The Chattanooga Girls Choir

Saturday, May 24, 2008
Day 3: Rehearsals, Vandalia Gathering, and Skit Night

The girls didn't have to report to rehearsal until 9:30 this morning, which they no doubt appreciated after the workout they got at the square dance last night. Plus, getting ready in the morning is definitely a challenge for the girls who are sharing a suite (and only one bathroom!) with 5 other girls.

Rehearsal this morning lasted less than an hour and a half, after which the choirs were dismissed to enjoy several hours at Charleston's Vandalia Gathering festival. Our choir took our bus to the grounds of the state Capitol just a few minutes away, and then divided up into groups of 3 to 5 girls per chaperone to wander among the booths of crafts and food vendors and musicians. The weather was absolutely perfect--clear blue skies, warm sun, and a light cool breeze. In booths among the shade trees at the base of the domed capitol building were glass blowers and potters and weavers and other craftspeople demonstrating their skills and selling their wares. Fiddlers and banjo pickers and guitar players gathered under tents and tree branches to play their favorite folk or gluegrass tunes, and in one area a square-dance caller kept groups of dancers laughing and bumping into each other. The girls enjoyed a lunch of standard county fair fare--hot dogs, barbeque, hamburgers, and of course funnel cake--and also a few specialties like fresh-squeezed lemonade and hand-churned ice cream. By 2:00, though, it was time to gather back together and pile onto the bus. The girls had a great time admiring one another's special purchases and comparing notes about what part of the festival they liked best.

Once back at the hotel, Mr. Holden volunteered to be our lifeguard at the hotel pool for any of our girls who wanted to take a swim. Over half the girls took him up on it and had a great time, and the others went back to their rooms and enjoyed some very welcome free time.

We gathered back together again downstairs at 5:00. The Grace Moore girls went with one chaperone to have a special dinner of sushi, and the rest of the group walked to the mall across the street for a quick dinner in the food court, followed by a walk to the riverfront to see the boats and bridges of Charleston. The girls once again commented about how familiar Charleston seems, almost like a smaller version of Chattanooga.

From 6:30-9:30 was a special rehearsal with the string band who will be performing with the choirs in tomorrow's concert. With the addition of guitar, dobro, mandolin, banjo, and upright bass, all the songs suddenly came to life. The kids all worked hard to rise to the level of these world-class musicians, and if they all sound half as good tomorrow as they sounded tonight, it will be a wonderful and memorable performance.

During rehearsal, Mrs. Midkiff introduced a special guest: Billy Edd Wheeler, who composed the song "Coal Tatoo" that the choirs are singing, as well as many songs recorded by Elvis, Johnny Cash, and others. He shared the story of his music career with the choirs, then he and Dr. Dilworth and Ron Sowell took questions from the choirs. The kids asked great questions and learned a lot about songwriting and the music business. The most touching moment came when Billy Edd Wheeler was asked to sing the first song he ever wrote, so he sang a ballad he wrote when he was 12, a very sweet tune that he composed for his baby sister.

After all the choirs were dismissed, the Girls Choir gathered again in the room next to the rehearsal room for the traditional tour Skit Night by the Grace Moore girls. Alexx did an amazing impression of Mr. Holden while the other Grace Moore girls acted out the roles of various Jubilate girls as they counted off their "numbers" (a fast way to do a headcount while on tour). Alexx also revealed a previously hidden talent as a dramatic storyteller as she told the story of the how she tore the bumper off her grandfather's truck. The older girls handed out awards to every member of tour, such as the "Powderpuff Award" to Haley (because she got powdered sugar on her nose when she ate funnel cake today!) and the "Bullhorn Award" to Kylee (because she is a little girl with such a big beautiful voice).

Tomorrow the choirs will have one last rehearsal, and then the performance is tomorrow night. It should be a terrific concert!

The girls (and LuAnn!) enjoy a leisurely breakfast at Embassy Suites.

The capitol building and the weather were both impressive at Vandalia Gathering.

Emily likes heights and unusual socks!

LuAnn, Micki, Haley, and Chara had a ball learning to square dance at Vandalia Gathering.
(To the left are our personal hosts from the festival, Austin and Paige.)

Meet LuAnn's Angels: Emily, Rheanna, and Isabelle!

After dinner at the mall, the choir (minus the Grace Moore girls) walked with Paige and Austin to the riverfront.

Ah, our serious little singers!

The string band for the concert:
Chris Stockwell (dobro), Johnny Staats (mandolin), Butch Osborne (banjo), Ron Sowell (guitar), and Roger Bissell (upright bass).

Rollo Dilworth, Billy Edd Wheeler, and Ron Sowell talked to the choirs
and answered many questions about songwriting and music careers.

The Grace Moore girls entertained the younger girls on Skit Night.

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