Cedarville Magazine
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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
