A silent night

Hi there. Yes I disappeared, once again, and I'm really sorry. I was in a play and rehearsals got really crazy and then we opened and have been running so my life's been kinda hectic.

So... While I was off NOT blogging (sorry again.) I did a concert with my choir and our city's symphony. We had a great christmas lineup of carols, gospel pieces and a baroque song or two. We had 3 performances over the course of two days and the frist two had gone fabulously well. The third was not in the same location as the first three as we had been unable to book the theater for three shows during the busy Christmas season. Instead it was at a church outside of the city.

We arrived early and hung out in a Youth Center next to the church. We had been there about thirty minutes before being led to the church. My choir (being the youngest of the participants) was charged with standing in the rain and taking the other participants coats as they filed into the building. It was absolutely pouring and thunder and lightening.

When all the coats had been taken and we were all inside disaster struck. The power went out, and a few seconds later sparse emergency lights came on. Of course spirits were low and anxiety high as we tried to figure out if we'd be able to perform or not. The general feeling was that we wouldn't be.

After fifteen minutes we were led onstage in the dark. We sat there, staring at a full audience, waiting. Suddenly a french horn played out four notes and before we knew it the entire orchestra and choir had chimed into 'Silent Night' entirely for memory and in the dark. People took out their cell phones and candles were light. Everybody was hugging and the music seemed to sound much purer and more raw than any other song before. When it ended we continued on to sing 'Angels We Have Heard on High' , 'O Little Town of Bethlehem', 'Joy To The World' and 'O Holy Night'. I had major chills and I swear I felt God's presence. Right in that very room. The symphony director then got up and said that we were going to perform the one piece of our program that we had all memorized 'Go Tell It On The Mountain'. It's a Rock/Gospel song and it was absolutely amazing! We danced and sang our hearts out lighted only by cell phones and candles.
When the song was over the conductor thanked the audience and they began to file out. The orchestra started packing up and suddenly two clear, bell-like voices started singing 'Hallelujiah, Hallelujiah, Hallelujiah, Hallelujiah, Hallelujiah". Before you knew it the entire chorus, comprised of over 200 voices, was singing the Hallelujiah chorus from 'Handels Messiah'. The audience stopped in their tracks and began singing along. When the song ended there was eery silence and then the most thunderous applause I've ever heard.

It was honestly the best performing experience of my life. I felt so complete, so raw, emotional, and pure. Most of all I felt happy. Happy to be who I was, where I was and happy to be able to share such a special experience with the people I love. Merry Christmas!