I remember one of my first days at Holy Cross. I was a dumb freshman, but I heard that there were choir auditions that day. I knew that the College Choir was an open group, and I would probably get rejected from Jazz Ensemble, so I tried out. Although I had been a musician for some time, I never auditioned for anything. So I made my way up to the fifth floor of Hogan, and Bruce introduced himself to me. After going through the logistics, we went into the main rehearsal room and vocalized. I was really, really nervous and probably sounded terrible – flat, way flat. But Bruce said I was fine and that I was going to be in the tenor section. He told me with voice lessons I could be an illustrious Chamber Singer. So I walked away feeling good, I had joined a music club at Holy Cross.
Over the next few weeks, we worked on music for the Beethoven concert. I found out we were going to be singing with an orchestra – I had never done that before! I was both profoundly nervous and profoundly excited. If I remember one thing: I remember Bruce always telling me not to worry and that our group was the best. Even that day, when on one song he singled me out – he told me, "Thank you for fixing that mistake."

Bruce motivated me. Those first few months and the coming months would be rough, but Choir always gave me something to look forward to. The Beethoven concert was ambitious: the first piece was the Kyrie from the Missa Solemnis, one of the most difficult Masses. We did a good job on it that night. No matter how many times we messed up and Bruce called us "chowderheads," he always let us know that we were one of his best groups he ever had.

After the Beethoven concert, we worked on the Christmas concert, which was really great as well. The music wasn't as challenging as the first, but still, it was a great experience. After Christmas break, things for me would change greatly in the Choir.

At the end of January is when the Choir officers are announced. I never really considered myself up for one – again, I still thought I was a dumb freshman. I remember that night I read that e-mail. It had been a really difficult week. I often found myself wondering what was the point of going on. Then I read my e-mail that night, and lo and behold, I was a librarian. What a change I felt – I had a new thrust to my life. I realized Bruce really did believe in me.

Soon thereafter, Bruce broke his leg and had to have surgery. I remember some other Choir members and I helped Bruce around Holy Cross in his wheelchair. Bruce was always sure to be thankful, and when he was better, he took us all out to eat at Barber's Crossing. Indeed, it had been a very active time. Both the Choir and Chamber Singers had concerts and there was the production of The Fantasticks, which had already been full of challenges. Bruce was a very dedicated man – he wanted to see these things done to completion, so he worked very hard to get better for us. All three went extremely well.

During the Spring weekend concert, we did a song by Elgar, "For the Fallen." Bruce was a really patriotic man, and I think really felt that our great reading of it was truly an accomplishment. The Fantasticks was also a success, and Bruce formed the Light Opera Company with the hope of putting on Gilbert and Sullivan's HMS Pinafore, of which he discovered a lost song. He had hopes of doing Mozart's Mass in C minor, of which we had done the Kyrie for the spring concert. And for the following year, with the Consortium, the Verdi Requiem.

In closing, Bruce was a great director. He always had us play the best music – not some bowdlerized version, but the real thing. He was very dedicated to his work and showed tremendous pride in his country and Holy Cross. Although he may have been hard on us, he got the best out of all of us. From working with him closely when I became an officer, I could see he was very dedicated to us and to music. For him and J.J.'s whiskey sours, for the orchestra rehearsal for the spring concert, for getting his lattes at intermission at the Fantasticks, for helping him around Holy Cross, all the memories. I don't regret anything, and this year of College Choir is definitely one of the best memories I've ever had. As Bob Hope sang, "Thanks for the Memories."

And now, some classic Bruce Miller quotes:

"Sopranos (or Altos, Tenors, or Basses) – you chowderheads!!!!"

"If you don't get this right, I'm gonna have machine guns mounted in the choir loft."

"Don't make stupid mistakes – I throw music stands and make cellists cry."

"Never give encouraging looks to the brass, or to the tenor section."

"Frank – unf**** my loops!!"

"Did an inebriated man just come in?!"

(after making a mistake) "That's how they do it at Assumption."

(after orchestra rehearsal) "OK – where's my whiskey sour?"

"I want to see blood arc (or spit all over the piano) on that note."

"Basses, you have to learn to control your climaxes!"

"You guys I would have to say, are one of the best groups I've ever worked with."

Joe Scolastico '06