 "Photo: File Photo")
A s a performer, usually the only thing going through my mind is making good music and pleasing the entire audience. But then, a former president isn't usually sitting in the front row with tears in his eyes.
During the President's Grand Choral Concert on March 28, 180 members of the combined choirs of Century Singers, Singing Cadets and Women's Chorus
performed at St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Houston. Former choir members and Aggies from across Texas came to hear the choirs sing. The surprise guest was George H.W. Bush, who along with Texas A&M President Elsa Murano mouthed the words to "America the Beautiful" and "Spirit of Aggieland."
A&M is not a school known for its arts and the President's Grand Choral Concert, performed over two days in two cities, was a way to promote A&M in a different way. Murano opened the March 27 performance at the Long Center in Austin with an introduction and promotional videos for A&M.
Sean Faulkner a freshman biomedical engineering major and member of Singing Cadets said it was great to see Murano supporting the arts.
After each of the three choirs sang in Austin, a reception was held.
"At the reception after the performance at the Long Center, President Murano asked me if I knew former President Bush was going to be at our next concert. I didn't know, but I got really excited," said Century Singer Jenna Christopher, a junior molecular and cell biology major.
Murano introduced the second concert by saying it lit up her heart to hear the "Spirit of Aggieland" sung in Austin. She also said that it was wonderful to see us singing so beautifully even though A&M is not known for its arts programs and even though we have different majors, the choir members came together for their first love: music.
"I love how we are all getting compliments for our concerts and hardly any of us are music majors," said Women's Chorus member Keenan Clark, a sophomore education major.
We stood at the front of St. Martin's, the church that Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush attend regularly, and my eyes were glued to the former president, who held hands with his wife. Apparently other choir members were watching them as well because after the performance everyone had stories to tell.
"He was very attentive throughout the whole concert, mouthed the words to a lot of the songs and even winked at me," said Century Singer Caitlyn Downs, a freshman biomedical science major.
Junior history major Lauren Perez said: "During the start of the women's chorus performance, Barbara Bush pulled out her little pink camera and started sneaking pictures. She could have just pulled it all the way out. The first time she used it, it flashed and she got all nervous and she tried to fix that problem."
Unfortunately, I did not get to meet the former president and former first lady, but some others did.
"When we were standing outside, before we sang, President Bush came out to talk to us and he and Barbara were shaking everyone's hand," Women's Chorus member Perez said. "She basically said 'they don't want to talk to us old people' and they went inside."
Kevin Quentin, freshman petroleum engineering major, said, "[Bush] seemed much more of a person than a figurehead. He is really personable but if you never met him he would just be another president."
At the end of the concert, Bush used his cane to join the standing ovation. I felt a sense of relief and pride as he walked out ahead of the crowd, waved his cane and said thank you to us.
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