I can hardly believe that I only have two half days left of high school! One week from today I'll be a high school graduate! I still can't wrap my mind around it! Today I had my last choir class ever. Thankfully, I still have two more performances as a choir student, so I don't need to be sad just yet! However, I was thinking since I am about to embark on a new journey, I would start a blog to chronicle it all! I'm dedicating my first blog post to my four year journey through choir!
I still remember the first time that I ever walked into the choir room. That sounds SO cheesy and cliche, but it's true. I was in eighth grade at the time. I was not in choir during middle school, so I had to go to the high school to audition for Herndon Chorale. I was beyond terrified as I entered the school. I felt like with each step I took towards the choir room, I was getting closer and closer to my doom. I remember when I finally mustered up the courage to walk in, Mrs. Van Slyke gave me a huge welcoming smile and told me how excited she was to hear me sing! She was so encouraging throughout the whole audition, and by some miracle I made it! I learned so much in choir freshman year! It was during that time that I really discovered my love for music! I learned all about the interpretation of music, and how to portray the composer's message through phrasing, dynamics, facial expressions, and so forth! My proudest achievement that year was probably making District Choir, something I did not expect since I was kind of a terrible singer at the time! After freshman year, my choir journey only got better!
Sophomore year I was in Herndon Chorale again. I feel like sophomore year was a time of growth for me. I really began to notice that I was improving as a singer, and as a result started to gain some self-confidence, something that has always been a struggle for me. I felt a renewed determination to work hard at singing and learned so much from it! It was also a time in which I learned how to cope with disappointments. I had multiple unsuccessful auditions during this year, which was something that was hard to deal with. After each one, I went to Mrs. Van Slyke and asked for feedback. As a result, I was able to recognize my weaknesses and work towards turning them into strengths. In addition, she never failed to tell me all of the things that I did well in my auditions, which was a huge boost to my confidence coming from her!
Junior year I was in Show Choir and Chorale. One of the highlights of junior year was being a part of Oklahoma! I had two one line solos in "Out of My Dreams" AND one profound line which I still remember to this day, "I can tell ya what you want!" Why yes, my character was indeed a VERY vital part of the story! Okay not really, BUT there are no small parts only small actors! Regardless, I had the time of my life in that show! All of the ensemble numbers were so full of energy! Our cast had so much fun together and it was a great experience! However, the highlight of junior year was definitely Cabaret! I got to sing in a trio with Hannah and Evi. Our song was a medley of three Andrew Lloyd Webber love songs. We each had our own song and then sang kinda a mash-up of all three at the end. We were the second to last number in the show. I started the trio on stage all alone. I vividly remember as I waited back stage to go on before each performance I would literally be shaking I was so nervous. However, the second I walked out onto the stage, it all went away. I was completely swept up in the moment and felt so exhilarated and happy. What to me was thunderous applause at the end of the number made me feel happier than I ever had before. Junior year had some great times!
Senior year has been amazing. Just plain amazing. First off, I was able to play the role of Chava in Fiddler on the Roof. I had so much fun portraying this character, who faces many difficult trials throughout the play, culminating in her being disowned by her father. I learned so much! I then was one of only 15 first Sopranos out of seniors all over the state selected to attend the VMEA Senior Honors Choir. It was an amazing experience! Then came Cabaret! I was thrilled to have my own song and a trio! The numbers were incredible and I had a blast working with the cast and the Van Slykes! Then there’s the numerous choir concerts I’ve been able to perform in as a Madrigal and Show Choir member! One concert in particular that I will never forget is the one where we debuted the number “Sing Me to Heaven” by Daniel Gawthrop. This song had a beautiful message, and I loved the fact that each of us and each audience member connected to it in our own way. It really reminded me why I love music. I’ll never forget that moment after we cut off the last chord. Mrs. Van Slyke brought her hands down very slowly so we could hang on to the beautiful moment we had just created. She mouthed to us “thank you” before turning to the audience. That’s when I lost it. It was amazing! Oh and who can forget the INCREDIBLE choir trip to DISNEY WORLD! We basically won everything, because we’re a department of champions, and I had so much fun with my best friends! Then came Pops Concert! It was literally the most incredible last concert I could've ever wanted! I had an amazing time, even though the end of the concert was so sad!
On Monday, we had our end of the year choir banquet! We debuted the piece that Mrs. Van Slyke had commissioned for our department after winning a scholarship from wolf trap, "Savor So." I got to sing the soprano solo in the song! It's was so much fun, and I cannot think of a more deserving person of such an award than Mama V! She is a truly amazing teacher! Then we had our awards night! I first found out that I had been awarded a scholarship from the Choral Boosters! I was so excited! Then, we presented Mrs. Van Slyke with an iPad as a gift from our senior class, along with a basket of stuff for her family's road trip over the summer! The other highlight of the evening for me was when Mama V gave me the Director's Award! The little speech she gave about me meant so much!
Choir has meant so much to me for so many reasons. First of all, Mama V has been the most amazing role model and mentor that I could ever have wanted. She loves music, and was the person who helped me discover that I loved it too! She gave me so many incredible performance opportunities that will stick with me forever! Her classroom has been my safe haven, and I cannot even begin to express my gratitude to her for everything she's done for me! Secondly, I was able to work with some of the most talented and supportive people in the whole world! My choir friends have always been there for me! My best high school memories have been shared with them, and I feel honored to have shared the stage with them so many times! Finally, I love music more than anything else! Having a class for four years where I could focus entirely on music and learn beautiful piece after beautiful piece has been an absolutely incredible blessing in my life! It has been an incredible four years that I will never forget!
I still remember the first time that I ever walked into the choir room. That sounds SO cheesy and cliche, but it's true. I was in eighth grade at the time. I was not in choir during middle school, so I had to go to the high school to audition for Herndon Chorale. I was beyond terrified as I entered the school. I felt like with each step I took towards the choir room, I was getting closer and closer to my doom. I remember when I finally mustered up the courage to walk in, Mrs. Van Slyke gave me a huge welcoming smile and told me how excited she was to hear me sing! She was so encouraging throughout the whole audition, and by some miracle I made it! I learned so much in choir freshman year! It was during that time that I really discovered my love for music! I learned all about the interpretation of music, and how to portray the composer's message through phrasing, dynamics, facial expressions, and so forth! My proudest achievement that year was probably making District Choir, something I did not expect since I was kind of a terrible singer at the time! After freshman year, my choir journey only got better!
Sophomore year I was in Herndon Chorale again. I feel like sophomore year was a time of growth for me. I really began to notice that I was improving as a singer, and as a result started to gain some self-confidence, something that has always been a struggle for me. I felt a renewed determination to work hard at singing and learned so much from it! It was also a time in which I learned how to cope with disappointments. I had multiple unsuccessful auditions during this year, which was something that was hard to deal with. After each one, I went to Mrs. Van Slyke and asked for feedback. As a result, I was able to recognize my weaknesses and work towards turning them into strengths. In addition, she never failed to tell me all of the things that I did well in my auditions, which was a huge boost to my confidence coming from her!
Junior year I was in Show Choir and Chorale. One of the highlights of junior year was being a part of Oklahoma! I had two one line solos in "Out of My Dreams" AND one profound line which I still remember to this day, "I can tell ya what you want!" Why yes, my character was indeed a VERY vital part of the story! Okay not really, BUT there are no small parts only small actors! Regardless, I had the time of my life in that show! All of the ensemble numbers were so full of energy! Our cast had so much fun together and it was a great experience! However, the highlight of junior year was definitely Cabaret! I got to sing in a trio with Hannah and Evi. Our song was a medley of three Andrew Lloyd Webber love songs. We each had our own song and then sang kinda a mash-up of all three at the end. We were the second to last number in the show. I started the trio on stage all alone. I vividly remember as I waited back stage to go on before each performance I would literally be shaking I was so nervous. However, the second I walked out onto the stage, it all went away. I was completely swept up in the moment and felt so exhilarated and happy. What to me was thunderous applause at the end of the number made me feel happier than I ever had before. Junior year had some great times!
Senior year has been amazing. Just plain amazing. First off, I was able to play the role of Chava in Fiddler on the Roof. I had so much fun portraying this character, who faces many difficult trials throughout the play, culminating in her being disowned by her father. I learned so much! I then was one of only 15 first Sopranos out of seniors all over the state selected to attend the VMEA Senior Honors Choir. It was an amazing experience! Then came Cabaret! I was thrilled to have my own song and a trio! The numbers were incredible and I had a blast working with the cast and the Van Slykes! Then there’s the numerous choir concerts I’ve been able to perform in as a Madrigal and Show Choir member! One concert in particular that I will never forget is the one where we debuted the number “Sing Me to Heaven” by Daniel Gawthrop. This song had a beautiful message, and I loved the fact that each of us and each audience member connected to it in our own way. It really reminded me why I love music. I’ll never forget that moment after we cut off the last chord. Mrs. Van Slyke brought her hands down very slowly so we could hang on to the beautiful moment we had just created. She mouthed to us “thank you” before turning to the audience. That’s when I lost it. It was amazing! Oh and who can forget the INCREDIBLE choir trip to DISNEY WORLD! We basically won everything, because we’re a department of champions, and I had so much fun with my best friends! Then came Pops Concert! It was literally the most incredible last concert I could've ever wanted! I had an amazing time, even though the end of the concert was so sad!
On Monday, we had our end of the year choir banquet! We debuted the piece that Mrs. Van Slyke had commissioned for our department after winning a scholarship from wolf trap, "Savor So." I got to sing the soprano solo in the song! It's was so much fun, and I cannot think of a more deserving person of such an award than Mama V! She is a truly amazing teacher! Then we had our awards night! I first found out that I had been awarded a scholarship from the Choral Boosters! I was so excited! Then, we presented Mrs. Van Slyke with an iPad as a gift from our senior class, along with a basket of stuff for her family's road trip over the summer! The other highlight of the evening for me was when Mama V gave me the Director's Award! The little speech she gave about me meant so much!
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