Newest Choir Member

"With a new name and new leadership, American Festival Chorus (formerly Northern Utah Choral Society) has big plans for their inaugural season. In addition to masterworks by Mozart and Beethoven, plans include professional recording opportunities. Under the baton of USU's music department head, Craig Jessop, Mozart's Requiem (November) and Beethoven's Choral Fantasy (April) will round out the season. Both will involve professional orchestras featuring the Fry Street Quartet as well as other music department faculty."

Last night I attended my first practice session for the American Festival Chorus. I am so excited! I have wanted to sing with a large choir for as long as I can remember. For me, this is truly the opportunity of a lifetime. I'd love to say that I'm a great singer, but I'm not. I've never had any formal training. My application said, "high school choir". Okay, it wasn't really even a choir...with 30 people, it was more like a vocal group. So...when I read in the paper that Craig Jessop (former director of Mo Tab Choir, now USU faculty) was going to take over the Northern Utah Choral Society (also called "community choir")--I about jumped out of my chair!! They have recreated the choir--meaning we all had to audition (unaccompanied solo and sight reading), given it a new name, and revamped the schedule. There are now 228 singers in the choir.

Okay, so I auditioned and I thought that I didn't have a prayer. I sat next to a woman who had been singing with the Boston Choir and a man who had sung with Mo Tab for 10 years! Honestly, I folded my application in half so that no one could see that there wasn't anything written down besides high school choir and piano--okay, no offense to X (former piano teacher), but we both know about my commitment level in that category. AND, I had to audition for Craig Jessop and Cory Evans (USU Choral Directory)...it was a little intimidating. I did okay in the sight reading (one measure bombed). I think I may have scored extra points for helping the woman in front of me with a harmony on "Sweet Hour of Prayer"--she was an incredible sight reader. I swear she had been singing that line for 6 weeks. At any rate, I was accepted into the choir. I'm an "Alto I". A shout out to Auntie Grandma (you are my musical hero!!) for telling me that I could sing those high notes if I use my diaphragm. They had over 300 women audition for the choir so this is an incredible privilege.

The best part for me (and I seriously got teary-eyed on the way home thinking about it) is that I'm probably the worst person in my section! It has been so long since I have been challenged by a song--to sing with people who are so talented that I want to go home and get better! I am thrilled to be a part of this--and Jessop is an incredible director. His musical knowledge is..well, there aren't words. It's like taking a 2.5 hour music lesson from one of the greatest choral directors--every week.

I hope that some of you will come to hear us in November. We will be performing a Veteran's Day Concert. The music is written by Mack Wilberg and it is fantastic. The Requiem will also be in November--I've got to study up on Mozart's life so that I can have some insight into the program. Anyone seen the movie Amadeus? Will I have to fast forward or is it tolerable?