The singers awoke this morning to the sound of rain pounding on the roof. They slowly trickled into the meeting place by 8:00 where they boarded the bus to travel to Wilfrid Laurier University for a morning workshop with Dr. Lee Willinghem. Dr. Willinghem founded and directs the Laurier Center for music at Wilfrid Laurier University. After a quick bathroom break, introductions, and warm-ups, the singers worked on a few interpretative areas in several different pieces. They learned more about word painting and different dynamics to shape their songs. Some very lovely sounds could be heard floating down the halls. After a mad dash and short drive through the pouring rain, the bus dropped off the hungry singers at the Conestoga Mall food court for a quick lunch before heading back to their original meeting place for a short rehearsal.
At 4:45, the singers once again boarded the bus which took them to Zion Mennonite Church in Brussels, Ontario for their 7:30 concert. The 101 year old stone church is surrounded by cornfields and boasts a lively acoustic. The audience began to arrive a full hour before concert time. The seating was very limited in the small un-air conditioned church but a cool summer breeze made it bearable. At intermission, the standing-room-only audience was given a chance to get a closer seat thanks to the willing sacrifice of those who had seats inside the church. It was a very full, warm concert but well received. After a 30 minute bus ride back to the meeting place, the singers grabbed their belongings and sauntered off to their hosts places for their final night in Canada.
Tony Beachy
Bass