Dallas Musician plays for fantastic choir in Duncanville

Have you ever had one of those moments where you are going along in your day, running around, fulfilling the usual...taking phone calls, feeding the cat, chewing gum, and then, unexpectantly, the usual turns into something extraordinary?

I had one those moments.

I performed for a choir. This was a UIL performance, to be precise. Very important, especially before their big Florida trip. I was asked to attend the rehearsal and then I would be one of the featured performers the following week at competition.

No big deal, right?

Except that it was.

I perform all the time. I, and my fellow Meridian Quartet cohorts, performed last week with the Las Colinas Symphony. I will be traveling out the east Texas this week to perform Tchaikovsky's 5th symphony (yay!) and working on meditation/yoga (yes, this will happen. It is On the To-Do List). I have several weddings coming up in the next several weeks in North Texas.... very important stuff. I do it all the time and take my "job" very seriously (I say it in quotes because it's such a cool thing to do: be a musician).

However, "the usual" caught me off-guard this time. When I entered the room, I was immediately drawn into the excitement. These students were so proud and excited to be singing. The were so proud and excited to have me at their school. I saw the look of accomplishment in their eyes and I marveled at how much spirit they had.

Then they sang.
And I played the viola with them.

And it was beautiful. I couldn't believe the joy that was emanating.
At the end of the rehearsal, the choir went crazy! They jumped up and down and hugged each other. I had students come up and introduce themselves to me, beaming and shaking my hand...it was beautiful. The performance was even better. While everyone has to maintain a sense of decorum for judges and audience, everyone was also compelled by the feeling of excitement burrowing to come out of these students.

In the end, the audience gave them a standing ovation.

So yes, it was a "gig", but it was anything from ordinary.

That is what so beautiful about music. Music brings people together and allows them to connect, to emote when words are not enough. I spent minimal time with these students- just a half hour rehearsal and a five minute performance. But the event will stay with me.

Go Duncanville High School Choir!