Music Adventure

It was quite a struggle to come up for a title for this last weekend, as you can see.

This "Music Adventure" started at the Carmichael Church in Sacramento. Father, fresh from the airport after a different rehearsal in LA, immediately got to work. There was so much to do before the convocation rehearsal could begin--from labeling the pews for seating to working with the vast database of singers. The seating sections were whimsically named "Peter," "James," and "John."

As we continued to labor away at the database, Mom and I could hear the wonderful strains of over 400 voices combined in the most glorious waves of sound. Ralph Carmichael, the arranger of the music and conductor for this concert, had a very elegant conducting style I enjoyed watching, when I got the chance. Even John Williams at the Hollywood Bowl never seemed to me to be so eloquent with a baton.

My mother and I, unfortunately, never got around to rehearsing with them. There was too much work to do. We still had a good time, though, as we listened to the music and saw friends we haven't seen for a very long time. Afterwards, Elder Pederson treated us to dinner at Piatti's, a restaurant with incredible pasta and desserts. Mrs. Pederson, Ralph Carmichael, and his producer, Paul Stilwell (who has contributed much to making this concert possible) were there as well, and it was a delightful experience.

So much better (better than even the hot bittersweet chocoloate cake with pistachio gelato) were the stories Carmichael and Elder Pederson told. I loved listening to them, especially to Ralph Carmichael, who is a very engaging storyteller.

It was hard for us to leave the good food and the good company to start the long journey towards La Sierra. Exhausted, I was out almost immediately and when I awoke, we were in Kettleman City to stay the night. The next morning, refreshed, we actually left on time and arrived at the La Sierra Adventist Church early in the afternoon to do sound check for a very special concert in which Christian Edition and Sandi Patty would share a stage for the very first time.

The concert gave me goosebumps. Christian Edition sang well, and on the two pieces CE and Sandi Patty sang together, they were amazing. I enjoyed the variety of Sandi Patty's music as well--everything from Southern Gospel to "La Via Dolorosa" to a wonderful interpretation of "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God." She has an amazing stage presence, a certain charisma and personality unequaled by just about any other female artist I've seen live.

Alas, it had to end and my parents had to teach the next morning. We said good-bye to my grandparents, who had come out from Desert Hot Springs to see Dad play, and started our journey into the night. It was 5:20 AM when we arrived in Bay Point, and my parents--God bless them--kindly allowed me to stay home that day, which I spent cleaning my room. It felt like an archaeological dig, finding relics of my past that sometimes made me smile, sometimes made me cringe. A well-placed match, I thought to myself, would work wonders. Despite this attitude, though, when I finished the room looked quite lovely, like someplace I could actually live. Too bad I really don't.

Well, I wish you all musical adventures as spectacular as these, and clean, beautiful rooms that remind you of places and people you enjoy. I encourage you, if you're able, to come to the Convocation next weekend--it will be, as the rehearsal showed, an event of unequaled musical delight.