We're home!

Choir School 2009 has wrapped up for this year; many thanks to everyone who helped make it a wonderful week for everyone else. To all who attended the week itself, or any of the services, please keep singing, invite your friends to sing, and keep offering such gifts in church and in your communities. Enjoy the rest of the summer!

Sunday, the first and last day...

It is a cloudy day here in Rothesay, and there is also a few clouds over the choristers today, as they will be leaving for home after today, leaving some friends both old and new. This wonderful week is hard to put into words, and it is even harder to explain what it means to those who come here year after year. While the service today at Trinity will be the culmination of all that we have worked towards musically, it will also be the culmination of all that God has one here in this community, bring people together who can help others, who need help, who are a joy to everyone here, and who inspires others around them. Anyone need proof of God in the world. I offer you - humbly - the work that He has done for these people here.

I once saw a choir THIS big...

Everyone's here! The full Choir School, adults and juniors, got together yesterday to rehearse the service music, and also to hear each other's anthems. In some past years, this has not been able to happen until Saturday, which speaks very highly of the choristers here this weekend. The chapel was quite full; so much that it took two pictures to even try and get everyone in! Saturday is going to be a blast!

A Very Big Day...

Today we sang our first Evensong concert at St. Paul's. After a long Variety Show the night before, we were all quite tired, yet the energy level was wonderful. The choir was great; we sang most of the pieces the best we had done yet, which is what every choir strives for when singing in a service. Today's picts feature everyone doing warm-ups in the gym; and then, in the second, rehearsing in the afternoon before supper, which was a wonderful meal prepared by the people of St. Paul's, to whom we are very thankful!

Another day, another rehearsal, and love!

Tuesday turned out to be too cold to play the intended game at Choir School (see tomorrow's entry for all of THAT), but there was lots to do just the same. In the first photo at left, Carolyn Keirstead works with the choir during one of the rehearsals in the theatre. But it wasn't all work on Tuesday... no, no, no! Tuesday had a theme at Choir School, LOVE! For some unknown reason, love seemed to be expressed that day by superheroes (don't ask; you might find out). In the second photo, captian Love, and his faithful sidekick, Sugar, defend the good people of Choir School from... well, we can only guess it's in the roof of the chapel. Stayed tuned for more antics - the Variety Show is tonight!

SUN on Monday!

Indeed, the sun finally broke through for some of yesterday, and we enjoyed it for all it was worth! It was a great first full day, although some of the kids (and staff, too!) were more than ready for bed by the end of the day. The choir was able to read all the way through the psalm setting, looked at the Mag and Nunc, responses, and more. All this, plus a little fun on the soccer field, two chapel services, and some great meals. This is worth mentioning: the BOYS on 3rd floor MacKay had the cleanest room of everyone, and were thus awarded the first trip to the tuck shop after rehearsal in the afternoon. So much for the reputation of boys not knowing how to be neat! Now we challenge the girls to catch up!

We're here!!!

Choir School 2009 has begun! The junior choristers arrived today, and unpacked between rain showers. The sun has shone in Rothesay, too! Voice testing and chapel tonight, and then a good night's sleep before tomorrow's activities.

How to Know When Choir School Is Here...

Tomorrow is the day!! Many young choristers (and young at heart, too!) are likely saying to themselves, "just one more sleep" as Choir School #52 is about to kick off! Remember to check this blog site for daily updates and news about what's going on during the week of Choir School! As you can see from the photo at the left, it is easy for a certain Music Director's neighbours to know that Choir School is just around the corner. See you in about 25 hours!

The countdown is shorter...

Just a few more days until Rothesay-Netherwood School doesn't know what hit it! Once again, daily blog updates will be available here - tell your parents, friends, etc. For those attending, start packing! This is Year 52, and we hope the rain has finished for a while, so that everything can be the very best. Stay tuned for more...