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Gary Mabry stood frozen on 57th Street in New York City. There it was, Carnegie Hall. And, outside the venerable venue that has seen the likes of John Philip Sousa and Luciano Pavarotti, six-foot posters read 鈥淯TSA Women鈥檚 Alumnae Choir鈥擥ary Mabry, conductor.鈥�

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鈥淚ncidentally, I talked [Carnegie Hall officials] out of the poster and have since had it framed,鈥� he said.

Mabry, an associate professor of music, lived out a lifetime dream in March when he was a guest conductor at Carnegie Hall. Mabry led a group of 60 performers, who included current members of the UTSA鈥檚 Women鈥檚 Choir and members of the UTSA Women鈥檚 Alumnae Choir. The group performed a 25-minute prelude concert, then joined a larger group of 250 singers to perform Beethoven鈥檚 鈥淢ass in C,鈥� led by British composer-conductor John Rutter.

鈥淭he group delivered a fabulous concert and everyone felt so good because they worked so hard all these months,鈥� Mabry said. 鈥淭he trip also generated goodwill between our alumni and current students and allowed both the opportunity to sing with one another.鈥�

The journey began in October 2008 when Mabry was contacted by Mid-America Productions, the booking agency for most of the performances at Carnegie Hall. Mid-America knew of his history, both as a choral director and vocalist in other singing groups, but this was the first time they had offered him the opportunity to serve as a guest conductor.

鈥淚 worked on putting this project together for a year and a half,鈥� he said. 鈥淐urrent students worked on the music since last September. Local singers joined us for rehearsals each weekend and on Fridays beginning in January. Rehearsals in New York were held over a four-day period prior to the actual concert.鈥�

Singers came from throughout Texas, as well as Mississippi, Delaware, Oregon, Ohio and New Mexico. With such a massive undertaking, Mabry used Facebook to keep everyone informed.

鈥淚 started a , and used it as a vehicle to send and receive information,鈥� he said. For Mabry, it ranks at the top of his musical achievements. But the moment he鈥檒l always remember? 鈥淚t was the moment just after our singers had taken their places on stage and I was walking on to conduct at Carnegie Hall!鈥� he said. 鈥淚t was amazing. There were incredible acoustics and there was a very good crowd.鈥�

鈥擪ris Rodriguez and Lety Laurel