GRAMMY Winner Works With Truman Singers, Invites Them to Perform in December

Seizing a unique, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, members of the Truman High School chamber and concert choirs learned from a musical master. Five-time GRAMMY Award- winner Charles Bruffy spent three hours with the Truman singers and was so impressed with their talents, he invited the choir to sing alongside the GRAMMY- winning Kansas City Chorale during their Christmas Concert in December. Bruffy, the chorus director of the Kansas City Symphony, artistic director of the Kansas City Chorale and 2015 GRAMMY- winner for Best Choral Performance, actually approached Kim Carson, Truman’s director of vocal music, during an alumni concert at Missouri Western State University (both are MWSU graduates) and asked to work with her choir students.

“I was literally speechless,” Carson said. “I thought, ‘what an opportunity for my students!’” She said having an internationally- known and respected musical talent take time out of his jam-pack schedule and come to her classroom brought out the best in her students.

“He demanded excellence at a level so high the students were in awe of what they were capable of accomplishing,” Carson said. “I believe they performed at a level far greater than their capabilities!

“It was truly amazing to watch him work and learn from him. He is a master of sound!”

Carson said while most in school were looking forward to the day’s final bell and the start of Spring Break, her students were working diligently and everyone was actually sad when the final bell did ring.

“It was such a remarkable day,” she said. “The kids were so responsive to his requests and I am incredibly proud of all of our young singers.”

It was a remarkable, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and Carson and her students took full advantage!