The song of the heart
Paris is a lovely place to be sure, but I always felt that there was just something missing, somehow my soul was not completely satisfied. I had seen masterpieces, walked streets once walked by Ernest Hemingway and some of the greatest minds the world has ever known, I have eaten things that have delighted me beyond my ability to comprehend. But today I walked into the Madeleine and something within me switched into place. I entered the church and my ears were filled with the sounds of a men's choir singing Eric Whitacre's Lux Arumque,(listen here.) a song which I had sung during my time in Seattle 
Children's Chorus' Camerata. The acoustics in that building and my soul's inner yearning for choral music after a month and a half without it, there was simply nothing I could do, I just began to cry. My soul felt complete for the first time in over a month. The Fleet Foxes concert had started to fill it, but after today I felt whole.
My love for choral music began at the tender age of 9, as I walked into the Bethel Lutheran Church and auditioned for the Seattle Childrens chorus and for 9 years of my life, I was coached and cared for by some of the best people I will ever know. Kris Mason, Randi and John Hendrix, my loving and amazingly talented conductors led me down a path of beautiful music leading to increased faith. Friendships I will cherish for my entire life like Kristen, Lena and Meghan were nurtured there and there I found my voice, both literally and figuratively. Joy beyond comprehension was found within the walls of the churches where we sang and because of SCC my life has been set on a course that I am grateful for every day.
After highschool I wondered what choral life would be like at BYU. I was worried that I would be just another singer, for there are so many talented people at BYU that I knew it would be very hard to get into a choir, especially since I had chosen not to major in it. But my freshman year was blessed by the conducting hand of Jean Applonie and the BYU Women's chorus, it strengthened my love for choral music and for the power it can have in the lives of those who sing and those who listen.
Sophomore year, after a series of miracles, I was blessed to be a member of the BYU Concert Choir working under the highly talented baton of Rosalind Hall. The people I met and the joy I felt being a part of this choir has once again changed my life for the better. The women of the Soprano section helped me to realize my potential as a singer and the environment of love and faith led to amazing music which was blessed by the faith of every singer.
Whether you be in the Madeline or the De Jong Concert hall or a little Lutheran church, choral music has healing power, I know it now and will cherish this knowledge forever.
Children's Chorus' Camerata. The acoustics in that building and my soul's inner yearning for choral music after a month and a half without it, there was simply nothing I could do, I just began to cry. My soul felt complete for the first time in over a month. The Fleet Foxes concert had started to fill it, but after today I felt whole.My love for choral music began at the tender age of 9, as I walked into the Bethel Lutheran Church and auditioned for the Seattle Childrens chorus and for 9 years of my life, I was coached and cared for by some of the best people I will ever know. Kris Mason, Randi and John Hendrix, my loving and amazingly talented conductors led me down a path of beautiful music leading to increased faith. Friendships I will cherish for my entire life like Kristen, Lena and Meghan were nurtured there and there I found my voice, both literally and figuratively. Joy beyond comprehension was found within the walls of the churches where we sang and because of SCC my life has been set on a course that I am grateful for every day.
After highschool I wondered what choral life would be like at BYU. I was worried that I would be just another singer, for there are so many talented people at BYU that I knew it would be very hard to get into a choir, especially since I had chosen not to major in it. But my freshman year was blessed by the conducting hand of Jean Applonie and the BYU Women's chorus, it strengthened my love for choral music and for the power it can have in the lives of those who sing and those who listen.
Sophomore year, after a series of miracles, I was blessed to be a member of the BYU Concert Choir working under the highly talented baton of Rosalind Hall. The people I met and the joy I felt being a part of this choir has once again changed my life for the better. The women of the Soprano section helped me to realize my potential as a singer and the environment of love and faith led to amazing music which was blessed by the faith of every singer.
Whether you be in the Madeline or the De Jong Concert hall or a little Lutheran church, choral music has healing power, I know it now and will cherish this knowledge forever.
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