We had two shows on Saturday and one yesterday (Sunday). Saturday morning I met up with some others I am doing a group project with for Schenkerian theory. I did not anticipate it would take three hours. So when that finished, I really only had time to come back and get ready before I had to head off for WinterFest.
I was so nervous. Not as nervous as I had been for the dress rehearsal- when there was still that fear that maybe I couldn't get through the first movement of the Rutter. But I was still nervous. My leg shook slightly at one point, but it was hidden under a skirt and my hands were steady. Once the trumpet overshot that first A flat because of his nerves, I knew that I could focus in the midst of a glitch. I didn't show much other than the beat and clarity of cut-offs and entrances. The Women's Choir did well at the first show, although their dynamic range was not so expansive at. The tempo was a little slower for "This Little Babe" compared to the dress rehearsal, which was a good thing.
The second show felt better. I wasn't as nervous before the Rutter, although I still felt a little nervous. I was able to show a little more in my gesture, since the nerves went away right away and I was able to focus on the smaller things I did. The ladies sang well, with a few stray notes in Ma Navu (which was odd, considering that didn't happen at the first show... or the third). But the tempos were more relaxed, both from me and when the ladies sang. Their final two chords were in tune. The first concert their penultimate chord didn't lock into place, which was very odd for them. But the second concert did not have that problem. Solid show. My teacher and another ensemble leader (who leads the vocal jazz) both told me they had never heard the ladies choir sound this good- in their 12 or 10 years they have been at the school. I was very excited John flew home to watch this late show. And I was very proud of the ladies.
Sunday's show came around and I found myself a little nervous again. How strange- since I had already done it twice! Before the show, my teacher and I were chatting and he said this was the first time in years he was nervous before a show. I thought this strange since he had already done two of the exact same show the day before, not to mention years of WinterFest before this. Then he told me that the Chancellor was at our show- and he was "one of the most powerful people in higher education." The Chancellor of the CSU system had never been to a WinterFest before. Plus the dean and the provost were there as well. And the Carmelite nuns- which I do not know where they are from or anything about them. All I know is that the singers were so excited to have a group of 30 nuns at our show.
The Gloria went well. I felt very confident, despite the fact I was nervous. I was determined to show things that I had inconsistently showed until that point, so that went well. The choir did well, and the brass was spot on. The Women's Choir did a great job. It took a few phrases to get them to respond to some of the accents we had practiced, but other than that, they did very well. They listened and sang in tune (for the most part) and their dynamic range was the biggest at this concert. I was very proud of them and am very sad to see the semester end.
I know someday when I am conducting the Women's Choir, I will cry. It's hard not to be moved.
Tonight is our last rehearsal- we turn in music and I baked some cookies yesterday for them.
One week of classes left. Wow.
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