A Camp-pella

Upon arriving at Camp Victory in Zumbro Falls, MN, many members of Hamline’s A Cappella Choir along with Director Dr. George Chu came upon a log cabin-esque lodge with a welcoming warm glow. After settling into the rooms the choir was whisked out into the cool night in a hayless metal wagon pulled behind an ever-igniting tractor.

A Soprano in A Cappella Choir and a First-Year, Eqeziharya Yilma said of her experience,

“We have gotten so much closer to one another. We have set goals for our choir, and hopefully now back at Hamline we are able to tackle our goals. It is a true privilege to be able to sing alongside other passionate and truly talented individuals”.

The campgrounds were toured in the heavy night air under dim stars while engulfed by the masked horizon. As they circled back to the lodge they ran inside to play card games, host guitar jam sessions, and most importantly to take advantage of the speaker system the lodge was equipped with, playing music to harmonize with in four part glory. Later, the choir headed back out into the near frosty air to have a campfire sing-along with warming smiles and plenty of excitement.

Songs such as Abba’s “Dancing Queen,” a chilly rendition of Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling in Love” and among a run of classic camp songs, the Llama Song complete with hand gestures and light choreography, rang through the campgrounds, ending with a round of “Gloucestershire Wassail,” the choir’s traditional concert song with a robust folk sound, sending us away clutching our blankets and heading back inside to end the night with humorous conversations and more singing.

They’re the kind of group where even after 11 p.m. upbeat pop stereo music can still be heard blaring through the corridors and upon further investigation all the racket was due an impromptu swing dancing session before bed.

In the morning everyone awoke, tired, but in the midst of a quaint breakfast made up of granola bars, bagels, fruit, hot chocolate, and steamy office style coffee to break out the cards with. Soon the stereo system buzzed to life again, this time playing what one can only assume are coffeehouse favorites, music with a dated alternative acoustic feel. Nature walks and ultimate frisbee took place while the remaining singers disappointedly swarmed the coffee machine for lack of Starbucks.

During the team building exercises, the choir broke into two groups, each managing to find success in different ways while struggling to carry each member across a lava filled ravine or balancing a large whale watching board full of fellow singers atop shark infested waters. The end of the low ropes activities was marked with a reflective talk about their challenges as well as success in communication and problem solving.

Of course they sang more contemporary music toward the end of their second campfire sing-along cued by the familiar Smash Mouth lyrics, “Somebody Once Told Me,” the erupting laughter that followed was enough to swim in.

The next morning was an early one as they had to say goodbye to Camp Victory and board the bus in formal concert attire for the morning service at the Christ United Methodist Church in Rochester. Once they arrived at the welcoming church, they had impressively learned five of the church’s songs and sat in on the church service; Hamline’s Chaplain Nancy Victorin-Vangerud spoke for a good part of the service. In proud Piper spirit they sang their prepared songs beautifully for their esteemed audience under the direction of Hamline’s Dr. Chu. As the service ended they hopped back on their bus with boxed lunches provided by the church, and drove toward their home Hamline University with even higher spirits, despite the rain.

If you are interested in hearing the A Cappella Choir perform and can attend, they will be performing on Sunday, October 15 at Hamline Church during the 10:00 a.m. service. Please feel free to stop by and listen to their full choir sing!