We haven't posted the past few nights because we were at dress rehearsal and performance of Handel's Messiah. This explains the "Hallelujah": that we were singing that piece as well as being finished with that. It made for a tiring few days, but well worth it.
To begin the story, I started going to this choir with Tracey, Mark's teaching partner, at the end of September. It's with the Shanghai International Choral League, and it seemed like a good way to interact with locals and join a choir for once.
It's been so much fun! Especially since we convinced Mark to join as well...
Can you see him right in the middle of the picture?
He has a lovely voice, as you well know. :o) There are a handful of expats, mostly music teachers at the various international schools. The majority of the choir consisted of local Chinese: the general population as well as some students. I never quite got the whole story, but I think the students are from a local seminary. I could be mistaken however.
I didn't actually make any friends until the last few weeks. After we received seat assignments, I socialized a bit with the gals sitting next to me. One gal was studying for her final exams to receive her bachelors degree in Spanish. It was fun (and depressing) to practice my dwindling skills. Also funny to communicate with someone when both parties are using secondary languages. I also met one of the students, Wang Kang Yuen, who's a 22 year old going to that seminary (possibly).
If I remember the names... It's Bing Bing, Xiao Yue, me, and Kang Yuen
Kang Yuen and I became good friends despite the fact that I can only list colors at her and tell her I want two eggs on my breakfast burrito; she, on the other side of the conversation, doesn't have a lick of English. No worries! You don't need to understand each other's words to race down the stairs. :o)
This was in our final four rehearsals... We finally had our guest conductor from the US in the country, as you can see. He had some amazing credentials... it was ok.
The obnoxious part started when we had rehearsals with the orchestra and the soloists; reason being that the choir just sat there while the soloists practiced.
The baritone in black.
We aren't sure if it's a culture thing, but the soloists didn't have the best rehearsal etiquette at the first rehearsal: not showing up on time (or at all!), leaving the room for extended periods, didn't actually know their parts...
Selfies!! Baritone and Soprano.
During that particular rehearsal, we sat for so long! One just has to amuse oneself...
Taking our own silly pictures...
Sleepy Steve sleeping for the upteenth time!
Practicing English reading comprehension from exercises in the newspaper...
Sleepy Steve texting on the original Nokia brick phone consistently...
Taking loopy pictures with Tracey...
Saying hi to Didi, a classmate from Desert Vista High School
in Phoenix, AZ!
All of this fun putzing led us to this gigantic concert at the SHOAC (Shang Hai Oriental Arts Center) last night:
Trying to find the entrance...
The time before the performance is always exciting. This especially so... we got to play with red scarves!
After the show...
We're so glad that we participated in the choir! It was definitely an amazing experience, and I'm hoping to get to hang with those gals some more.
I actually have another set of pictures, but I'm not posting them yet. 1) It's after midnight, and I have school in the morning (darn you, "Catching Fire") 2) They aren't loading. Booooo.
I'll tell you more, hopefully in 7 hours. :o)
Happy Thanksgiving again!
Bye for now
xoxo
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