US Choir Residency

Rebecca Dutneall Start Date: Apr 30, 2024 - End Date: Jun 13, 2024
  • Vacation/Personal Trip
  • Missionary Service
  • Professional Development
  • Atlanta, GA, United States of America

My Travel Story

by: Rebecca Dutneall Start Date: Apr 30, 2024 - End Date: Jun 13, 2024
  • Vacation/Personal Trip
  • Missionary Service
  • Professional Development
My Journey: From Lost to Resilience

Dear friends and compassionate souls.

Some of you may already know that my world has been forever altered. My Mother died from pneumonia on 30th December 2022. My Father died from end-stage COPD on 22nd September 2023. They were my rock, my compass and the pillars of my life. Whilst my Father’s passing was somewhat expected, my Mother’s departure hit me like an unexpected storm. The void they have left behind is immense, and I find myself navigating uncharted waters.

The Healing Power of Music

Singing has always been my refuge—a sanctuary where my soul finds solace. During lockdown, I stumbled across an online choir, The Self-Isolation Choir. I felt welcomed and comfortable—a sense of belonging that had eluded me for years. I poured my heart into recording my contributions to songs suggested for significant occasions, namely, the Queen’s funeral, King Charles’ Coronation, and others. Music became my life preserver, connecting me to something greater than myself.

An unexpected yet excellent opportunity has arrived in my inbox.

Recently, an email from The Choir of the Earth (the new name for The Self-Isolation Choir) arrived in my inbox. It was an invitation from the Choir of the Earth (USA). In June, the invite was for people interested in participating in a Choir Residency at the Majestic and magnificent St Philip’s Cathedral in Atlanta, Georgia. The emotions that this stirred up inside me are complicated to articulate coherently. Standing amongst the soaring arches and lending my voice to the sacred echoes around me feels like a whispered promise from the Universe, telling me that I will be okay. Those who know me personally will understand the magnitude of this opportunity. During the process of drafting this, I learnt of the death of my first Choirmaster, who was the person who started me on my singing journey within a church choir. In his memory, this has made me more determined than ever to attend this opportunity in Atlanta. I will be forever grateful to him for allowing me to join his church choir and teaching me to gain access to a deep appreciation of church music and liturgy and the pivotal role that we, as choristers, play in enhancing the services we sing.

Why I need your support

I humbly ask you not just for your prayers but that you search within yourselves. I am not blind to the current financial situation, although I know I don’t work now. Living alone has given me a unique perspective and made me more conscious about grocery shopping and cutting back on indulgences. Any contribution you can make would help me cover the costs associated with going to America, the fees being charged by Choir of the Earth (USA) to attend/their running costs, my accommodation costs in Atlanta (which are being subsidised by Choir of the Earth (USA), my transportation and health insurance and Visa costs. This is far more than a holiday. This is about reclaiming my life after loss. I know times are tough, but every donation becomes a note in my symphony of healing.

Thank you so much for being part of my story. Together, let’s turn grief into resilience and music into hope, one tentative step after another.
  • Atlanta, GA, United States of America

Updates

1

  • ESTA Denied

    Well, that's a bummer! My ESTA was denied so I had to use the money I had set aside for the hotel to pay for the Visa, and I also now need to go to The US Embassy!