Angelic Voices

Gavin's Choral Concert December 2014
Gavin’s Choral Concert December 2014

“If I cannot fly, let me sing.”
Stephen Sondheim

My daughter and I always find out about my grandson Gavin’s (age 13 already!) choral concerts at the last minute. It was that way again this past December just a few weeks before Christmas. But find out we did, and off we went.

Since I don’t have the greatest memory these days, I can’t remember exactly what songs he and his chorus sang. I know “Silent Night” was in there. I can remember this- all those young people together, singing in harmony, was absolutely beautiful. Their melodious voices and the deep meaning of the holiday came together in that one night when all I had to do was sit there and enjoy. (I always have to have kleenex in my purse too!) I was in silent admiration of the music teachers as well. They were so clearly devoted to the students, and had the amazing ability to corral them all to make such wonderful music. Kudos to them!

Songs on the CD
Songs on the CD

Gavin’s concert was on the heels of my fall trip to North Carolina to see my sister Mary. During one of our rides into her work, Mary played a CD of recorded music from when we had been in middle school chorus. (It had been given to her a few months before from an old high school friend Laurie.) Listening to our music from almost 45 years ago, I was speechless. It was as if we were back in time, on those bleachers, singing all over again. And here’s the thing. We were really good.

Mr. Zana was the choral director for the school back then. He was also my piano teacher. I freely admit now that I was terrible at practicing for my weekly lessons. But Mr. Zana was always patient and encouraging. And sometimes he included me in piano backgrounds at the choral performances in school.

We sang everything back then. The Hallelujah Chorus, This Little Light of Mine, Cabaret, Light of the World. Mr. Zana’s energy was boundless and I could feel his presence in the music, even as I listened to it all these years later.

My sisters and I also sang in our church choir when we were growing up. In the summer, we had a junior choir to give the grown ups some time off. One Sunday, my sisters and I were the only ones singing up in the balcony. Afterwards I asked my Aunt Olga if we sounded ok. She said, with a beautiful smile on her face, we sounded just like angels.

All these years later, I know what she means. There were plenty of children on that stage with my grandson. And they sounded like a multitude of angels. This is my thought. God presents us with these wondrous opportunities to experience joy and happiness. We should live in the moment as we experience them, and then remember them always.

I tell you, I’d pay my grandson $20 to sing me one of those songs he sang during that choral concert. He is so shy, I know he will say no. But I still might ask him. 😉 It would be worth every penny.

“He who sings scares away his woes.”
Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra

It's nice to share. Thank you.

16 Replies to “Angelic Voices”

  1. How awesome! I was not blessed with a voice that anyone wants to hear singing, LOL…but I do it anyway! Actually, the little ones do ask me to sing to them at night when they are going to sleep. I jokingly asked the oldest grand child if they go to sleep to escape my voice, haha. He said “no, it’s comforting”.
    I bet listening to that CD was amazing and brought back all kinds of good memories!

    1. I do not have the greatest voice (I definitely need background music to sing) but I LOVE TO SING. Really. And I love to hear choirs. They truly give me chills.
      I’m glad you sing to your grand child. He will never forget it.
      Yes, listening to the CD was like being in a time machine.
      xo Joanne

  2. How amazing to listen to a CD of one of your childhood concerts. And I am sure your grandson would sing to you for nothing (:) ) if you asked. I have sweet memories of my daughter’s concerts when she was that age; the enthusiasm of the children, their joy, and the inspirational choir master.

    1. I’ll ask my grandson but I don’t know! He sang all the time when he was a small child. He made up his own song lyrics, words and all, and I was completely amazed.
      I have a feeling he will be in or around music his whole life.
      Glad to hear your daughter was in concerts too at that age!
      xo

  3. This was so lovely and so true! Thank you for sharing!

    There is nothing like hearing young people sing. They simply raise their voices in joyful sound.

    If we would all sing as if no one was listening. That’s the way we were intended to raise our voices in song. Instead at some point most of us decided whether we were good enough singers or started worrying what everyone else thought about us, instead of realizing that we are good enough, more than good enough just the way we are. 🙂

    Have a beautiful day Joanne and thank you!

    1. Hi Angela!
      Thank you for your beautiful words! I truly appreciate you stopping by my blog.
      I think you are so right. We need not to think about what others think of us and realize that we are good just the way we are.
      Blessings to you,
      Joanne xo

  4. One time, years ago, Mr. Right and I were at a Jr. High concert. To begin, they had a young man sing the national anthem.
    We both looked at each other and said, “is that Dustin”? We were shocked! It was our son.
    He had surprised us by not saying anything.
    I still get chills.
    I love that feeling of seeing the kiddos all cleaned up in their Sunday best, singing their hearts out.
    Certainly, a feeling of being bathed in Grace.
    Thanks for sharing your sweet story.
    I got little goosebumps hearing about your sis and you.
    smiling.

    1. That thing with my sister was a definite goose bump event. Wow.
      I love that your son sang the national anthem. Gavin’s chorus did a military medley once- Coast Guard, Marines- etc, all their songs. The choral directors asked any vets in the audience to stand during their song.
      I don’t think there was a dry eye in the audience.
      xo

  5. Oh, yes, do ask him to sing for you, Joanne…even if he declines, which he may not, he will know his voice has worth! Lovely post, as always 🙂

    Blessings and hugs,
    Marianne xo

  6. I love this post, Joanne, for your details and also for the memories it brings back. My mother, like her mother, loved the sounds of children singing. Even loudly…when they were making up some of the forgotten words…singing off key, WAY off key…and the neighbors were listening and shaking their heads. Some of my best memories were of the summer when Grandma had 9 or the 13 grandchildren for a full day, and as we picked tomatoes and corn from the backyard garden, we all sang loudly and horribly, and oh-so-proudly!

    1. Marylin, what a vision! Grandchildren, a garden, and singing- wonderful.
      My grandson often made up songs as a child and I wish he would still do it. Sometimes the songs were hilarious. I do believe that what’s inside of us in our youth can become a huge part of us later in life.
      xo

Leave a Reply to Joanne CainCancel reply

Verified by ExactMetrics