Composed 2026 for a capella SATB choir
Commissioned by the Seward High School choirs, Seward, NE in 2026
Your Story in Our Lives was commissioned to honor the retirement of Dory von Kampen, who both taught English and was co-director of the school musical. It was premiered at the conclusion of the final performance of the musical, as a total surprise to her.
The text honors her time in the classroom, on the stage, and never in the spotlight. She is humble in her work and passionate about giving every student their chance to realize their fullest potential.
Text
For the power to find our voice
With just a pen and paper
For the power to find our voice
Here upon the stage or
In the pieces of a story,
A tale of hero’s glory, or
In the roles we play
Every single day
We say “thank you”For the power to understand
How the past reflects the present
For the power to understand
How our lives have been forecast
But as we all live out our journey,
Seeing how the seasons turn,
We can reflect
We understand
We have a voice
So we say “thank you”We look at stories as windows and mirrors
Looking into worlds, reflecting on our own lives
We look at stories and see
How they represent humanity
And we understand
(and we have our voice)
And for that we say,
“Thank you”
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