This weekend has been an unforgettable one for Grand Canyon University’s Critical Mass.
The ensemble made its first appearance on a national stage in Washington, D.C., for Sunday's Rededicate 250: A National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise and Thanksgiving.
But the vocalists also spent three days in the U.S. capital, exploring historical sites, monuments, memorials and even touching a piece of the moon.
“I will always remember this time,” senior Luke Lundberg said. “Getting to be here with my friends and experiencing these amazing things. I will always remember standing on that stage, seeing the Capitol in the background and the feeling I had.”
Friday
As soon as they landed at 4 p.m., it was go time.
The students crammed in as much sightseeing as possible in one night.
After a meal at a pizzeria next to their Arlington, Virginia, hotel and purchasing their first metro cards, they made their way to the National Mall and explored the Washington, WWII, Lincoln and Korean War Veterans memorials.
But everything stopped when they noticed the massive neoclassical stage they would perform on in two days. It was being built between the Capitol and Washington Monument.
Recent graduate Ben Sparling made best use of his history degree, explaining the significance behind every monument.
“I feel like a kid in a candy store. It’s been a blast,” Sparling said.
Saturday
After breakfast and coffee, the group made its way to the National Air and Space Museum, wearing matching purple GCU T-shirts.
Group members learned about historic flight artifacts and the evolution of aviation over the centuries.
But to “touch a piece of the moon”? That turned out to be the most intriguing small exhibit, with students taking turns feeling the smooth, baby powder texture.
They spent roughly 30 minutes in various Smithsonian museums, splitting into groups to visit the national museums of American History, Natural History and African American History and Culture.
“Guys, I have to go see the dinosaurs,” recent graduate Joanna Heneveld said. “My brothers love dinosaurs, so I watched a lot of shows about them growing up. I have to take a picture with a dinosaur.”
When 2:30 p.m. rolled around, it was call time for rehearsal. The ensemble stepped on the big stage overlooking thousands of seats waiting to be filled, with the Capitol in the background.
But first?
Take a group selfie.
“I don’t think I have ever performed in a bigger place with a cooler background,” Lundberg said. “We were just staring straight at the Capitol.”
For the first hour, Critical Mass practiced its own repertoire, but when 3:30 p.m. hit, Christian music artist Blessing Offor joined them on stage to run through three songs. Nervous and in awe, the students struggled to relax.
“I was just visually informed you guys aren’t smiling,” Offor, who has been blind since a young age, said with a laugh. “Smile! You are singing about joy, after all.”
The group stepped back into tourist mode right after rehearsal. Some visited the National Archives Museum, some the National Mall monuments again, while some returned to the hotel for an early night in before the big day.
But Sparling stepped out on his own to cross off a bucket list item: watch “1776” at Ford’s Theatre.
“It was so perfect,” Sparling said. “The show was right up my alley, combining theatre and American history.”
Sunday
The most anticipated day of the weekend was finally here.
Dressed in black suits and dresses with purple beads and ties, Critical Mass met in the hotel lobby at 10:30 a.m. for a short devotional and prayer. The vocalists talked about setting their mind on God and remembering the meaning behind the event.
At 10:45 a.m., they hopped on a bus sent by event organizers to take them to the venue, and at 11 a.m., they met Hillsdale Choir, the United States Navy Band and the rest of the performers in a backstage tent.
When GCU Worship Arts Director Moises Felipe, who had already performed at the start of Rededicate 250, walked in, the group felt relieved to see a familiar face.
Roughly 20 minutes before their first performance, the students lined up backstage to get their microphones. Broadway singer Laura Osnes had just finished singing “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and the Lopes interacted with her as she walked off stage.
12:41 p.m.: First performance, “Go Down Moses” and “Where Could I Go?”
Although Music Chair Dr. Juan de Dios Hernandez’s iPad with piano sheet music overheated and the group had to improvise in a cappella, Critical Mass pivoted effortlessly, encouraged by the crowd’s exuberant cheering.
“I am so shaky, that was so scary,” junior Allie Toothaker said.
2:15 p.m.: Second performance, “I Shall Not Be Moved”
Critical Mass followed the public address and prayer of Dr. Alveda King’s, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s niece. In awe, the group murmured shy hellos as she walked next to them backstage.
“Take a picture of me and her (King) behind me. Take a picture, take a picture!” said sophomore Samira Doxie.
5:30 p.m.: Third performance with Offor, singing, “Goodness of God,” “Amazing Grace” and “Brighter Days.”
With a full audience and more people gathered outside the gates of the event, Critical Mass joined Offor onstage as background vocalists to lead the crowd in moving worship.
People raised their hands with eyes closed, amplifying the volume of the praises resonating through the National Mall.
Meanwhile, teary-eyed Hernandez proudly watched his choir shine bright from the side stage.
“WE DID IT!!!” Heneveld said at the end of the event.
Critical Mass closed its weekend with a group dinner Sunday evening and a trip to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial and District of Columbia Memorial before hopping on an early flight home Monday morning.
GCU staff writer Izabela Fogarasi can be reached at [email protected]
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