|
- How did the I.C. Praise Choir begin?
- How did the I.C. Praise Choir get its name?
- What do students in the I.C. Praise Choir do at mass?
- Where do I.C. Praise Choir members perform?
- Does the I.C. Praise Choir ever sing at other churches?
- What are I.C. Praise Choir's favorite songs?
- How does the I.C. Praise Choir minister outside of liturgies?
- Can students be in choir if they play sports?
- Can students join the choir as instrumentalists instead of singers?
- How many students are in the I.C. Praise Choir?
- Do students audition to be in the I.C. Praise Choir?
- What are the benefits of being an I.C. Praise Choir member?
--------------------------------------
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 and 2008 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, as well as the Immaculate Conception
Parish Healing Mass. The fourth and fifth grade choir members were also
asked to help lead the music at the mass of Resurrection for Father Neis.
--------------------------------------
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 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, the I.C. Praise Choir has had over 200 members. 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.
--------------------------------------
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.
|
|
