Three things to be grateful for in Choral Music

Choral music offers so many things to be grateful for. I am sure I will need many more posts about this, and maybe this turns into a series, but I want to keep this post short.

I am sure you want to come back to digesting all of the food from yesterday’s meal (Thanksgiving 2019 if you are reading this post in the future). If you did not or could not celebrate Thanksgiving, I hope you can find this post to be comforting and to give you more reasons to enjoy this month.

I have been part of the choral world now for almost ten years. Where does time go?
It is amazing how much I have learned during these years, but also amazing how much I have to learn.

I am writing this post to share with you how lucky we are to belong to a community that cares about connecting. I am grateful to be a composer and a performer of choral music. It helps me to appreciate life differently. Now, let’s see three things to be grateful for in Choral Music.

1. Music that connects with our souls

As a composer, I feel biased about this. But I was a singer before a composer, and I can honestly say that being able to find pieces that understand my thoughts and challenge me to be better and to learn to communicate new emotions, either mine or of other people, is one of the most rewarding things of being in a choir.

When I find that piece that I can’t stop singing, or talking about. The one that I learn each part because it is that awesome. I feel I’ve found a new home, and I never want to sing anything else. That, of course, until I find the next one.

It is a cycle as you can see, and I love it. Yes, my pieces are part of this list (or, as I like to call them, my children).

2. Concerts and traveling around the world

I am grateful that choral music has allowed me to live some of the best concerts of my life, and to get to know amazing places to share my pieces and my voice. Some of these I couldn’t have gone without the support of a choir.

I’ve been to Europe twice now with two different groups: Grupo Coral Venezziola and University of Houston Concert Chorale.

The best part about a choir is that you don’t have to travel overseas to know what this feels like. Even those bus rides when you go to a concert, or even carpooling are an opportunity to make memories that you treasure for a long time. I know, you might be thinking ” what the hell?” But it’s true!

Plus, you must know about the mandatory drinks/meal after a concert. That’s a tradition that deserves a post.

3. Supportive and caring friends

At last, I have to say that the best thing choral music has brought to my life is the people I meet. Thanks to choral music I met my husband, and a lot of my most dear friends.

When I realize how many people I have met through singing in choirs, I can’t believe it.

I have expanded this, even more, by being in the audience of wonderful choirs or collaborating with them as a composer, clinician, or just an ear or eyes for their concert. I love creating meaningful relationships with the people I meet.

All the people that I’ve talked to at a concert have a lovely story with choral music and the people in it. Even if they are only helping out in the event.

My extended family is made almost entirely of choral people, how nuts? I love it.

What are you most grateful about in choral music? Let me know in the comments!