Celebrating a Decade

It's hard to believe that it has been ten years since I graduated from college with my bachelor's degree in music education. I received my BM in May of 1998 from Carson-Newman College after four years of singing or playing an instrument, practicing, practicing, practicing, or studying music from the crack of dawn until 10:00-11:00 at night. Well, maybe it wasn't constant all day, but music was the life, and what a great life it was! I absolutely loved it all!

One of the highlights of my college life was being a part of the A Cappella Choir, directed by Dr. Eric Thorson (a.k.a. "Doc"), during my four years at CNC. (The first three song audio files on this webpage were pieces we did while I was in the choir.) I have many fond memories of the choir including our trip to Austria.

Every year at homecoming the various ensembles from the music department perform a couple of songs for the Music Sampler. Since Joshua was too little to sit still for the performance Darrin took him around for a ride while Rebekah joined me for the concert. She really wanted to come with me to hear the music, and she did really well listening and sitting still for the most part.

Because A Cappella is the mixed choir of the music department they perform last in the Music Sampler. They always begins their concerts with a double chorus piece or a piece that works well with the men and women across the sanctuary from each other before combining in the choir loft.



Once the choir members learn the music well they sit soprano, tenor, alto, bass. I always loved hearing different parts around me when we sang!


At the end of the concert alumn of the choir are welcome to join the present choir on the stage to sing the benediction, "The Lord Bless You and Keep You". This is always a favorite part of mine of the Sampler, to join the rest in singing, as well as to reconnect with friends who sang in the choir with me.

Following the Music Sampler I caught up with a number of friends, many of whom were ACAP alumn. We then headed to where the CNC alumni registration was held, eat some lunch, and find other old friends along the way.

Sarah was a fellow music education major and ACAP alumn.


While I talked with friends Rebekah and Joshua played and walked around, soon to discover the Chick-fil-A cow. Both the kids loved the cow, especially Joshua!

Excuse me, Mr. Cow!



While we were in line to get our lunch the cow walked over to us to visit the kids. After a couple minutes the cow started to walk away, and immediately Joshua started fussing at the cow to come back! This continued a number of times; Joshua did not want the cow to leave! As you can see, Joshua was mesmerized by it!


After lunch we found the tent where the class of 1998 was meeting for our ten-year reunion. It was so much fun seeing old friends again! A number of us gathered for a group picture, although the guys didn't join us.

Left to right: Carrie, Karen, Emily, Julie, me, Jill, Candace, and Jen.


It is amazing how we are all spread out all over the country now after ten years, but it was such a precious time to reconnect with my friends, and I hope to stay in touch with them through the years.