July 6 dawned as a lovely Saturday morning in Leamington, Ontario. The choir gathered from our places of slumber. Sadly, few of us had the privilege of enjoying nearby Lake Erie. Some fortunate singers had rooms on the lake while a few others were chauffeured along the shore in a 1967 blue convertible.
Back on the bus, we journeyed the three hours to our second venue, Woodlawn Mennonite Church. We arrived in time to eat lunch at the church and then had an entire afternoon for rehearsal and refreshment. One concert’s worth of experience provided ample material for things to improve.
As the PR manager and as one of the parents on tour, I’m noticing new things. When I walk through the door with a mule’s load of gear, I’m thinking not only about my posting goals and the photo/video potentials of the place, but I’m looking for toys, and nurseries, and hazards like stairs and fragile items. So far, the toy situation has been wonderful. My son, Edmund, is just finding his feet and is enjoying the fresh prospects for adventure. There are several other little people along on the tour and it’s been very helpful for me to have their parents’ help in supervising the play area while I work.
This two-week tour affords me the privilege of soaking up an abundance of music. I have the chance of hearing all the layers from rehearsal to performance. This lends profound depth to the choir’s sound. I get to hear it grow and mature. Every day I experience the generosity of the singers as they reach deep inside of themselves to supply the resources that they then craft and refine as choral art. Every rendition of a song in live performance is a new and costly thing.
We’re grateful for everyone who has come to give their time and attention in concert and we hope that they have received treasure. Perhaps our tour will enable us and our audiences to know more fully the goodness and generosity of the kingdom of God. We sing because the gospel is both true and beautiful, and it stirs and satisfies our deepest longings.
Kyler Martin
PR Manager