Anthems Are Us

by Beth Watkins

The 31 members of the GSSJC “Take Note” Council Choir have been seen singing the National Anthem all across the Greater Houston area. Over the past year Take Note has been invited to sing for the opening of games with the Houston Aeros IHL, Houston Comets WNBA, Houston MLB, as well as for the September 11 flag retirement ceremony at Six Flags AstroWorld, and for the opening of the Sports Car Club of America races in College Station. The girls have been invited to sing for another Aeros hockey game and are available to sing for the remaining two professional sports teams in Houston whenever they call.

It’s not just the anthem Take Note Choir sings! The girls sang holiday carols in four part harmony in the Texas Capitol Rotunda in Austin and have been featured in shows at Sweet Adelines International (SAI) regional conventions. The Choir will share their voices with sister Girl Scouts at the GSSJC Senior Recognition Event at Camp Agnes Arnold in April. Choir members will be attending SAI Summer Music Camp in Austin in June.

Other activities of the Council Choir included hosting a Sunday Sing-Along in October. The great girl response has the choir planning a second Sing-Along at Camp Agnes Arnold on Sunday, March 6. See registration information in Program section of this magazine.

Girl Scouts within GSSJC and across the state are invited to the annual June “Harmony Sampler” all day music workshop where girls learn great tunes and close the event with a concert for their family and friends. Look for more information about this great Council event in the April issue of The Golden Link and on the Council Information Network found on the Council Web site, www.gssjc.org

Take Note is a cooperative effort of GSSJC and Young Women in Harmony (YWIH) of Sweet Adelines International. YWIH promotes four-part, a capella singing in the barbershop style. Rehearsals are usually the second Sunday of the month, 3-5 p.m. at the Girl Scout Office, 3110 Southwest Freeway in Houston. The $20 annual choir fee covers music, supplies, and a choir T-shirt. Other costs will include personal expenses for registration fees, performance polo shirt, and incidentals.

A STUDIO 2B interest group, the choir is an audition only choir made up of Girl Scouts ages 11-17 (grades 7-12) from across the Council. Auditions for new choir members will be held on Sunday, January 9 at 3 p.m. at the Council office. This audition session will include 6th grade Junior Girl Scouts. Girls in 6th grade are invited to audition only in January. The next opportunity to join “Take Note” will be in the fall.

If you have questions please contact Melinda Gaskill at 713-292-0232 or mgaskill@sjgs.org.