TED

Awhile ago- I don't even remember if it was this semester or last- my teacher told us we were going to sing at a TED talk with two other choirs in the area.  Two other outstanding choirs.  Total of about 100 singers.  We would be conducted by Eric Whitacre.

So this is a brief account of the rehearsal and performance.

Thursday we had a 4-6 PM rehearsal at my school with the two other choirs.  Whitacre was there to conduct and lead us.  He had us change a few things, but really, it was all about watching him and responding to what he wanted us to do musically.  There were times he would ask us to sing things a certain way and he would use one word to describe the feeling.  Although, off hand I can't remember the words.  I only remember the sound that he wanted.  

After that rehearsal, we had a rehearsal at the Convention Center.  We were told to be there at 7, however when we got there, the event staff wouldn't let us in.  We were not supposed to be there until 7:35.  Eventually they let us in- in groups of 30 at a time, after they gave us our name tags.  Then we waited around a bit longer while the staff set up the stage with risers and percussive equipment.  

As we waited, the virtual singers (32 of them from across the world) started to appear on the big screen via Skype.  The camera would point to us at times and we would wave and smile, and the people on Skype would wave and smile, as well as hold signs that said things such as, "Hello from Brasil" or "Wave for screenshot."

We rehearsed.  I played handbells, which was great!  My friend Beth was selected for the short, two measure soprano solo.  There was another solo (a bass solo) and the singer was also from my school.  I was so proud of both of them.  We first rehearsed fairly briefly by ourselves.  Then the virtual choir joined us.  Sound was fiddled with (less virtual choir, more rain drops, less thunder, etc).  It was fun and I would have loved to hear what Eric Whitacre heard standing on that stage.  Or I would have loved to hear what the other directors heard as they sat in the auditorium.  My teacher said it was so overwhelming, he even teared up a little.  

The next day our call time was 11 AM.  Well, first it was 10 AM.  Then it was 9 AM.  Then they said it was 11 AM, but we were supposed to go on stage at 11:05 AM.  At least, that's what they told us.  So we all got there at 10:50 and then were brought into a holding room.  There we waited until 12:15.  We lined up to go up to the stage and waited back stage about another 20 minutes.  I was surprised that an organization like TED wasn't a little more timely.  We eventually made it onto the stage.  Then proceeded to listen to another 20 minutes of speeches.  

But finally we were able to sing with the virtual choir.  It was an amazing experience.  It was also the very end of the conference- the grand finale.  At least, I like to think of it as that.  

What an amazing thing- to sing with 100 people on stage and 32 virtual singers from around the world. Whitacre was thrilled and the audience was impressed.  The audience, by the way, included people like Al Gore and Cameron Diaz.  Not there together.

I would have desired to know who the virtual singers are.  There is something magical about making music with a group of people- especially good music.  And I feel a little sad that I do not know who joined us on stage via Skype.

It was a great experience and one I will likely be excited about for some time to come.  I like TED talks and to be able to participate on stage?  That's really a cool opportunity.