"O Hear the Joyful Music"

That is the title of one of the pieces that the girls performed this winter at McAfee Concert Hall for Christmas at Belmont, 2012.  That song is a favorite of mine, as its simple and haunting lyrics encapsulate why any of this music that my girls make is worth the air that it fills.  It also is a sort of short and sweet vision statement for the purpose of music in the life of our family:"O hear the joyful music we sing to God...lift up your voices to join the angels singing, come hear the music ringing...rise up to sing forever..."

(The video above is a video snippet from the NCC Holiday concert, and not Christmas at Belmont, as recording at Christmas at Belmont is verboten!)

They also performed I Wonder as I Wander, and left the audience breathless.  Jenny Helwig, the girls' choir director when they were with Young Naperville and Young Fox Valley Singers, always spoke of leaving the audience with that singular magical moment at the end of a song.  She focused no only on the vocals of the choristers, but the stillness of the singers...that not one flinch or wiggle or scowl should be seen in the group of choristers...so that the audience couldn't be distracted from that final moment.  When it is done well, it. is. magic.  This year at Christmas at Belmont 2012, the NCC pulled it off.  Amazing.  

Over the course of the full weekend of shows, the girls performed for nearly 2,400 people.  I scurried to and fro behind the scenes, helping the directors with whatever they needed and made sure that all the choristers (there are around 80 of them) were in ship shape.  And well-hydrated.  And had made essential potty stops (which conflicts with the well-hydrated part, right?).  During my down time, I lurked in the holding area off-stage, listening in on all the discussions being had by various artists, directors and conductors.  It was really quite fascinating.  But that could just be me.  I tend to really get into the "behind the scenes" perspective on all sorts of things.

Here are all the photos:

Dr. Ames is amazing.

I had to include a picture of the bluegrass offering of the evening!

The sound in McAfee Concert Hall is lovely.

So many Belmont singers that they filled the balcony.

When we were all done, we went out to The Cheesecake Factory for dinner.

That wasn't our original plan, but after the girls' concert was over, a friend told us of an awesome band that was going to be playing at her church that evening.    We were able to convince Belle--my little homebody--that it would be worth the extra long day away from home to go out to dinner and then see this group of string players.  And man, how right we were!  The Annie Moses Band is a group of 6 Julliard trained siblings who play various stringed instruments, and who will impress and amaze ANYONE with their talent and mad violin skills.  UN-believable.  Really.

Here is just a sampling of their music: