I was thinking yesterday about what else I could post about and then it hit me: the Boychoir.
I couldn't believe I didn't say anything sooner!
So, if you've read my blog a little, you'll notice references to the Minnesota Boychoir scattered throughout my posts. The Minnesota Boychoir is an organization where boys who live in and near the Twin Cities region can go to sing. This year, on August 5, will mark 50 years of existence for the Boychoir. It is the oldest children's chorus in Minnesota and is known and tours internationally.
(For the non-Minnesotan readers: Minnesota is a state in the middle of the United States. The Twin Cities are Minneapolis and our Capitol, St. Paul.)
I have been a member of the Boychoir for 8 years. There is no organization like it. When I first joined, I fidgeted and had very little knowledge of music. Now, 8 years later, I can stand for hours on end without fidgeting.
Not only is the choir a musical experience but also a family experience. I'll tell my stories about this but, if any readers are Minnesota Boychoir singers or Alumni, please share your experiences.
Often, in today's society, we are too absorbed in our own lives to realize what is going on around us. Our jobs, cars, phones, and televisions pull us away from what really matters: relationships. The choir challenges this fact by creating a community of friends, singers, and ultimately brothers. I have a sister and about 120 brothers because of the Minnesota Boychoir. I'm not going to mislead you and say I get along perfectly with every one of them, but I feel a close bond between myself and each of the boys.
Our director, Mark Johnson, is something like a second father to me. When I was diagnosed with diabetes, he called me to see how I was doing. When I directed for the first time in eighth grade, he came to support me. When I got West Nile, he visited me in the hospital.
All in all, the Boychoir is far more than a choir. Far more than an organization. Far more than anything money can buy. It is a separate family, a safe place, and above all a place of growth. I can think of nothing I would rather have spent half of my life doing.
If you'd like to learn more about us (and see a picture of me!), check out our web page: www.boychoir.org
(I'm in the picture of our logo juxtaposed over choir boys)
