Scott couple find work/life balance singing with choir

Published Oct. 31, 2014
By Senior Airman Joshua Eikren
375th Air Mobility Wing Public Affairs

SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. -- Finding the time to balance work and your personal interests is a must when it comes to being a comprehensively fit Airman. And for one couple, they do that through music.

Lt. Col. Christine Blice-Baum, 375 Air Mobility Wing Chaplain, and her husband, Mark Blice-Baum, 375th Force Support Squadron Airman and Family Readiness Community Readiness Specialist, ensure they are fit through their passion of singing with the local community in a choral group called Masterworks Chorale. Masterworks Chorale is an arts organization with a primary goal to make a significant artistic contribution to Southern Illinois. They include an adult group called the Masterworks Chorale and a Masterwork Chorale Children's Chorus.

They have sung in professional groups throughout their 32 years of marriage and both have musical backgrounds. Christine is well versed in church music with a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Manhattan School of Music and Mark grew up with both of his parents being music majors, while he played piano and sang in college choirs.

"Our common interest in music is what attracted us to begin with, so the chance to do something like this again had us really thrilled," said Mark.

The Blice-Baums have been at Scott for more than two years, but haven't sung in a chorus for seven years.

One day, Christine said, "You know it'd be really nice to get involved in a singing group again." So they went online in search of an opportunity and found the group Masterworks Chorale.

Their hobby also contributes to improving their comprehensive Airman fitness.
"It took us awhile, because we were busy with our jobs, but we thought 'what are we missing?'" said Mark. "We agreed we just haven't sung and it was right there under our noses. It took some work doing the research for groups and making the contact."

Christine added, "In my experience it's so easy to say I'm too busy, but we tend to cut out things that are life-giving that we really enjoy. We thought we were too busy, but once we made room for it, the benefit we get from that is so great. As a chaplain, I see it over and over again, where we use 'busy' as an excuse, and we take things off our plate because we think we don't have to do that, but then it's just work."

The similarities in working with the chorale and being a military member are visible in their ability to collaborate and work as a team.

"I welcome the participation of people from the base because they come from a similar frame of mind when it comes to duty and working as a part of a team," said Dr. Stephen Mager, Masterworks Director. "It shows as a group dynamic where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Creating a final result that stems from the collaboration of all these diverse people who are like-minded in working as a part of a team, doing their job well and putting the team before themselves. The Blice-Baums are just another great example of that."

Being involved in the community is also an important part of being an Airman and good representative of Scott.

"A conductor is like a commander, he or she can't sing all the parts or if it's a musical group they can't play all the instruments, but they need to know how to motivate and bring a whole group of people together for a common mission," said Christine. "Everyone plays a different role and some folks are stronger at certain things, but you have to listen to other people too. It's about teamwork and not about being a soloist, but listening to the other people to make sure your voice is blending with the other person. The conductor has to be able to take these gifts of the individuals and bring them together for the same mission."

On or off duty the Blice-Baums never forget their core values.

"Integrity, saying you're going to show up and work hard at rehearsing your part," said Christine. "Excellence, the reason why you practice so much and the goal is to not just perform excellently, but seeking excellence creates this beauty. Service before self, almost everyone in the group is a volunteer, and it's serving the community and giving back."

What they appreciate the most is the sense of being a part of the community.

"The folks express gratitude that we've joined the group, but I turn that around and tell them how grateful we are that they've welcomed us," said Mark. "These opportunities aren't just open to adults, but children too. You can do this for the rest of your life because music is something you never retire from. There are people in the group who are older and retired, but still have a passion for it and this helps bridge the generations."