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I.C. Praise Choir and JOY Leaders |
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IC Praise Choir Q&AHere is some interesting information about the I.C. Praise Choir, presented in Question and Answer format.
How did the I.C. Praise Choir begin? In Grand Traverse Area Catholic Schools history, many choir groups and glee clubs have come and gone. The I.C. Praise Choir for third through fifth graders began in January 2001 at the request of then principal Mr. Rob Bridges. Under the direction of Mrs. Denise Elsenheimer and Mrs. Janine Winkler, the choir began as music ministers. Back then the choir had no name! How did the I.C. Praise Choir get its name? Well, it took about three years to get its current name. We were known as the Immaculate Conception Elementary School Choir for the first several years, but there was a lot of confusion between our choir and the Immaculate Conception Parish choirs, so we kept our eyes peeled for a name all our own. IC Singers, The IC Song Kids, and Singing Students were all names submitted for the big vote to decide our title. But the name I.C. Praise Choir came about in 2003, and is credited to Mr. Todd Vipond, one of the 2003 choir advisors. What do students in the I.C. Praise Choir do at mass? I.C. Praise Choir members are music ministers for school liturgies. They are responsible for leading the congregation at mass. The choir is not a performing group at these times. They want EVERYONE in the church to sing praise to God, so join in! Music ministry at mass is the most important part of being an I.C. Praise Choir member. Where do I.C. Praise Choir members perform? You know from the question above that I.C. Praise Choir members do not perform at mass (no one does!). But they HAVE performed in many places over the course of their history. Past concert venues include: Interlochen's Corson Auditorium, with the Cherry Capital Chorus (June 2003); Horizon Books (2003); Great Wolf Lodge (2004, 2005, 2006, 2008); the Village at Bay Ridge (2003 and 2004); The Traverse City Opera House, with the Cherry Capital Chorus (2002); Lars Hockstad Auditorium Making A Difference Awards (2005); WLJN Radio live broadcast (Christmas season 2002); Waterfront Inn Banquet and Conference Center at the award reception for I.C. School and Parish from the Grand Traverse Pavilions (2005); and the Relay for Life at the Traverse City Civic Center (2005). I.C. Praise Choir students also participate in the GTACS Chorale Program at Christmastime, usually held at St. Patrick Church. In the spring they hold a concert or appear at the GTACS Festival of the Arts. (The Cherry Capital Chorus has been a great friend to the I.C. Praise Choir over the years, inviting us to perform with them in four outstanding concerts and sharing the "Get America Singing" program with our school. Thank you, CCC!) Does the I.C. Praise Choir ever sing at other churches? The I.C. Praise Choir is part of the All System Mass that takes place twice per year in the St. Francis Gymnasium. We have also been music ministers at St. Francis Church for a Holy Angels school liturgy, as well as prelude musicians at the 2005 Chrism Mass, St. Mary Cathedral, Gaylord. It has been our privilege to provide music ministry at a Mass of Resurrection for the parent of two choir members and join other choirs for the Mass of Resurrection for Father Thomas Neis. Our choir joins the Immaculate Conception Parish Kids Choir on occasion for a weekend parish liturgy. What are I.C. Praise Choir's favorite songs? The I.C. Praise Choir loves to sing energetic music like "Awesome God" and "Every Move I Make," but other favorites are slower. "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever" and "On Eagle's Wings" are two such examples. We also like secular music. Secular music, just in case you haven't seen that word before, is music that is not concerned with religion. Songs like "Rock Around the Clock" and "I'm Gettin' Nuttin' for Christmas" are secular favorites. I'd say the all-time favorite I.C. Praise Choir song EVER is "Lord, I Lift Your Name on High." How does the I.C. Praise Choir minister outside of liturgies? Since its beginning, the I.C. Praise Choir has taken on the privilege of serving the Traverse City community. We have been annual entertainment providers and participants in the Michael's Place Christmas Open House, Orchard Creek Assisted Living Center, and the Village of Bay Ridge residency. Participating in the Relay For Life (June, 2005) was another opportunity for service which we provided in honor of Katie Heintz, a fifth grader's uncle named John, and other cancer patients affiliated with our school system. We also sang with joy at the Relay for Life because one of the I.C. Praise Choir members, now a Praise Choir alumnus, is a cancer SURVIVOR! Can students be in choir if they play sports? Many choir members also participate in I.C. team sports, instrument lessons, band, and other activities after school. When there is a conflict with rehearsal before a concert, the choir member either makes up rehearsal time with Mrs. Winkler or does not participate in that concert. Most often we can work everything out to allow students to do choir along with their other activities. For several years our after-school rehearsals have conflicted with other activities, so we began having short choir meetings in the mornings before school starts. It's best if the whole choir attends every meeting, of course, but we know that each student does the best he or she can do to attend rehearsals. Can students join the choir as instrumentalists instead of singers? Maybe! In the past we have included many student musicians to provide rhythm with percussion or accent the music with other instruments. If a student is interested in joining the I.C. Praise Choir as a new instrumentalist, he or she should contact Mrs. Winkler for an audition. There is an email button on the home page of this website that will reach Mrs. Winkler. How many students are in the I.C. Praise Choir? Since January of 2001, when the choir led the assembly in song for the first time, over 250 students have participated in the I.C. Praise Choir. When it first began, the choir membership was under 20. Each semester, the choir counts its membership again. The highest number of I.C. Praise Choir members ever was in the fall of 2004, at 76! It was pretty crowded in the choir loft, but we still sang our hearts out! Do students audition to be in the I.C. Praise Choir? The only requirement for joining the I.C. Praise Choir is a willingness to serve as music minister for mass and occasionally perform in concerts. There are auditions, though, for solo and small group pieces. We also audition students who are interested in playing an instrument with the choir. Auditions usually take place immediately following a rehearsal, and take about 5-10 minutes. Other times can be arranged if necessary. New for the 2008-09 school year: auditions will be held for a small group to learn harmonies and do additional cantoring. What are the benefits of being an I.C. Praise Choir member? First off, I.C. Praise Choir members have the knowledge that they are serving God at liturgy by leading the assembly in praise. Other benefits include field trips, special snacks, get-togethers for pizza and prayer, and important stuff like building confidence, overcoming stage fright, meeting people who aren't in your classroom, and using the gifts that God invested in you. A number of I.C. Praise Choir members have used the talent from God that they nourished while at I.C. to audition for other choirs, such as their parish church music ministry, All City Choir and the Northwestern Michigan College Children's Choirs. |
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