Sophomore year I became a member of the West Ottawa Select Women's Ensemble. I remember how much I looked up to the upper classmen of the choir and how amazed I was to find myself in a choir with them. My choir skills greatly improved as WOSWE is a fast paced, high level choir.
We traveled to Fort Wayne for a conference called ACDA. We sang some of the most beautiful literature I feel I shall ever sing such as "Faith is the Bird" and "When it was yet Dark." I believe singing "When it was yet Dark," which tells of Mary Magdalene's distress at finding the empty tomb, was the first time I felt shudders of emotion run through my body while singing with a choir. Music is powerful, even more so when voices join and dwell together in the same story and emotions.
Fort Wayne was a lot of fun and I made memories involving Chinese food in beautiful churches, accidental very odd disruptive noises, "Glorious Church", ranch, baby changing stations, awkward encounter with prestigious composer, and the best of all, Mrs. Pierson and Mr. Pierson performing a traditional African dance.
For the first quarter of the year I could not be in Concert Choir due to scheduling conflicts. I was not happy. I felt like I was missing out on a family. I remember the joyous day my schedule allowed me to reunite with my choir family. Mrs. Pierson had the choir sing to me and I felt home.
Sophomore year I became very close with our choir accompanist at the time, Ms. Bergsma. She was like a big sisterly role model to me. She always shared food in exchange for doodles and water colors I made for her A group of friends and I and she loved to eat outside the choir room, under a tree, at lunch. She had a purple zebra blanket choir kids would thieve at different intervals for warmth and comfort.
Choir is what connected me with theater. After many self conscious and unsuccessful auditions in middle school, I auditioned for Lord of the Flies and was gifted the opportunity to play Piggy. The experience was unique and growing. We shaped the show to be a message against bullying so I called upon many bad memories from middle school life and dangerous places dearly loved friends of mine had been in. But it was healing, and fun to act and to this day I love acting.
Near the end of the school year I was blessed with the opportunity to travel to New York City with WO choirs. I got lost multiple times, once in a giant Macy's, and once in the hun and suits of armor exhibit of the Metro Museum. I formed closer relationships with fellow choir members. Improvisational uke songs on a long bus ride does that to you. We also had meaningful experiences such as visiting the 9/11 memorial and singing in a retirement home. Mrs. Pierson preaches that she would not travel with us if there were no singing and no growing opportunities. Based on the many fun adventures I had in NYC I know Canada will be a blast.
I shall end my rambles here. To check out my Oh Canada! progress go here: http://www.gofundme.com/53tr1s
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