Tuesday morning found us winding our way out of the Finger Lakes region of New York and heading for central Pennsylvania for concert number four. As previously mentioned, a rousing game of Spot-It was soon underway, enjoyed by all participating, and endured by everyone else. 🙂 Corey can be consulted to admit who won the game! On a relatively short travel day, we arrived at New Hope Mennonite Church and began preparation for the evening’s concert. Being the halfway point of the tour, it is fun to find that we are gaining confidence musically, thus freeing us to sing more from the heart and less from the brain!
The next morning, since we had only 1 ½ hours to our Lancaster County concert, the moms, nannies, and kiddos enjoyed a quiet morning while the ensemble had the privilege of taking in a workshop with a local voice instructor, Jeanie Kent. Here are some highlights of the workshop as shared by different members of the ensemble:
- Finding a more resonant sound and blending over the whole group.
- Hearing Jeanie sing as a demonstration! Then, hearing the difference it made in the tone, especially in the female voices.
- Having a third-party perspective come in–she was able to offer an unbiased assessment of both our strengths and weaknesses.
- Watching the expressive feedback Jeanie would give us while we sang!
- She challenged us to engage our whole body and spirit in producing our music.
- The top was blown off of what we thought we were capable of. We were shown that we could become a lot more as an ensemble!
We arrived at Cocalico Christian Brotherhood and enjoyed rehearsing in the high-ceiling space, a lovely supper prepared by several families, and another concert! (Livestream recording.) Also enjoyable is finding a bed at the end of another long day!
– Jessica Wenger