Danny Sings!!

Danny signed up for the UIC University Choir this semester, but something funny happened.  The choir director, Dr. Anderson, emailed his name over to the Chamber Choir director, Mr. Lewis, for consideration.  Danny sang a few scales and he was in the smaller, exclusive choir!

Another exciting fact:  Danny was singing a solo!  There is his name, in the program:

The first concert was held at Notre Dame de Chicago Church, a beautiful setting for what I thought was the best UIC concert I had ever heard.

The church's dome.

The combined choirs entered the sanctuary and ringed the seats with music before moving to the front.

If you want to hear the Danny and the UIC Chamber Choir sing, click on the link below!

UIC Chamber Choir Sings "Dark Night of the Soul" 

We took pictures afterwards to commemorate the evening.  We met Mr. Lewis, who praised Danny's talents and singing ability.  We are so thankful that Danny was able to sing with this group, which Mr. Lewis said was the best in all his years leading the Chamber Choir!

Back to life,
Christine

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Music Times Two

Danny was asked to sing a duet with his friend Andy, who takes voice lessons from Thomas Seidel.  So past Saturday morning, Fernando and I attended the recital to hear them sing.

Andy sang a solo first.

A little bit later in the program, Andy and Dan sang The Lord is My Shepherd.

They sounded wonderful!  We were so blessed to hear them sing.

We had to sneak out of the recital early, race back home, get ready and drive out west for Aelsa's graduation celebration.  Aelsa is daughter of the B. family, whose church is Grace Church, which Allie attends (I'm so sure you're keeping track of all our friends and their connections!).

As part of Aelsa's celebration, she planned a musical program for us!

Aelsa and her brothers perform a trio.

Allie accompanied Aelsa on the piano.

After the music portion, we shared refreshments (of course!) then retired to the field across the street to watch some of the attendees play volleyball.  And we sat and chatted with each other for quiet a while.  We talked away the afternoon, and everyone was invited back to the B. family's home for pizza and more fellowship, which we happily did.

Today was a great day for celebrating the accomplishments of our young people--these guys and girls who grew up and are living their lives for Jesus.  I thank the Lord when I see how He has worked in each of their lives, whether academically, musically, or spiritually.


Back to life,
Christine

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Almost Christmas

December 21.

A few days before Christmas, when our hearts are still filled with anticipation of celebrating the birth of Christ, sharing special time with family, opening our hearts with gifts to each other, spending sweet time in fellowship with friends...  It was a day for singing!

We hosted a neighborhood caroling party, with fellowship throughout the afternoon, a shared meal at dinnertime, and finally, singing from door to door in our neighborhood.  Here is the singing group, going through a few of the Christmas carols before heading out to knock on their first door:

They were gone for a long time, but--faithful as usual--they rang our own doorbell and caroled the few of us who stayed behind!

Gloria in Excelsis Deo!

Back to life,
Christine

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UIC Christmas concert

December 6.

In his semester singing with the UIC University Choir, Danny sang in three concerts.  This was the last of those three--a Christmas concert (although they called it a "holiday" concert...)!  This was also held at a beautiful church, inside a regular-looking office-type building/skyscraper in downtown Chicago.

The UIC Jazz Ensemble played in the foyer before the concert began; they were really, really good!

Just as the University Choir was about to enter the sanctuary, I spotted Danny through the glass of the door.

After all the different choirs, ensembles, bands, and orchestras played, it was time for the sing-along!  Various instrumentalists were stationed throughout the sanctuary, since there was minimal room at the front to hold all the performers.

You better believe I was getting my picture taken with my amazing son!

When we left the building, I realized that we were directly across the street from Daley Plaza, and the huge Christmas tree lit up there!  What a perfect place to wait while Fernando and Danny walked to the parking garage and got the car for the rest of us.

I'm filled with thankfulness for having the opportunity to see and hear Danny singing in the choir.  The extra-special night was added to my treasure chest of cherished memories.


Back to life,
Christine

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UIC Thanksgiving Concert

November 21.

Danny's first concert!  I was so excited!  He had joined the UIC University Choir, becoming well-known almost instantly for his booming tenor voice.  We couldn't wait to hear him sing as part of a choir; it was sure to be beautiful.  And it was!

They sang on a Friday evening, at the Notre Dame Church in Chicago just a few blocks from campus.  It was an absolutely beautiful building and sanctuary.

The program indicated that photography/videography of any kind was strictly prohibited.  So I had to sneak the few shots I took during the program.

The choir lined up along the sides of the sanctuary, and we joined with them in singing America the Beautiful.  Ringed by beautiful voices singing out this wonderful song--amazing!

Various choirs sang--the University Choir, the Women's Choral Ensemble, and the Chamber Choir.

After the concert, and after the kids cleaned up everything, we had just a few minutes to take a few pictures.

Danny with his Grandma and Grandpa.

Back to life,
Christine

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Here We Come A-Caroling!

Well, the house was as decorated as it was going to get.  And just in time, too!  We hosted a neighborhood caroling party, where we invited several families over for a fun afternoon, plus whoever wanted to could go door-to-door down our street and sing carols for our neighbors.

The carolers spent a long time out on their afternoon trip (they went out again after dinner, those brave souls!), and I captured them caroling to us when they returned.

Back inside, we laid out all the food--boy was there a lot!!--and everyone got their bodies warmed and their bellies filled.  And then it was time for some more fun, in the form of indoor music--jamming style!   Our musicians:

Our listeners:

And our sibling dancers, too!

There were a few music lessons sprinkled in:

Heather learns the bodhran.

Dale (above) and Caleb (below) show how it's done.

And Dale gave a young boy a lesson, too!

An afternoon of music, with great friends and family, and great food.  Christmastime doesn't get any better; this was all the gift we wanted.


Back to life,
Christine

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