Spring 2019

TB & AH: Choir has always been an
entry point for us. It’s been a neat
way to associate ourselves in the
POP family. In our previous church,
the entire music program was very
social. On Thursday nights, we often
had wine and cheese parties after
rehearsal. We’d like to establish that
here. [Laughter]
MR: What do you enjoy most about
being in a choir?
TB: I get the message from music.
I get the Word through music. If I’m
hearing the music, if I’m singing
the words, it’s reinforcing what the
sermon is about. This is how I grow
in my faith. Music helps me get more
meaning from the worship service
than just listening to the sermon.
AH: Over the years, I have had an
opportunity to sing some really nice
pieces. There were times I had a hard
time finishing the song because it was
so powerful and moving.
TB: We feel that’s how we serve. Let
me read you Psalm 104:33. [Tanya
pulls out a piece of paper and reads
teary-eyed.] “I will sing to the Lord
as long as I live; I will praise my God
while I have my being.” That’s what
I believe. I believe my gift to others
is singing. Even though I don’t have
Alan & Tanya at
Voices of Peace
choir rehearsal
as good of a voice
as he (Al) does, I just
love to sing. But Al,
he’s a soloist! I came
to POP at the end of
Martha’s tenure; now
we have Alex. I don’t
really know what the
customs or traditions
have been here. We
are hoping to be part
of new traditions. Al
is committed now.
We are stuck here!
[Laughter]
“Don’t just do
what you are
able to do;
figure out what
you were made
to do, then do
lots of that.”
— Bob Goff
MR: Do you have a favorite piece
that you have sung?
TB: It has to be The Lord’s My
Shepherd “Brother James’ Air” tune.
Al sang it to me in our wedding.
AH: The Rejoice Singers introduced
me to musical pieces different than
the typical. We sang a lot of cantatas
and long pieces for Christmas and
Easter. My favorite would probably
be What a Friend We Have in Jesus.
When my mom was in a nursing
home, she never really spoke much
in her later years, but when she heard
this hymn, she would always join in.
TB: We love the old-fashioned hymns,
singing four-part harmony all the time.
Christmas carols are so special. This
is the only chance you get now in
churches to sing the old favorites and
sing them in four-part harmony.
AH: Two years ago, a friend called
me and asked, “How would you like
to participate in something really
cool?” I said, “Sure.” I went to his
choir rehearsal at Southminster
Presbyterian in Arlington Heights.
They were teaming up with another
Presbyterian church to perform John
Rutter’s Requiem, which is a very
difficult piece by this contemporary
composer. We rehearsed for four
months and sang with a 26-piece
orchestra! It was just a wonderful
thing to be a part of.
TB: I started rehearsing but it was
way too difficult for me (laughter).
TB & AH: We just love music!
MR: What would you say to
someone who is considering
joining choir at Prince of Peace?
TB: Look at us! We are two extremes
of this choir! You can be a beautiful
voice or a trained voice, or you can be
someone who just loves to sing and
wants to be a part of it. That’s me! As
long as you have the enthusiasm and
passion, it’s enough.
AH: Tanya sings and reads notes very
well. She is a very good alto!
TB: It’s a very welcoming group! I
wish our choir sang more. There’s
some fabulous talent in this choir.
We can talk to the congregation
more with music.
SPRING 2019 | PRINCE OF PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH 5