OFF THE RECORD

Elaine McAnelly
Lawyer by Day, Singer & Flautist on Weekends

By Ann D. Zeigler

When Elaine McAnelly's youngest daughter, Jaci, was an infant, Elaine resumed flute lessons she had set aside since 7th grade. Soon after, Elaine enrolled at Houston Community College for a chamber ensemble class. The class was challenging but fun, and it got Elaine out of the house and away from her law firm desk.

Jaci is now an MBA/JD candidate at University of Houston. And pianist Marcia Reed, whom Elaine first met in that HCC chamber ensemble class, has been her accompanist on both flute and singing since 1989.

Diligent lawyer by day, first in private practice, now in the litigation group at JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., she is a flautist and singer on nights and weekends. Elaine notes with some bemusement that she has now been singing and playing the flute in public for more than 20 years.

She has sung concerts with the Bayou City Women's Chorus, sister group to the Gay Men's Chorus of Houston—Bayou City Performing Arts. She sang the role of Annina in La Traviata in 1999 for Opera in the Heights. In addition, Elaine has served for six years on the Board of the Houston Chamber Choir.

And she has performed variously as character, singer and musician with "Night Court," the Houston Bar Association's raucous annual fundraiser, which is now in its 20th year. Elaine fondly remembers Night Court's earliest days at Rice University's Hamman Hall, when every voice and instrument was necessary. Night Court aficionados may recall Elaine crossing the stage in the recurring role of Magenta from the Rocky Horror Picture Show, as well as her flute-playing with the early Night Court Orchestra.

Elaine also found the time during 2003-2004 to chair the HBA Bankruptcy Section and to co-found The Honorable Arthur L. Moller/David M. Foltz, Jr., American Inn of Court, an organization of more than 100 seasoned lawyers that provides monthly CLE presentations and mentors young lawyers practicing bankruptcy law.

Elaine currently serves on the HBA Senior Lawyers Committee as well as the HBA AIDS Outreach Committee, and she volunteers at Omega House AIDS Hospice. She has also served for the last four years as the Executive Sponsor for the Chase Houston Pride Team, one of the diversity programs of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.

Elaine sang for 18 years with the Chase Employee Holiday Choir, founded in 1946. Although that choir no longer presents daily concerts during the holiday season, the tradition of holiday singing in Chase's historic bank lobby continues through the Chase Holiday Choir Showcase, with Elaine serving on the bank committee that brings area choirs such as the HSPVA Madrigal Group and Houston Children's Chorus to sing in the lobby during the holidays.

Of all of her musical commitments, Elaine cherishes most her regular Sunday evening gig at Clarewood House, a retirement facility. Elaine began performing at Clarewood House after a dear neighbor moved there in 1992. Each Sunday, Elaine leads a very lively group through hymns, spirituals and other inspirational music, including some singers in their 90's and 100's. She has an average of 50-60 residents attending most Sundays. Elaine occasionally finds herself crooning with one or both of her favorite male soloists, ages 94 and 90, or her young "mentee," boy soprano Alex Jaya.

Elaine met Alex at Clarewood House in 2008 when he was performing there with Houston Young Artists Concerts. Elaine, wanting to encourage Alex's developing talent, began taking Alex along with her in May 2009 to lessons with voice teacher Carla Hammock. Now they both go for vocal coaching on Sundays followed by showing his talent at the Sunday night gathering.
In November 2009, Elaine teamed up with Alex and accompanist Marcia, to perform at the UH Law Center 1974 Class Reunion. As a member of the UHLC Law Alumni Board, Elaine founded the UHLC Reunions Committee, which she now co-chairs.

In addition to the Sunday night hymn singing, for 18 years Elaine and Marcia have assembled small groups of vocalists (now including Alex) and instrumentalists three to four times per year to play and sing show tunes, opera, classical and other musical favorites at Clarewood House on Saturday afternoons.

It doesn't get any better.

Ann D. Zeigler is a senior consultant with Third Coast Consultants. She is the editor in chief of The Houston Lawyer.

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