CALL TO ORDER CD
415.479.1994

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Lourdes Miracles

Lourdes Miracles, the youth choir at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Hunters’s Point, San Francisco, was founded in 1996 and directed by Judy Brown, with reed accompanying and teaching new material to the children. Providing the music for mass on the third Sunday of each month and performing at other church and community events, the choir was so well received that in 1999 Reed conceptualized and produced a moving and uplifting nine-song CD of the kids.

The CD, entitled “Whattaya Say We Praise Him,” features twenty-four children, ages 7-13. It includes original songs created for the choir by Reed and Judy, as well as traditional favorites - some given a modern twist, such as the rap version of “Yes, Jesus Loves Me.” Reed put the musical tracks together and received generous assistance from Jim Reitzel and Daniel Daniel in creating the final mix.

The response to the CD has been wonderfully enthusiastic, well beyond the confines of the choir’s home parish. Pastors of other churches have ordered additional copies to send to relatives and friends. Renowned author Annie LaMott came into a copy and described it as one of the most inspirational recordings she had heard in years.

The children, now 11-16, have moved on to other pursuits. (One of them is now the full-time drummer for the adult choir.) Their wonderful recording however, is still available to bring joy and inspiration to a whole new round of listeners.


Lighthouse Youth Choir

The Lighthouse Youth Choir is the youth auxiliary of the well-know Lighthouse singers of Marin. Reed was brought on in 1997 as accompanist for the group, and assumed the director’s role a few months later.

The choir members range in age from 8-19, and include two original participants, several musical theater veterans recruited by Reed, children of adult Lighthouse Singers, and other youth introduced via word-of-mouth by friends and schoolmates.

Rehearsing just twice a month (on the 1st and 2nd Wednesdays, from 7:00-8:300 PM), the choir has worked up an impressive repertoire of powerful, joyous songs in the Black gospel tradition. They have had opportunities to showcase this material at church events, gospel concerts, and Bread & Roses performances for people in confinement (in hospitals, halfway houses, etc.).

Participation in Lighthouse has been a wonderfully enriching experience for the youth involved, both in terms of developing their vocal and harmony skills and in the form of positive and reaffirming cross-cultural exchanges. The overwhelming reception they have received at church events in West Oakland and in the Bayview in San Francisco has been described as “life-altering” by some of their parents. Participation in the group has also fostered strong friendships and outside musical collaborations among the ongoing members.

Lighthouse Youth Choir is always on the lookout for additional members. For a very minimal and flexible time commitment, young singers can share a richly rewarding and lasting musical experience.