Remember how we said there would be kids on the stage with us? They will. A bunch of them! (The number varies, but work with us here…..) The Mosby Woods Elementary School’s Mustang Choir was utterly charming when they joined us a couple of years ago, and we look forward to singing with them again in less than three weeks. In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, here’s a Q&A with their teacher – the amazing Camille Haberland.
Ms. Haberland asks the kids to “give her an ooooh!” during warm-up of our Lullabies/March 2014 concert
VCS: 2 pianos, 5 percussionists, 70 adult singers, a full house! How do the Mustang Singers feel about taking center stage?
CH: I’m not sure they realize what an opportunity this is for them! At this point we’re all rehearsing together to sound our best.
VCS: Just how many kids are going to be there?!
CH: 31 singers and 11 instrumentalists. I’m sure there’s meaning in those prime numbers!
VCS: The amount of coffee/tea you consume in preparation for that many bodies and their questions?
CH: …Let’s just say, I take mine black and Starbucks is my friend!
VCS: What are you all looking forward to the most?
CH : I think the students are excited to sing with the adults; to hear their part in the context of the whole.
Ms. Haberland and Ms. Rodgers confer. With perfect lighting. (March 2014)
VCS: Some of Carmina can get pretty grown up. Do you get any questions about that from the kids?
CH: Not really! I gave a very basic outline of the entire work before we started rehearsing. Today’s 10 and 11 year-old students see and hear more adult material in the videos they watch and popular songs they sing. So often they don’t even realize what they are singing about! It even shocks me when they want to share a song with the class! What Carl Orff gave them to sing in Carmina is far more innocent!
VCS: At least one kid will ask you this question during rehearsal for Carmina…
CH: Uhm? What page are we on? OR I forgot—how do you pronounce ____________?
VCS: At least one kid will do __________________during the show.
CH: At least one student will be so distracted by the pageantry and percussion, he/she will forget to watch and miss an entrance!
VCS: The last thing you’ll say to your kids before they take their places on show night will be ___________________?
CH: This is a special night that you will remember forever! Don’t forget to enjoy it and have fun!
VCS: The first thing you’ll say to your kids when the show is over will be ________________?
CH: Wow, wasn’t that terrific?! I’m so proud of you!
VCS: The thing you and the kids have loved most about prepping for Carmina is …
CH: The chance to work in a small group (our chorus has about 300 kids) and rehearse in a more relaxed (after school) environment. I know the kids have loved learning the Latin! According to their parents, they practice their Latin pronunciation at the most interesting times and places!
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It’s long been known that you can’t take the A, the arts, out of STEAM. And that the arts are fundamental to producing well-rounded future citizens. Ms. Haberland and her kids have put in a ton of work already, and we haven’t even reached dress rehearsal week, when we get to sing with them together for the first time! Please come out to see them sing with us.
We sing Carmina Burana at 7:30 pm, Saturday, May 21, 2016, Vienna Baptist Church (541 Marshall Road SW, Vienna, VA 22180). There will be two soloists, two pianos, five percussionists, a bunch of kids (playing Orff instruments, singing, and turning themselves in set pieces), 75 VCS singers, two soloists, a bassoon, a cello, a giant wheel, a garden, a ballerina, and a baby ballerina. Please join us!
Tickets are available online until 11:30 pm, Friday, May 20, 2016. Tickets are $25/adults, $20/Seniors(65+) and Students (15-18). Youth aged 14 and younger attend free if accompanied by a paying audience member. Tickets are also available through VCS singers.