The Boeing Employees Choir Asks Seth, 14,
to Keep Pedaling and Pumping

In his 14 years, Seth Nuckolls had seen hard days in his battle with cancer. No stranger to life’s adversities, Seth is also no stranger to the members of The Boeing Employees Choir, who know him very well now. Although they have never met him personally, they have written and recorded a song for Seth that chronicles his passion for biking with his buddies, hunting for agates, playing soccer, singing in his church choir — and his deep faith.

A cassette of the three-and-a-half minute song, an upbeat prescription to inspire Seth to keep “pedaling and pumping,” was presented to Seth at Seattle Childrens Hospital and Medical Center Tuesday, January 26, 1998.

It's part of a music therapy program, Songs of Love, a one-of-a-kind non-profit organization based in New York which honors seriously ill children by giving them their own songs to provide joy and encouragement.

Seth, his mom, and John Beltzer,
executive director of Songs of Love,
enjoying our lyrics about
his grandparents.

The organization has presented individual songs to more than 1,000 children in 50 hospitals. Most of the songs have been written and sung by a pool of 130 songwriters and singers, who volunteer their time and talents. Songs of Love, started by John Beltzer in memory of his twin brother, has captured significant attention from national media. Tales of its potent therapy has been profiled on CNN, the Today Show, Inside Edition, the New York Times and the Chicago Tribune, among others.

Seth with a
Songs of Love
T-shirt.
 

Beltzer was in Seattle for the recording session and presentation, thanks to United Airlines. It was his first visit to Seattle where he is intent on making new friends for Songs of Love.

"Childrens Hospital has been so accommodating, and the choir has been just fantastic," said Beltzer. "They have an incredible sound and versatility, and I am grateful to have had a chance to meet them and sample Northwest hospitality."

The choir, (also known as the world's oldest youth choir) after our recording session was finished. Seated in front are John Beltzer, Executive Director of Songs of Love, lyricist Gloria Ball, composer and conductor Michael Kysar, lyricist Kema Bohn, and Kira Haller, music therapist at Childrens Hospital.

The choir and the volunteer technical crew from Triad Studios in Redmond gave up their Super Bowl Sunday to make the recording in West Seattle's Grace Community Church.

The lyrics for Seth's Ride were written by choir sopranos Okemah Bohn and her mother Gloria Ball. Music was composed by the Boeing Employee Choir musical director Michael Kysar.

"There’s no doubt in my mind, or in John's, that music heals," Kysar said. "When I read about Songs of Love on the Internet, I just had to call and make the connection. After a short conversation with John Beltzer, I was convinced that the choir would want to do this. And they did, even though we had less than a month and we started during the Christmas holiday. John already had a request profile from Seth's family, asking for a song, and we had to fit the time frame."

Seth now has his hair back, is cancer-free, and is a popular speaker for civic organizations. The last we heard from him, he was on his way to help build housing for poor people in Brazil. Yay Seth!

The website of the Songs of Love Foundation is http://www.songsoflove.org.