Proud Songsters

The Song Thrush

Proud Songsters

The Thrushes sing as the sun is going,

And the Finches whistle in ones and pairs,

And as it gets dark loud nightingales in bushes Pipe,

As they can when April wears,

As if all Time were theirs.

These are brand new birds of twelve months growing,

Which a year ago, or less than twain

No finches were, nor nightingales,

Nor thrushes,

But only particles of grain,

And earth, and air, and rain.

text by: Thomas Hardy

as composed by: John McCabe, for Stephen on his 70th birthday

My prayer is that as we set our sights on the 5th World Choir Games as our final milestone this year, we go forth, boldly- not only in the spirit of competition, but to celebrate the soul of music. Yes, we go with one aim, to create music. And, as we sing as one body, the essence of what it means to be a proud songster will be so revelational, that from this experience, we can truly be proud of ourselves.

Sing Loud

Sing Proud

Be the music.

and we will walk offstage, without regrets, knowing we did our best.

I thank God for the gift of music; and the birds that whistle to the melody. “For they brought life, to the once empty and formless earth”.