 years for taking time out to be part of us once again, at least for this special concert. Okay, now to those who didn't make it, here's the story.

I came in about four minutes late thinking I was gonna get lost but made it during the Arirang song. I don't remember the song order 'cause I didn't sing but I can tell you more of what songs I do remember, in random order (even though I wasn't part of the performance, I did watch from the audience).

• We Remember You - It sounded great with Bill Pierson, who wrote the song, singing solo.
• Arirang - Came in about four minutes late but did make it in time to tell you that the song went smooth, and I do believe Cheryl sang solo on it and I already know she a great singer.
• Dona Dona - Lovely tone with Judith, Leslie, and Megan as soloists. Very enjoyable.
• Down By The Riverside - A good sing-a-long with the audience's participation. During the lyrics "I'm gonna shake hands around the world..." some members came out shaking audiences hand (I even had one from Leslie), which I love because it makes me feel that the choir is on my side as well as the audience's.
• Blowin' In The Wind - Another sing-a-long. All the audience participated in this song as well, and they sang it loud and clear.
• Od Yavo - Enjoyable and easy. The audience loved it and clapped along.
• Give Us Hope - A great song to sing. It was also a clap-a-long. Maybe in song selection we can have a new category--clap-a-long songs!.
• Let There Be Peace On Earth - The last song done with Leslie and Deb as female soloist.
• Those were all the songs. I thought that was it, but it wasn't. A few members of the Choir had to leave, but the rest stayed and decided to participate in an unplanned concert. We all took a walk down to Federal Hall and performed inside. The acoustic quality there sounds like a beauty. The Choir didn't sing as many songs as at Castle Clinton. They sang the songs Arirang, We Remember You, Give Us Hope, and Let There Be Peace On Earth.

Last, the Choir performed outside the Federal Hall for the final performance. René asked Gary, who also wasn't part of the performance but did show up to watch, and myself if we would perform with them and we agreed, even though we were unprepared. We did know the songs though, so it was no problem. It was worth doing something overall.

During the time I'm writing this, I was just watching WPIX 11 news and all of you were on television! I freaked out in happiness when I saw it . Yes, John (Alex's Dad), and myself were in the shot too, but the camera was behind us since we were in the audience. Congratulations! I had to post it on facebook immediately. LOL.

I enjoyed this whole day because of all of you. Thank you! To those who are not gonna participate this Fall/Winter season, I will miss your sweet and charming voices. Hope you do come back sometime. To the rest, I will see you all Thursday at our first rehearsal!


-Wilfred, POHC Tenor Section Leader

Peace of Heart Choir sings in the Federal Hall building on September 11, 2011.

Sunday, September 11, 2011, 3pm, Federal Hall Building

With the exception of Jeanette, (baritone) Anthony's mom, probably no one has watched more POHC concerts than me. Having watched the scheduled concert at Castle Clinton and both of the ensuing impromptu concerts today, I've got to say that I've never seen the Choir have a finer day. And what a day to do it!

So many memorable moments today:

• At Castle Clinton, a group of Korean tourists approached just as the Choir started Arirang. You should have seen the pleasure and surprise on their faces that an American choir was singing their song;
•  So many past POHC members whom we have missed in more recent seasons showed up to sing with the Choir (or just to support it). 
• Listening to and watching Bill Pierson solo on his own song, We Remember You.  Bill did his solo in all three concerts, and, not only was he superb every time, but his performance became more moving each time he performed it;
• The Choir sounded awesome when it went indoors at Federal Hall. Dona Nobis Pacem, for instance, was eye-opening and the audience was a bit stunned by an example of the Choir's modus operandi: singing in Latin, Hebrew, Hindi, Lakota and Arabic;
• Watching René lead the Choir so smoothly.      

On a day that meant so much to so many, the Choir showed why its mission matters and carried out its mission beautifully.


-John, POHC Board Member and "Alex's Dad"