Choir School produces a bumper crop
By Marje Harrison
Since 1957, choristers young and old have gathered for worship, music and fun at Choir School. This year we celebrated the 50th anniversary of the school with a bumper crop of participants, nearly 80 children and teens in for the full week and 70 adults for the weekend.
The success of choir school speaks for itself, according to the Rev. Chris Hayes, Choir School director “Where else would you get nearly 80 children and teens coming back year after year to sit in a hot chapel for a week, read the Book of Common Prayer and learn Anglican chant?”
This year’s choir school was not only one of the largest on record; I would have to say it was also one of the most emotional. For one thing, it was the last choir school for our wonderful music director, John Hudson, who left us after this year’s school following 10 years of dedicated service. A lot of the youngsters tried hard all week to make him change his mind, but he had promised 10 years and left on a high note (no pun intended). The counselors sang a song to him at the talent show and gave him a copy of the Quotations of C S Lewis as a gift. On the bright side, this year we welcomed back Willis Noble as the adult clinician. It’s great to have you back, Willis.
The Thursday service at Trinity in Saint John was packed, although it felt strange to sing there in T-shirts because for a long time it has been the site of our final service and included choir robes. Even in T-shirts, though, children’s voices lifted the rafters as usual. Thank you to the Rev. Stuart Allan and Margie Ouellette and her crew for providing supper for the choristers.
Our final service took place in Fredericton on Sunday in a packed Cathedral. As usual, this service was the highlight of the week. Again the music soared and some tears fell.
In 2008 we start on another 50 years for Choir School. The board will begin planning this fall. Plan to come and join us and get hooked on the first full week of July.
