It’s audition time. Contrary to what most people think before they audition, I want people to do well. I want new singers to add to the great folks who already sing with me. I want people to join us and have fun and sing challenging music and I don’t want to scare them. My auditions take about 15 minutes, give or take a few seconds. We sing, we sight read, we sing something you know and then we talk. That’s it. I know what I want–the sound and the level of musicianship I want–and what will work with those who already sing with me.

I don’t want someone I have to teach everything to but…….I can hear potential. Attitude is just as important to me as things musical. The MMS isn’t some exclusive club, but a group of people who want to sing a certain choral repertoire. It makes for a much more collaborative experience. We are much more intimate than the larger choral groups around. You have to trust each other and that is why attitude counts.

We want you to join us. We’re a great bunch of people. We have fun singing music that isn’t well known around here. And we sound great doing it.

This is not what I was going to write about tonight and yet…….this is life. Stuff happens. It snows or rains or goes below zero in January here in the Midwest. People have to miss rehearsals and concerts, through no fault of their own. We can stuck it up and make it work or be miserable.

My Dad, the Vaudevillian, used to say the show must go on. He used to talk about snow storms and changing in dressing rooms so cold you could see your breath. He talked of “troopers” –those were the kind of people you wanted in your show. The “troopers” made it work and made it fun and made possible.

I am so happy I have a choir full of “troopers” and an accompanist who can roll with the punches like his Grandpa did. Because, as Dad used to say, “that’s Show Biz!”

Let me be clear–our Epiphany Festival was lovely. The music and scripture and readings fit, we sang well and a wonderful time was had by all. It is the journey and along the the way, the epiphany I had during the journey, that I am blogging about here.

Music directors begin a journey every time they plan for a concert or worship service. We plan the music, and in the case of a service of lessons and carols, the readings as well. We choose, or should choose, music appropriate for our musicians. We must plan how to teach and rehearse the music so the end result is worthy of having people come and hear–or worship–with us.

Some times, the rehearsal period brings us “surprises”. We had a core group of singers who came to almost every rehearsal, through the summer and the fall and who were the “rocks” this Fest was built on. I cannot express how much I am grateful to them and their beautiful voices and talents! The surprises came in the form of challenges we faced. We had people drop out because of H1N1. We had a bass with an emergency root canal and other goofy stuff and yet, this was a service of true beauty.

Such events come together, sometimes, at the last minute. I must remember that, the next time all things seem to go ka-flooey!