Sing Out My Soul

By Stephen Branum

On March 8th, at Faith Academy, singers representing ACSC schools stood line by line on the risers. The crowd was silent, with anticipation hanging in the air. The director motioned the piano to play, and the choir burst out loudly, calling to “sing out.” The bass came in first, and the tenors bounced off them a second after. The harmonies and syncopated rhythms echoed through the performance hall. ACSC choir was off with a bang, and the energy never stopped. Forty minutes later, the choir finished their final song, “Alleluia”, a common favorite, as the audience stood clapping. While the concert was performed well, there was a lot of work that occurred behind the scenes. 

The choir on stage went through serious amounts of training and work together. The students were able to get familiar with each other through icebreaker games, a service opportunity, and hours upon hours of practicing the 10 songs they performed. With around 15 hours of practice leading up to the concert, the nerves and the weariness was present for the majority of the students. The singing was broken up with a break time containing snacks and socializing, then right back into singing. Whether it was through shaping their vowels, enunciating words, or knowing the correct singing posture, guided by the director, Dr. Hopper, the students learned a lot and developed themselves as singers. 

The students grew in many ways but also were able to have fun in the midst of it all as they were singing for the Lord and with each other. Dalat singer Rebecca Seo (10) said her favorite part of the trip was, “not only seeing my progress within a short time but also having the opportunity to experience volunteer work with some new people from our choir team. Spending time in ministry made me realize how precious our lives are. The best part was being part of that new group and meeting several new friends which helped me notice the honesty that filled my interactions.” 

The students not only felt the impact of the community they developed, but also saw its effect on others around them. Singing with all their souls for the glory of God resonated and developed a passion seen through performance. Despite the travel schedule, all the students saw the trip as a highlight in their school year.