Ode to Women's Chorus

A little background information: Tonight and last night I performed in my last choir concert, “A Pilgrim’s Journey Home.” This concert was a HUGE production. The preparation (and even aftermath) included hours and hours of practice and recording. You may have heard of the last big choir productions, Songs of Praise and Remembrance and A Thanksgiving of American Folk Hymns. They play them all the time in the HFAC. Well, this will be comparable… they plan to sell it to PBS. Just imagine the stress involved, the details of the music, the set, the uniforms, the makeup, the audio and visual recordings, etc… especially if you consider the fact this is a great chance to spread the hope and joy found within the gospel of Christ to others.

I do not even know where to begin. I just sang at my last choir concert, and countless emotions are running through my veins. Many experiences and emotions have built up over the past three years. Perhaps though, I will just cover the events of the night and touch on some of my feelings. I only wish my words could do justice to my feelings.

Due to late nights of recording, rehearsing, homework, and stupidity, I was exhausted Friday night. I was sore, tired, and stressed, along with my fellow WC members. However, the show must go on. For the first time ever though, we were actually ready for the concert. We knew the music like the back of our hand and could focus on the nitty gritty details (lets reach f rather than mf at this specific spot). It is quite the rewarding experience to push the music that much closer to perfection. We were all exhausted, but we all nailed nearly all of our music.

For those of you who don't understand, singing is hard. Of course, you have to learn the music: each pitch and rhythms... exactly. Meanwhile, you have to support your sound with breath and not have any tension... in your throat, tongue or anywhere else in your body. This includes good posture, resonance, etc. It is a continual process to build technique. While thinking about technique you also have to think about the expressive qualities of the music (i.e. phrasing, dynamics, etc.). This perhaps takes the most time, and it is planned out measure by measure. Meanwhile, you have to connect to the music personally: what does it mean to you? Then, as part of a choir, you have to always keep your eye on the conductor and follow his/her hands exactly... You honestly have no idea how much there is to think about and do....

Everything began to sink in during our preconcert devotional on Friday…
I was reminded of the great opportunity I have had to sing in WC:
The opportunity to bless others’ lives through music and share my testimony with others. What a great message the music of this concert contains:
This life is a journey, but Heavenly Father will lead me home. He is my shepherd, and “He anoints me, guards me, and loves me.”
I knew it was not a good thing if I was already starting to cry…

Oh, how I will miss the Spirit I felt daily in Women's Chorus!

Saturday’s performance proved to be even better! I was more refreshed and well aware that this was my last concert! I was determined to give 100% of myself emotionally, intellectually, spiritually, and physically.
I always cake on the makeup for choir concerts, but the makeup had to be extra special for the TV of course. We had a film makeup specialist come and talk to us… even the boys wore makeup… haha. That was funny watching their faces get powdered.
Before going on stage, Sister Appolonie saw me, and said “You look like a hot, suntanned babe. Where’s your bikini… oh wait, you don’t have one of those.” We were supposed to be silent before going on stage…

Oh, how I will miss the dresses, the earrings, the makeup... and singing with beautiful girls!

Fortunately, we recomposed ourselves before going onstage, and it was a magnificent experience! I sang beautifully and bore my soul along with 170+ other girls. It was absolutely glorious! It not only strengthened the testimonies of the audience members but also my own. As I sang throughout this concert, the Spirit bore witness to me over and over of the existence of Our Father in Heaven and his knowledge of us and his love for us. I do not know how anyone could sing or hear this music and not feel of Heavenly Father's love!

Oh, how I will miss the opportunity to bear my testimony and feel others' testimonies through music!

The last few songs with the philharmonic orchestra and combined choirs were the most powerful for many singers. You have no idea what it feels like to sing with all of them! The audience immediately gave a standing ovation!! I stood their soaking in the experience as the applause roared, the conductors bowed, and the choirs and orchestra members smiled.
p.s. Elder Dallin H. Oaks and Sister W. Tanner attended Friday night. Sister Sheri L. Dew attended Saturday night.

Oh, how I will miss blessing the lives of those in the audience, hearing the roar of the applause, witnessing the standing ovation, and feeling an overwhelming since of accomplishment and gratitude.

Oh, how I will miss the talented choir directors, especially Sister Appolonie. She is so loving and so talented. I love her! Oh, how I will miss my singing friends. Some of the girls I have seen every day for the past years. Oh, how I will miss the peace choir music brought daily into my life.

Most of all, I will miss the experience of singing with others. Of learning to blend with others. Of simultaneously bearing testimony through song. Of being in the middle of a rich, luscious chord. Of hearing a chord "lock" into place. Of singing the melody. Of singing in unison and sounding as one. Of being enveloped by glorious sounds.