By Jonelle C., Grand Choir Director & Representative to OH and PA

As my title states, I direct the Grand Choir but what does that really mean? My job began right after Grand Assembly; on my car ride home, I was listening to music of different eras, genres, and tempos and started compiling a list of songs I thought would be fun to have the choir perform at Grand Assembly 2023. A few weeks later Mrs. Allen, the Director of the Music Team, gave me a binder with important dates and information to follow. She also gave me the advice to spend the first portion of the year traveling and being a Representative to Ohio and Pennsylvania, which is exactly what I did. In June, I went to Ohio’s “Where Will Rainbow Take You?” Grand Assembly session virtually but was still as excited as if I was going in person. In July, I went to Pennsylvania’s “Lend A Hand” Grand Assembly Sessions in Altoona, Pennsylvania.

At the end of July, I received a text telling me what the Grand Assembly theme was going to be and let me tell you I was ecstatic. Shortly after hearing the theme I finished my set list and turned it into Mrs. Allen.

In October, I wrote a letter to prospective Grand Choir members and their Mother Advisors. Soon after the letters were sent out, I received a couple of boxes of the Grand Choir Dress Fabric for me to cut up into the correct yardage for each girl. The next thing that I prepared for are the four Grand Choir practices — two in the north and two in the south. It’s at this point that things really start to come together. After the practices leading up to Grand Assembly and practicing my conducting skills, it was finally time for the final practice. This is where all of the girls have their dress checks, receive they’re matching hair bows, and practice the songs one last time. Then, hours later, the first beat of the walk-in song plays and all the effort and hard work all pays off.