Winter, 2008 Oklahoma All State Chorus

[peytonily]

Sang this at a camp in Arkansas a few years ago. Our performance doesn't even hold a candle to this one. I loveeeeeeee this song.

[MsLexyboo91]

I DIDNT KNOW STROOPE WROTE THIS. I miss being in this choir :\ Mr. Redding is/was the best directo I've ever experienced in my life.

[TheDarkladi]

OMG! I remember singing this in my high school's Chorale. It has taken me 4yrs to find the music because I couldnt remeber the composer...brings tears to my eyes...that and Lux Aeterna.

[MusicalMigraine]

Stroope is a beast.

[naron117]

As a person, Stroope wasn't the funnest or most patient guy you would hope for. However, as a conductor he was very professional

[naron117]

hey there I am :)

[KazenoKizu44]

omgg stroope <3 He conducted new jersey all-state when i was in it - obsessed with him and this song! Just brilliant!!

[VStamps91]

I sang this in the 2007 OAKE National Honor Chior and I had the privilige of learning it under Conductor Redding. The metaphors and analogies he used to connect us emotionally to this song stick with me even today. Tears well in my eyes every time I hear it just as much as they did when we sang it live. It's so beautiful and it always reminds me of what I want my love to feel like when I find it.

[stephariee]

i see my bff davey(:

[PirateElleWench]

@theatrenerd4life I was there too I started weeping on the last page.

[theatrenerd4life]

i just got back from illinois's IMEA all-state. i was in the chorus, and we did this song. it brings chills everytime we performed it. bravo!

[collins16100]

Yeah I was there... I remember how serious it was... the chill bumps... I'm getting them just thinking of it. It was too amazing

[supergoalie99]

sounds good. i did this at New York Zone 8 Area All State mixed chorus. I think this one was in the 2007 performance (trying to think back through 2+ performances at area all state)

[chickasings16]

so for those of you that were in this, remember when he had us partner up and sing it to another person and get all emotionally involved in it? ya i was up at the top of the risers singing to chris taylor, way in it and when we stoped everyone was staring... ya good times!

[iheartadamo]

i really love this piece. My choir is singing this for our Spring Concert, and again for Chamber Choir. I think it's pretty much our favorite piece. And although every part is amazing, i must say that my alto line is def my fave. it's pretty amazing. i love singing in the lower range like that. :) amazing job this group did on this piece. amazing.

[fiveoctaves]

Thank you for this fine performance. The music and poetry have significant meaning to me at this time.

[Raphy013]

randall stroope is epic.

[lindamarie19]

True that

[cubspiano]

@Raphy013 I cannot second that enough, had the pleasure to have him as a conductor at the Canterburry festival and even better, now as a prof :)

[oboemaster]

this was my favorite song BY FAR!!! i LOVED it and we sound amazing!!!!

[dalton1220]

I loved performing this song. I was a tennor II.... somewhere in there. lol, I remember just before the performance, we were backstage in a room and we sung the song with blaus (really nasal) and it was AWESOME!!! Ahh, I miss all-state sooo much! (Tennor II Alternate this year! Woot!)

[dillonkhoops]

Question for someone who was at this performance: Was it easier to hear the piano when you were there in person?

[deathmastaflik00]

I am the crippled kid in the wheelchair! I was in that choir!

I made Tenor II that year. I blew my knee out the night before this concert, at the social function at the Plaza Hotel...I had to be on stage in a wheelchair...Lol I WAS IN THIS CHOIR THOUGH!!! I AM IN THE VERY FRONT NEXT TO THE PIANO!!! =)

[xthisisnotannax]

I am studying with z. Randalll stroope

[alto19]

I am SO jealous. That would be just.... I can't even imagine.

Although my choral director is studying this coming summer with Andre Thomas. I thought that was pretty cool =]

[xoxomulanlovesyou]

Keep in mind though, that this choir is made of the most amazing singers and people in the state of Oklahoma. It would obviously be harder to get things absolutely perfect with a large group of singers. I'm going to be in OMEA this year and it's gonna be so fun!!!

[beatinbuddy]

Understandable, I know. I've been in Florida's All-State and that can be a mess @ times..lol.

[dillonkhoops]

I'll be in OMEA this year too... I hope they'll have figured out something better for making the piano heard.

[alto19]

really? huh. In Maryland, they test you when you get there, and if you aren't prepared enough, they send you home then and there. Although I think it's scare tactics more than anything- they didn't send very many people home. But it worked!

[seedekim]

They re-audition the all-state choir members in Oklahoma too.

[boogbabygurl135]

I CAN'T WAIT TO SING THIS AT MY CONCERT

[AgentX12]

This song still makes me cry.

All-State '08! w00t!

[Brivixxycej8]

oh and this was an amazing performance

[Brivixxycej8]

I love the meaning of this song

[nickthekwik]

mr redding is the greatest choral director ever. i had the opportunity to be under him in high school. he is an amazing person also.

he taught all of us well. we sang this song too!!!

[lhschoirboi05]

was the director jeffrey redding?

i sung under him twice! once with OSAI in 2004 and again in the ACDA choir in 2005 in LA. hes a really amazing director.

[timhasabeard]

yay for me in the front! two people to the right from the guy in the wheel chair. I love this song

[MirageOfDeceit]

This was my FAVORITE song out of these past two years worth of all state music. I didn't make it this year :( Owell. Still, this song Rox my Sox? :P :). Amazing.

[gatlindrake]

So beautiful! Gosh I miss All State.

I'm on the left, the guy with the long blonde hair wearing the red sweater... lol Just so ya'll know who I am.

[Slink12345]

Haha!!!! I love you guys, I was in this in All-State Choir in '07, Too bad, Im in college now, I miss all-state, Good Job Guys...^_^

[kittenrain]

I really loved doing that song(:

[malloryanne1221]

GO CARROLL! High 5!

[thisismyname007]

Oddly, of the two Youtube videos of this song, the larger choir sounds vastly better. Anyhoo, are we sure this isn't an Andrew Llyod Weber song?? I mean that in a good way. This song is ready for Hollywood or permanent standing as "classical."