God, The Ultimate Conductor

A couple of nights ago, my youngest daughter and I were able to attend a very special concert. This concert would be the last time the Christian Community Orchestra of Douglasville, Georgia would be conducted by its founder, Jan Booth. She has conducted the orchestra for 34 years! At nearly 82 years old, she is passing her baton to a new leader. She has served so very well through the years.

 

During the concert, she asked me to come forward. In front of the packed auditorium, she told the story of how the orchestra first started. I was surprised to find out that my mother had a part in getting the group started. As an eleven year old new violinist, I was one of the original five members. 

As I heard her tell the story, I was overwhelmed at the thought of how God had orchestrated all the events that led to the creation and maturity of this beloved orchestra.

 

Let me go way back to the spring of 1991. My twin sister and I began taking piano lessons from a lady in our neighborhood. She was a wonderful teacher, but after a month of lessons I was ready to quit. 

That summer, my twin sister and I spent a week with our uncle and aunt in Alabama. While we were there, we were able to go to our 4 year old cousin’s group violin lesson. They hadn’t even started using real violins yet, but I was mesmerized. During that week, we were able to see my aunt’s nieces’ violin group play on a news channel. I determined right then and there that I would learn to play the violin.

 

As soon as we got back home, I told my mother all about it. Finances were extremely tight in my family growing up, but my mother could clearly see that I was deeply sincere. 

She found a teacher, and her name was Jan Booth. At ten years old with a rented violin, I started my violinist journey with Mrs. Booth. My mother tried to learn with me, but she gave up after a few weeks. I practiced so hard, and I was committed to learning to play well.

 

Not long after I started playing the violin, my mother asked Mrs. Booth if she would be interested in leading a group of kids at our church in a small orchestra. Mrs. Booth had been wanting to start something like this so she eagerly agreed to conduct the group of kids. 

I was a member of the original group that started with only 5 kids. Through the years, the group grew and adults joined in. It became a place for musicians of all levels to come and create music together. Mrs. Booth named the group the Christian Community Orchestra.

 

I played with the orchestra throughout my teen years, and into my college years. After graduating from college, I moved away for a year but upon my return I continued to play with the orchestra. Mrs. Booth also formed the Celebration String Quartet upon my return which I played first violin in. We played in many weddings together. 

In 2008, I had to step away from the orchestra when I married and moved away. I loved hearing of how the orchestra was growing, and I was able to return to play a couple of times with the orchestra. 

As I sat in the audience the other night, I was almost brought to tears as I listened to the large orchestra play. What a beautiful journey. Just think of all the things that had to take place for this all to happen. It’s an amazing example that every little decision that is made affects the future. 

Although my cousin didn’t continue violin lessons, it affected me in a huge way. The violin has been a monumental part of my life for 35 years now. If I had never started taking violin lessons, my mother wouldn’t have asked Mrs. Booth to lead the group of 5 young musicians, and the Christian Community Orchestra may have never been born. If the Christian Community Orchestra had never began, this amazing community of musicians throughout the years would not have ever been. I’m in awe of how God has woven all of these things together. He truly is the ultimate conductor.