We made it to Butte!

At around 3:40 pm we arrived in Butte, MT! After one last rehearsal in Iowa and a blessing from Mike Shupp, Grand View bookstore manager, we cozzied into our home-away-from-home (an Arrow charter bus) and set sail to the West. Two bus drivers tag-teamed through the night and Arnie, our bus driver for the week, took over around 5am in Wyoming. As the sun rose, we were graced with a beautiful view of the snow-capped Big Horn Mountains and a purple sky.

In tow:
33 very eager, animated choir members
1 fearless leader, Dr. Duffy
1 seasoned accompanist, Lois Harms
1 liaison, Bonita Bontrager
1 blogger/photographer (me!)
40 gallon-sized goody bags that should keep us on a sugar high for the whole nine days. Thanks to the parents for donating food and to Brandon Spencer for compiling them.

After a stop for breakfast at Perkins in Sheridan, Wyoming (Which is near the Montana border) we headed north towards Butte. Along the way, we stopped at Little Bighorn Battlefield on the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana (65 miles northwest of Billings). The battlefield is a national monument that memorizes the last armed conflict in June, 1876, where more than 260 U.S. Army soldiers died in battle against thousands of Lakota and Cheyenne warriors. It wasn’t that cold, but very windy in the open battlefield.

At an elevation of 5549 feet above sea level, the drive up to Butte was gorgeous. The skies are sunny, mountains are snowy and half the choir is smiley and energetic. The other half was trying to catch up on sleep they weren’t able to find last night. I can’t complain about sleep, though, as I had two seats to sprawl out on. Aww, the advantages of being the outsider on a trip; nobody wants to sit next to you.

I had a couple hours, 19 rather, to catch up with Dr. Duffy on the way to Butte. She said she is very excited about the tour for several reasons. She is eager to see a part of the country she’s never been, meet connections she’s made through planning the trip and finally, assist the students in an experience and accomplishment unlike any.

Duffy said, “This is a very hard program, it’s very challenging. This is probably the most challenging program that I’ve programmed in the whole time that I’ve been here.”

The 22-set show is not only sizable, but equally difficult. A couple all German songs and tightly interlocked voice parts independent of each other complicate practice and require full attention from the young choir.

“I think they will have a tremendous sense of accomplishment for having been able to do something they thought they couldn’t do,” Duffy said.

She said students will gain more than a deeper understanding of the music. They will interact with host families and learn about people from other parts of the country and learn more about themselves and develop personal relationships, as well as make long-lasting memories and friendships.

The choir will sing at 7:00 tonight at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Butte, MT. They are practicing now and by the sounds of it, Butte will be in for quite the show! Check back for photos and updates!