Although delayed a week because of the snow and ice during the week of January 10th, we are ready to start rehearsals on Tuesday, January 17th!

Our concert date at North Georgia College is Saturday, April 30th, 2011 at 2:00 p.m., featuring a varied program from wistful to whimsical – “On Wind, On Wing.” The Bowen Arts Center concert is scheduled for Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at 7:00 p.m.

NGCC will join forces with the North Georgia Youth Chorale in a concert at Concord Baptist Church, Cumming, on Sunday, May 1st at 4:00 p.m. We are looking forward to this opportunity!

The third annual mini-tour to Highlands, North Carolina is scheduled for the weekend of May 13-14.

The singers all gathered at The Holbrook in Gainesville on Tuesday, Nov. 16. We sang for about a dozen residents and several choir parents. What a great space to sing in! Everyone was very enthusiastic, singers and audience alike! Ladye Grace, the activities director, was very moved by the performance and moved us with her gracious words about the effect that the fresh voices of the children had on those who hear them. Amen!

There was milk and cookies for the singers, a mini-rehearsal to run through the two Christmas pieces to be done with the orchestra, then it was time to go to Smoky Springs. Dinner was in progress, and we sat down to a nice meal. Our performance there also went quite well and we all left a little before 8:00 p.m.

On Saturday, Nov. 20, the singers gathered at Shott Auditorium. We warmed up, checked a few “spots” and adjusted tempos, and figured out how we would stand in three rows instead of two. Lots of grandparents came to the program, several from out of town. Everything went smoothly and the singers sounded wonderful! The program was very well received.

Good heavens, 21 singers plus mothers and grandmothers completely filled the lobby of Dahlonega Baptist Church! After the initial confusion, we separated to our designated areas, where both groups had an excellent first rehearsal.

So much preparation and prayer went into the shift we have just made. It seems that our formation period is at an end, and we have entered into the period of growth. Since May when we made the decision to split the choir, it seemed almost nothing but attrition happened, but in the month of August, 5 new middle to high school singers and 9 new elementary singers joined the ranks, making it possible to actually accomplish what we set out to accomplish. Nevertheless, it seemed  miraculous to me that everything went exactly as planned!

On August 28, 14 of the 21 singers gathered at Ruth Purcell’s house for a half day of singing and music theory games, rhythmic and melodic solfège, folk dancing, and fun! The hit of the morning was the singing game “Down the River.” A close second was watching the entire “Do, a Deer” sequence from The Sound of Music. Everyone was singing along with great gusto and expressions of sheer delight! My personal favorite was our closing activity, singing “Oh, Mary, Don’t You Weep” in parallel harmony, with brave volunteers singing solo verses on the spot. Teenagers and elementary students worked, played and sang compatibly together for the entire time. The event was definitely a complete success, and the girls left full of anticipation, while I was left with quiet satisfaction and gratitude for this opportunity. God is so good!