Video: ‘The 12 Days AFTER Christmas’
By Kevin Coughlin
For 29 years as music director at the Morristown United Methodist Church, June Van Thoen has chosen her selections carefully.
Songs embed themselves in our minds, after all. By serving Bach and Fauré to her choral groups, she has striven to give them — and their listeners– some satisfying and nutritious memories.
Yet our most enduring, and endearing, musical memory of Van Thoen, who retires in August, involves a rubber goose and a wicked smile.
Her annual romp through The Twelve Days AFTER Christmas, with the Christmas Singers quartet, has become a Yuletide tradition as beloved as holiday punch and boughs of holly at the church.
“What makes for excitement and variety is the diversity” of music, Van Thoen said last week.
On Saturday, June 25, 2016, scores of singers will come from near and far to thank her for bringing that diversity to their lives. The 5 pm concert at the church is free and all are welcome.
Choristers from the Presbyterian Church in Morristown and the Harmonium Choral Society will join singers past and present from the Methodist Church.
Among other numbers, they will perform two new compositions: God Shall Wipe Away All Tears, commissioned in honor of a late friend, Sally Arnold; and How Firm a Foundation.
Van Thoen’s tenure has spanned seven senior ministers. She has expanded the Music at Noon and Abendmusik concert series, overseen the $50,000 renovation of the church’s Austin organ, and led choirs ranging from preschoolers to golden-agers. (“Womb-to-tomb,” she joked). There’s even a bell choir.
MORE THAN ‘JOYFUL NOISE’
Musicians of all abilities have passed through her programs. She has challenged them all to “be the best we can be.”
That is a demanding goal, Van Thoen acknowledged.
“God only asks for a joyful noise. I have a higher standard,” she said with a laugh. “I work them hard. But we have fun. We are a family.”
Gail Remaly can attest to that.
“A rehearsal with June is hard work but also a lot of fun; she brings a sense of humor into the rehearsal room,” and coaxes the best from singers, said Remaly, who chaired the committee that hired Van Thoen nearly three decades ago.
Remaly considers that selection “one of the greatest successes of my life.”
She will travel from Arizona to sing at this month’s tribute to Van Thoen, “a consummate musician, a superb vocalist and one of the very finest choral conductors that I have had an opportunity to work with.”
“She sets high standards, but never belittles members,” said Charlie Buck, another veteran of the choir.
Van Thoen’s outgoing personality, engaging sense of humor, and ability to communicate the how and why behind her directions have stood the test of time, he said.
Buck still smiles at the memory of Van Thoen teaching dance steps to the choir for a performance of Casey at the Bat. Another rehearsal was interrupted by a man in a chicken suit, delivering a singing birthday telegram to her.
While she imparted many valuable vocal techniques, Buck added, her greatest legacy may be this: “It doesn’t matter how large or how small your performing group, or how talented or untalented it is. If each of us strives to do our best, amazing and wonderful things happen.”
Andy Cattano, 28, grew up singing for Van Thoen and considers her a second mother. She taught him how to make beautiful sounds, and more importantly, that these sounds deliver a message.
“Every song, every text, has a deeper meaning that we get to convey to the listeners,” said Cattano. It never was about winning applause; “we were there to celebrate and praise God,” he said.
Expressing gratitude for Van Thoen’s “magnificent music,” longtime congregation member Ellie Coutts put it simply:
“She raised us up.”
MUSICAL AMBASSADOR
As the daughter of a Methodist minister, Van Thoen learned early that churches are human institutions, with all the politics and issues one finds in other walks of life.
“You see the best and worst in people,” she said.
She also observed the impact of spiritual music. The hymnal is second only to the Bible in its power, she believes.
“When you put the words and music together, it goes to a different part of the brain,” Van Thoen said. “When you’re under great stress and emotion, what may come to you, as opposed to scripture, is a hymn.”
And in the competition for souls, music puts fannies in the pews.
“If the preaching is fabulous but the music is mediocre, they will go someplace else,” she said.
Senior Pastor Brandon Cho praised Van Thoen for her “joy, passion and love,” and for leaving a solid musical foundation for whoever follows.
“She has taken her Director of Music Ministries position as her real ministry — more than just a job,” Cho said.
Through the Music at Noon and Abendmusik concerts, Van Thoen also has been a musical ambassador for the community, introducing classical soloists, chamber ensembles, jazz quartets, and more, to all ages, said Dr. Lynn Siebert of Morris Arts.
“Her delight in all things artistic makes her a joy to all her friends,” Siebert said. “She is an irrepressible spirit of joy with a smile that lights the room.”
“She’s been an important person in the musical life of Morristown,” said Wayne Walters, former director of the Morris Choral Society and a member of The Christmas Singers. He’s hoping to coax Van Thoen back for this year’s holiday concert.
Hosting artists such as Rio Clemente, Paul Ziegler, Mialtin Zhezha and Alina Kiryayeva has been a delight, said Van Thoen, who honed her musical skills at East Carolina University and the Music Academy of West Santa Barbara, training as a classical and operatic singer.
She vetted performers with the same attention she devoted to Sunday hymn choices.
“I wanted people to know that if they’re in the series, they’re worth hearing,” Van Thoen said. “I didn’t work with artists who had attitudes. There are too many wonderful artists out there who are wonderful to work with.”
She and her husband Anton will move from Parsippany to her native Richmond, Va., the midpoint between their grown children. It won’t be hard to find her down there.
“The best way to meet people in a new area is: Join the chorus,” Van Thoen said. “Singing is so good for you. They’ve done studies. In a chorus, you breathe together. It’s a wonderful thing.”
Van Thoen’s future friends are in for a wonderful thing.
“I’ve got a lot of music left in me,” she said.
My sister-in-law June Frances Laine was the lead in Manchester High School’s “My Fair Lady.” As Eliza Doolittle, June single handed put the favorite musical on the Richmond, Virginia map. I know because I had duel singing parts in the production. Manchester High is a Chesterfield County school just outside of Richmond. I was a Senior, and she was a freshman with blond hair, a beautiful soul with the voice of an angle. It didn’t hurt that she was a doll with a smile that just took everyone away. Because of her, I won the consolation prize a year later by marrying her older sister, Barbara. I must admit that I had a crush on Ms. June, but big sister took my heart. One would have to be a member of their family to understand what real Christian’s were. Such a pleasure to have spent the past 49 years as a member. Rev. A. Woodrow Laine not only preached the word of God, he also lived it for all to see. Between him and my sweet mother-in-law, Frances Cotton Laine, I had an entirely new family to add to my life. June has used her talents to motivate my musical career which I am profoundly grateful. Barbara and I are looking forward to having Anton and June in Richmond. Sorry folks, it’s our turn to have her close again!