Cedarville Magazine, Summer 2014

Cedarville Magazine | 23 he singers fill the risers, single file — the men in black suits and the women in floor-length gowns. Their eyes are locked on center stage as the man with the baton takes his place. He turns to his choir and wordlessly communicates a message only they understand. The hushed auditorium strains to hear him give the pitch. They haven’t sung a single note, and yet he has the room. For four decades, Dr. Lyle Anderson ’70 has directed the Concert Chorale (formerly the Choralaires) and the Men’s Glee Club. These choirs have earned a reputation for excellence for their consistently polished performances. Cedarville Magazine asked two of his former students — who also happen to be his children — to share a glimpse of what the audience rarely sees: the man behind the baton. Thoughtful Preparation Some of my earliest memories are of my father, Lyle Anderson, leading a group of collegiate singers to make beautiful music together. I remember the way people responded, and, at an early age, I learned that music can touch the soul. This doesn’t just happen when you get a group of singers together and “turn ‘em loose” — it takes thoughtful preparation behind the scenes. I remember my dad working through hundreds of pieces of music during the summertime to select the right music and message for the Concert Chorale and Men’s Glee Club. He took this front-end responsibility seriously so that he would only ever offer his best to the Lord. After selecting the music, he spent hours marking each piece where he wanted to create just the right nuance. By the groups’ first rehearsals, my dad knew exactly how he wanted each piece to sound. I could go on about my dad’s technical expertise—his perfect pitch, his fluid movement, his ability to communicate emotion through sound—but I’mmost proud of my father for connecting the music to his own walk of life. He lived out what he coached others to sing. Once I got to college and had the privilege to sit under his leadership, I saw that he was more than a phenomenal conductor. Dad valued those in his charge beyond what they could do for him. I’m convinced he got more out of his vocal groups because each individual knew that he loved them for who they were. That is something I’ve tried to emulate as I have pursued a career as a worship pastor and studio singer. I have experienced that when people feel valued, their productivity increases — I’m not sure I would have known that apart frommy dad’s example of esteeming others higher than himself. Imitation is the highest compliment anyone can pay — I hope to be half the leader my dad has been. Eric Anderson ’96 is Pastor of Worship Arts at College Park Church. He and his wife, Heather (Hicks) ’96, live in Zionsville, Indiana. Humility and Self-Control As a Concert Chorale vocalist and a Men’s Glee Club piano accompanist, I enjoyed four years of sitting under Lyle Anderson’s musical leadership. These were my favorite classes in college. While some may assume I am biased because the professor was my dad, his character, giftedness, and godliness testifies to the greatness of his leadership style, both in and out of the classroom. Under his direction, I learned how to sing and play to the best of my abilities and, more than that, “as unto the Lord” (Col. 3:23). I learned what it meant to be a worship leader. Dad’s leadership style is marked by humility and self-control. I have never heard him raise his voice, in or out of the classroom. Even when 65 chatty college students gathered for rehearsal in the Concert Chorale classroom, “Dr. A” had the astounding ability to gain complete control within seconds by quietly stating, “I’ll wait.” Students respected my dad and all that he represented as a godly professor, adoring husband, and nurturing father. They responded positively to his leadership as a talented conductor and as a lifelong role model. An effective leader consistently demonstrates his or her ability to maintain a godly, orderly, controlled, and rightly prioritized life — regardless of the audience. Few people qualify for this kind of recognition, but Dr. Anderson, whom I am honored to call “Dad,” continues to inspire many as he uses his gifts to lead and “govern diligently” (Rom. 12:8). I am truly blessed to know him both as a respected conductor behind the baton as well as a godly conductor of our home. Lori (Anderson) Hoffeditz ’97 is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with Counseling Center at the Crossing. She and her husband, David ’92, live in Carmel, Indiana. T