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Spring 2004 In this issue ...
A MOUNTAINTOP EXPERIENCE: The 2003 AOSFYC
Reunion
2004 Ohio State Fair
2004 Youth Choir Application
3rd Annual CLEANING DAY
ALUMNI DAY WORKERS NEEDED!
A Note from CRS
A MOUNTAINTOP EXPERIENCE
For the twelfth year, members of the previous summer’s AOSFYC converged on
Coshocton for a weekend of reunion and music making. One Hundred Sixty-Eight
(80%) of the 2003 AOSFYC, managed to rearrange schedules and classes and head
for the hills of Coshocton County. Liz Scott flew from Florida; Kelsey Peddicord
flew from Texas; Joy Misel, Karie Ferguson and Zach Albers drove from their
Kentucky colleges; and others worked around classes, jobs, solo and ensemble
contest, “Singing Valentine” gigs, theatre rehearsals and speech contests to
renew their friendships and polish favorite songs from the 2003 summer show,
“Let Music Live!”
When they arrived at Coshocton High School, they were greeted by 21 members of
the staff, staff alum Heather (Miller) Stewart, and three members of the 2003
CIT corps. Four hours of rehearsal, punctuated by breaks filled with laughter
and hugs, filled the afternoon. The rehearsals culminated in a combined
rehearsal with members of the Coshocton Community Choir (who sponsor the annual
event) and The Roscoe Brass.
The evening was spent in the fellowship hall of The Presbyterian Church, around
the supper table, and enjoying the opportunity to catch up. The Chorale had a
brief rehearsal in the chapel to prepare for the following day’s recording
session, and the evening concluded with a new slide show featuring 250 pictures
from the Fair, orchestrated by Cherie Snyder.
Members of the Community Choir, The Presbyterian Church, and other friends of
the Youth Choir opened their doors that night to house the singers and staff:
some have been doing it all twelve years!
The next morning, following breakfast at hosts’ homes, a large contingent sang
for the 8 a.m. mass at Sacred Heart Church. The entire choir met at The
Presbyterian Church at 9 a.m. to rehearse songs for worship, and learned their
parts for a combined anthem. Following worship, the church served a delicious
meal in the fellowship hall, and the choir gathered in the wonderful acoustics
of the chapel for a now-traditional final song.
After changing into uniform at hosts’ homes, the choir gathered at the high
school, and the Chorale did a brief recording session prior to the warm up.
The two hour concert began with an extended run on through the auditorium (!),
and featured 38 songs from the summer’s repertoire of 69 pieces. The audience,
who generously showed their appreciation with extended applause, broke into a
roar and a standing ovation following the singing of Ken Medema’s “Lord Listen
to Your Children Praying” early in the concert. The final six songs were sung
with members of the Coshocton Community Choir. It was a glorious finale!
Afterwards, the halls backstage were filled with choir members, families,
friends, and appreciative members of the audience. Farewell hugs, and the flash
of cameras as friends gathered for pictures were part of the afterglow.
Three-year member Evan Staggs (Scioto County) said, “For me, the highlight of
the weekend was the combined anthem we sang in worship with the church choirs. I
loved hearing the sound of all the voices, and seeing the faces of the children
who were singing.”
2004 Ohio State Fair
August 4 through August 15
It’s time to start making your summer plans, and we hope you are scheduling a
visit to the State Fair. Two important dates for the choir will be the joint
concert with the Ohio State Fair Band in the Celeste Center on Sunday, August 8
(early afternoon) and ALUMNI DAY on Saturday, August 14. Most activities and
registration will be back in the Rhodes Center again. Keep an eye out for a more
complete schedule in the months to come. Come any day and show your spirit,
renew old friendships and memories. If you check out our website, there is a
link to the State Fair. It can give you all the information you will need for
prices and other scheduled events. Also, if you plan now, you can pick up
discounted tickets for admission and rides.
Take advantage of the
discounts. There are also many hotels in the area for those overnight stays
for you who want to make it a long weekend!
If you can’t be there for alumni day, stop by the choir office or talk to a
staff member and pick up an application to
renew your alumni membership.
We look forward to seeing you all this summer!
2004 Youth Choir Application
The Choir Application for this year’s fair has gone out to all Ohio High
Schools. If your school did not receive this, could you please contact us and
let us know? We are afraid some schools are being missed because of growth and
new buildings in many school districts. We are not sure all records have been
updated and want to make sure your area school is receiving this information.
Won’t you help us out by checking with your high school’s vocal music teacher?
Let us know if they have not received application materials. This is just a
small way you can help the organization and keep the dream alive for so many
more to come.
The application is also available
for download on the website.
3rd Annual CLEANING DAY
Cleaning day this year will be Saturday, July 17, 2004. Many hands make the work
go much easier and faster. This will be our 3rd annual cleaning. We like to
spruce up the dorms before the new arrivals come. If you are interested in
sparing a couple of hours to the cause, please contact John Sullivan at jps564@yahoo.com,
or write us at:
[deleted - Apr-2006]
ALUMNI DAY WORKERS NEEDED!
We are always looking for alums to help out Alumni Day. We need helpers for
registration so that the burden does not fall on just the officers of this
organization. If you could spare ½ or 1 hour of your time Alumni Day, we would
greatly appreciate the help.
Please contact Cathy Banfield at:
gilbert1505@sbcglobal.net
A Note from CRS
All across the state here are clusters of Youth Choir veterans on college
campuses. I think Ohio University held the record one year with 11! But this
year, a colony appeared at Muskingum College: Seventeen alums, 14 of whom sing
with the Concert Choir!
When I was asked to lead a seminar there this past Saturday, to introduce “Sing
the Faith,” a new Presbyterian resource, I decided to try recruiting an ensemble
to act as the demonstration group. I sent notes to each Muskie, and asked Erin
Jobes to act as the on-campus contact – which she cheerfully accepted. Two days
later she called to say that 14 had said yes!
Last Thursday, organist Helen Wright and I drove to New Concord for a rehearsal
in preparation for the Saturday event. The hour arrived, and so did the singers
– many of them just out of one of the final pre-tour choir rehearsals. Without a
fuss, they found their way to chairs in the double semicircle, looked through
their music, and grabbed pencils. We learned 11 songs, many completely new to
the group, and decided how we would perform them – all in about 50 minutes! Of
course, I had high expectations. But the Muskingum colony exceeded those
expectations, and I think amazed my friend Helen.
Muskingum’s music department is housed in “historic” (read old) Paul Hall and a
nearby brick home which serves as the music “annex.” While a new facility is
being planned, I’m sure that the aging facilities may discourage some
prospective music students and their parents.
I’m proud that so many Youth Choir veterans, perhaps due in part by their YC
experience in the dorms and rehearsal tents at the Fairgrounds, have learned to
see beyond the obvious: that the outward appearance isn’t nearly as important as
what happens inside. One shining example of what I’ve said many times over our
years together as part of Ohio’s incredible singing machine – the things that
are most important are invisible to the eyes.
I feel blessed to be part of this amazing organization!
~ CRS
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