Give Thanks...For Ward Choirs

 Last year (at least, I think it was last year...), I was asked to serve as a choir leader for our local LDS congregation. I believe you don't have to be a member of my religion to understand what this calling entails. Choirs in local congregations are often times the butt of jokes in music circles...and in other circles, too. They're an easy target. We invite anyone wishing to sing to join. Heck, I'm sure I've made jokes about these choirs over the years.

I don't think I'll ever do that again.

Our ward choir sang in church today. We had one rehearsal two weeks ago and went through the song one and one-half times this morning before our services began. They sounded wonderful. I'm not saying they were "world-class" in their presentation of the hymn, but boy, they sounded great--just ordinary church goers who enjoy singing.

When I was called, I felt inadequate, even though I've been singing in choirs--amateur and professional--for the past forty years. I've sung in regular choirs and I've sung with talent that's second to none. I was afraid I would be expected to get the singers to sound like a choir that blew people away. I quickly realized that's not my job...not my calling. I'm there to help the singers and the congregation feel something, to bring a spirit to the meeting.

I'm far from doing the best job with this calling. I have a long way to go--there's so much more I can do for the ward. That's the thing about callings. They're not not given to those who have mastered the skill...more like given to those who need to learn something.

I'm thankful for my neighbors who stay late and rehearse, who come early--small kids in tow--to support me and the program. I'm thankful I can stand before them and hear the music we create before anyone else. I'm thankful for ward choirs.

The Ward Choir...

The Ward Choir...

"I am so glad to see so many people here! I'm so excited!" The choir director welcomed us, even though she was getting over a cold. And indeed the turn out was pretty good considering how many we've had sing in the past. There was one week when our choir was a quartet. 

We sang for about 45 minutes in a member's home. I sang bass because we had two already singing tenor and if I had sung tenor, tenors would have outnumbered basses 3 to 1. When we were done my voice wasn't as worn out as it was Wednesday night after 2 hours of Beethoven. This week we had chocolate cake after practice--a very nice incentive, indeed...

I've sung in some of the most elite groups in the state and with some of the most talented voices anywhere. And leading the choirs I've sung with have been some incredibly gifted directors. But there's something humble about a little ward choir. There's a lot of jokes about the ward choir--many of the jokes said at rehearsals of those other choirs I've been in. In the ward choir we're not the elite voices or the most talented, but that's not really the point now is it?