When we first moved into our ward, he quickly caught the attention of Miss Janie Thompson, a legend at BYU (there is a giant portrait of her in the HFAC). She is 89 years old and has a magnificent history: she is the original founder of the Young Ambassadors and Living Legends performing groups at BYU, as well as being involved in countless other achievements and accomplishments. This woman knows her stuff and has performed with and trained the best of the best.
She got really excited when she heard Ben read a quote in Sunday School and even interrupted the lesson to say, "What an amazing bass voice!" (Which is funny because Ben's speaking voice is not that low...) and invited him to come to choir. Then when he let slip that he is a former member of Vocal Point, she fell in love. Literally. She dotes on him like crazy!She directs our ward choir, often having us sing things that are very advanced and complicated (not just simple hymn arrangements), many of them ones that she herself has arranged and/or composed. They are actually quite amazing and uplifting.
She also conducts the ward's annual Christmas show, which is quite a production. The youth and primary children perform numbers that she has written and choreographed and she accompanies all of them on the piano and leads the caroling (again, not just simple carols but complicated arrangements).
This year she pulled out a song that she wrote called "Cowboy Christmas" and had us over a few times so she could coach Ben. This song is funny because Ben sings about all of the "cowboy" things he likes to do. She thinks it is pretty cute. But what we find absolutely hilarious is that it has nothing to do with Christmas, except for a random line that she throws in at the end where he wants to "wish a very Merry Christmas to you." It got a lot of laughs at the ward Christmas party and Janie was glowing with pride.
She also wrote another ending to the song so that he doesn't have to sing it just at Christmas time. So Ben's talent has stolen the heart of another lovely lady and we now have the sheet music to a Janie Thompson original (in her own handwriting, too) and sweet memories of a great experience with a great lady.
This post popped up on my Google Reader today, 7 months after the fact.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I properly appreciated Ben's vocal talents while I was at BYU. Very impressive.
(And fun to have such a talented choir director; The organist in my home ward growing up was Robert Cundick, who played for the Tabernacle Choir for almost 30 years...choir rehearsal was...rigorous!)
Glad you guys are doing well, good luck with the impending baby!