When I started college, I thought I was a pretty good singer. After all, I’d sung in the Cardinal Ensemble for two years! It was humbling to fail the audition for the college choir – two years in a row. I finally was able to join it midway through my sophomore year, when someone dropped out and they were desperate.

But I was thankful to get in; my time in the choir was wonderful. I loved the sound, and our director (Dr. Jerry Friesen) was very careful about the messages of the works that he chose for us to sing. 

We went on bus tours during spring break, and got to sing at a different church every night. I made some friends and we had a good time.

One of the saddest things about my graduation in 1974 was knowing that my time with choir was at an end.

Here are two songs from a recording made during my junior year. “Wake, Awake” is a dramatic setting of an old hymn, based on Isaiah 52. The theme is the return of Christ, and we’d better be ready.

“My Song in the Night” is based on Psalm 42:8, and speaks of the comfort that we receive from God’s presence. This was choir’s favorite song that year.