Students prepare for trip to Bass Lake

The campus choir and ensemble are set to attend a one-day retreat this Saturday, Aug. 26, at Bass Lake. Pete and Carolyn DeGroot will once again open their family lake-side cabin for the choral groups.

The choir has experienced a substantial increase in numbers, sporting 46 members. Combined with the dozen girls in ensemble, the annual two-day retreat was redesigned to a one-day experience.

Although the choir will not spend the night at Bass Lake as they have done in previous years, choir director Susan Ainley expects to create great memories for the group.

“Having a super-choir is a great problem to have,” Ainley said. “There’s just no place to sleep over 50 students. However, we packed the schedule to enjoy the retreat experience in a single day event.”

DeGroot, a long-time Fresno Christian parent, grandparent, board member and music supporter, insisted that the choir find a way to have the retreat at the lake.

Rehearsals will be in the Little Church in the Pines, right in the Bass Lake village. The church has graciously allowed the choir to practice in their sanctuary at no charge.

That day, the rehearsing will take a back seat to bonding. Singing together will produce a great sound, but playing together will produce friendships. Students come back to regular rehearsal during the week with a better understanding of what singing together means. It really jump-starts the semester, and the students always look back at retreat as a highlight of the whole year. –Susan Ainley

After a BBQ lunch at the DeGroot cabin, the students will enjoy an afternoon of lake activities. Several parents will bring their boats, and choir members will spend time on the lake and try some high energy tubing or wakeboarding. The students can also swim and play at the dock, gather on the deck of the cabin to play games or just hang out, connecting with other choir members.

Ainley believes the retreat’s importance is far beyond learning new music.

“That day, the rehearsing will take a back seat to bonding,” Ainley said. “Singing together will produce a great sound, but playing together will produce friendships. Students come back to regular rehearsal during the week with a better understanding of what singing together means. It really jump-starts the semester, and the students always look back at retreat as a highlight of the whole year.”

Choir retreat also provides a time for students to grow closer to God. Students spend time in prayer, breaking into small groups and sharing with each other. Many choir members find this time to be a way to relate to each other, and create deeper friendships.

Ensemble member McKensy Neal, ‘18, looks forward to attending choir retreat for a second consecutive year.

“I have been to retreat before and it was so much fun,” Neal said. “I am most looking forward to bonding with choir and ensemble because we don’t always get to work together. My favorite part about being in Ensemble is that we have a close bond with everyone and we get to sing harder music. My goal for this year is to make my vocals better than they have ever been.”

Freshman Hannah Villines plans on becoming a better singer this year while also making memories with her brother, Tyler Villines,’18, who will graduate this year.

“I am really excited for this retreat, I think that it will give us a chance to bond and grow closer as a choir, away from school as a change,” Villines said. “I have been in choir with Mrs. Ainley for four years of my life. This will be my fourth year and I am looking forward to continuing choir throughout all my years in high school.”

The choir has grown by 28 members this year over last and Ainley is expecting a big sound from the 2017-18 choir.

“This choir already sounds so amazing,” Ainley said. “Everyday, students come to class ready to sing. I know that audiences will be impressed by their singing. It’s going to be a great year.”

Save the date for the fall choral concert, Oct.   16 at 7 p.m. The venue is not yet decided. The choir and ensemble will also be attending the FPU (Fresno Pacific University) Festival on Oct. 19.

For more information about choir events, email Ainley or contact the high school office.

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