We appreciate the many comments about Festival that delegates have shared with us the past couple of weeks. The following, from Shawn Northcutt, producer of our anniversary video, A Song of Courage, we just have to share with all of you:

However, the true gift was being present for Festival and witnessing the real-life continuation of the dream of GALA. No video clip accompanied by even the most touching recordings can replace what I saw as I looked through my camera lens, zoomed in tight on a singer as she/he sang in front of like minded people, surrounded by those that shared their journey of song that brought them to the stage on that particular concert block. There truly is a certain spark in the eyes of GALA members as they sing for one another. It is the very recognizable mixture of the knowledge of what their choruses do in their home communities and the joy of knowing that the audience in front of them understands how that history sweetens every note. The act of true appreciation is never more evident than when it is experienced between a chorus standing on a stage at a GALA Festival and the audience jumping up to a standing ovation because the sheer joy at someone else's success in song.