AACS Upper School Choirs

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Atlanta Tour - Day 1 (Wednesday, April 8, 2015)

We began our journey in the most fitting of ways: with hands joined, as seniors Maddie Boerste and Logan Belcher led us in a send-off prayer. We then boarded a school bus and headed to the airport where we were met by Ms Kauffman, Mr. Vineyard, Mr. and Mrs. Kempton, and "Mama Bennett". We breezed through security and gathered at the gate for a group mixer game, in which students interviewed one another. Then, each student wrote a list of the ten students on the tour that they know the least. Their individual tasks have now become to intentionally seek out time to build relationships with those ten students.

After dinner at the terminal, we boarded our plane. We snagged the entire back third of the plane for our group, much to our delight (and to the delight of the other passengers, I'm sure!). Midway through the flight, we were treated to a lofty proposal when senior Luke Borchelt came on the loud speaker to ask senior Whitney Vandenheuvel to prom. He even had a dozen roses and boxes of her favorite candies to sweeten the offer. (She said yes!) As we made our final approach, we received a request from the passengers at the front of the plane to have our students sing for them; so, the students had the opportunity to perform "Hark! I Hear the Harps Eternal" more than five miles up in the sky.

After arriving in Georgia, we fetched our bags, hopped on a bus, and traveled to our comfy hotel in downtown Atlanta. The students are now safely in their rooms, resting up for our first full day of singing and adventure.

Please pray that God would continue to keep us safe, that our students can bravely forge new relationships with the students they've committed to know more deeply, and that their performances would bring glory to God.

Lining up to check in for our flight at BWI

Juniors Amanda Fusting and Hannah Thiessen ready to head to the gate

The students playing the mixer game at the gate

The AACS choirs at taking up the back third of the plane

Mrs. Joseph conducting as the students sing for the rest of the passengers

Seniors Luke Borchelt, Amanda Densmoor, and Hannah Holden (plus sophomore Kyle Carey, who is photobombing in the background) are smiling big because we've finally arrived in Atlanta!

Sunday, April 27, 2014

Philadelphia Tour Day 2: Calvary Chapel

Tour Day 2: Calvary Chapel

We were up and on the buses before 7 am this morning for a short ride to Calvary Chapel. The choirs were singing back-up for a Christian band called Reilly in all three worship services, so we arrived at the church and spent the time before the first service doing warm-ups, sound checks, and quick rehearsal of the morning’s music.

Reilly was premiering a song called “Change Me God” this morning, and we had the privilege of helping them introduce it to the congregation. In all three services, the students were blessed by seeing members of the congregation enter wholeheartedly into worship, and were inspired to “give it their all” as they sang.

The pastor at Calvary Chapel was starting a new sermon series on wisely stewarding our time, money, and work, and this morning’s sermon related to our use of time. We were challenged to keep the “urgent, important” tasks we all face from crowding out those things (like relationships and time with God) that, while less urgent, are no less important. The pastor particularly challenged us to remember the “3 S’s”—Sabbath, silence, and solitude, and to be wise in the ways we use technology.

We had a short break between the first and second service, and after we’d finished singing for the second service, we had a short devotional outside led by Ms. Kauffman. Focusing on our trip meditation verse, Zephaniah 3:17. She challenged us to remember God’s love for and delight in us, especially when we are afraid, overwhelmed, or disappointed by other relationships that don’t fulfill us. Students had the opportunity to reflect on both the devotional and the message in small groups, and prayed together before getting ready for the 3^rd service.

After singing for the 3rd service, students had free time until lunch. Students spread out across the lawn, playing football and “gaga-ball” (you’ll have to ask them) with some of the youth from the church. Other students used this time to interact with some of the church members, or simply enjoy time outside in the sunshine with their friends.

We headed upstairs to the youth room for a delicious lunch provided by the church, and were joined there by the members of the Reilly band. They ate with us, and then talked a bit more about their backgrounds, both as individuals and as a band. After this, the students had about 20 minutes to ask questions of the band members, who gave us some food for thought as they talked about the challenges of being Christian musicians, and how each of them discerned their calling for music. They also talked about the challenges of being on the road, and the joys of touring internationally. This was a rich and thought-provoking conversation!

Then it was back to the bus to head home! It has truly been a wonderful weekend, and we are grateful for the ways we’ve seen your prayers answered in God’s daily provision for us.

Some particular praises:

-the beautiful weather we’ve had all weekend

-safety in all of our travels and activities

-the opportunity to interact with other musicians (yesterday during the clinic, and today in church)

-the opportunity to worship God with his people

- the capability for the students to support each other and love each other well during this trip

- the many opportunities to take risks, so that the students could grow musically as well as spiritually

Things the students have been particularly thankful for:

-the opportunity to interact and start friendships with people they didn’t know well prior to this weekend

-the chance to both worship and lead others in worship this morning

Again, thank you for your prayers—please continue to pray for God to be at work in the hearts of our students and the people who heard us sing this weekend. Especially after this morning’s sermon, please also pray that students would make time to practice the discipline of rest this weekend, and that God would prepare each of the for the week ahead. Please pray, similarly, for physical health as we come back from an exhausting weekend!

Know that we are grateful for your partnership in prayer! And for God’s provision for all the details of this trip—it has been a delightful weekend!

Wrapping up our time in Philadelphia

The Men's Ensemble and Women's Choir made it safely back to AACS and home resting at this point. We had a beautiful and rich Sunday at Calvary Chapel in Chadds Ford, PA. Stay tuned for more details, but here are some more pictures till we have time for an update!

"Selfie" with the band Reilly

A little Gaga ball after church at Calvary Chapel

Honored to help lead worship with the band Reilly

Choir ladies enjoying fellowship and sunshine after church

Intense game of Gaga ball!

Calvary Chapel Worship Service

Lunch and Q & A Time with the band Reilly

More pics from our beautiful dinner cruise

Q & A with the band Reilly

Pick up football game with teens from Calvary Chapel

A sweet serenade at Independence Hall

Philadelphia Tour Day 1 Overview

Tour Day 1: Philly Fun!

Day 1 of our tour dawned bright and early as we gathered at AACS for a 7:30 am departure. We loaded onto two buses and headed northeast, enjoying the generous goodie bags provided for us by the parents as we settled in for a few hours of rest and conversation.

We arrived at Temple University for our 10 am clinic with Christine Bass and two of her assistants. The acoustics in the auditorium were wonderful, and students warmed up and then started by singing “God is Seen.” They received a lot of encouragement (apparently we do more clinics than most high schools Mrs. Bass has seen!), as well as a lot of helpful instruction. They worked hard at shaping the dynamics of the piece, which builds in a crescendo of praise that encompasses all of God’s creation.

At various points, Mrs. Bass had the men doing squats to help them visualize how to support the notes they were singing, and encouraged both the men and women to communicate the tone of the piece through their faces. One memorable moment was when she praised Loretta Grant for her expressiveness, saying, “I need a choir full of Lorettas!”

The students worked on syllabic stress, pronunciation, and communicating the emotion of the pieces they were singing. Feel free to ask them about how maple syrup, sparkles, and hamster wheels are related to all of this! Other highlights included Aaron Lorenzo serenading the women of the audience in “I Can’t Help Falling in Love with You” and the women’s choir being told to have “more sass” in exhorting the audience to “enter His gates with thanksgiving, and His courts with praise.” In their reflections on the bus, the students noted that they could hear the change in their sound as they worked with Mrs. Bass and her assistants. We are very grateful for this experience, and the privilege of learning from others who are experts in the craft! All three clinicians praised Mrs. Coleman for her work with the choirs, as well.

Fortunately, the morning had given us time to work up a good appetite for our Philly cheesesteak experience. We were dropped off near the legendary Pat’s and Geno’s, and students joined the lines spilling off the sidewalk and into the street. They’d had time to peruse the menus and practice how to order (particularly “wit” and “wit-out”, which mean “with onions” and “without onions”, respectively) on the bus, and our preparation paid off—no one was sent to the back of the line, and we were soon enjoying delicious cheesesteaks in the heart of downtown Philly.

After everyone finished eating, we gathered in a small grassy area and had just enough time for each choir to sing for passers-by (many of whom stopped to listen!) before we boarded the buses again to head to the historic district. There, we spent some time street performing (or, “flash-mobbing”) near Independence Mall before enjoying a little bit of free time.

Students learned how challenging street performing can be, even though YouTube makes it look easy! The first ‘target’ of the men’s serenade walked away hurriedly before they could sing to her, and another woman stayed around long enough to be sung to, and then made a quick getaway. Fortunately, they attracted some interested audience members, who stayed long enough for both choir to sing several numbers.

After some free time, we took a “family photo” with city hall in the background, and then boarded the bus to travel to our hotel. We had time to rest and dress up for dinner before heading back into Penn’s Landing to board “The Spirit of Philadelphia” for our sunset dinner cruise.

We had an entire deck to ourselves, and were delighted find that it was the topmost enclosed deck. Students sat by birth month, giving them an opportunity to interact with people they may not have had a chance to speak with earlier. The crew and wait staff were not only helpful, but excited to have us aboard, and we had a wonderful evening!

As we enjoyed a delicious buffet dinner, the sunset and clouds over the river were breathtaking, especially with the city skyline in the background. Students went outside to the outer decks to take photos, reenact the famous “Titanic” pose, and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation.

Just as we finished eating, the music started. Many students made their way to the dance floor at one point or another during the evening, and spent the remainder of the cruise dancing, watching the view from the windows, or gathering round the railing that looked down to the dance floor to watch their friends and teachers bust some moves.

After three full and delightful hours, we headed back to the hotel, ready for a good night’s sleep! All in all, it was a wonderful day of fellowship and fun.

Weekend Philadelphia Trip for Men's Ensemble and Women's Choir!

It was time for the Men's Ensemble and Women's Choir to take a little musical journey of their own, to the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia! It has been a long and full day. We look forward to updating you soon on all the wonderful things of the weekend. But we (teacher chaperones) are quite tired. So here are some pictures to give you a sneak peek!