Reflections: The Sacred Veil

For those of you who are not aware, I have performed with Canterbury Voices since January of 2015; this year marks my 11th season singing with Canterbury, including two years in Canterbury Chamber Voices (smaller ensemble). Canterbury is the largest symphonic choir within Oklahoma and routinely performs at Oklahoma City's Civic Center Music Hall with the Oklahoma City Philharmonic Orchestra.

On Saturday, March 1, 2025, Canterbury Voices will perform The Sacred Veil as created by composer Eric Whitaker and lyricist Charles Anthony "Tony" Silvestri. The Scared Veil weaves the story of Tony’s wife, Julie, and her battle with ovarian cancer into a reflection on the subtle divide (the "veil") between our present lives and eternity. The text comes from Tony’s reflective poetry and Julie’s own words from a blog she kept during her experiences. This concert features Jonathan Ruck, cello, and David Hillis, piano.

Although we have been rehearsing The Sacred Veil since January, it was not until a couple of weeks ago that I took the opportunity to simply listen to a recording of the full work (by the Los Angeles Master Chorale) in order movement-by-movement. The text is certainly soul gripping due to the nature of the story, especially in movement six, "I'm Afraid", where we hear the detailed medical jargon used for Julie’s diagnoses and treatment plans (several years of this path merged into one musical movement) and in movement eleven, "You Rise, I Fall", when Julie takes her final breath. In the midst of this soul gripping journey, there are moments of deep love, laughter, romance, and "delicious" times. 

While listening to The Sacred Veil, I reflected on many important people in my own life who have battled cancer, some surviving and some who did not - whether family, friends, and colleagues their lives, love, and legacies are a significant part of who I am and they will be at the forefront of my thoughts during the March 1st concert.

— In memory of Aunt Leona J., Aunt Nancy, Jamie, Debbie, Mike, Earl, Kevin and others.

— In honor of Shelley, Troy, Becky, Ron, Beth, Chelsee, Liz, Roy, Brook, Emily, Crystal, and others.

I’ll also be thinking of several colleagues, friends, and family members who are in the midst of a cancer battle right now.

— In prayer for Krystal, Stephanie, Shawn, Rick, Abby, and others.

While the story behind The Sacred Veil is about lives impacted by cancer, the story also carries similar themes with other aspects of loss that are part of our human experience. Whether the loss comes more slowly through a lengthy battle with some other illness or through a more sudden flashing and unexpected moment, loss and grief eventually impact all of us. During loss and grief, we all grapple with a variety of emotions and reflections, including those related to what happens after death - what is going on with our loved ones on the other side of that "sacred veil".

Additionally, it is not lost on me that many who will be on the stage or in the audience will also be reflecting on lives lost and otherwise impacted by the April 19, 1995 bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City; this concert will be presented roughly 1-1/2 months before the 30th anniversary of the bombing. 

And so, while singing I’ll also be reflecting on those who have survived, those who are fighting this terrible disease, and those already on the other side of "the sacred veil".