“Can you play the Purdue Fight Song on the harp?”
I looked around the room lit by purple strobes and crystal chandeliers to find an older gentleman was standing over my left shoulder. The Elkhart Symphony had arranged for me to play harp for a fund raising dinner for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Elkhart County at the Lerner Theatre’s Crystal Ballroom.
I paused. “Well, I don’t know the song well enough to play from memory, but yes, I could play the fight son
g on the harp.” I smiled, trying desperately to think if I’ve ever even heard the Purdue fight song. My life choices have not put me at a lot of pep rallies!
The gentleman in the suit grinned. “I will donate $50 dollars right now if you can play Hail Purdue!”
“You’re on!” I laughed, “Give me just a moment!”
A year ago, I would have been lost. But I have recently turned my sheet music digital. Instead of trying to drag my shelves and shelves of music books around, now I just open an iPad. I was still supposed to be playing so with my right hand I began moving through cords. With my left, I used the iPad to access the internet and find a PDF of the Purdue fight song. A stream of raised hors d’oeuvres trays, fancy dressed guests and Big Brothers’ Big Sisters’ staff selling raffles floated around me. 
I opened the PDF in Forscore, my music app, and glanced through the four pages all while continuing to play with the other hand.
The gentleman had drifted back to his table. I stood up and waved. “All Hail Purdue coming up!”
As I began the fanfare, I could see a big grin out of the corner my eye. One guest leaned to another, “I’d never expect it on the harp!”
Finishing with a grand cord, I let it sit then turned around laughing, “Pay up!”
With a huge smile, the gentleman waved a fifty in the air, then handed it off to the staff.
What is your favorite fight song? I know a great charity!
Thanks to The Big Brother’s Big Sisters of Elkhart, The Elkhart County Symphony and The Lerner Theatre!