By Trish Kinney

I'm not going to lie to you. The world is pretty challenging lately, and it can be difficult to keep a positive attitude. That's why it seemed like such a grand idea to attend a music summer school at beautiful DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, hosted by the world-class British vocal ensemble, the King's Singers.

Q&A with The King's Singers

It seemed unlikely that my limited experience in choral singing would rise to the standard of acceptance into the program, not to mention the requirement to submit an acappella audition tape of an English folk song. But the idea of raising my voice with others in close harmony for a week sounded incredibly healing. So, just to feel included somehow, I submitted the written application, but no audition tape, on the night of the deadline.

About three weeks later, the lovely Meg from the King's Singers team in London, contacted me, asking if I was still interested. I responded that my interest was high but fully disclosed that my background was in musical theatre and not choral singing, so I had assumed I wasn't qualified. She encouraged me to send an audition tape anyway, which I reluctantly agreed to do. When I didn't hear for a few days, I thought Meg was trying to find a way to let me down easily. But instead she responded that the King's Singers (themselves!) had listened to my tape and were delighted to invite me to attend.



And so we gathered from all over the world, including Germany, Venezuela, New Zealand, Canada, England, South Africa, and France. The sound of so many beautiful accents made a wonderful addition to the constant sound of beautiful voices singing beautiful music.

The last participant to arrive due to a late flight, I was greeted warmly by a young man I recognized as a King's Singer who took me by the elbow and politely led me onto the stage of the Kresge Auditorium and placed me with my new ensemble. They were already learning a song with another King's Singer mentor, and I was thrilled to take my place and join the group of singers who would become my constant companions for the week.



It didn't take me long to realize that I had landed, without question, in the kindest environment I had ever known. The tone was set by the six young men, known as the King's Singers, who spent every waking moment with us. While their expert musical coaching was the foundation of our experience, it was their kind spirit, courtesy, respect, and civility towards us that really resonated. And they modeled that behavior in their interactions with one another. In a Facebook Live session, they were asked about the King's Singers selection process and how they were each chosen. The answers included phrases such as becoming part of a whole, putting egos aside for the good of the entire group, and committing to an equal decision-making partnership in the creative, business, and personal facets of the group.

They spoke quietly (and in the most beautiful speaking voices you could ever hope to hear), listened brilliantly, and behaved as if we were the most important people in their world. They ate with us in Hoover Hall and often lingered patiently after rehearsal to chat until everyone had filed out. On only one occasion did I hear a King's Singer accidentally interrupt another, and he quickly apologized for doing so with a warm touch to the shoulder. I cannot even remember how many times they thanked us for coming, for agreeing to put our trust in them, and for giving them the opportunity to work with us. For most of us, just spending time with them was beyond our wildest dreams.



One of my fellow students, a French diplomat currently stationed in Washington D.C., who commands 1,000 soldiers when he is in his military position, was trying to determine how this fascinating system of leadership with no leader could possibly work. We were amazed to discover that the King's Singers travel the world, 140 concerts each year or more, with no manager, handler, or director. Perhaps, we pondered, it worked so well simply because of their absolute commitment to the ensemble before their own needs and opinions and their unwavering support for each other. Imagine how much we could accomplish if we were able to reproduce that mindset in business, politics, and personal relationships.

In my everyday work of helping people learn to manage stress and sleep better, we teach that kindness has significant emotional, psychological and physical benefits. And that kindness is contagious with three parties benefitting; those performing the kindness, those receiving the kindness and those witnessing the kindness. But I had never seen the impact of those benefits so clearly and in such a prolonged way.



We were invited to sing a beautiful song, "A Thanksgiving," with the King's Singers during their public concert on Friday evening. Just as I had envisioned, the power of our voices in close harmony, nurtured by the gentle methods of our mentors, was profoundly healing.

A Thanksgiving by Bob Chilcott

One of the King's Singers told us that breath is the link between silence and sound. And that you can actually think your way into making a new sound. These musical concepts coincide beautifully with meditative practice, the foundation of my own teaching. If we can just learn to breathe between silence and sound rather than react and if we can imagine our way into a more peaceful existence, then we will have really achieved something worthwhile.



I am filled with gratitude for sweet Meg without whom I would have never made it to Indiana; for the King's Singers who supported, encouraged, and inspired us in so many ways; and for the friendship of all my new, talented, and creative fellow singers. Hopefully the close harmony of this experience will last us all a lifetime and we can become ambassadors of the powerful combination of music and kindness.

Summer 2017 Announcement

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