Anniversary Reflections
Presented on Sunday, May 17, 2009, St. Timothy's Episcopal Church
How wonderful it is for us to gather here today in this place of exquisite beauty, for such a
glorious occasion! On behalf of the Parent Board, I again, welcome you to this Anniversary
Celebration. It is with sincere thanks and gratitude that I stand before you to say “WOW!”
TEN Years!
Upon completion of my graduate degree I applied for a church Music Director position, only
to be told that it had already been filled. I was told, however, that I would be an excellent
candidate for their children’s choir position. Armed with my newly accomplished conducting
skills, I was quite frankly, insulted, wanting to blame it on merely my gender -- that women
tended to be looked upon in a teaching role instead of leadership role. I am, after all, a child
of the sixties. My family is here today and will agree with me when I say that I have a fiery
independence on that subject in particular! However, little did I know that God was knocking
on my door and turning me into an entirely different direction.
The following summer I met Henry Leck, the founding artistic director of the Indianapolis
Children’s Chorus. Through him I was smitten with the collective beauty of children’s voices,
raised in song, transcending all, and thus CCCC was born. I also met Ann Doyle of the
Greensboro Youth Chorus, now a treasured colleague, mentor, and friend, who guided me
to this endeavor, believing in my abilities. Subsequently, conductor David Pegg invited us to
partner with the Music Ministries at Centenary Methodist Church. Both David and Centenary
have gone out of their way to support us all these years, and we are truly thankful. We
could not have done this without their support!
In preparing for this event we’ve contacted as many of our former singers and their families
as possible, inviting them here and to see how they’re doing. We truly appreciate those of
you who could make it today to be with us for this grand celebration! It was also great to visit
with many of you yesterday at the reception as well, going down memory lane. We’ve
received many wonderful updates from so many of you that have continued your singing
through college. Here are a few memories we share:
This day would not be complete without also expressing my gratitude to those of you whowork in Winston-Salem and the Triad, teaching and coaching young musicians every day. So
many of you have given us your support and sent your students our way, thus building even
greater community and enriching lives. For we are not only teaching a child to sing, we are
equipping them for a better world and brighter future. The seeds we plant today are building
a legacy of shared musical experiences for tomorrow, passing along the heritage our musical
forebears gave to us.
I say ‘thank you’ to each and everyone of you that has traveled even a tiny fraction of this
journey together with us. You and your families have immersed yourself into our organization
and have made it what it is today. You have enriched my life and the lives of my family
forever, and for that we are deeply grateful. Finally, words can never express the depth of
appreciation I give to Paul, Stephen, and Suzanne. You have lived this experience together
with me, all of the highs and the lows, and stayed with me through the long-run (including
transporting heavy equipment many times!). Your support alone has made this possible.
The next ten years are before us, beckoning. I invite you to continue to be in community with
us. We are not merely a children’s choir organization, but people united with a common bond
and dream of the future. It is this ‘heart-centered’ musical excellence that will take us there.
Our children are worth it. Thank you. --Anne Saxon
Presented on Sunday, May 17, 2009, St. Timothy's Episcopal Church
How wonderful it is for us to gather here today in this place of exquisite beauty, for such a
glorious occasion! On behalf of the Parent Board, I again, welcome you to this Anniversary
Celebration. It is with sincere thanks and gratitude that I stand before you to say “WOW!”
TEN Years!
Upon completion of my graduate degree I applied for a church Music Director position, only
to be told that it had already been filled. I was told, however, that I would be an excellent
candidate for their children’s choir position. Armed with my newly accomplished conducting
skills, I was quite frankly, insulted, wanting to blame it on merely my gender -- that women
tended to be looked upon in a teaching role instead of leadership role. I am, after all, a child
of the sixties. My family is here today and will agree with me when I say that I have a fiery
independence on that subject in particular! However, little did I know that God was knocking
on my door and turning me into an entirely different direction.
The following summer I met Henry Leck, the founding artistic director of the Indianapolis
Children’s Chorus. Through him I was smitten with the collective beauty of children’s voices,
raised in song, transcending all, and thus CCCC was born. I also met Ann Doyle of the
Greensboro Youth Chorus, now a treasured colleague, mentor, and friend, who guided me
to this endeavor, believing in my abilities. Subsequently, conductor David Pegg invited us to
partner with the Music Ministries at Centenary Methodist Church. Both David and Centenary
have gone out of their way to support us all these years, and we are truly thankful. We
could not have done this without their support!
In preparing for this event we’ve contacted as many of our former singers and their families
as possible, inviting them here and to see how they’re doing. We truly appreciate those of
you who could make it today to be with us for this grand celebration! It was also great to visit
with many of you yesterday at the reception as well, going down memory lane. We’ve
received many wonderful updates from so many of you that have continued your singing
through college. Here are a few memories we share:
 | Making music friendships | |
| Going on tour to London and seeing everyone crying while singing “Homeland” | |
| The Canterbury Cathedral in England | |
| Riding on the “London Eye” over the Thymes River | |
| Singing an impromptu concert in historic Williamsburg 'to that couple on the street' | |
| ‘My first airplane ride’ | |
| Spring Concerts in St. Timothy’s church | |
| Afternoons at the recording studio for Kindermusik International in Greensboro | |
| Singing “Silent Night” at the end of Bel Canto Christmas Concerts | |
| ‘Summer Sing’ Day-Camp, with fireflies and goldfish! | |
| Piedmont Invitational Children's Choir Festival –this was at the top of the list! | |
| Turtle Bay Resort in Hawaii, and Mosé, our Samoan Guide | |
| Glacier Bay and whale watching | |
| Riding through the Yukon in Canada | |
| Hot Cocoa at the Oldtown Club at Christmastime | |
| Singing on the stage of the Steven’s Center with the Piedmont Opera | |
| New York, New York, New York!!! | |
| Having a huge family that grew every day in the choir |
This day would not be complete without also expressing my gratitude to those of you who
many of you have given us your support and sent your students our way, thus building even
greater community and enriching lives. For we are not only teaching a child to sing, we are
equipping them for a better world and brighter future. The seeds we plant today are building
a legacy of shared musical experiences for tomorrow, passing along the heritage our musical
forebears gave to us.
I say ‘thank you’ to each and everyone of you that has traveled even a tiny fraction of this
journey together with us. You and your families have immersed yourself into our organization
and have made it what it is today. You have enriched my life and the lives of my family
forever, and for that we are deeply grateful. Finally, words can never express the depth of
appreciation I give to Paul, Stephen, and Suzanne. You have lived this experience together
with me, all of the highs and the lows, and stayed with me through the long-run (including
transporting heavy equipment many times!). Your support alone has made this possible.
The next ten years are before us, beckoning. I invite you to continue to be in community with
us. We are not merely a children’s choir organization, but people united with a common bond
and dream of the future. It is this ‘heart-centered’ musical excellence that will take us there.
Our children are worth it. Thank you. --Anne Saxon