Dear Maggie —

I recently saw Sister Act at the Muny, and hot damn that show has got some bops! I have been listening to the soundtrack on repeat! My middle school daughter went with me and loved it so much, she has taken to singing the score in the shower. To put it politely, though, this is the first time I have been grateful for my middle schooler’s poor hygiene. I don’t think I could handle listening to that voice echoing off the shower tiles any more often than a few days a week! I love that girl, but when she sings, she sounds like a cat being dragged behind an ice cream truck with a broken speaker. Anywho, the reason I bring this up is because I can only assume that you would certainly know where I could go listen to an angelic choir at church so I can get my fix? In the last few weeks, I have been finding myself wishing I was hearing Angels We Have Heard on High instead of thinking “Am I high or is that screeching really coming from my delightful tween?!?!”  I’m counting on you to save my eardrums and point me in the right direction!

— Bleeding Ears Beth

Dear Bleeding —

Guuuuuurl! I LOVE Sister Act, its Fabulous Baby 😉! It’s such a coincidence you bring this up because I have been hearing some “bops” as you call them coming from the St. Margaret’s church lately, so I went to check it out. Turns out some middle schoolers CAN actually sing (sorry ‘bout your daughter 😬), so they’re corralling (or is that chorale-ing?) some of that fantastic talent into the Middle School Choir Elective. Let me tell you, after being able to Hear Within These Walls what those kids have got to offer, I wanted to raise the roof! 

You may not have had the opportunity to attend All School Mass with us this year, but if you have, you might have noticed that our Middle School Choir is spilling over (literally – they had to bring in extra chairs!).  I spoke with Mrs. Lueke, and she refreshed my memory that this elective is not new this year – in fact, it is our original elective for our Middle School students, but it is bigger than ever.  Combined, they total 47 students!  The group is split into two sections – one specifically for the 8th Grade students, and one section for the 6th & 7th Graders.  Ms. Chrostoski meets with each section twice per week to learn to read music symbols for rhythm and pitch, develop stage presence, and rehearse for upcoming events.  I am green with envy that these kids are living The Life I Never Led!  

If you haven’t had the chance to hear these angelic voices in action, there are still many opportunities.  The Choir will lead us in Mass any time a Middle School homeroom is assigned.  This means you will be able to hear them at the next three school Masses (Wednesdays at 8:15), then they will take a break while the younger grades take the lead for a while.  I know these talented kids would love for you to come celebrate mass with them and Raise Your Voice with them! 

You can also mark your calendars for their big performances this year:

• Fall Choir and Violin Concert – Thursday, November 9 at 6:30 in the Church Hall
• Spring Choir and Violin Concert – Tuesday, April 30 at 6:30 in the Church Hall
• Music in the Parks Festival – Saturday, May 4 at Six Flags

I know it’s no Sunday Morning Fever, but I’d love to see you on Wednesday mornings – you’ll know it’s me. I’ll be The Lady in the Long Black Dress in the back singing Take Me to Heaven.

— Maggie

P.S. Bonus points to anyone who can tell me how many song titles I snuck into this column!   (*Hint it rhymes with schmeven!)