Do Re Mi

I first fell in love with Texas Lutheran University when I was very young.  The exact moment I decided to come to TLU is a mystery, but if I had to guess, I would say it was during a Vespers concert at Christmas time.  Every December, I am in awe of the music that fills Jackson Auditorium.  In high school, I told myself that I would be a part of that someday.  During my sophomore year of high school, my sisters and I joined the TLU/MTS Community Music Academy Youth choir, and this dream grew closer.  When I was accepted into TLU, I knew that choir was definitely something I was going to try for.

On August 26th I walked into the TLU Fine Arts building for my audition.  I was very nervous.  I've looked up to Dr. Boyer for so many years; it was intimidating to get up and sing for him.  Not only did my nerves cause me to stray completely off rhythm, I was also thrown for a loop by the sight reading and pitch memory.  I tried to save myself by saying I'd work on it, but I was feeling hopeless and shattered by the time the audition was over.

On August 27th, I reentered the Fine Arts building to check the choir roster for my name.  I held my breath as I leaned over a music stand to peer at the bulletin board.  To my great astonishment and joy, my name was on both lists.  I had managed to make it into the Women's Choir as well as the TLU Choir!  I was proud and overjoyed, but at the same time realized that I would have a lot to work on in order to succeed in these choirs.

On August 28th, I attended my first TLU choir practice.  During the first ten minutes, my assumptions were proved correct.  It was obvious that being in these choirs would be very different from being in the youth choir I was in in high school.  I knew that even more would be expected of me, that we would be tackling even harder music.  But not everything had changed.  I still felt that unmistakable camaraderie you get by being in a choir.  That same sense of safety and family I experienced in the youth choir during high school.  We were in this together;  I wasn't alone.  When I expressed some of my doubts to other choir members, they reassured me, and gave me advise.  It filled me with pride and happiness to be welcomed into the TLU choirs.  I know this transition will be a bumpy one at times, but the end result will be well worth it.