Day 5: Choral Olympics!!

Hello! We woke up this morning to thick fog and a chilly breeze - a nice break from the heat. Breakfast consisted of bagels, cream cheese, jam, sausage, and fresh fruit salad. We warmed up our voices and bodies with the one and only Tim Silva, and singers shuffled and danced to get their blood pumping and bodies warm. In Anna and Kailamae’s Musicianship class, singers practiced the Interval Song, sight read a rhythmically challenging duet, and started a new dictation which included some new rhythms. In Eric and Ken’s Musicianship class, singers collaborated on a scale writing exercise in different modes. Will’s classes worked on Solfege in thirds, and clapping on specific notes - a surprisingly challenging activity (see our Instagram story for a visual!) Joyful Voices is continuing their theory books at their own paces, and are loving it according to CIT Makenna.

In morning rehearsals, Ensemble continued their work on Carmina Burana and Koit, Concert Choir started the highly anticipated Nutcracker Snowflake Waltz, and Joyful Voices prepped for their performance tomorrow by running through their pieces and making arts and crafts.

Lunch was scrumptious, seconds-worthy pizza, salad, and juicy watermelon. After some quick spirit day pictures (today was Olympics Day in honor of the upcoming Summer Olympics), we settled down for rest period.

Free time was filled with laughs, lake time, and lyrical lanyards. Many singers opted to go the the lake, despite the cold and foggy weather. The kayaks were a hit - first time kayaker Emma exclaimed “I love this!!” , and Anar proclaimed “Kayaking is so much fun!” Other lake-goers sat by the water and made friendship bracelets and shared favorite choir camp memories. Today was also Day 2 of Paper Mache at Arts and Crafts where singers painted their crafts and one singers made a loving recreation of their friend. Friendship bracelets and lanyards were of course available too. Josie is working on a lanyard for her little brother! Under the tree, Apples to Apples made yet another appearance, and a game of “Name that Tune” entertained many campers. Some Ensemble members had private or group lessons. Camp Joyful Voices had a colorful afternoon with an impromptu tye-dye activity in which even Ms. Anne participated!

At today’s recital, our first student performer, Ava, a French piece she competed with at the Eisteddfod in Wales. We also heard beautiful performances from our amazing counselors Nheletie and Anna. Recital closed out with a joyful performance of “Faith is the Bird” sung by 7 counselors across many generations. Owl won Spirit today with a skit were they proclaimed choir is a sport. Dinner was make-your-own burritos! A BIG bowl of guacamole which emptied quickly stole the show. After a delicious dessert of churros, singers headed to their evening rehearsals.

Tonight’s evening activity was a fan favorite … Choir Olympics! Campers were split into voice parts (Soprano, Mezzo, Alto), and competed in different activities. Anna led a relay race consisting of hopscotch, singing Solfege off of hand signs, and making a Bass Clef out of cones. Nheletie led “Rest Light Green Note” (a choir version of red light green light), which is always a popular energy boosting game. Lastly, Mimi led a Pitch Perfect Style riff off game where singers were given a song lyric, and had to sing another song using words from the previous song’s lyric. All groups did extremely well and the scoring was incredibly close! And the Sopranos were crowned 2024 Choir Olympic Winners!

Meanwhile, Joyful Voices gathered for a cozy movie night of How to Train Your Dragon. Huddled together in sleeping bags, side by side with small cones of popcorn, kiddos giggled watching Toothless and Hiccup through their adventures.

All in all, today was full of adventures and activities with friends, new and old. Camper Nora F. summed up today saying, “Of all the places to try new things, Walker Creek is the best place!” Tonight’s vespers consisted of a few camp classics and some Taylor Swift. Campers went to sleep excited for another fantastic and fun day at camp!