Most of the time, the right people show up.
During the Long Quiet, enrollment has gone down in virtually every elective activity – from music to theatre to Scouting to Advanced Placement classes to church attendance. Maybe there was too much else going on, maybe some people were afraid of being disappointed again, maybe people have reexamined their life choices in fundamental ways. Maybe we’re all just tired.
Nonetheless, in my experience, the right people still show up.
That’s because, to me, the most important characteristic a person needs to have in a choir or an organization is yesness. Being able to say “yes” to experiences is often the greatest hurdle, and when we can do that, the rest of the skills that we need, we can build. I can teach you to sing in harmony, if you’ve got enough yesness. I can facilitate your Eagle Scout, help you get a 5 on an AP Exam, or coach you into a successful college application or audition – as long as you have a deep well of yesness.
So I’m not too terribly worried about the temporary enrollment declines. Because the people who stuck around have got yesness to spare.
The right people show up.