Day 8: Beaded Lizards and Choir Charades

Campers began the day with a delicious breakfast of breakfast sandwiches, cereal, and fruit salad. Then on to warmups with voice teacher Audrey, including her famous “squatty body” exercise.

Ecco started rehearsing Panda Chant with special coaching from counselor Grace. They also enjoyed singing a beautiful piece from the English cathedral tradition “The Call of Wisdom.” Singers have been singing the melody around camp. Ensemble has also begun sight-reading one on a part.

Free time was low-key today. Counselor Maddy hosted jewelry-making at the arts and crafts table, while counselor Mia ran games of volleyball and badminton. Counselor Owen led choristers up to the lake on a kayaking expedition.

Evening recital was truly incredible, featuring beautiful performances from ensemble campers Anjali, Ayla, and Loki. Standout moments were counselor Grace singing the camp-favorite “Vanilla Ice Cream” and voice teacher Alice’s spectacular rendition of Madam Mao’s aria from Nixon in China. Ecco camper Oona closed out the show with a deeply poignant and personal interpretation of “She Used to Be Mine” from Waitress.

After a filling dinner of teriyaki chicken and rice, Owen hosted his annual music theory bowl. Returning champion Eric took the prize again this year, beating out fellow competitors Will, Alice, and Kymry.

Our evening activity was our annual Choir Olympics — a camp favorite. Singers divided into groups of voice parts (and Ecco) to compete in different games around the camp. Counselor Nheletie hosted “rest light, green note” on the patio, in which campers had to retrieve a water bottle and cross the finish line. Owen led the theory relay (singers had to hop on one foot, sing a line of a piece they are learning in rehearsal, crawl through the tunnel, sing solfege, and run to ring the bell). Grace hosted the ever-popular game Encore, and counselor Apryl led singers in choir-themed charades. Sopranos won for the second year in a row!

Finally, a special shout-out to Ensemble section leaders: Keira, Veda, Ava, Carys, Elana, June, Keanna, and Andrea.