(Read Gerry Avant's blog as she accompanies the Choir on their 2009 tour.)
DES MOINES, IOWA
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir is accustomed to touching hearts by the thousands, but it was an audience of dozens that touched their hearts Monday morning, June 22.
While in Des Moines for a concert Monday evening, 95 members of the choir formed into two groups and performed at local residential care centers as a service project. This was one of the few blocks of time during the choir's 13-day tour that the singers could have had some time off. They opted to sing for care center residents.
Wickie Dawe, social coordinator at Wesley Acres, said that in the 15 years she has worked there this was the first time she had seen residents arrive an hour early for a program.
The choir's visit was much anticipated, the Rev. C. Rendy Garrett, chaplain at the senior health center, told the Church News. He said that he is a retired Methodist minister who has loved listening to choir recordings for many years. "This is the kind of music people need to hear," he said. "It brightens everybody's day."
The short program at Wesley Acres included five songs: "God Bless America," "Climb Every Mountain," "You'll Never Walk Alone," "Come, Come, Ye Saints" and "The Battle Hymn of the Republic."
Joan Schooff, wife to Elder Maury W. Schooff, an Area Seventy, said that she noticed a man and woman sitting together. "The man mouthed every word of every song," Sister Schooff said. After the choir members sang, she went over to speak to them. The woman said she had hesitated in bringing her husband, who has Alzheimer's. She was afraid he would create a disturbance in the crowd.
The woman told Sister Schooff that he had been a choir leader for many years. To the woman's amazement, he remembered the words of all the songs. "While the choir members were singing, his eyes were clear and he seemed totally engaged in the moment," Sister Schooff said. "The woman told me, 'I have my husband back today because of this music.' "
Greg Smith, who has been a member of the choir for about five years, said that singing at the center was one of the most emotional experiences he has had as a choir member. "It's right up there with my first concert tour," he said.
He admitted he had to search for words — and they escaped him — to express his feelings after singing at the care center. "The most striking thing was that I could feel the anticipation when we walked into the room. They had been waiting for an hour. It was almost overwhelming. I have a hard time describing it. It was almost like they were starving for that kind of a program."
Camille McClurg and Ruth Stoneman had to dig out their tissues. They dabbed at their eyes as they finished singing, especially when the audience joined in singing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic."
"I was touched to see the faces and the reactions of the people while we were singing," Sister Stoneman said. "They were mouthing the words along with us. Some closed their eyes and brought their hands up to their hearts."
Sister McClurg said that she particularly noticed reactions to "Climb Every Mountain."
"It seemed to reinforce faith," she said. "One woman said, 'Thank you for singing that song.' "
Elaine Brewster said, "I have a real affinity for older people. I visit nursing homes often, and sometimes play the harp. I see these people as individuals who have contributed greatly to society when they were younger, and now they're contributing in their new environment.
"As we were singing, I looked into their faces. They were beaming and smiling. Afterward, we had a chance to visit with them, and I was thrilled to talk to some of them, to hold their hands, or touch their arms, and ask them their names."
Patsy Peterson said that the program gave choir members an opportunity to connect with an audience. "When we sing in big concerts, we can't see the people we're singing for. During this program, we could see their faces. I felt that our spirits came through, that we communicated with them and I could feel them receiving that communication."
Karen Penman noticed a woman become emotional while choir members sang, "You'll Never Walk Alone."
"I talked to her afterward and she told me that when she and her husband were courting, he had members of the college glee club serenade her with that song. She said that it brought back memories. Her husband is a resident of the center also but he was unable to leave his room. She told me that she would tell him about hearing that song."
