How A Job Interview With Robert Shaw Changed A Professor’s Life
Georgia State University
This story is part of WABE, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and ArtsATL’s The Shaw 100th series. For more stories, click here.
Job interviews are often awkward at their best, and disastrous at their worst. For Georgia State professor John Haberlen, one particular interview profoundly influenced his own life and career.
In 1973, Haberlen came down to Atlanta for a job interview at Georgia State University. He received his doctorate in choral conducting, and the work of one man in particular dominated the field: Robert Shaw.
Robert Shaw was famous for his namesake Chorale, along with his many recordings and tours. By 1973, Shaw had essentially disbanded his Chorale, among other side projects, to focus on building the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus into a full-time professional organization. Still, conducting and speaking appearances with Shaw were in high demand. He truly was a “choral giant.”
Imagine, then, Haberlen’s surprise when he was told his job interview would continue at Symphony Hall, after a rehearsal of Bach’s “St. John Passion” led by Shaw himself. After the rehearsal, Shaw put Haberlen in the hot seat.
“I was bombarded with questions about the ‘St. John Passion,’ and it was just nonstop.” Haberlen recounted on “City Lights.” “I’d give an answer, he’d ask another question. An answer, another question. And then all at once … he relaxed, and I knew my interview was over.”
Haberlen went on to become a professor of music at Georgia State, as well as the Director of the university’s School of Music. Shaw became a sort of mentor to Haberlen, but not his teacher. When Haberlen asked Shaw if he gave conducting lessons, the maestro’s answer was a flat “no.” Haberlen was, however, welcome to come to Shaw’s rehearsals … as a chorister.
“That was his deal, nobody came and just observed Mr. Shaw in rehearsal,” Haberlen remembered. “You came and you sang in the rehearsals.”
Lois Reitzes and John Haberlen also discussed the legacy of Robert Shaw, as well as the recently-established Robert Shaw Choral Scholar Award at GSU. Reitzes lauded the award, saying “nothing seems more fitting than a scholar award when one thinks of Robert Shaw … intellect just towered over everything he did. [It’s] not possible to separate the musician, the artist, from the depth of his thought and humanity.”
This story is a part of The Shaw 100th initiative, a collaboration between the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, ArtsATL and WABE 90.1FM to provide multifaceted coverage of Robert Shaw’s life and legacy in celebration of what would have been his 100th birthday.
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