Director and Cast

This documentary was produced and supported by West Point Glee Club alumni who attended the event. The performers include the alumni, two Cadet Glee Club directors, and the United States Military Academy Band.

Executive Producers 

It has been said that West Point reflects two hundred years of Tradition, unhampered by Progress. Trying something as ambitious as a reunion concert performed by returning alumni spanning decades seemed like an idea doomed for failure. But alumni Mike Hart, Larry Smith, and Alan Salisbury persevered and succeeded beyond all wildest expectations. Without the Herculean efforts of these three, the reunion -and this documentary- never would have occurred.  What is even more amazing is that Mike didn’t really start pursuing his dream until 2006, less than a year before it all came to fruition. 

Associate Producer

It has also been said that, "Amateurs talk about tactics, but professionals study logistics."

That being said, the Battle of Trophy Point was won almost single-handedly by Maryellen Picciuto, a professional on the Association of Graduates staff. Her behind-the-scenes efforts allowed the returning alumni to concentrate on rehearsals and to enjoy the times in between.

Videographers

Only one videographer for this documentary is a professional: Bill Taylor, who is also an alumni, recorded the concert itself.  The remaining guerrilla videographers were recruited at the beginning of the event.  Over 20 hours of video were recorded by these volunteers. Tom Rock and Jim Walker produced many of the great interviews which really captured the spirit of the event. Kathy Berens, Sally Rock, and Linda Walker provided most of the additional footage of the concert itself, the “pre-concert” concert, and some of the rehearsals.

Conductors 

It takes a special type of conductor who can take a bunch of amateur singers, many who can’t read music, and get them to perform at high profile, national events that showcase one of the Nation’s most prestigious institutions. William Cosby and Constance Chase have performed these duties admirably for years. 

LTC Timothy Holtan, the conductor of the USMA Band, was able to bring together the consummate professionals of the band with the passionate but musically-challenged alumni and produce something magical.

Performers 

The alumni who performed in the concert were all former members of the West Point Cadet Glee Club. Classes represented at the event started with 1952 and ended with 2001. Alumni came from as far away as Israel to be a part of this momentous occasion.

As part of new cadet in-processing, each new cadet auditions for the club. The possibility of leaving Post to sing on trips turns out to be a big motivator, which helps to identify individuals with natural musical talent. For most Classes, cadets were only allowed into the “varsity” club after their Plebe year. The cadets learn a core repertoire for those three years, supplemented by a variety of popular tunes inserted each year. 

The 2007 concert repertoire consisted of core songs, with “Mansions of the Lord” included as a song that was new to nearly all the attendees. It was no easy feat cleaning up old songs and learning a new one, but the challenge was welcomed by all. Despite seven-hour rehearsals, many alumni would gravitate to a piano during breaks and continue singing familiar songs and show tunes with their fellow alumni.

Accompanists

The USMA Band provided much of the accompaniment for the concert. They also wrote a special arrangement for “Mansions of the Lord,” and the alumni were the first ones to perform it (ahead of the Cadet Glee Club).  The entire concert was possible because the alumni portion piggybacked onto one of the band’s Summer Concert performances. 

As a cadet, John Fitzpatrick was a Glee Club accompanist, and he was the Glee Club President his Firstie year. His ability to play by ear (and cover cadet mistakes) made him a treasured member during concerts, and an even greater joy to have around at the post-concert parties.

Ruthanne Schempf is the daughter of COL William Schempf, who held the prestigious title of Teacher of Music at West Point (he was the 13th, and probably last, person to hold that title, which was established by Sylvanus Thayer in 1817). Ruthanne has probably accompanied more Glee Club cadets that anyone else, and her rendition of Battle Hymn of the Republic is unparalleled.

William Raiford, from the Class of 1952, was also the Club accompanist and a Club President during his cadet years. He once had the honor of accompanying Kate Smith when she sang “God Bless America” (she normally would not sing that piece without using her personal accompanist). While William chose to sing rather than play piano for the concert, he and John Fitzpatrick kept alumni singing whenever there was a break in the action (Glee Club Reunion alumni abhor a musical vacuum). 

When Rex Good was a cadet, hearing and visual impairments kept him from accompanying the Club during concerts, but he shared his talents during rehearsals. Rex reprised this role for the reunion.

Concert Audio Engineer 

SFC Blair Ferrier, a member of the USMA Band, was responsible for recording the audio of the concert, snippets of which are included in this documentary.  The results of his labor were also used in the production of a DVD and CD of the concert.

Producer/Director/Editor/Videographer/Publicist/Chief Cook/Bottle Washer

Tom Berens was also a member of the Glee Club during his cadet years. After retiring from the military, he began working as an IT contractor, working with DARPA, ICANN, and the Offices of General Counsel of the Dept of Transportation and Headquarters, Dept of the Army.

Tom also started his own company, takeBIGbytes, a video-animation studio. In that capacity, he produced several football spirit videos for the USMA Public Affairs Office that were shown in the stadium during the 2001, 2002, and 2008 Army-Navy football games.  

He also produced a television commercial for a nationally syndicated radio program that aired in the DC metropolitan area during prime time on the local Fox affiliate. 

Tom has also produced several spirit videos in support of the Washington Capitals hockey team.

He also produced a DVD and a CD of the 2007 Reunion Concert.

Tom is a founding member of the DC Chapter of the West Point Alumni Glee Club (WPAGC), a by-product of the 2007 Reunion. He has produced several videos for that club, documenting or supplementing many of their performances.

Tom has been a choir member in St Bernadette’s Parish in Springfield, VA, for over 25 years. He has recorded many of their performances.

Tom is always looking for interesting animation and/or video projects.  Much of his work can be found by searching YouTube using “takebigbytes” or “WPAGC” as search terms.