MTC Week #81 - Pioneer Day Concert 2015 Review

Pioneer Day Concert: Music for a Summer Evening

There's nothing like coming back from a two-week tour, only to be thrust right back into extra rehearsals and concert preparations! The Choir just doesn't have much time to rest. After today, however (amazingly enough), we are back to just once-a-week rehearsals with no concerts on the immediate horizon. At least for the next couple of months :)

Laura Osnes singing "If I Loved You"

Thanks to the foresight and talents of Bro. Wilberg, the repertoire for the Pioneer Day Concert (a.k.a. "Music for a Summer Evening") was largely made up of pieces we already knew. Those new in the choir were at a disadvantage--but, they DID have the two weeks while the rest of us were on tour, to work hard on memorizing the songs. Additionally, we had teleprompters to assist us with the words. (NOTE: For me, the teleprompter is both a blessing and a curse. I think it's used, mainly, to assist the guest artist who joins us. But while it does show the words, if you lock your eyes on it for longer than a second or two--maybe to just get the first word of the next phrase--it sort of sucks you in, your brain goes on auto-pilot, and you forget what you're really singing about.)

Our guest artist, Laura Osnes, was incredible. She did a fantastic job on

The bass and baritones during
"Come, Come Ye Saints"

everything she sang. She was also very thankful and very complementary of not only the choir and orchestra, but of how the staff has taken care of her during her stay here. I must comment, too, that the dresses she wore were a great mix of fashionable and modest. Which is a combination rarely seen in the world at large these days. Overall, I was very impressed. As we sang "God Be With You" to her today (along with her husband who joined her on stage), after Music & The Spoken Word had concluded, she put her hands to her chest and just cried. I think she'll look back at this opportunity with nothing but good feelings and happy smiles.

Anyhow, the concert itself was fun. The songs were upbeat and of the "lighter" variety and it seemed like the audience really enjoyed them. They certainly loved Laura, who got a standing ovation for "Climb Every

Rick Elliott playing his creative version of
"Give My Regards to Broadway"

Mountain," and loud applause anytime she concluded other numbers she sang. They also loved Rick Elliott's organ number--which was no surprise since he always comes up with arrangements that wow all of us. 

If you happened to miss all of the fun, you can find the concert, in its entirety, on YouTube, HERE. 

One last thing I want to say. It's becoming alarmingly easier to take this experience I'm having, for granted. And I don't want that ever to happen! I want that magic to stay right where it is.  Regarding that point, I talked very briefly to a new choir member, after the concert. I just asked "So how did it go?" Grinning from ear to ear, he said, enthusiastically, that he had loved it. "Even though it was a bit nerve-wracking," he added. His words, his facial expression, his whole demeanor caused me to reflect. It's true you don't have to be nervous or overly enthusiastic to have a great concert experience. But on the flip side, you don't want to walk on stage completely calm and non-emotional, either. The ideal is probably right in the middle. I think some of that enthusiasm and excitement comes from continually working to be humble and thankful--to look at each concert as an opportunity and responsibility. Being a musical missionary is not just walking on stage and participating in a concert. It's actively sharing your testimony while you sing; it's noticing people in the audience; it's saying a prayer for them before you sing, and while you sing, that they might feel, something. And then it's thanking God afterwards for the marvelous opportunity and looking forward to the next one. Even if you're tired from a two week tour and all the preparation that went on before it.

And that's exactly what I plan to do, and keep doing.

Until next time, God be with you.