Also interesting was being the chaplain for the Saturday session. I'd never expected to be the chaplain for any major singing, because . . . well, the obvious. But the chair of this year's Midwest decided that she wanted a Jewish chaplain for Shabbat, with the kind of prayers that came with that. I based most of them on Sha'arei Tefillah, or Gates of Prayer, which is the old Reform siddur (I don't have a copy of the new one yet, though I should really acquire one soon), and, in a nod to Pony family tradition, I started off the morning blessing with the "Shehekhyanu," as the Pony family does whenever there is a Family Event to be formally opened. To tell the truth, I'd been more than a little nervous about it, since we do get guests from all over the place, often from singings that aren't as thoroughly ecumenical as the Hyde Park group. But people really seemed to like it. As my friend C reassured me, most everyone at the Midwest can agree on God.
We did have some trouble with the building, including no building people, no supplies such as paper towels in the bathrooms, and ants in the bass section. And, of course, it being Memorial Day weekend, no one could be reached to help us take care of these problems. Accordingly, since Ida Noyes Hall is University property, and I'm still a student, I've been put on the Locating Committee for next year to help discuss this with the school. I think our secret weapon for next year will be that the Midwest will be at the end of April rather than the end of May, and therefore not a holiday weekend and therefore the building people might be more reachable.
It also strikes me that this would leave WisCon Weekend free. Maybe I'll go to WisCon next year; the one time I went was fun, so maybe I'd like it again. Who else might go? I could bring my gaohu.
- Current Music:Calvary
Comments
We have the Berryville sing this weekend. I am only going to the first day (it's turned into a 2 day sing with the second day being from the Missouri Harmony and this year they are adding other songs too). It's too much for the girls to go to both days with no sitter and nothing to do and I don't want to camp. The girls and I can go to the Washington Folk Festival while dh sings the second day (unless it's too hot again).
Awesome! That must have been both great fun and a little nerve wracking at once. I went to a Catholic high school and I got asked to lead the music for a Mass once because I was the only person present for the Mass that sung other than the priest. That was interesting given that I am not Catholic. I loved it though.
I'm glad you had a good time, difficulties aside.
I can see you fitting right in at WisCon as well. Hope you get your schedule worked out next year the way you want it (Berryville, WisCon, whatever).