She Made it!

Tonight Emilie's friend, Maddie, called. The conversation immediately crescendoed, I heard a click, the phone drop and footsteps racing up the stairs. Emilie lept into my arms. "I made it! I made it!" On Tuesday Emilie had tried out for Select Choir, the equivalent of Madrigals on the high school level. She hesitated to try out. Only a few sixth graders would be chosen, her teacher warned. Emilie told me that all of her friends who had tried out had parents and siblings with singing backgrounds. She was right. Lizzy's mom sings in a band and Sarah's family preforms in local musicals. I decided there was no point in mentioning that I actually did sing in the school choirs throughout junior high and high school. I didn't consider myself a singer then and I don't now. I couldn't offer much help in her prepared piece, except for being the pianist, so I got my friend, Julie Berry, who is the ward choir director on the phone and set up a time for Emilie to run through her piece a few times with her. Julie had great advice and sent us home with a few ideas to practice, which we did, over and over late into the night. The next morning I sent Emilie off to school, proud of her risk taking and excitement to try new things. Tonight the results were posted online and sure enough, Emilie's name was included. She will sing soprano 1 and preform throughout the year at concerts in school assemblies, around our town, and even in Boston. She will meet weekly, on Wednesdays, at 7:00 am for practices. She also is enrolled in the school choir as an elective course.

Congratulations Emilie!