Board Member James Marcus in Boldface Names

Press

Another Crack at the Chorus

Something happened at a party for JAMES S. MARCUS, a board member of the Collegiate Chorale and former chairman of the Metropolitan Opera: he sang, in spite of his ninth-grade music teacher.

The song was only ''Happy Birthday to You,'' and, as in ninth grade, his voice was only one of among many. The performance began with a downbeat from the chorale's music director, ROBERT BASS. The name that was sung in the third line was ''Paul,'' for the philanthropist PAUL SOROS, pictured, who turned 76. His wife, DAISY, is on the Collegiate Chorale's board.

The Chorale was founded in 1941. Mr. Marcus's singing career foundered a few years later, during a ninth-grade production of ''Faust'' at the Horace Mann-Lincoln School.

By James Barron, The New York Times - June 11, 2002