Valentines Day!!!

On Valentines Day my choir students took their show around campus and shared some love (vocal love that is) with students who purchased singing telegrams. We serenaded many students on campus with the Parris hit "In the Still of the Night". The kids did a great job with this 4-part arrangement I wrote them. The best part about this situation is that they only had 4 rehearsals becuase we are in the midst of our concert season.



I am actually very impressed with these students. The choir is now at 34 students and we offically are in the SATB category with some new additions in personnel at the begininning of the semester.


They really got into it. They even incorporated some of their own unique dance moves.

Timket

In the beginning of January, the people Ethiopia celebrate their Epiphany, Timket. This is a huge celebration that seemed very close to a second line from New Orleans. Of the many parades throughout the city, the parade closest to me was just down my road.

My buddy Mark and I hopped up on his truck and sat on the edge of my road to watch the parade. It was actually quite entertaining. A couple of forenjis (foriegners) sitting on top of a truck watching an Ethiopian Religious Parade. People were taking pictures of us. It was hilarious!

What we saw was pretty amazing though. They gathered at Adam's Pavillion, just about a kilometer and a half away from my road. Priests in robes and men with drums came down the parade. I live just off Gabreille Road (The roads here are named by one of the most recognized buildings or meeting places on that road) The parade eventually comes down gabrielle road and ends at Gabrielle Chuch.


The spot Mark and I had was awesome. The parade stops and an immense amount of singing dancing and drumming commence. It was a great experience.