\After beginning the year on-line due to circumstances and guidelines related to the coronavirus pandemic, members of the Chattanooga Boys Choir have found a way of maintaining their tradition of commemorating the United Nations International Day of Peace (Sept. 21).
Monday, the CBC releases their virtual choir recording of Kevin Padworski’s arrangement of the Mexican hymn Somos del Señor, titled “When We Are Singing.” The recording was made by digitally stitching together individual videos made by each chorister following three weeks of on-line virtual rehearsals and instruction to start the 2020-2021 season. The song is meant to raise awareness of the importance of hope and healing through the actions of singing, sharing, and helping others.
In previous years, the choir has hosted community singing events or themed concerts on the subject of peace to commemorate the United Nations International Day of Peace. The U.N. observance has been held annually since 1981 and this year’s theme –“Shaping Peace Together” – is especially highlighted in the choir’s selection.
Just last week, the CBC resumed in-person rehearsals through gatherings that are masked, distanced, limited in capacity, and outdoors. They started their meetings aboard the deck of the Southern Belle Pier 2. Future weeks will see the choir hosted at AT&T Stadium (home of the Chattanooga Lookouts) and Finley Stadium (home of the UT-Chattanooga football team and the Chattanooga Football Club). They will continue to meet as they prepare additional offerings to be released this fall and during the holiday season.
Founded in 1954, the Chattanooga Boys Choir has been a part of Chattanooga’s cultural landscape for more than 65 years. They have been deemed Chattanooga’s official “Ambassadors of Goodwill” on their performance tours throughout the United States and throughout the world, with recent appearances in Cuba, Costa Rica and Ireland.
For more information or to view the video, visit the choir’s web site at www.chattanoogaboyschoir.org – for additional information, contact the Chattanooga Boys Choir at 423-634-2299 or via e-mail at info@cbchoir.org.
YouTube direct link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fyz5WboL0tU
FaceBook direct link: https://www.facebook.com/cbchoir/
Vincent Oakes, CBC artistic director, said, “This fall has obviously been met with several challenges. I have been amazed at how well our choristers and their families have responded to our call to join together – even virtually – to keep music thriving in this environment. It speaks to the importance of the arts for personal fulfillment and growth as well as their importance to the community.
“While I have missed the medium of joining together in person, coming together in this way to promote the ideals of peace provide both the opportunity and the platform to spread the choristers’ efforts and.”
“When We Are Singing”
trad. Mexican Hymn Somos del Señor, arranged by Kevin Padworksi
When we are singing, we are bound together. When we are sharing, we are free to be.
Both in our singing, and in our sharing, we are bringing change, we are making peace.
Through times of trouble, through times of pain, we offer healing like a gentle rain.
Both in our healing, and in our caring, we are bringing change, we are making peace.
When we are helping, we can be our best. When we are loving, hurt is put to rest.
Both in our helping, and in our loving, we are bringing change, we are making peace.