An Emotional Journey

There is a palpable excitement in the air as we head towards our "Erin Go Bragh" concert on March 11. At last night's rehearsal, I felt a distinctive buzz in the room.  It's more than the fact that we are quickly approaching performance day.  It's also the feeling that we've reached the point where the music has soaked into our souls.  Past the point of learning and knowing the notes and words, we have absorbed the music.

I love this part of the performance cycle - where the music is learned and we focus on the more subtle shaping of the experience.  We refine our crescendos and decrescendos.  We add diminuendos and bring out key words.  We tell the story with our singing, our faces, our interaction with each other and soon the audience, under the vision of our director.  From the gentle beauty of the "Welsh Lullaby" to the moving depth of "Lagan Love", each piece connects us with diversity of human emotions.  

We've also memorized several songs which allows us to look around, smiling, stomping with joy for "Mairi's Wedding" and letting our bodies feel the rhythmic sensation of "Mouth Music".

This is the joy of singing in a group.  Of creating something together to share with others.  Of taking an emotional journey with the music, each other, and our audience.

It's countdown to concert time.  As a new member of MCE, this will be my first performance with the chorus as well as my first choir performance in nearly a decade. I'm delighted to be part of such a passionate group of singers and joyfully anticipate sharing our hard work on March 11.

Juli-Ann Williams

Soprano