I'm Singing With The Symphony!

Last fall, Del and I went to the Symphony and watched the combined ISU choirs and the Symphony perform, and it was SO incredible that I decided I had to be a part of it! Well, since I can't play an instrument, that leaves the choir. A friend of mine talked me into joining, but in order to be a part of the Camarata Choir, you have to audition for the director. I have been so scared for the past 3 weeks and practicing "Oh, Beautiful For Spacious Skies," the song he assigned, every time I get in the car, the shower, or anywhere else no one would hear me. Last Tuesday night was the moment of truth. Would I make it or be cut? Would I live through the audition or die in the attempt? This is how I felt.

OK, you know those experiences that you worry and stress over and then you do them and think, "OK, that wasn't so bad"? Well this wasn't one of those times! It was really bad! I was sitting outside his office listening to the person ahead of me and I wanted to sink into my seat! She was Junior Miss Idaho a few years ago and probably won because of her amazing voice! When the next person went in, I realized it was the woman who has been directing the musical productions my girls have been in at Mystique Theater! She's amazingly talented and currently teaches the choir at Franklin Middle School! I knew I was so far out of my league, and I was thinking about walking out and just telling my kids (who were rooting for me at home) that I didn't make it. I knew I couldn't do it, though, because I had just taught Family Home Evening about how Satan uses fear to keep us from doing things that will help us grow. Dang! Bad timing!

Just then some friends came up to the office to give me moral support, so we went out in the hall where I wouldn't have to hear how wonderful everyone else was and talked. I made them practice the song with me because I kept going blank about how the melody went. How many years have I been singing "Oh Beautiful For Spacious Skies," but I was so scared that I kept forgetting how it went! Finally, everyone else was gone, so I had to go in. I was SO scared! At first it all went well. My voice was warmed up and I sounded pretty good and confident while we were doing scales, and he actually told me I have a good range and that I would sing Alto II in the choir. Then he had me try to sightread, which I absolutely cannot do. After fumbling through it, I told him that I would sit by strong singers and listen really well in practices. I told him that I had lots of enthusiasm going for me if not talent! Then I sang the song, that blasted song with all of its high notes! The first two lines were great, but after that it gets really high. Basically I squeaked out the final high notes, picked up my music with a red face, and said "Thanks! I'll see you next week!" without waiting for him to tell me if I could be in the choir! I don't know what he thought, but I was out of there! I don't think I will ever be able to sing "Oh Beautiful For Spacious Skies" again without feeling completely ill, but I'm singing "Ode to Joy" (in German) from Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in November! Yeah! I'm so proud of myself for doing it! I'm going to be performing with an amazing group of the most talented people in Pocatello! Wow! I did it!