Solace LIVE Tour Travelogue Two
Dear Friends,
Nestled in the coolness of the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina, the Bonclarken Camp and Conference Center has been host of a national Church Music Conference for sixty years. Church musicians from all around the country gather for a week of intensive workshops and fellowship to encourage and help them hone their craft. This year, Dr. Anton Armstrong, the Director of Choral Activities at St. Olaf College is headlining as the Conference’s primary lecturer and teacher. On Monday, the first full day of the Conference, the Georgia Boy Choir presented a workshop on vocal technique and tone building for the attendees. The boys demonstrated the vocal exercises they perform regularly while Artistic Director David White discussed the pedagogical purpose behind each one. After this demonstration, Dr. Armstrong, worked with the boys as they read through “This Little Light of Mine” arranged by Ken Berg. Dr. Armstrong was a great inspiration as he not only helped them understand how to perform the piece better, but also in his encouragement of each of them as singers. Mr. David Mandt, an Assistant Conductor of the Birmingham Boys Choir and presenter at the Conference, also spoke about the value of singing together as a group of boys and the positive impact it can have in each singer’s life. At the conclusion of the hour-long session numerous attendees spoke of how much they learned and how they were inspired to teach their own choirs when they returned home.
After an afternoon of soccer and swimming, the Choir presented an evening concert of selections from their new album, SOLACE post tenebras lux. The audience, comprised of Conference attendees as well as some members the local community, was spellbound from the first note to the last, many were moved to tears, and more than a few purchased a CD so they can continue to enjoy the music over and over.
On Tuesday, the Choir visited the magnificent Biltmore House and Gardens in Asheville, North Carolina. The boys were awed by the beauty and grandeur of the largest privately owned house in the United States. The 178,926 square-foot mansion, built by George Vanderbilt in the late 19th century, is staggering in its enormity, and the beauty of the gardens and grounds is unparalleled. The boys were fascinated by it all and particularly enjoyed some delicious ice cream from the famous Biltmore Dairy.
Wednesday morning they headed to the nearby French Broad River for an exciting excursion of whitewater rafting. With an experienced guide from French Broad Adventures in each boat, their flotilla of 7 big, blue rafts made its way down the mighty river. They stopped along the way for a snack and also to give each member a chance to jump from a rocky outcropping into the water below. Everyone had a blast.
That evening they once again presented music from their SOLACE album in a concert in the lovely sanctuary of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Asheville. Several in the audience expressed that this was the first public performance they have attended in well over a year, and it was cathartic to hear the gorgeous voices of the Georgia Boy Choir. The boys and young men seem to be hitting their stride and are really enjoying singing for people once again. It is such a delight to be able to present such beautiful music for people who are hungry to hear it.
From Asheville, they are headed to the exclusive Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia where they are scheduled to present daily concerts for the next three days.
Until next time,
The 2021 Georgia Boy Choir Tour Team