Praise Team

This year Sam is on Praise Team. In order to be on Praise Team, each student must pick an audition song, audition in front of the other Praise Team members and hopefuls, and be selected. 

After singing a solo in the Tennessee Play, Sam decided that he really wanted to try out for Praise Team.  His biggest hurdle - picking an audition song.  He felt compelled to audition with a praise and worship song, but those songs are usually really long, repetitive and not in Sam's key.  As Sam has not hit puberty yet, he is still a first soprano. After much talk, whining, fussing, arguing and explaining, I finally convinced Sam to audition with "I Can't Help Falling In Love With You" by Elvis.  It is short, it is melodic, it is in his range, and it really highlights his voice. 

Even though he agreed to use the song, he didn't believe that I actually knew what I was talking about.  However, when he got home from his audition, he thanked me for the song selection and told me that Ms. B. said that his song was one of her favorite songs and that the other members of the praise team told him that he had an excellent audition.  

Praise Team at DA is a big responsibility.  They lead praise and worship at Chapel each week for the entire Middle School.  This means that Sam helps to lead worship every week for the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th Graders.  This includes his friends, his brother and his brother's friends.  Sam is one of two boys on praise team.  This takes a lot of self assurance and a lot of desire.  We are so proud of Sam for really leaning into his talent and his desire to serve. 

The photo above is from this past week when Sam had his first solo. Finn said that he did a great job. Ms. B. told him that he has a very natural presentation style.  Sam is now interested in joining the praise team at church.  I told him that he will need to slow his roll just a little bit.