Singers Tour 2011

I am a performer--I love tour. This year BYU Singers took us across Colorado and up to Cheyenne, Wyoming.

My favorite part of tour is speaking with the audience members. I love walking into the audience night after night and starting conversation with loving grandmothers, working businessmen, or the local teenagers. I love shaking hands with the dressed up six year olds who have just started violin. I love the audience members who know classical music and the choral art. I love those who have never heard music like this before. I discuss the parts of the program that were most moving. Often the little boys liked the more rowdy numbers and the fiddling.

One of my favorite new friends from the trip was Maggie. She lives with her mother at home and invited Karen and I to stay with them overnight. She was such a gracious hostess as well as a singer & actrice herself. Most often the neighboring stakes host the Singers, but in this case, Maggie was kind enough to offer us a place. Her favorite was 'Peace of Christ.' She told us that she was brought to tears during that number. We were able to stay up late and have deep conversations about things that really matter over macaroni and cheese.

It was thrilling to meet those who don't have much interaction with people of our faith in their homes, at school, and in the audiences. It was exciting to meet with high schools all over Colorado and work with them. Some might say that the art of choral singing is dying in today's society, but what we saw was quite the opposite. High School students were excited to work with us, were full of questions, and were impressed with the sound a collegiate level choir could produce. It's been six years since I was in High School, and we were still able to relate with one another and find commonalities.

I would not trade the time we spent on buses, waiting in high school cafeterias or stake centers, or in the sand dunes with the other stellar members of BYU Singers. I learned more about each Singer and was continually inspired. Needless to say, the whole tour was a success.

pics: 1. sightreading the accompaniment to our combined number, Littleton 2. performing in Sacred Heart Church, Alamosa 3. my best performance of Summersets with Dr. Staheli, Colorado State University. 4. 'Jinny' on the violin, Cheyenne 5. last concert in St Elizabeth's, Denver

Chicago

Blustery winds, shamrocks everywhere, the Midwest kindness, and choir students from across the country--we were swept away in a four day adventure over St. Patrick's day Parade in Chicago.

We were able to tour the Art Institute, get some Giordano's famous stuffed pizza, discover the architecture of down-town Chicago, the beautiful Roosevelt University and Auditorium, Millennium Park, and the Marriott Hotel where we lodged.

Right on Michigan Avenue, with the Lake right outside our window, and a computer who welcomes us by name, we felt quite spoiled. Every evening, I snuck into the Versaille-esque spacious Ballroom on the second floor. It was exquisite. I played the grand piano there at my leisure--usually bringing different Singers to perform in that beautiful space. Exploring the hotel was almost as exciting as exploring the city, and considerably warmer.

It was delightful to recognize so many faces from Wisconsin stakes, BYU Singers alumni, Stanford friends, and even my middle school choir director.
BYU Singers was chosen to close the convention. We entitled our selections 'Reasons for Singing' and were able to testify through each piece, representing Brigham Young University and representing all those of our faith. It was thrilling to end the program with "Each Day" by Stephen Paulus. We will most likely never have an audience as appreciative.


After much prayer and our last performance in Orchestra Hall, we filed out backstage to our designated room to offer up a prayer of gratitude.

Much to my delight, we were followed by Cory Katseanes--my first conductor at BYU and the head of the Music Department--who congratulated us heartily. His presence there meant more to me than his words. Then one of the heads of the convention came in and said, "we've been following Dr. Staheli for quite some time now... we didn't think that you could continue to improve! We've seen a lot of things this convention, this week... but you... You are the future of Choral music."

May I sing each day according to Thy Justice
Each day may I show Thy chastening, O God
May I speak each day according to Thy wisdom
Each day and night may I be at peace with Thee
Justice, Wisdom, may I be at peace with Thee, O God

Each day may I count the causes of Thy mercy
May I each day give heed to Thy laws
Each day may I compose to Thee a song
May I sing each day Thy praise, O God
Justice, Wisdom, may I be at peace with Thee, O God

Each night, may I do the same
Each day and night, dark and light,
May I laud Thy goodness to me, O God
May I sing each day Thy praise, O God, Jesu

Each day and night may I be at peace with Thee
May I sing each day according to Thy justice
Each day may I compose to Thee a song
May I each day give love to Thee, Jesu
Justice, Wisdom, may I be at peace with Thee, O God

Each day and night may I be at peace with Thee, Jesu

Stress Relievers I experienced this week

Viewing a play
Playing the violin

Momentary deafness while riding a bike
Momentary stillness in a campus crowd

A compliment, sincerely given
A text, interrupting a study

Song à haute voix in a house to myself
Song à haute voix in a room full of friends

Colorful fall leaves crunching under feet
Crimson wild flowers catching in my hand

Hearing trusted friends while in fervent prayer
Hearing a flawless, fearless performance

The south edge of campus, overlooking the lights
The south edge of mountains, stained pink at sunset

Creeping into bed while rain taps on the window
Cozing in a sweater with friends by the fire

Gospel Principles
Goals to be Better

oread farewell

The time has come to say farewell;

And though my heart be heavy,

I promise still to remember ye

E'en though we say, "Farewell."

The flow'rs that bloom'd in Summer's sun 

Have lost their fleeting glory

And all but died in Winter's chill;

and we must say, "Farewell."

So brief a time has come and gone 

Since first we sang together;

But bittersweet is that music now

that we must say, "Farewell."

Now we must part, and fare ye well

in all that ye endeavor!

And last, I pray--fondly think of me,

Whene'er you say, "Farewell."

Singers will be performing this in the Spring although I had the honor to start it with them in December.  The music is by Dan Forrest (Carol of Joy among others) and the poetry by Anthony Silvestri (who also wrote many of  Eric Whitacre's lyrics that are on BYU's CDs including Her Sacred Spirit Soars, and Leonardo Dreams of His Flying Machine).  I have said farewell so many times now.  This particular farewell is one of the more joyous ones I have ever experienced.  why? perhaps because I am going to be serving the Lord.  I can't wait.