Every year, I teach "Carol of the Bells." We sang it each year at my high school, and I decided to introduce it to VIP during our first year together. We've performed it each year since then, and we always invite any alumni members in the audience to step forward and sing it with us. This is one of my favorite moments in the entire Christmas season!
What's funny to me is that every year, without fail, THIS piece becomes the one that the middle school singers want to sing in rehearsal. When I finally say, "OK, let's pull out Carol of the Bells," a cheer goes up. It's a great piece and certainly cheer-worthy, but what's interesting is that the rookie singers tend to lead this cheer -- and they're the ones who, when we sing the piece for the first time each year, are dumb-founded when we sing through it the first time, at tempo, with most singers not holding music. The piece moves so quickly that they can't keep up. And yet - they love it. And they want to work on it. And they want to be able to deliver the piece with the confidence and joy that their peers do. Sometimes it takes a lot of work, but they come to the task with a lot of gusto… and that's pretty awesome.
Click here to listen to VIP Chamber Choir singing Carol of the Bells (Dec. 2005).
Welcome! Voices In Praise exists for the glory of God and in service to others. As the youth choir of Friendship United Methodist Church, the group is open to all youth in grades 6 -12 who have a desire to sing and a willingness to make the commitment to the group. Singers are not required to be a member of the church or to have any background in singing. Our doors are open to everyone!
The choir rehearses on Mondays. Girls rehearse from 6:30pm – 8pm; Guys rehearse from 7pm – 8:30pm.
New singers are welcome any time. Feel free to contact Director Holly Reynolds Lee at 301-728-1748 with questions!
The choir rehearses on Mondays. Girls rehearse from 6:30pm – 8pm; Guys rehearse from 7pm – 8:30pm.New singers are welcome any time. Feel free to contact Director Holly Reynolds Lee at 301-728-1748 with questions!