Mar 17-19, 2006
Singing is remembering. It’s you on your grandmother’s knee and her on her grandmother’s knee, on back to the first humans who held their young in their arms and poured out their love, wonder, surprise, joy, fear, and hope through what we now call song. We can keep this song alive, make music, see what magic happens when the music begins to take over. Singing is an act of compassion, of wonder, of creativity. Open the mouth and pure feelings come out. We become the rhythms; we become the harmonies; the intellect gives way to the heart.
Play and music arise from the same basic instinct: to create, to express, to experiment. All people are born able to make amazing music, and most cultures do not separate talented and untalented, audience and performer. Imagine the sound of the most moving choir in the world; realize it’s you and those around you. Marvel at the extraordinary power and beauty of your own voice joining with many others! Find yourself in the middle of a magnificent, electrifying, thrilling, humorous, and deeply moving performance. Bring a song that’s important to you, that puts a smile on your face. We’ll share. We’ll end with songs of reflection and thanks and praise. Teenagers are welcome at half their parent’s fee.
Nick Page is a song leader, but his real skill is magic, or more accurately, bringing out the magic in others. He can turn any group into a harmonious community of powerful voices, singing songs of wonder and compassion, songs of anger and joy, songs of tremendous power, songs that help define who we are and show us what we can become, songs that change the world. A composer, writer, and teacher, Nick leads the two-hundred-strong Mystic Chorale of Boston and is author of Sing and Shine On! The Teachers Guide to Multicultural Song Leading. His energy is amazing; his retreats have been delights and we welcome him back!
“I’ve never seen anyone else who can capture the enthusiasm of a crowd and make them all into joyful, expressive, energized singers like Nick can.”
— Lee Kessalman, composer
“Thank you for one of the most inspiring and moving experiences of my life — sharing with you in the beauty and joy of making music together. You are a remarkable man, Nick. What impressed me so is your selfless devotion to our group and our music. You are not a song leader; you are a song lover, inviting us to join you in body, mind, and spirit in a great celebration of our humanity through music.”
Lois Bridges Bird
“Singing at Rowe has always been extraordinary. The environment is ripe for letting go, for sharing, giving, being, shining, living in wonder.”
— Nick Page