“Who We Are Project”

This installment highlights Joan Hutchinson, the longtime accompanist for Lux Cantorum Chicago. Unfortunately, the May 2023 concert series will be Joan’s last one in this capacity. Joan shares with us, from her perspective as a seasoned member of the Chicago music community, just how unique and special Lux Cantorum really is.

What do you love about LCC?
I love the people and I love the music. The people of LCC have been a different group than any I have played for. They are an interesting group of people with interesting lines of work. For instance, I’d never known anybody who was an FBI agent for animal protection, or the head of infectious diseases for the University of Chicago Hospital system. All kinds of people are part of LCC. I hear great stories. There are people from a variety of countries and a variety of backgrounds. It’s been a lively group to get to hang out with. That’s been a joy.

Mostly the choir just gets together to rehearse, but there is always downtime. Especially during performances, there is a certain amount of just “hanging around time” that is just part of the experience. But also, Wilbert and Philip have been very intentional—during Covid especially, but also after—to give us time to check in and just talk. That’s been extremely useful. During 15-minute breaks, we have been asked to get into groups of five and discuss some question. Then there are also those times of carpooling to performances when you get in a car and chat. Occasionally, there has been a group that would go out after practice for a slice of pizza or have a beer.

And then there is the music of LCC. I love Wilbert and I know he is going to pick interesting music. He has very wide-ranging taste. Probably wider than I do. If Wilbert thinks it is interesting, I’m in, and it would probably be interesting to somebody in the audience, and there will be some kind of connection or interaction with them.

What about LCC’s mission speaks most powerfully to you?
I have always disliked competitions in music because I think it really distorts what is going on. If you have music that carries some kind of emotional, intellectual, or spiritual content, and you can communicate that content to other people, then I am there. That’s where LCC starts. There is going to be content in our concerts—emotional, spiritual, and intellectual. It is also important to me that LCC is not tied to a specific congregation, and LCC is all the richer because of that.

How do you see the role of music in spirituality and faith?
That’s a big question for somebody who does what I do! Music always carries spiritual and emotional content. Music is also a very good mnemonic device. For many of us, it is how we have memorized whatever scriptural text we have managed to memorize. If you want to carry some of those texts around in your heart, then there is nothing like having tunes to go with them.

Also, there is a Jesuit idea that there is a duty to delight. Having beauty in worship is a real calling.

Tell me about an event (concert, etc.) that for you most captured the essence of the LCC experience.
One of the most vivid times when we performed, and it was not typical but it was sure vivid was when we were asked by Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events to lead caroling in Millennium Park. It was really, really cold! I had never been asked to play keyboard when it was that cold. I was thinking, “Who is going to come and stand out in the cold and sing Christmas carols?” There were hundreds of people there who clearly liked to sing in groups, and were happy to have the opportunity. There was a little boy standing near me who was so happy that we sang “Jingle Bells” because it was his favorite song, and standing there in the dark while hundreds of people sang “Jingle Bells” just made him happy.

But the other thing that was going on at the same time were demonstrations right there on Michigan Avenue about police brutality. There were sirens going off, and you could hear people chanting. But we were standing there singing “Silent Night” and I thought “Boy, I am really part of Chicago right this minute!” I am sure glad we showed up that night!

What’s next for LCC?
Two things: The heart of what we do are two concerts a year on various themes, in various places around the city. I want to see us continue to do that. But, other doors have been opened for us to sing for some other park district things, and other venues. There were also doors opened for us with the Latvian piece—especially when we were in lockdown and nobody was going anywhere.

On the subject of marketing the choir; if I were a new college graduate and I moved to the big city and I had always been a singer, I would think that because it is challenging music and I am used to singing challenging music—and if I didn’t know anybody in the big city—I would think this would be a fun group to join! LCC is not the only such group in town, but it’s a good one. However, if you are just looking for a “fun time” get-together choir, this might drive you crazy, but especially for people who came from faith-based colleges, if music is how you are used to meeting people in your life, this might be for you.

How does LCC’s mission speak to our day?
Every time is universal. We always need connection, and we always need beauty.

Check out all our other “Who We Are Project” profiles