I went for a retreat in order to prepare spiritually for the upcoming performances. Our aim is to touch people with our music, as we are a church choir. For that, we need to go back to the source of our being, the one who gifts us, our God.
I learnt certain things about myself, on a positive and negative basis but most importantly, I now know how high God is ranked in my life. This was also a time when I saw His spirit so clearly and powerfully at work. I give praise to Him for that. I also got to bond with my section members and to give with love for others' needs. I was allowed to see how blessed I am to be in such a section.
As the days led up to the actual performances, my stress and tolerance levels increased as well. I screamed twice at my section members for their lack in certain areas and I broke down really badly at not being able to catch up with the rest. However, God sent His angels to help and guide me. Thank you Lord.
We carolled in public for the first time at Paragon. We did it twice over a weekend and praise God, people were already impressed by our sound tests as well as donated generously to the charity we were raising funds for. We also had a concert-cum-musical. The audience were more appreciative of the musical though, probably due to its fast-moving nature. However, God created a miracle for the concert. My section was not confident at all of getting through one of the pieces in all the right ways. We were still practising minutes before. When we did it, we were ecstatic.
An embarrassing thing happened to me during the musical, again. I could not find my brooch to fasten my kebaya and had to go onstage with the flaps hanging loose and exposing my camisole. Thankfully I found it before the next scene and could go back onstage with a dignified feeling.
We had carolling at one of the aunties' house too. I took the opportunity to reward my section for their efforts and their wonderful job at the concert. We also sang one of my favourite performance piece In Love He Came. It's a very nostalgic piece as it reminds me of the many years I've been in this choir and the many friends I've seen grow up in there, especially one of them who was leaving on Christmas Day for an overseas exchange programme.
The Christmas season culminated in Midnight Mass on the Eve. Unfortunately, we spoiled it for the congregation with our out-of-pitch and -tune singing, which is a no-no for our choir. Our conductor was just being nice by attributing it to exhaustion. Perhaps we were due to the busy period earlier on but that is still not an excuse. We have never sung so badly for Midnight Mass before! Of course it was devoid of spirituality as a result. Thankfully, we did not spoil the Thanksgiving Mass for the New Year in the same way. Phew. We in turn, got a comment that our chant sounded like the way the European boys' choirs sang it and that was only for the girls! All glory to God!
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