Yes, This Is a Commercial

No, I'm not getting paid for this.

Every time I leave a performance of the Shenandoah Valley Children's Choir, I am in awe.  Actually, I feel the same way just from hearing one of their rehearsals!  I am amazed at the beauty of the sound they produce, the level of discipline they demonstrate, and the extremely high amount of musical knowledge they possess.  I-N-C-R-E-D-I-B-L-E.  I am thrilled that Josiah is in his fourth year of involvement with the SVCC; the benefits to him have been numerous, and I am frequently shocked by his musical abilities (which are much higher than mine were at his age!).  Not too long ago, he took a piece that he had originally learned on violin in the key of A (he had learned it completely by ear, mind you; that's the Suzuki way, so he had never read the notes written on the staff), transposed it into the key of C, played it on the piano, and then wrote it out--perfectly--on staff paper.  Oh my word.  Where did he learn how to do that??  In large part, the musical training of the SVCC is to thank for that.  (You can click here for a great list of what young people learn from choir.)

I went to one of their concerts tonight; and I left there, as I always do, ready to gush.  So I'm gushing.  I can't help it.  Besides the excellence of the musical side of things, I just love the people who make it happen:  the Brubakers who have volunteered to be "choir parents" for Josiah's choir, Yvette, Ms. White, and dear Mrs. Anderson who is beloved by my boys.  It is an all-around outstanding organization, and we are incredibly blessed to have it in our community.  

I was thinking tonight as I listened to the gorgeous sounds of the choir (and the youth orchestra--I don't want to leave them out!), "Music is such a spiritual experience for me."  I know this is true for so many people.  There is just something about music that moves us in ways that very little else can do.  I had to laugh at myself as I sat there because I kept getting teary-eyed.  Why??  I wasn't feeling particularly emotional about anything at all, but play a few bars of the "Be Still, My Soul" section of Finlandia or sing the opening phrase of "Oh Freedom" and I'm having to swallow hard around the lump in my throat and blink fast to get rid of the tears before anyone notices!  :)

Tonight's concert was just a taste of how wonderful the Christmas concert will be.  I can hardly wait.  If you live in the area and are looking for a special way to celebrate, let me invite you to this:

It's going to be fantastic!

Besides, Josiah will, for the first time, have the honor of singing as a full-fledged performing member of the SVCC.  I can't wait to see him wearing this vest.  And you'd better believe I'm going to cry that night!  :)

OK, the commercial is over; but before I sign off, let me give a shout-out to a few people from tonight's concert:
~ Olivia from Treble Choir, I love your smile!  It was great to see you up there!
~ Evan, you bring such grace to both the choir and the orchestra.  Ever since I played percussion one summer at Camp of the Woods, I've had a soft spot for percussionists.  :)  (I was actually at that camp to play the piano, and I did--A LOT--but since I had to play an instrument in the orchestra, too, I got stuck in the percussion section.  It was a blast, especially the night I clanged the cymbals together so hard that one of them fell off its handle and crashed to the floor in the middle of a piece.  Oh yeah, that was fun.)
~ Caleb, you rock the handbells, and your male trio thing added a lot, too.  Next year I'm gonna miss seeing a McClay in the Concert Choir.

Have I mentioned recently that I love the SVCC?  ;-)