I am a member of the Indianapolis Children's Choir(ICC). I joined at the beginning of 2005, when I was in 5th grade and only 10. It is now May of 2013, I'm 18, and I performed my final concert with the organization yesterday.
Henry Leck Founded the ICC in 1986. The choir began with a couple hundred kids and has grown to over 3000 singers. The choirs travel all over the world, visiting places from New York City to Australia, to England, and to Russia. The advanced choirs have performed at national conventions many times, the most recent appearance being March of this year. You can find out more about the organization here.
If you have ever been around the ICC, you've definitely heard the phrase "It's more than music." And it really is. Its full of it's own little quirks that we all find time to laugh at. Things that continue on through generations of singers, like:
You know you're in ICC when... you know what a Dwyer choir is...
You know you're in ICC when...the pitch "C" above "middle C" is drilled into your tonal memory...
You know you're in ICC when... people coming up to you fixing your tie is totally normal.
You know you're an ICC girl when... you have found that your cell phone, lip-gloss iPod, cough drops, and more can fit in your socks... or your guy friend's tux jacket.
Then there's the sentimental stuff. Because, as much as we hear it, ICC truly is so much more than music. It’s the early days with Mrs. Hassler, where everything was "P.O.C., baby!"… And the days in a Dwyer Choir belting out Yonder Come Day. It’s the bedtime stories and crazy socks with Mr. Pedde, enduring the horrible (yet wonderful) puns of Leck jokes... and it’s being with Mama West and obsessing over sparkles and ducks and just being fabulous. It’s a family. There is nothing else in this world like the Indianapolis Children’s Choir.
Henry Leck Founded the ICC in 1986. The choir began with a couple hundred kids and has grown to over 3000 singers. The choirs travel all over the world, visiting places from New York City to Australia, to England, and to Russia. The advanced choirs have performed at national conventions many times, the most recent appearance being March of this year. You can find out more about the organization here.
If you have ever been around the ICC, you've definitely heard the phrase "It's more than music." And it really is. Its full of it's own little quirks that we all find time to laugh at. Things that continue on through generations of singers, like:
You know you're in ICC when... you know what a Dwyer choir is...
You know you're in ICC when...the pitch "C" above "middle C" is drilled into your tonal memory...
You know you're in ICC when... people coming up to you fixing your tie is totally normal.
You know you're an ICC girl when... you have found that your cell phone, lip-gloss iPod, cough drops, and more can fit in your socks... or your guy friend's tux jacket.
Then there's the sentimental stuff. Because, as much as we hear it, ICC truly is so much more than music. It’s the early days with Mrs. Hassler, where everything was "P.O.C., baby!"… And the days in a Dwyer Choir belting out Yonder Come Day. It’s the bedtime stories and crazy socks with Mr. Pedde, enduring the horrible (yet wonderful) puns of Leck jokes... and it’s being with Mama West and obsessing over sparkles and ducks and just being fabulous. It’s a family. There is nothing else in this world like the Indianapolis Children’s Choir.
Words cannot even begin to describe the impact this organization has had on my life. ICC was in my life even before I got chronic pain. The choirs have been in have helped me through 7 years of relentless pain, 15 surgeries/procedures, and so much more.
The consistent rehearsals and concerts were not easy to deal with, from a chronic illness standpoint. Each concert and each rehearsal completely drains me, and it takes me a few days to recover, but it's completely worth it. I know I sound crazy again, doing these things that tend to make me feel worse and have even less energy and even more pain... but nothing compares to standing on stage and singing with this choir.
It goes something like this;
You're standing backstage at some performance hall. The group before you is performing their last number. Everyone's hushing each other, trying not to talk, but there is still a small chatter. People are kinda dancing and hugging and making up some kind of strange sign language to continue their conversation without a parent, or worse, - a director - coming over to tell you to be quiet. There's this vibe in the area, and you can feel that the performance is going to be fabulous. Suddenly, the chaperons swing open the doors for you to enter the stage.
You walk single-file onto stage and directly to your spot. You turn and face the audience with a smile. They begin to clap when your director walks on stage. You glance around the room and search for your family or friends as you wait for the conductor to begin. At the first sound from the piano, you click into gear. Head up, back straight, feet flat on the floor, knees slightly bent. The music surrounds you, and all that is left is you, the choir, the pianist, and your conductor. You have this sudden connection to everyone around you. Your glance around the choir and see the faces of your 89 siblings. Everyone looks happy. Happy to be there, in that moment, opening their hearts to the audience. At the end of your set, the audience stands applauding your talents.
During this time you feel so full of love. Right now I am a member of one of the ICC's high school groups, the Indianapolis Youth Chorale(IYC). IYC is a pretty lovey group. We all hug all the time, and end every rehearsal holding hands and breathing together.
ICC was there for me after I got in the accident that caused everything pain related. I had a choir of friends backing me up after each surgery or nerve block or diagnostic test done. I had a choir surrounding me when I was finally diagnosed with RSD in eighth grade. IYC was there for me in December, when I experienced some true pain relief for the first time in nearly 7 years. They were there for me when I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia this past February. They were there when I could barely even walk at nationals in Dallas because the pain was so intense. The organization has been with me through nearly every difficult time in my life. I think it's truly helped me create these fabulous friendships.
IYC is made up of some of my best friends in the world... Amelia, Clare, Jericha, Hannah, Jonathan, Ethan... everyone. I've been through some of my hardest times with these people. I've actually been in the same choir with a good majority of the entire group since seventh grade. We've been there for everything. IYC sticks together and holds you up.
I can't imagine what next year is going to be like, not being a performing member of the organization (Alumni still counts as a member of the organization, right?). As long as I remember ICC concerts and rehearsals have been a major part of my life. 5th-7th grade, Tuesdays and/or Thursdays were devoted to ICC. From 8th-10th grade, Mondays, Wednesdays (And a good majority of Saturdays and Sundays) were devoted to choir. And for the past two years, Sundays have been my solace, my time with IYC.
I think the weirdest part will be the Christmas season. For years, I have been booked to my breaking point with concerts, rehearsals, and studying for finals. I remember one of my years in a choir called Cantantes Angeli, over a three week time period in December, we had somewhere between 14 and 18 performances/rehearsals... through finals weeks. it's crazy, but it's more fun than it sounds. My favorite week for the past 6 years has been Angels Sing week - our major Christmas concert. The "week" is really only four days, but in it we have dress rehearsal, TV taping, and, depending on the year, four performances. It's a marathon week, for sure... doesn't bid well on the chronic illness, but I would give anything to live that week again.
The ICC provides so many opportunities for its singers. Not many people can say they have accomplished (performance, wise) what I have at only 18 years old. I've performed in dozens of venues across Indianapolis. I've sung in the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, performed at Disney World, performed in Hawaii, I have sung at The Lincoln Center at Julliard in NYC. I've performed alongside the New York Philharmonic, and our very own Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. I've performed a concert with and met Grammy award winning Marvin Hamlisch, sang with Barry Manilow on his birthday, Kellie Pickler at the Indy500 parade, and have performed for Movie Director Steven Spielberg. I've performed with opera singer Angela Brown, and with the fabulous Sylvia McNair. Now I can say I performed as the number one high school choir in the US at the American Choral Directors Association National conference.
I am, and forever will be, grateful for the opportunities the Indianapolis Children's Choir has given me. This organization has helped me to mature, helped me to indulge in both my passion for music and my passion to help other people, and it has created a place for me to make the best friends I could ever ask for. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to sing with this fabulous organization for the past eight years. As I leave the organization this year, I take with me memories of the once-in-a-lifetime experiences I have been given.
It really does take a whole village to accomplish something as amazing as this. I want to express my sincere thanks to everyone working in the ICC office. From the Butler University work-study student working the front desk, to Mr. Henry Leck himself and everyone in between. Everyone in the office is so vital to the experience of each ICC singer, and I hope you all know how much we appreciate what you do to make these once-in-a-lifetime experiences happen. Thank you for that.
This organization started from a man with a goal. He wanted to bring children's choral music to the city of Indianapolis. The organization has blossomed into a life changing experience. Once you've experienced the family that ICC can be, you never want to leave. I have to leave this year. I don't want to, but it's my time to go. Mrs. West always tells us the legacy of the past IYC singers are in our souls. As I leave, I know that a part of me will always be in the ICC/IYC. I'm sad to go, but I'm excited to see the choirs flourish in the years to come.
ICC/IYC is major part of my life I could never forget. I thank God for having this choir be a part f his plan for me, and I thank my parents for getting me to choir every year, and paying for experiences like traveling the world with the choir. It's hard to imagine my life next year, away at college. But I know that when I do come back, I'll still have my ICC/IYC family to come back to and sing all the alumni songs with. To everyone in choir, I love you so much. Your friendship means the world to me, and I am so thankful that I have had the opportunity to perform with you these past 8 years. I'll miss you, but I won't be far. You can't get rid of me that easily. ;]
The consistent rehearsals and concerts were not easy to deal with, from a chronic illness standpoint. Each concert and each rehearsal completely drains me, and it takes me a few days to recover, but it's completely worth it. I know I sound crazy again, doing these things that tend to make me feel worse and have even less energy and even more pain... but nothing compares to standing on stage and singing with this choir.
It goes something like this;
You're standing backstage at some performance hall. The group before you is performing their last number. Everyone's hushing each other, trying not to talk, but there is still a small chatter. People are kinda dancing and hugging and making up some kind of strange sign language to continue their conversation without a parent, or worse, - a director - coming over to tell you to be quiet. There's this vibe in the area, and you can feel that the performance is going to be fabulous. Suddenly, the chaperons swing open the doors for you to enter the stage.
You walk single-file onto stage and directly to your spot. You turn and face the audience with a smile. They begin to clap when your director walks on stage. You glance around the room and search for your family or friends as you wait for the conductor to begin. At the first sound from the piano, you click into gear. Head up, back straight, feet flat on the floor, knees slightly bent. The music surrounds you, and all that is left is you, the choir, the pianist, and your conductor. You have this sudden connection to everyone around you. Your glance around the choir and see the faces of your 89 siblings. Everyone looks happy. Happy to be there, in that moment, opening their hearts to the audience. At the end of your set, the audience stands applauding your talents.
During this time you feel so full of love. Right now I am a member of one of the ICC's high school groups, the Indianapolis Youth Chorale(IYC). IYC is a pretty lovey group. We all hug all the time, and end every rehearsal holding hands and breathing together.
ICC was there for me after I got in the accident that caused everything pain related. I had a choir of friends backing me up after each surgery or nerve block or diagnostic test done. I had a choir surrounding me when I was finally diagnosed with RSD in eighth grade. IYC was there for me in December, when I experienced some true pain relief for the first time in nearly 7 years. They were there for me when I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia this past February. They were there when I could barely even walk at nationals in Dallas because the pain was so intense. The organization has been with me through nearly every difficult time in my life. I think it's truly helped me create these fabulous friendships.
IYC is made up of some of my best friends in the world... Amelia, Clare, Jericha, Hannah, Jonathan, Ethan... everyone. I've been through some of my hardest times with these people. I've actually been in the same choir with a good majority of the entire group since seventh grade. We've been there for everything. IYC sticks together and holds you up.
I can't imagine what next year is going to be like, not being a performing member of the organization (Alumni still counts as a member of the organization, right?). As long as I remember ICC concerts and rehearsals have been a major part of my life. 5th-7th grade, Tuesdays and/or Thursdays were devoted to ICC. From 8th-10th grade, Mondays, Wednesdays (And a good majority of Saturdays and Sundays) were devoted to choir. And for the past two years, Sundays have been my solace, my time with IYC.
I think the weirdest part will be the Christmas season. For years, I have been booked to my breaking point with concerts, rehearsals, and studying for finals. I remember one of my years in a choir called Cantantes Angeli, over a three week time period in December, we had somewhere between 14 and 18 performances/rehearsals... through finals weeks. it's crazy, but it's more fun than it sounds. My favorite week for the past 6 years has been Angels Sing week - our major Christmas concert. The "week" is really only four days, but in it we have dress rehearsal, TV taping, and, depending on the year, four performances. It's a marathon week, for sure... doesn't bid well on the chronic illness, but I would give anything to live that week again.
The ICC provides so many opportunities for its singers. Not many people can say they have accomplished (performance, wise) what I have at only 18 years old. I've performed in dozens of venues across Indianapolis. I've sung in the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, performed at Disney World, performed in Hawaii, I have sung at The Lincoln Center at Julliard in NYC. I've performed alongside the New York Philharmonic, and our very own Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. I've performed a concert with and met Grammy award winning Marvin Hamlisch, sang with Barry Manilow on his birthday, Kellie Pickler at the Indy500 parade, and have performed for Movie Director Steven Spielberg. I've performed with opera singer Angela Brown, and with the fabulous Sylvia McNair. Now I can say I performed as the number one high school choir in the US at the American Choral Directors Association National conference.
I am, and forever will be, grateful for the opportunities the Indianapolis Children's Choir has given me. This organization has helped me to mature, helped me to indulge in both my passion for music and my passion to help other people, and it has created a place for me to make the best friends I could ever ask for. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to sing with this fabulous organization for the past eight years. As I leave the organization this year, I take with me memories of the once-in-a-lifetime experiences I have been given.
It really does take a whole village to accomplish something as amazing as this. I want to express my sincere thanks to everyone working in the ICC office. From the Butler University work-study student working the front desk, to Mr. Henry Leck himself and everyone in between. Everyone in the office is so vital to the experience of each ICC singer, and I hope you all know how much we appreciate what you do to make these once-in-a-lifetime experiences happen. Thank you for that.
This organization started from a man with a goal. He wanted to bring children's choral music to the city of Indianapolis. The organization has blossomed into a life changing experience. Once you've experienced the family that ICC can be, you never want to leave. I have to leave this year. I don't want to, but it's my time to go. Mrs. West always tells us the legacy of the past IYC singers are in our souls. As I leave, I know that a part of me will always be in the ICC/IYC. I'm sad to go, but I'm excited to see the choirs flourish in the years to come.
ICC/IYC is major part of my life I could never forget. I thank God for having this choir be a part f his plan for me, and I thank my parents for getting me to choir every year, and paying for experiences like traveling the world with the choir. It's hard to imagine my life next year, away at college. But I know that when I do come back, I'll still have my ICC/IYC family to come back to and sing all the alumni songs with. To everyone in choir, I love you so much. Your friendship means the world to me, and I am so thankful that I have had the opportunity to perform with you these past 8 years. I'll miss you, but I won't be far. You can't get rid of me that easily. ;]