During my sophomore year, I joined the chorus at Southwest Texas State Teachers College, under the direction of Dr. Ira Renay Bowles, a graduate of Westminster Choir College.
Dr. Bowles could wring music from a turnip; in rehearsals Bowles rhapsodized about "color" of sounds and how they fit into a "marvelous tapestry." His reputation as a choral director made it possible for us to be invited to sing in two operas with the San Antonio Symphony — "Die Fledermaus" and "Manon."
Performances were in the Municipal Auditorium in San Antonio, and my parents came to see the chorus. Dad wasn't happy about it, but he finally admitted that it "was pretty good."
I didn't mention he had the distinct privilege of witnessing two of opera's world-class divas, Novotna and Kirsten, performing their principal operas and his youngest son sang in the chorus -- in French.
The chorus performed in high schools throughout southeast Texas. In one assembly, the principal opened the event with this startling introduction: "It is my privilege to present to you the Southwest Texas State College a cappella chorus under the direction of Dr. Ira Runny Bowels."
The choir risers shook as we collapsed in laughter, the kid pulling the stage curtain had to wait until we gathered ourselves.
Then, Dr. Bowles smiled benignly and tapped his baton for us to begin.
