Day 3: Turtles for Eric
Day three of choir camp was full of exciting events! It started off with many campers waking up early to get ready for wacky hair day. Kids showed up to breakfast (sausage, bagels, and yogurt) wearing colorful hats, glitter, hair chalk and other accessories.
As the morning light reflected off of the lake into the trees, singers prepared their voices for rehearsal via warmups led by voice teacher Liz. After rehearsal, the campers ate tacos for lunch then gathered in the front lawn for announcements and spirit judging. For Eric’s birthday members of ensemble presented a signed birthday card as well as a lovely handmade quilt, each square illustrating a fond memory of Eric that the ensemble campers had.
During free time, the campers had many craft options, including friendship bracelets, lanyards, and the project of the day, macrame. Many of the Camp Joyful Voices campers fell in love with this project and created super colorful yarn decorations! Other activities that occurred included swimming, card games, and relaxing in the shade. Counselor Cat led a chalk art activity that read “PEBCC” in a beautiful stained glass pattern with campers Eloise, Courtney, Avi, Alex, and other CC members. There was tons of music making throughout free time, from ensemble members memorizing new music, to singing three part solfege exercises for fun!
After free time, campers and staff made their way to the serene Redwood Amphitheater for recital, where Ecco singer Clare sung an awe-inspiring solo, along with other staff members preforming meaningful pieces. On the way to dinner, which was spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread, and stir fried vegetables, the campers noticed a turtle scuttling away from the pond, perhaps attracted to the harmonies that sounded during recital. After competing their meals, the campers had their second rehearsal of the day. The last activity of the day was Choir Olympics, which challenged the campers in their musicianship skills, teamwork, and speediness sans running. The counselors led stations with different music themed activities, while groups split into soprano 1, soprano 2, alto 1, alto 2, and Ecco speed walked to each location to participate in the games. In the end, it was a close battle between the first sopranos and second altos, but the soprano 1’s won the Championship by a few points.
The day was concluded with the counselors singing soft vespers in the atriums of the dormitory. They sung “Autumn Time” in a three part round, and another camp classic, “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?”. Looking forward to another great day!