Give Thanks...For Choral Music

 This morning I did a little channel surfing and I came upon the weekly broadcast of the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. They're kind of famous, and I've known about them all my life. That happens growing up in Utah.

The first time I joined a choir was my senior year of high school. I didn't sing in jr. high school because I was in the band. In high school I left my baritone behind and went music-less for three years. My senior year I got involved, ran track, took drama, and choir. I had a great year. I loved choir.

Fast forward a few years and I'm sitting in an econ class when my friend from high school sat next to me before the first class began. He said he wasn't in the class, but he needed to transfer because he got into an a'cappella choir that was going to England next spring. I asked if they needed more singers. He said they might. That day I went to the choir class and auditioned. I made the grade. 

I was in that choir class for four years. I loved choir.

In fact, it changed my life.

Fast forward a few decades. Since college, I've done plays and was even in a choir or two. I've always loved singing, even to this day...even if my voice is not what it once was. Now, I have several friends in The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square, the state's (and one of the country's...) top choirs. I'm too old to realistically join, even though I wonder what it would be like to be a member. The reason I'd love to join even now is because I know how much fun it is to sing with others as well as being with good, talented people. Their music is beautiful. The experience, I'm sure, is even better.

I'm thankful for choral music, even though I was late to the party. I'm thankful for the music, for the art. There's a spirit singing conjures (for good or bad...), a synergy. There's nothing quite like it. Sing on, my brothers and sisters...sing on.

Give Thanks...For Choral Music

I got into the choral singing late in the game. Most of my friends took choir in jr. high school. Not me--I took band. I actually liked band, even though I didn't practice as much as I should have (or admitted to doing...). When I moved to high school, we had a choice to take music classes or not. I quit band. I also didn't have to take choir, so I didn't.

My loss.

In my sophomore year, my brother was a senior, He was in choir and madrigals and did quite well. When I became a senior, I decided to get involved. I joined the choir, went to state and lettered with our double quartet and had a blast. After returning from my mission, I joined the Mormon Youth Chorus and sang with them for three years. In my second year at college a friend of mine told me the University of Utah's A'capella Choir was looking for singers. I auditioned, made the cut, and it changed my life forever.

For the next six or seven years, I was involved in a choir. After I got married, my wife and I sang with the Utah Symphony Chorus, but after a few years, we stopped. I joined a regional choir for a season or two years later and that's where I've stopped singing in large choirs.

It's too bad. I really miss it.

Sometimes I'm reminded of those days. Last week I read about a combined high school choral concert happening just down the street. And to make it even better, Dr. Peter Steenblik, a theater friend who has moved on from little Rodger's Memorial Theatre gigs to get his Phd and now teaches in Florida, was directing. I went hoping to say "hello" to my friend, which I did, but it also brought back wonderful memories from my days singing beautiful music under the direction of incredible directors like Becky Jarman, Robert Bowden, Ed Thompson, Michael Huff, and others. They are amazing talents and even better people.

I'm thankful for those who create the music, for those like Dr. Steenblik, who have dedicated their lives to bringing that music to the masses, and I'm thankful for the opportunities I had with the music. 

The high school choirs were great and the place was packed. You can't ask for more than that.