The Sound of Music Revisited: The Next Generation of Von Trapps

CBN.com The 'hills are alive with the sound of music' yet again. The next generation of von Trapp children are singing their way into the hearts of audiences across the globe.

We caught up with the von Trapp children as they performed a series of Christmas concerts in Bethlehem, Pa.

The von Trapp children include 16-year-old Sofie, 14-year-old Melanie, 13-year-old Amanda, and 10-year-old Justin, the only boy.

Then there’s Annie, their mom, and Stephan von Trapp, the one from whom they got their famous name.

Stephan von Trapp's grandfather was THE Captain. Yes, there really was a Captain. And, yes, there really was a Maria.

"The story is a true story and the movie is true," says Stephan. Stephan's real father is Werner, depicted as Kurt in The Sound of Music.

In 1938, the von Trapps fled Austria and Hitler and came to America where they performed as a family until the 1950s. It is from this musical lineage that the newest generation of von Trapp children has sprung.

But like their famous counterparts in The Sound of Music, this family also had to learn to sing.

These gifted children have an amazing range of rich harmonies and angelic vocal blends. And to make the experience more authentic for their concert audiences, the children perform in costumes worn by the original Von Trapp Family Singers.

The von Trapp children and their parents have lived nine of the past 12 months out of suitcases, performing in such exotic places as Australia, New Zealand, and Korea. The rest of the time, they live on the family farm in Kalispell, Montana, where life is simpler and the work is a lot harder.

If you ask them what the glue is that holds their family together, you may be surprised to learn that it is their deep faith in God and the trust they have placed in the Savior that has created a bond that is unshakable.

It all started 10 years ago when the kids were exposed to a children’s ministry at a church near their home.

"The kids came to learn who Jesus was and accept the Lord on their own before we ever knew it," says Stephan von Trapp.

Adds Annie von Trapp, "They really brought the Bible into our house and started us reading the Bible. It's so funny, growing up I never realized that you have to ask Jesus into your heart. You have to ask Him to forgive your sins, and it's that simple."

So now, during each and every concert, the children do a couple of numbers that present the simple message of the gospel.

As for the legacy of these von Trapp children, Annie says she wants to be remembered for her faith.

"Whatever it is He asks of us," she says, "to have the courage not to be afraid of that so we can actually say I was Your faithful servant."