Alice’s Adventures in an Arts Career

I picked up my complimentary publication sores today, which meant today was the first time I have seen my piece in its official octavo form.  It’s quite the thrill, let me tell you, to see it for real.

I spent some time today writing thank you letters to the special people who have contributed to my development as a musician.  It was wonderful to sit down and remember the many ways so many people have helped me along my journey, and it was a good feeling to be able to say thank you and then give them something to show for all that work.

I have been truly lucky in the number of people who have supported and believed in me, even when I don’t necessarily believe in myself (which, I must admit is more often than I would like). I have a set of parents who never even batted an eyelash when I decided I wanted to pursue music.  I have a grandparent who paid for my first voice lessons.  I had teachers who encouraged my choices and supported every step I took.  I’ve never once been questioned by those closest to me for my choices.  I am very lucky and it feels great to be having some small successes.

I’ve been meaning to catch up on all the up-dates of various events over the past week.  I had my first Vox Humana rehearsal last week as director and haven’t written about that yet.  I had my first Gondoliers rehearsal last week and still haven’t written about it.  I’ve been published and haven’t written anything more than a quick blurb.  There is plenty to talk about.

Let’s start with the choir.  That first rehearsal was amazing.  Right off the bat, I can’t believe the sound quality of the group and how quickly they pick things up.  I had my rehearsal plans all set, but the sections I thought were going to take a while to get took no time at all.  In addition, I had confidence in what I was doing.  I was prepared and felt like I belonged up in front, which was a really nice feeling.  I enjoy feeling like I know what I’m doing and I’m looking forward to feeling more of that.  In short, I think it’s going to be another very successful Vox Humana season!

On to the Gondoliers.  Rehearsals are fantastic.  It’s a huge group and I’m struggling to remember everyone’s name.  I’m hoping by the end of the run in November I’ll have them all.  The music is great, but like any G&S, it is fast.  Holy lord is it fast!  This score is going to require and ridiculous number of hours in a practice room!  But I knew that going in and it’s something I’m more than willing to do.  I’m just too happy and excited to be in the show.  The past few rehearsals have just been straight singing rehearsals.  We start the blocking and choreography this weekend.  I’m nervous.  I don’t really have a whole lot of dance experience.  But I guess I’m going to get it now.

Well, I think that’s it for now.  I’ll post about the publishing later.

I’ve been waiting a while to be able to say this, but I am officially published.  My piece has been released to the general public.

I finished choir auditions this week and I have been surprised and pleased by the turn out.  Barring any unforeseen disasters, we have a choir!  We could still use a couple more singers, epically tenors and an extra base perhaps, but we certainly can mange with what we have.

I’m excited by the diversity of people and musical experiences represented in this year’s group.  True to our mission statement, we really do have people from different styles of music and different experiences.  Of course, that does present a challenge in combining all these perspectives into one cohesive choir, but it’s a challenge I’m thrilled to take on.

We also have our new Assistant Director.  Her name is Anna.  She sang soprano with us last year.  We had a very good sit down meeting this afternoon to discuss the future plans for the choir and I feel really good about some of the things we were talking about.  There are thoughts of doing a competition, increasing our number of performances and expanding our audience base well beyond the music faculty and university.  I think she and I will work well together.

I am nervous about taking the lead with this choir.  I hope I can live up to the president that was set last year by Tim.  But I’m can’t wait to work with this group of people.  I really sensed from each and everyone an excitement for choir.

So, on the eve of season two of The Vox Humana Chamber Choir, I am nervous, excited but I think I’m ready.  Everything is laid out, everything is planned and it’s all set to go.

This story is just one of several from my childhood that had I been a slightly brighter kid would have tipped me off to my future career plans.

When I was little, my mom always sang me lullabies before I went to sleep.  She had a whole repertoire of standards that I would choose from every night.  There were slow pretty ones were she’d rock me and fast ones where she would spin me around and bounce me on her knee.  There were even ones that made me so sad that one night I finally burst into tears and confessed to my mom I didn’t want her to sing it anymore. I seem to remember that one being about little Alice growing up.  It had a line about her heading out he door, and I always had this image of my bed floating out the front door with me trapped on it.  But regardless of the emotions these songs provoked in me, they were a nightly ritual, and were never missed… even when my parents were out and I was left with a babysitter.

Now, I only have vague memories of this, but I have been told by several former baby-sitters that I was something of a novelty to put to bed, because I would sing myself to sleep.  And we’re not talking one or two songs.  I would sing through my Mom’s entire lullaby repertoire… loudly, for an hour.  The baby-sitter would know the moment I’d fallen asleep when the singing would suddenly stop.

Even at a young age, music was a comfort to me.  It was enough to sooth even my anxiety when my parents went out.   Again, I should have known much earlier than I did that music was meant to be the keystone of my life.

Well, this is definitely a first.  I just turned down a lead role because I’m already in a show and can’t manage the two schedules.  This is a very strange feeling.  It’s frustrating, but also kind of flattering.

Slowly, but surely, Vox Humana is coming together.  It’s been a lot of work and a lot of advertising and foot work, but I’m slowly getting the interest from te people I need.  I’ve had a few people express interest in the Assistant Conductor’s position as well as some interest in accompanying.  I’ve found a couple more members, though I’m still terribly low in tenors and basses (oh, the eternal lament of every amateur choir director the world over).

But even still, there is still more to do and things are still a little too up in the air for my comfort.  I’m still terrified it’s all going to come crashing down.

Well, nothing I can do but keep working, and keep flogging the choir to the general community. There are more posters to post, there are more libraries and music schools to hit up, there are more people to talk to and twist arms.

Sigh, I just wish someone could wave a magic wand and poof just hand me a fully balanced 20 member choir, an accompanist and an assistant director. But I guess that’s not likely to happen. Oh well, I guess I’ll just have to be like the little red hen and do it myself.

I have some wonderful news.  I’ve been accepted into the Noisy Mime Theatre company.  It’s a community theatre company here in London.  They do several shows each year.  I haven’t yet been cast in anything, however since I’m currently in “The Gondoliers”, I won’t be until I’m finished with that show.

The best and most surprising part is that it’s a paying company.  I had no idea but I am over the moon with excitement.  I don’t know how much, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it wasn’t very much, but that’s not the point.  The point is I can actually be paid to do theatre.

I know it’s what I want to do for the rest of my life, but it is still astonishing to me whenever someone offers to pay me to do what I love to do.  Because to be honest, I’d do it for free, and have been quite happily.  But this little step makes me feel just a little more confident and assured that I’ll be able to make things work out in the end and that as long as I keep putting myself out there and pushing I’ll get to keep on doing the things that I love to do.