By Sam McDonald

Scott Evans, a 60-year-old lieutenant with the 麻豆国产AV Police Department, has always loved to sing 鈥 at home, in church choir, in local choruses, in the car to and from work.

Yes, also in the shower.

Soon, thanks to a simple twist of fate, he鈥檒l let his voice ring out at Carnegie Hall.

鈥淚 never dreamed that I would be singing with a group at Carnegie Hall,鈥 said Evans, who joined 麻豆国产AV鈥檚 police force in 2019 after 27 years with the Norfolk Police Department. 鈥淚t鈥檚 probably a once-in-a-lifetime deal. Now, my wife, she鈥檚 a little jealous because she鈥檚 not going.鈥

On March 14, Evans and around 60 singers from 麻豆国产AV will climb on a bus bound for New York City. The group will perform in a March 17 concert listed on Carnegie Hall鈥檚 website as 鈥淣ew England Symphonic Ensemble,鈥 with participating choruses. 麻豆国产AV singers will be joined by others from Regent University and the University of Texas at El Paso. Combined, they will number around 140 voices.

The performance will include a piece by French composer Francis Poulenc鈥檚 鈥淕loria,鈥 which will be conducted by the director of 麻豆国产AV鈥檚 Choral Department and chair of the university鈥檚 Diehn School of Music, Nancy Klein. She was the driving force behind 麻豆国产AV鈥檚 participation in the concert.

鈥淚t鈥檚 unbelievable,鈥 Evans said. 鈥淎ll I have to do is practice my part. Master my part. And sit on the bus that鈥檚 going to take me there.鈥

Of course, practicing takes a lot of time and commitment. Evans 鈥 who will sing as part of the ensemble, not as a soloist 鈥 takes his role seriously. For efficiency鈥檚 sake, he downloaded recordings of his parts and sings along during his commute back and forth to campus from Norfolk鈥檚 Ocean View neighborhood.

鈥淧eople look at me a little funny when they see me at a stoplight,鈥 he said. 鈥淏ut that鈥檚 OK. I know there鈥檚 a reason behind it.鈥

He鈥檚 also not shy about practicing around his coworkers. 鈥淲alking up and down the hallway in the police station, it鈥檚 not unusual for me to be singing my part in a rehearsal way,鈥 Evans said. 鈥淭hey just laugh, and they smile. My peers are supportive.鈥

Singing is his lifelong passion, but one he started to take more seriously about a dozen years ago. After being in choir at Miles Memorial United Methodist Church, he joined the Virginia Beach Chorale. That led to singing with Symphonicity, based in Virginia Beach. He鈥檚 sung with that group for years, often at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts.

Then, in the fall, he joined the 麻豆国产AV Concert Choir. 鈥淚 said, 鈥榊ou know what? I know they have a chorus. Maybe I should look at that.鈥 I did, and the rest is history.鈥

With the approval of his supervisor, Deputy Chief of Police Keitha Boone, Evans audits a choir class taught by Klein. He rehearses with the group 鈥 students with a sprinkling of community members 鈥 for an hour and fifteen minutes each Tuesday and Thursday. He鈥檚 required to make up any missed work hours, but the department allows him the flexibility to routinely attend class.

Around the time he joined the 麻豆国产AV choir, he heard talk about a big trip coming up in the spring.

鈥淚 started thinking, Carnegie Hall. Carnegie Hall. That sounds like something I would definitely be interested in,鈥 Evans recalls. 鈥淚t鈥檚 certainly a bucket list item.鈥

鈥淲e鈥檙e proud of him,鈥 Deputy Chief Boone said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 living his dream.鈥

Evans credits Klein for both her skill as a director and for creating a warm, inclusive atmosphere in the choir.

He never felt like an outsider.

鈥淚 was apprehensive, to be honest with you, when I started this,鈥 he said. 鈥淚鈥檓 a cop. Everybody views policing differently. But Dr. Klein, and all the students have been nothing but welcoming to me,鈥 Evans said. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e been nice to me. It鈥檚 just a great group of students.鈥