Alec has been a singer since grade school. When we lived in Korea, he joined the after school choir with Ms. Roskens. She was an amazing director who made music fun while putting on a high quality concert in which the students followed hand signals to know precisely when to stand, sit, or move on and off the stage. One year they needed an accompanist, so Alec told her I played piano. The next thing I knew I was practicing piano music again and playing for their rehearsals! Ah, good times!
Upon moving to Hong Kong (Alec was now in 5th grade), all of the students had music class. His new director, also chose amazing meaningful and fun music for the kids to perform.
By middle school, Alec was truly in love with singing. He was getting really good at it, too. Ms. Bechdolt taught the students how to beatbox and move their bodies, smile, and sing in several languages. Alec and three girls formed a quartet and tried out for a spotlight in one of the concerts. They sang a Pentatonix Christmas song and, at the last minute, included the complicated clapping patterns. Excellent!
As an eighth grader under Ms. Meininger's direction, his quartet sang "You Will Be Found" and literally brought tears to my eyes with their tight harmonies and sappy lyrics. At the same concert, Alec was one of three boys who sang the solo parts for "My Shot" from Hamilton. (Click here to view.) I was incredibly proud of his courage and execution. That year, too, he attended AMIS music festival in Thailand, where he sang with middle school students from all over Asia.
In high school, Alec began as a freshman in the Men's Choir where, under Mr. Udall's direction, they were the choir with the reputation for the most fun, show-stopping songs like "Johnny Schmoker". They both would execute well and demonstrate showmanship as they stood in a semi-circle downstage rather than use the risers.
Alec's sophomore year he made the auditioned Madrigal Singers, HKIS's top choir. They had been invited to sing at Carnegie Hall in March! Unfortunately, a schedule change made it impossible for Alec to join. This, of course, was a grave disappointment for him - and his parents - as he would miss out both on the experience of the top choir AND a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to sing at Carnegie Hall. It turned out Mr. Udall STILL wanted and needed him. So, while he continued singing with the Men's Choir a second year, he also prepared on his own to sing at Carnegie Hall.
Well, you may recall this thing happened right about March 2020. . . Covid-19 shut down EVERYTHING, including Carnegie Hall. And so a different life experience unfolded - learning to live with disappointment.
This year, Alec's junior year, he made it into Madrigal Singers! Ms. Hausman took over the program. They had a rocky start to the year due to Covid-19 and spent the first seven weeks on Zoom. But eventually, everyone was together again and able to practice properly (behind masks, of course). Again, he found himself as a soloist for the choral version of "You Will Be Found."
Last night was the final choir concert of the year at HKIS. I was truly blown away by the quality of the program which included a cappella music, music accompanied by a string quartet, and lyrics in at least three languages (English, Latin, Afrikaans). Again, I was terribly proud of Alec who had a substantial solo in "Tshotsholoza". Ms. Hausman resurrected a choral tradition that had been interrupted by Covid, the closing of the final concert with "The Irish Blessing". Not a time passes that Brent and I don't tear up with that one.
Through all the years, you may be surprised to know that the students always have the music memorized. I know that through my high school and college years, I always had a music folder in hand. Not these kids!
What a true blessing to witness Alec's opportunities and growth these past nine years in the choral programs at KIS and HKIS. Thank you!
