Personal Narrative Essay

The Solo&Ensemble event was new for me this year but I was glad to participate. The first step was to choose a song. I chose ‘‘He’s Gone Away‘‘ (American Folk song) arranged by Ruth Elaine Schram because it sounds so nice and it seemed to me that it perfectly works with my type of voice and my abillities. And my partner Amy can sing basically anything so we were all set very quickly.

For this assignment, I decided to attend the NW Singers and Chamber Choir performance. The reason why I chose this option over the others is because I’ve always found organized vocal music to be very beautiful. Listening to music that uses only the human voice is striking and has a certain personal feel to it. I also feel that I can relate more to choir music, as I am in the choir at my church. This concert was directed by Ms. Susanne Spencer VanDyke, accompanied by Dr. Saundra Bishop on the piano.

This was your opportunity to make-up for your tardiness. As a fellow alto, I noticed you struggled with mid-range notes. Your stage presence and energy, or lack thereof, was low-level from the start and I think we all expected more from you. As for the choice of opening, we like "Perfect Peace," but we were all waiting for one of your songs that gave us that nostalgic feeling. We wanted Miseducation in motion. You gave it to us 2 songs later, but the music paced faster than we remember the lyrics moving, making it hard to recognize anything. We couldn't sing along. This was your chance to make us feel like family again. It didn't happen. Not helping matters, we couldn't see you well. The stage lighting was poor; we couldn't catch true glimpses of you and the creative power your dancers brought to your performance. Even the screens weren't very clear due to the dimness after 10pm. I'd do you a disservice by dismissing these things Lauryn, but in fairness, amidst the boo-ing from my peers, I should tell you what you got

Was I standing awkwardly? Oh man, here it comes.” As I looked out to all the expectant faces, I began to say a little prayer to God. I knew that I wouldn't be able to start playing the song with the sentiment, passion, and affection that I wanted it to sound like. In that moment, I felt a rush of emotion; a feeling of confidence. With a nervous smile, I put my violin on my shoulder and the bow on my violin. Giving a nod to the pianist, I started to play. I realized a part of myself that I never knew; where my words couldn't describe, my violin sang. Finishing my song and seeing the knowing smiles of people being touched by the music, a wave of accomplishment settled in. Knowing that I could share something so beautiful made up for all of the long hours in the practice

The summer before my freshman year of highschool, I had a fallout with my old studio owners. In order to continue I had my audition at a brand new dance studio. I was the new kid so I lied low in all of my classes to make friends and learn their techniques, but when competition season rolled around I wanted to be recognized as a valuable part of the team. I had thought a new studio, a new life, so I signed up to compete a solo. I had previously only competed as a group member, so it was a big jump to become a soloist. The first competition we went to was Hall of Fame, at the Statehouse Convention. When we arrived and I went back to the dressing room to do my hair and makeup. Then in the hallway I ran my solo a few times before I had to go

On September 26th, 2016, I went to the Bennet Auditorium a little before 6:45 to see the SICC Showcase Concert. My roommate Isaac was performing, and he wanted to see me before the performance. Fourteen different songs were performed by various groups. Every single one had singing, but some had piano, drum, or cello accompaniment, which was pleasant. I could really tell the hard work that went into the different pieces (my roommate was constantly practicing the song “Harriet Tubman”). My favorites were ‘Ndikhokhele Bawo,’, Harriet Tubman, and the ‘I Know It’s Today’ (that song had me howling; it was priceless), ‘Bottom of the River,” and ‘I Can Tell the World.” Southern BelleTones were likely my favorite group, as their voices were to put it

As I entered the room I felt a cold chill; my whole body began to shake. As I stood up,  I felt like running out of the room. Something stopped me from running away from my performance. Of course I did not want to let my team down. It was me recalling the first time I sang to Mr. Blanton. He had spoken to me and said “ You are too shy, it’s going to be difficult to work with you as a vocalist. If this is what you want to do you need to step  up your game”. That stuck with me for a while, because I tried so hard to be confident and  to lose my stage fright. Before I could even think  of putting positive thoughts in my head, I heard my teacher announcing that my group was about to perform.

Since my sophomore year, I have been a member of my high school’s coed a cappella group The Jewel Tones. That year we had begun working with a completely new music director, specifically one following in the footsteps of an innovative woman who just finished her 16 year career at the school. Everything was new and challenging. But, we decided to take on a new piece that was more daring than ever before.

The theme of the mass band concert was “The Voyage.” Our voyage began with Psalm 117. I really enjoyed the way we started the concert off so quickly with this song, as it made the concert seem more professional in a way. Overall I think we performed this song quite well. Although I didn’t think much of this piece before mass band, I thought it sounded pretty good with the entire

To honour this repertoire, we have to attract people to it. We just hosed a seed that was already planted, maybe we added some fertilizer, but these songs are part of our genetic pool”. (Canossi, 2015)

As a double bassist, I never imagined myself wanting to become a soloist. To be frank, I would want to throw myself out of a moving car the way Steve Carell did when Julianne Moore told him she cheated on him, in the movie, Crazy, Stupid, Love, every time my teacher told me to audition or compete as a soloist - but I did it anyway because it helped me develop as a musician, and I always seemed to get surprisingly good results.

praise I received reassured me of two things: that practice truly makes perfect, a life lesson I have learnt as a vocalist, as a

It all started in elementary school, I and every other kid were forced to take choir, P.E, and Art at least once a week, and choir was always my favorite class. I always tried out for the little speaking parts in the plays, but when I transitioned into middle school, it was different. Instead of being separated girls from boy singing parts, I became a Soprano and auditions for solos were different. Before, everyone got their own part to be fair, but it then became a competition for one spot. Seventh grade was when I got my first solo, there were at least 10 of us trying out for it. We sang the lines assigned and our teacher cut off students

A memorable part of this process for me was when Audra surprised me by giving me a short solo at the end of the piece. I tried to hide my complete excitement as I worked on the task she gave me. This moment was, for lack of a better term, a big deal to me. I had been working extremely hard for the opportunity of a mainstage show, and once I earned a spot, I was determined to give it everything I had. I was not expecting any sort of spotlight, solo, or “role,” but this solo gave me an extra confidence boost that

The concert opened with the music of Lee Hoiby. The first song was the” Hymn to New Age.” The choir was in perfect harmony with the instruments. The instruments added a vibrant touch to the choir’s voices. The composer controlled