HOULTON, Maine — Two Houlton High School students will spend 15 days touring parts of Canada and the northeast as part of youth gospel ministry.
Ryan Tribou, the son of John and Julie Tribou, and Makala Miller, daughter of Kim and Mike McGary and John and Heather Miller, were chosen to participate “Exalt,” a Christian music touring group comprised of more than 40 high school vocalists, instrumentalists, and technicians from around the United States and Canada. The students gather together on the campus of Kingswood University in Sussex, New Brunswick, Canada to begin rehearsals and have two things in common — a passion for Christ and a love for music.
From there they embark on a 15-day musical and spiritual adventure. Rehearsals began on Sunday, July 1, and by Thursday, July 5, the group boards a 55-passenger luxury tour bus to begin a 10-day concert tour of the northeastern United States and Canada. During these 10 days they will travel over 1,500 miles, and present 11 concerts in front of thousands of people.
The first stop on the tour is Saunders Irving Chapel at Kingswood University in Sussex, New Brunswick, followed by a stop in Houlton Friday, July 6, at 7 p.m. at the Houlton Wesleyan Church. From there, the group will visit Ottawa, Ontario; Maberly, ON; Pulaski, N.Y.; Cherryville, Pa.; Johnson, Vt.; Vassalboro, ME; Quisparmisis, N.B.; and wrap up their tour in Brown’s Flat, N.B.
To be selected for the group, students had to submit audition applications with references from the student’s pastor and music teacher.
Tribou was one of just two percussionists selected for the group.
“In November of 2011, I traveled to Kingswood University in Sussex, New Brunswick to audition for the drumming position in Exalt,” he ex-plained. “I have always been passionate about music, especially when it comes to playing drums, so I was very excited to learn that I had been chosen. I am also very excited about this amazing opportunity, because I am looking forward to witnessing to thousands of people about the love of Jesus Christ. I am looking forward to what God has in store for me and how He will use me to reach others.”
Miller, a vocalist, said she opted to apply for the musical group to take part in a “life changing” experience.
“I first auditioned for Exalt during Encounter, a youth rally held at Kingswood University,” Miller said. “My initial reasons were I love to sing and I thought this experience would be fun, just like groups I have seen that came to our church from Christian colleges.”
As the time grew nearer, Miller’s expectations broadened.
“I am now looking forward to having my relationship with God grow so much stronger and to share this experience with 40+ others I will be on tour with,” she said. “I am looking forward to meeting new people and visiting new places also.”
