Written by: Mattie Kiser
Day five of the tour was our visit to the First Lutheran Church in Findlay, a Chorale favorite location for an evening concert. Bright and early, the choir bonded over breakfast with their host families, preparing for the day ahead. Arriving at the Southminster Presbyterian, we loaded the coach to begin the day.
First, we departed Dayton, and we traveled to our daily enriching experience, a tour of the Bicycle Museum of America provided by their wonderful guides and staff. This museum tells the history of bicycles, and their unexpected and interesting past in culture. Did you know… bicycles are used in the military?! They were very popular among American troops during World War II. After bikes galore, we enjoyed lunch in New Bremen, and were able to venture to our choice of an array of restaurants in the area. The Chorale met again on the coach, ready to see our performance space for the evening. Then, it was time to arrive in Findlay to begin rehearsal for the concert.
We planned a folder-free evening for our audience, allowing us to make an extra special connection with those around us. Before that challenging endeavor though, the congregation of the First Lutheran Church graciously provided us with a delicious meal, and we even had pop in glass bottles, the right way to enjoy a drink. During our dinner, we had a very special person to celebrate. We celebrated the “birthday” of Rick Eakin, a beloved friend and self-acclaimed “busboy” of the Cardinal Chorale. Wearing custom “Happy 50th Rick Eakin” shirts and singing “Happy Birthday,” we celebrated his…maybe birthday? It’s honestly unclear…was born in September or June?! Either way, apparently friends believed he needed a very early surprise, and we would celebrate him every day.
After the festivities, our concert began! Rick was able to deliver an introduction for us, being a reminder for why he is so important to us. Our first memorized performance went GREAT! When we wished the audience off and spoke with parishioners, it was time for the Chorale to meet their hosts and settle in for the night. A good sleep was especially important, as we would be returning to give our final concert at the Roscoe United Methodist Church in Coshocton at 7:00 p.m. on June 11, saying goodbye to the 29th Edition of The Cardinal Chorale.