I did something for me - just for me - and it's awesome. I joined a choir. When we first moved to California we went to our now favorite farmers market and while we were shopping for some fruits and veggies for the week we got a flyer for a choir concert that weekend from Masterworks Chorale. Sean took the flyer and then told them that I wanted to join the choir, too! I was taken back and surprised that he so boldly told them that I wanted to join. They said their season was just finishing up but that they would have auditions for the next season at the end of the summer/beginning of fall. We unfortunately didn't make it to the concert because we had sick babies that week. The idea of auditioning for a choir was terrifying for me and I just let it sit in the back of my mind - trying to decide if it'd be worth it or not.
Mostly I was scared and wasn't sure if I wanted to put myself out there enough to prepare and audition.Well, Sean asked about it a few times and convinced me to audition. I was scared, but decided he was probably right and that I should. It would be a great opportunity for me to get involved with my music again, to meet new people, to just have some "Heidi" time. So he convinced me.
I was to prepare a song to sing, either a solo/aria or my voice part of a choral piece. I went through a few different pieces trying to decide what to sing but nothing really felt right to me. In highschool, I was a soprano I, the highest voice part and I loved it. After having babies my voice changed (can you say puberty #2?) and I wasn't quite sure where I sat in the musical clefs. Finally a few days before my audition I settled on "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Mis. I know it's kind of cliche, but I adore that song and felt good about it. Plus, I decided that instead of having the conductor, Dr. Baker, play the piano for me while I sang for him, that I would play and accompany myself for the audition. I do not have the strongest voice, but I wanted to prove my musical abilities so I thought that by accompanying myself that I could show that.
I drove to my audition which was in a small church and sat quietly in the car to calm myself before going in. I heard a beautiful voice singing and I thought I had my radio on my classical station and could not hear it because the car was stopped, so I turned off the car so it could be silent and I could focus, but the voice didn't stop. I realized the windows to the church was open and that the voice I heard was another person auditioning. Holy cow. I was screwed. Her voice was lovely - angelic - perfect. I'm embarrassed to say that I turned on the car to drive home. There was no way that I would be able to compete with that. Luckily, I decided to call Sean and tell him that I was heading home first. He was adamant that I stay and audition. He, being the wonderful supportive, loving husband his is, gave me a great pep talk about how
you never know if you don't try, you prepared for this, you have a great voice, yada yada yada. And so I decided to go in.
Dr. Baker was a sweet man and very kind and I was immediately at ease. We discussed my audition form and musical background a bit and then he asked for my music so he could play for me. I asked him if it would be alright if I accompanied myself instead. He looked a little shocked but said that absolutely I could and that I was the first person in all his years of doing this that would play for their own audition. So, that was exciting and scary.
I sat down, cleared my mind, and prepared myself to sing. I have always wanted to sing this song. Like really sing it - with someone to listen to it and appreciate it. To feel it. I love this song - it speaks to my soul. So I sang. I sang the song. And it was thrilling to sing it. And that cute little church just held my voice and carried the music beautifully.
Dr. Baker looked up and said it was lovely. I was in shock and thrilled. We did some voicing and some sight reading and then he welcomed me to the choir as an Alto I. So happy. I did it. I made it.
Now, every Monday from 7-10pm I have choir rehearsal and it's awesome. It is a bright spot in my week. I sing amazing music with amazing people.
We had our first concert of the season 2 weekends ago and it was amazing. Our big piece was The Grand Mass in C Minor by Mozart. Beautiful piece - and brilliant - I learned so much and felt so much. I love good music.
Mostly I was scared and wasn't sure if I wanted to put myself out there enough to prepare and audition.Well, Sean asked about it a few times and convinced me to audition. I was scared, but decided he was probably right and that I should. It would be a great opportunity for me to get involved with my music again, to meet new people, to just have some "Heidi" time. So he convinced me.
I was to prepare a song to sing, either a solo/aria or my voice part of a choral piece. I went through a few different pieces trying to decide what to sing but nothing really felt right to me. In highschool, I was a soprano I, the highest voice part and I loved it. After having babies my voice changed (can you say puberty #2?) and I wasn't quite sure where I sat in the musical clefs. Finally a few days before my audition I settled on "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Mis. I know it's kind of cliche, but I adore that song and felt good about it. Plus, I decided that instead of having the conductor, Dr. Baker, play the piano for me while I sang for him, that I would play and accompany myself for the audition. I do not have the strongest voice, but I wanted to prove my musical abilities so I thought that by accompanying myself that I could show that.
I drove to my audition which was in a small church and sat quietly in the car to calm myself before going in. I heard a beautiful voice singing and I thought I had my radio on my classical station and could not hear it because the car was stopped, so I turned off the car so it could be silent and I could focus, but the voice didn't stop. I realized the windows to the church was open and that the voice I heard was another person auditioning. Holy cow. I was screwed. Her voice was lovely - angelic - perfect. I'm embarrassed to say that I turned on the car to drive home. There was no way that I would be able to compete with that. Luckily, I decided to call Sean and tell him that I was heading home first. He was adamant that I stay and audition. He, being the wonderful supportive, loving husband his is, gave me a great pep talk about how
you never know if you don't try, you prepared for this, you have a great voice, yada yada yada. And so I decided to go in.
Dr. Baker was a sweet man and very kind and I was immediately at ease. We discussed my audition form and musical background a bit and then he asked for my music so he could play for me. I asked him if it would be alright if I accompanied myself instead. He looked a little shocked but said that absolutely I could and that I was the first person in all his years of doing this that would play for their own audition. So, that was exciting and scary.
I sat down, cleared my mind, and prepared myself to sing. I have always wanted to sing this song. Like really sing it - with someone to listen to it and appreciate it. To feel it. I love this song - it speaks to my soul. So I sang. I sang the song. And it was thrilling to sing it. And that cute little church just held my voice and carried the music beautifully.
Dr. Baker looked up and said it was lovely. I was in shock and thrilled. We did some voicing and some sight reading and then he welcomed me to the choir as an Alto I. So happy. I did it. I made it.
Now, every Monday from 7-10pm I have choir rehearsal and it's awesome. It is a bright spot in my week. I sing amazing music with amazing people.
We had our first concert of the season 2 weekends ago and it was amazing. Our big piece was The Grand Mass in C Minor by Mozart. Beautiful piece - and brilliant - I learned so much and felt so much. I love good music.
Now we're working on Christmas music, which is amazing!
Congratulations, Heidi! That's so exciting!
ReplyDeleteAh is it weird that I feel so proud of you! I've been wanting to ask you about this, so I really enjoyed reading about it! How awesome that you're doing something for you and that you recognize it as Heidi time. :) And what a great husband you have in your corner. Way to go, lady!
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