Hancock County Children’s Choir hosts “Music in Me!” camp June 19 at Mercy Road Church in Fortville. Mary Buckle directs kids in how to sing while moving. Monday, June 19, 2023.
FORTVILLE — Lisa Heady, executive director of the Hancock County Children’s Choir, walked the halls of Mercy Road Church in Fortville this week with a big smile on her face.
Hearing more than 100 children singing at “The Music in Me” annual summer camp on Monday, June 19 was music to her ears.
This was the eighth year the choir has hosted the camp, which is open to children ages 5-18.
Campers gather for a half day of musical instruction followed by a performance for family and friends.
More than 20 students in grades 7-12 attended the morning session, while nearly 80 campers in kindergarten through sixth grade attended a session in the afternoon.
Each year a high-caliber musician is invited to teach the campers about singing, dancing and unleashing the music within themselves.
This year’s guest instructor was Amy Fata, a multi-faceted vocalist, composer and instructor who has been performing publicly since age three. She has ministered in music around the United States and Europe with her husband and pianist, Patrick. The couple, who are worship directors at a church in Cicero, Ind., have produced five worship albums and continue to write worship music.
Fata has served as a choral conductor at Noblesville High School and Taylor University, and now leads the choral program at Highlands Latin School in Carmel.
Heady was thrilled to have the accomplished singer and composer lend her musical expertise at “The Music in Me” camp.
In the church sanctuary, Fata led campers through vocal exercises and taught them the meaning behind the lyrics of “Kumbaya,” then taught them how to sing the classic hymn in two-part harmony.
She also taught them to enunciate their words while singing a plucky rendition of “When the Saints Go Marching In.”
“You’re starting to sound like singers,” Fata told the group, as their combined sound got stronger throughout the exercise.
Heady said learning from accomplished musicians like Fata is what “The Music in Me” camp is all about.
Fifteen campers attended the first camp eight years ago, but that number grew to nearly 150 campers the year before the COVID pandemic struck.
Hancock County Children’s Choir hosts “Music in Me!” camp June 19 at Mercy Road Church in Fortville.
Tom Russo | Daily Reporter
Hancock County Children’s Choir hosts “Music in Me!” camp June 19 at Mercy Road Church in Fortville.
“We’re starting to build those numbers back up,” said Heady, who has led the Hancock County Children’s Choir since its founding in 2011.
She thinks those numbers will only continue to rise, if the number of new children signing on for assessments to join the choir next season is any indication.
“We had 50 sign up for assessments taking place during camp this year,” said Heady.
Recent high school graduate Nicole Delgado has enjoyed being in the children’s choir and summer camp so much, she returned to help out this year.
“I was in the choir for 10 years. I love the people here,” said Delgado, 17.
Fifteen-year-old Kaymi Thompson, who will start her fifth year in the choir this year, stuck around after the morning camp session on Monday to help out in the afternoon.
“I really enjoy it,” said Thompson, as she checked in young kids for their vocal assessments.
Seven-year-old Sofia Hughes has been attending the camp since she was 5.
“My favorite part is spending time with friends,” she said.
Seeing the campers interact is also Heady’s favorite part.
“We have our last big concert of the year in April, so seeing the excitement on their faces when they reunite with their friends at camp is always fun,” she said.
Heady is passionate about inspiring children to find their voice, and the difference music can make in their lives.
Road weary from traveling to Indianapolis for lessons and cultural activities, she was inspired to create a children’s choir closer to home.
Together with a handful of dedicated parents, she connected with seasoned vocal and piano instructor Gayle Roschi and encouraged her to start a choir in Hancock County.
Roschi served as the choir’s founding artistic director, and called on longtime friend Leanne Cherry to serve as her accompanist.
Since then, the choir has grown steadily to include seven ensembles of children ages 5-18.
The choir performs a Christmas concert and spring concert each year, and has performed twice at New York’s famed Carnegie Hall.
Heady was encouraged Monday to see so many new faces come through the door for vocal assessments, expressing a desire to join the esteemed choral group.
For more information about the Hancock County Children’s choir, visit HancockCountyChildrensChoir.org.
