My wife has been involved in quite a year at Hollidaysburg Area High School where she is director of choral activities. The high school is currently undergoing renovations. She is getting a brand new room in an addition. The room is complete, but she is not allowed to use it yet. The band is in there while the new bandroom is being built. She is teaching out of the drama room/orchestra room, and in the hallway.
This is where things get interesting. She agreed several years ago to host PMEA District 6 Chorus. Basically, 178 visiting students come to your school from Wednesday evening through Saturday. Finding houses for them to stay in, feeding them and providing them with an excellent musical experience are the host director’s jobs. Needless to say, it is an overwhelming task under the best of situations. She has done an amazing job, and the students are very appreciative.
Wendy hired Dr. David Brunner from Central Florida University to conduct the choir. Dr. Brunner is a world-renowned choral composer. His works have been performed on every continent (save for Antarctica). Wendy had him come a day early to work with her own choirs and offered to have him come to work with my elementary chorus here at Cambria Elementary. So, the students and I prepared one of David Brunner’s compositions for him to hear, and then critique and improve. What a great experience for 4th and 5th graders! He was awesome with the kids. Below are some photos of him working with my students.
Above, David has a photo op with half of my chorus!
Above, the students asked David to play piano for them.
David explains a difficult passage of music.
David with the other half of my students.
David and I. What a great experience!
Thanks for reading!
I praise God today for the many blessings in my life. My family attends the Ebensburg United Methodist Church, where we are led by our pastor, Roger Johnson and his wife, Loretta. Roger was explaining one during a message that Loretta had just passed a milestone birthday. He and Loretta always pick a “project” for their milestone birthday. Roger informed us that Loretta and he would be participating in Cook’s Forest River Ride, a 60 mile bike ride with the purpose of raising money to find a cure for multiple sclerosis. He said that Loretta chose to do this in my honor.
