by Kathy Tunseth, Director – Chancel Choir & Bells of Peace
“The music enveloped me. It was furry and resonant, coming from everyone’s heart. There was no sense of performance or judgment, only that the music was breath and food.” (Anne Lamott, Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith).
What more could we hope for, for those of us who make music with bells or voices at Prince of Peace—that we sing or ring from the heart, and what is produced is like fresh air and food for our souls and the souls of those who listen. This is why we do what we do; why we put in many hours of rehearsal and work at making the notes right and unifying our sound. It’s so the music itself can speak through us—without us getting in the way.
Paul McCartney says this about choirs: “I love to hear a choir. I love the humanity . . . to see the faces of real people devoting themselves to a piece of music. I like the teamwork. It makes me feel optimistic about the human race when I see them cooperating like that.”
I like the image of teamwork when I think about our choirs. Whether you are new member or long-time veteran, you are part of a team. The team of choir members and occasional seasonal singers or substitute ringers at POP is a kind, fun, dedicated, and faithful group. And what a joy it is to have accompanist Dan Ritter as part of the team, supporting and making us sound even better.
We’d love to have more discover the joy of singing and/or ringing. Consider joining the team!