Music and Me-Part 3

SUNDAY MEMORIES

Judy Wills

But while the piano has been a large part of my life, I found singing to be my love and joy.  I can remember singing in childrens and youth choirs most of my life.  When I came of age, I began singing in the Adult Choir in our church.

First Baptist Church, Albuquerque, New Mexico Credit Google Search

1964 – Sanctuary Choir – First Baptist Church, Albuquerque, New Mexico

I remember the very first solo I sang – it was in 1^st grade and it was for a Christmas program in my class.  I sang “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”  I don’t remember singing many other solos until I reached Junior High (what today would be called Middle School).  I was in the school chorus there, and we sang for many school functions.

November 26 – Christmas parade – I’m holding the 2nd “F” – Jefferson Junior High School

In that day, Junior High was grades 7, 8, and 9, with High School being just three years, 10^th, 11^th, and 12^th. 

Highland High School – Albuquerque, New Mexico

I was in the girl’s chorus all three of those years.  I had tried out for All-State Chorus in 10^th grade, but had a cold that day, and didn’t make it.  However, I was in it the next two years.  

Highland High School’s All State Chorus – 1959

Since Albuquerque was the largest city in New Mexico, that’s where All-State Chorus was held.  We met in the gymnasium of the University of New Mexico.  It was a great time – all the All-State choruses from around the state gathered in Albuquerque, and we all sang together.  I loved it!

I remember one particular All-State Chorus time – probably my senior year in high school – when we began to sing, and we found ourselves off-key – and we were in the concert time, not rehearsal!  The director stopped us from singing.  I was mortified!  And I think most of the rest of the chorus was, as well!  He had the pianist play something in another key, then started us up again.  We stayed on-pitch that time, much to my surprise.  But rather than let us fumble through the piece in the wrong key, he had the presence of mind to correct it.  HE was not mortified at all!  I have since learned that, if the group is being accompanied by a drum, that even if the drum is the only sound going, we stay on-pitch.  Amazing!

The most fun of my high school singing time was that I was chosen to sing in the hand-picked group of girls singers – Dreamers.

Dreamers – 1959 – Highland High School – Albuquerque, New Mexico

We had 12 girls in the group, with four girls on each part.  Occasionally the songs we did had more than three parts, and we would split into more parts.  That’s where I learned to love singing second soprano.  I learned to sing the second soprano with the first soprano ringing in my head.  Still do that to some degree.  Dreamers sang at many functions around the city.  It was a wonderful time in my life.  I was in Dreamers my entire three years in high school.  

~~~~~~~~~~To Be Continued~~~~~~~~~~

Judy is living in Central Florida with her retired U.S. Air Force husband of 50+ years. Born in Dallas, Texas, she grew up in the Southwestern United States.She met her husband at their church, where he was attending the university in her town. After college and seminary, he entered the Air Force, and their adventures began.They lived in eight of our United States, and spent six years in Europe, where their oldest daughter was born. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years .

  Judy has always been involved with music, both playing the piano and singing. Always interested in exercise, she was an aerobic dancing instructor, as well as a piano teacher for many years, and continues to faithfully exercise at home.

After moving to Central Florida, she served as a church secretary for nearly nine years.Her main hobby at this point in time is scanning pictures and 35mm slides into the computer. She also enjoys scrapbooking.She and her husband have two married daughters and four grandchildren, including grandtwins as well as a great-grandson. She and her husband enjoy the Disney parks as often as possible.

Tags: Music memories