THOUGHTS FROM A MUSICIAN'S HEART
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Funny how things turn out sometimes . . . especially in God’s kingdom, His perfect timing, His perfect will. I find myself marveling continually
My 17-year-old self made a campus visit to Wheaton College. (I should have gone to Wheaton, but that’s another - thankfully redeemed - story.) During those couple of days I had a visit with the then-Dean of the Conservatory of Music, Harold Best. At one point he asked me, “David, what is it you really want to do?” I answered, “Well, Dr. Best, I don’t know if I should be a professional musician or an evangelist.” He looked at me and said . . . “Why do you have to make that choice?” Blew my mind, still trying to get over it. (If you haven’t read his book Music through the Eyes of Faith, please do so.)
I focused my energy on my professional career for the next 20 years, all the while hoping and praying I was following God’s will amidst all of the challenges. These were years filled with uncertainty and instability, along with many questions (Am I on the right path? Is it even possible that this is God’s will?).
While serving as an assistant conductor for the New York Philharmonic I received a call to substitute last minute at the MasterWorks Festival. This opened a whole new chapter for me; I basically stood on the podium and wept the entire week. For the first time, my faith and my art came together in a tangible way. I didn’t even know what I had to offer, but God knew. That week was over 27 years ago. I continue to go to MW every summer and the people I met back then and have worked with since are still some of my closest friends and stalwart encouragers in the Lord.
In 2009 I received another call as a last minute replacement, for Haydn Creation in Romania. Oratorium was a new festival focused on one sacred masterwork, with a deep dive into the theology of the piece. Beat Rink, founder of Crescendo International, was one of the speakers and Timothy Bentch, founder of the Crescendo Summer Institute, was tenor soloist. During our time together they asked me to conduct the following summer at CSI in Hungary. Fifteen years later I still conduct there each summer.
Six years ago at CSI there was a group of about 20 Americans who gathered to pray about bringing the ministry of Crescendo to the U.S. What was clear to everyone - except me - was that I would be the one to lead that effort. I began that fall with about 80 Crescendo members in North America and have worked since then, alongside many others, to build Crescendo North America, now over 1500 members. (I encourage you to visit Classical Musicians Worldwide in Café Jubalatte and to sign on to the Christian musicians link, no cost and no obligation, to become part of the global network.)
A couple of years ago I had a second conversation with Harold Best (about Crescendo, actually) during which I recounted our meeting some 40 years ago. He said, “Boy, I must have gotten some wisdom from somewhere that day!” Indeed, from that Somewhere, from that Someone. I never had to make that choice after all . . . funny how things turn out Sometimes.
