Dickens Caroling

I was asked last spring by the Carolina Youth Chorale Director to lead the Dickens Caroling group of the CYC this year.  Last year I chaperoned many of the venues that my kids sang for, so I knew a little about what it took to get through a caroling season.  I knew there was a need, especially administratively, to organize the group and coordinate venues for the teens to sing.  So I became Dickens Director.

Fast forward to today: our Dickens Caroling group has successfully sung at 21 of the 25 scheduled venues; we are in our last week of the season.  I just wrote some comments about each of the venues that I have attended, and I thought I should write something about this job that has been consuming a good chunk of my time this month and last.

I did not attend all 21 venues; but I was responsible for organizing and executing their success.  I've enjoyed serving Carolina Youth Chorale of Charlotte (CHEA Homeschool choirs)  in this capacity.  My kids have enjoyed singing at many of the venues.  We've had an assortment of locations where our carolers sing Christmas carols: hospitals, nursing homes (senior living) , Alzheimer's units of nursing homes, small town squares, neighborhoods, businesses (Chick Fil A), churches, and missions organizations.  Each venue is unique because each group of singers is different, depending on who has signed up to sing.  But they all have one thing in common: they are each a way to serve, bless, and minister to those who hear the Good News sung through Christmas carols.

 The teenagers involved in this group of carolers wear Dickens period (Victorian) costumes.  Sometimes a venue is caroling through a business, or as people pass by, or in a neighborhood.  Sometimes it is an event on a stage with microphones and our name on a calendar of events. The moms of the singers help by chaperoning and leading the venue.  But the kids lead and direct their own singing, allowing a team leader to pick the carols, set pitch and tempo, harmonizing their voices to blend and create without an accompanying instrument (a Capella).

It has been a blessing to hear the Dickens Carolers sing.  It has been a learning experience to organize the group.  They have learned how to sing and work together; I have learned to be confident that the Lord will work out details of arrangements, even up to the last day or hours before a venue.  We've had to work around illness of singers and chaperones these last few weeks.  But there seems to be a replacement ready to step in where and when there is a need. Or the group has learned to adapt, singing with less people, but sharing their gifts still.

I want to post some of my reflections and review of some of the venues.   It has been exciting to see how the kids work together.  It has also been a great blessing to see the response to their caroling.  Overall, Dickens Caroling has been a great experience this year for our family.