Age

Today I want to talk about age.  Yesterday one of my friends gave me a little ribbing- about my age.  It's odd- at 29, I'm certainly not young.  But I'm far from old.  I'm young in my career.  Choir conductors are not in the prime of their career until at least mid40s, and I would argue older.  You couldn't pay me to be 20 again.  Or 23.  Or 26, for that matter.  While I have loved every age I have been, I can only see more excitement and amazing things in my future.  Whether it's career or family or even vacations, I love what I have done but look forward to what is next.

By the way, my professor missed my advancement to candidacy meeting yesterday.  She's normally on top of her game, so I'm sure we'll make it up and I will still advance to candidacy.

I was nervous immediately before Women's Chorus rehearsal last night.  I had received multiple e-mails and we had SEVEN ladies missing.  Seven.  Unacceptable.  And about six more were tardy.  One lady asked if I would mark down their grade for entering at 7:01.  I said yes.  If it happens once, probably not.  If it becomes a habit, then yes.  We start at 7:00.  The door closes, warm-ups start, and I need their focus.

However, after that beginning, the rest of rehearsal was amazing.  We covered so much ground.  They were focused.  The Heavens Are Telling was fairly solid.  We won't pull it from our concert.  Music is starting to get memorized.  They were starting to watch me.  I could demand more from them.  I played with the tempo and made them watch.  I stopped on chords to tune them.  The pace was quick.  There was even about a half of page in The Heavens Are Telling in which things sounded interesting.  Their lines were interesting and parts were popping out of the texture in a good way.  It wasn't just a mess of sound but three distinct, interesting parts.  We will be able to make music on the Haydn!  And my accompanist?  He was on fire.  He was with me the entire time, with his awareness of my tempo being the best I had ever seen.  I was able to move or pull back and he followed.  And he was right with me, playing pitches without me asking.

This morning I have still had to deal with the aftermath of missing seven singers.  I have sent e-mails, have set up meeting times with singers, etc.  I face the reality of knowing there are some singers who will not be happy with their final grades because of their attendance issues.  But the ladies that were there know how great rehearsal was last night.  I do not feel the need to e-mail the entire group and remind them of the attendance policy.  I believe I made that pretty clear last night.

I am very inspired today.