Sunday, Recording, Difficult Time and the Full House Maribor Concert

At 9 am the choir mysteriously appeared at Union Hall for the recording session, rested, fed and delivered by our Slovenian homestay parents. It was obvious that some serious connections were being formed. Hugs, smiles and "see you later" seemed like normal family drop off's, not stranger visits.

Recording is tough. It is like having a rehearsal that really counts. There is no audience in the hall to interact with, but the pressure is on to do the job really well. Plus Ensemble members were rather tired out from the trip and moving into a new space.

Bob led them through an extensive physical warm-up in silence, then started warming voices. A lot of energy went into 6 hours of high pressure recording, but the producer said it was wonderful. Adults and young people agreed it was work, but ultimately quite successful.

Bob was also interviewed by a local radio station.

Homestay parents picked up the choir for dinner and a shower, returning them for a walk through and final rehearsal of the Maribor Attaca concert. By that time, our young people were really tired out and nerves were getting frayed. It was not a pretty picture.

The kids were still fairly kind with each other but they were not focused nor happy. I was not sure where they could find the energy to do well in an evening performance.

The house seats nearly 600 people and nearly 600 showed up. There would be room for Ensemble to sit in the balcony during CS's singing time, but that was it. Bob collected everyone, reminded them of their professional obligation and insisted on focus, silence and doing their job, no matter what. And quite amazingly, that is what they did. In spades. When the concert was over, the last note quietly died, followed by bows, more bows, then directors' bows, the rest of the musicians bowing, then the audience continued clapping and raising a fuss as each of the nearly 80 singers filed off the stage, another minute and a half, then they continued clapping, trying to talk the singers into returning. Exhausted and pleased.

"We distinguished ourselves" -- Bob

"Excellent" -- Sue

"Now that was what we can do when we just do it"

"Never gonna forget that one"

There were hugs from each other and from the CS choir, grins as people listened to the never ending applause, and a huge sense of relief that swept the hall. Of particular interest was the sense of joint effort, not competition that is emerging. Several mambers of the CS choir came over and sought out Ensemble's soloists for hugs and congratulations. Much joyfullness all around.

As a bonus, Laura Henry's California homestay friend and family from Graz, Austria, Daniels Schrottner, drove in to see her.

In a previous journal we mentioned that the soloists without exception sparkled, and cited some of the larger solo parts. Other soloists who should be quite proud are:

Harlem: Hanah P, Tziporah, Athena and Laura.

Crickets Carry It On: Mason, Casey and Alice

And the whole crowd from Cricket Queen.

Tried internet, it failed, so went to the Lent Festival for a late dinner with a very happy set of directors and counselors. This time we saw lots of Ensemble singers and their home-stay parents enjoying the festival. Knowing winks and smiles, hugs, and bubbling. In the middle of it all Darren sat down next to me at the chaperones' table. We talked some about why he liked singing and school and traveling with the choir. Noticing that there were some beers on tables, he mentioned to us that he had decided to have a smoke, alcohol and drug free life.

It struck me that what we often take as innocence in these young people could just be thoughtfulness.