Hey everyone. Today I am posting an interview that I had Wednesday afternoon with Wade Cooper, keeper and overall watchkeeper of the Youth Choir Week in Cape May, NJ. We focused on the direction of the camp, but did include some brief moments of reflection over years past. Hope you enjoy!
AG: Thank you Wade for doing this interview for my blog. Hopefully everyone will enjoy.
WC: If you have readers who enjoy choir and what it takes to run a camp, then I’m sure they will.
AG: We recently got a new choir director. Can you tell me why and about him?
WC: Yes, Thomas Whittemore. He is the choir director at Trinity Princeton. He is also the organist and has been there for 5 years now. He was originally director at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church Philadelphia for 25 years, but went to Trinity to be closer to home.
AG: Why the decision for Tom and not former camper and now director at Glassboro HS Bryan Broughton?
WC: While that was an intriguing choice, I felt that the camp needed a new and fresh idea. Bryan is a very accomplished musician and director, and I hope that he continues to help out … but I just felt this was the best fit for now.
AG: Where do you see the camp going and what can Tom do for it?
WC: Tom has a wealth of experience. He has performed and directed for so many years and has been critically acclaimed for doing so. The camp is headed in a direction of ‘re-birth’ if you will. We need a new vision as many of our campers have gotten older and we need to replenish with young children.
AG: How can that be done?
WC: Well Tom directs from elementary school aged chidlren to adults, so he knows how to handle everyone and motivate them. And with the new marketing and advertising plan that you and Sheen have been working on … with the website, fliers, letters, and overall involvement, I think we are well on our way.
AG: Do you think the turnover will be quick and successful as it was when the camp first started 20 years ago?
WC: Yes and no. I do believe that we can get young children to be interested and want to come here, but how quickly we can do that depends how many we can reach out to. It depends if we can show them that choir camp is more than just singing church music.
AG: In what ways is it more than that and how can that be accomplished?
WC: Again that can be done with the work Sheen and you have been doing tirelessly since camp ended in early August. I must commend you for that.
AG: Thanks.
WC: You’re welcome. Choir camp is not jsut singing because we do so many other activities. From beach trips, the Cape May Zoo, to the scavenger hunt. Every child, counsellor, and chaperone get to interact and become a huge family for that week. It’s unbelievable and such a joy.
AG: Do you think we can go another 20 years?
WC: WOW! That would be quite an acomplishment. I probably won’t be around that long to see it happen if it were to, ha. But that would be great. I think there is a great possibility. With the leadership we’ve had and dedicated help. You have been here 14 years, coming up on 15, and there are many others like you that help. And I can foresee all of you taking this camp into the future.
AG: Well I hope you’ll be there with us too.
WC: I’d love to be, but I know it will grow as I have always hoped it would. It has up to this point, so why not some more!
AG: Wade, I’d like to thank you again for taking the time. I know you’re extremely busy here at the church and have a lot of responsibilities to take care of this evening.
WC: Thanks for aksing me, I’ve actually never been interviewed before. Especially for a blog, that’s what you call it right? You see … this is why I don’t attempt the internet and stuff. That’s your contribution to the camp, I’d reck the whole thing if I tried to do it this way!
