When I walked into the reception, I was greeted by more applause. I had changed into black slacks and shirt with a light green linen blazer, not the stylized tuxedo I’d worn to conduct in. I bowed my head humbly and held up my hands. When I could get them a little quieter, I said, “Everyone. Thank you so much. You did incredibly well. The concert was perfect.”
More cheering and applause broke out with shouts of “It was you, Shelby,” which evolved into “Shel-by, Shel-by, Shel-by…”
I couldn’t get them to stop. I finally threw my hands up in the air which caused everyone to laugh and clap.
I turned to the man who was standing beside me: the President of the Board, Jim Welsh. “I seem to have lost control,” I told him. We both laughed.
He hugged me and said, “I don’t know what you did, but
