Making music in Hawaii

One of the things I was determined to do here was have a better balanced life. So I decided to plunge in with some hobbies I'd neglected in England, and get those habits established again before I let myself make work my hobby.

I probably needed a little time off from choral practices after Alice Springs, but 2.5 years was enough! I checked out choral groups as well as I could on the internet, and contacted the Honolulu Symphony Chorus. They were having auditions in August, so I signed up.

We were to bring a prepared piece, such as a hymn, aria or art song, and also be ready to do some sight reading. I found someone at work with a hymnal and got a copy of "Be Thou My Vision."

When it came time for the audition, it was one of the more embarrassing and confusing moments of my musical career. I've auditioned before, but nothing like this. After singing the hymn, and getting lots of funny looks from the director (Dr. Yoo), she put me through some vocal exercises. She told me I'm starting too much of my sound at the back and need to throw the sound out from the front. I'm pushing the sound and need to relax.

Okay. Voice teachers and choral directors always say stuff like that, and I do my best to understand, but I'm a pretty pragmatic type. I've never really understood what they mean. Basically, vocal cords vibrate and sound comes out. All this back and front stuff - what IS that anyway? And relax? In those circumstances? If they want me to relax, tell me a joke. But don't tell me to relax. What good does that do....

At one point she asked me if I'd ever taken voice lessons. All kinds of musical memories flashed through my head. The professional singers who've complimented my sound. The two trophies I won at the Eisteddfood and the professional jurist's compliments. Singing at the Alice Springs fireworks. Singing the Laudamus Te duet from Vivaldi's Gloria. Other singers who asked how much training I'd had. So being asked if I'd ever had any training - well, it was a bit deflating.

Then she had me sight-read about four lines of music. I don't normally think of myself as afraid of sight-reading, but having to do it completely cold and a capella; oh boy. It was painful. I wished later I'd at least said what was in my head - that I noticed the key, the time signature, that kind of thing. Maybe it would have helped me focus.

There were a couple of other parts to the audition, but I don't have the heart to try to describe them! I slunk home after that, stopping at Costco for gas and some quick errands. I learned one thing from that experience - 8pm at night is a great time to stop at Costco...

But then, much to my surprise, an e-mail appeared congratulating me on being a part of the Honolulu Symphony Chorus! It came with a couple of cautions, such as I need to work on sightreading, but I was in, at least for one rehearsal.

The first rehearsal started with a pot luck. I've never been to a potluck with so much sushi before. I met a few people, Marsha from the mainland, and someone from Sweden. I complimented Dr. Yoo on her cool shoes, gold high heels with pointy toes (she seemed to like that...). This chorus is strict on seating, and I was put between Elizabeth on the left and Sue on the right, both lovely, tiny Asian ladies. I felt like a cow in between them.

But the actual rehearsal seemed to go okay. I didn't feel out of my league. The director, Dr. Yoo, looked funny my way a couple of times, but I keep hoping she was looking at someone else...

So we'll see how long I last!