Wow. There aren't enough superlatives to say what I feel about last weekend's Solo/Ens contest in Woodbine. However, you know that I'm going to try :)
Some highlights (in no particular order):
*MUSICAL GROWTH!! I am so proud of all of my students who performed Saturday. I have seen them work so hard and make such giant leaps in terms of vocal improvement. EVERYONE has learned so much.
*Amazing ratings!! I have never had a year like we had this year. So many great ratings and good comments from the judges. Honestly, I did not even sit down to figure out ratings until we were all done at 5:00, and I was totally shocked and humbled. You know that the ratings are not what is most important to me (nor should they be to you). However, it sure is nice when someone else appreciates our hard work, isn't it?
*Chamber Choir!! We bit off a very tough piece. Very tough. Up until the last minute we were practicing with our cheat sheet. Our memory was not totally there. But I'll tell you what WAS there- my wonderful students who watched me, concentrated, listened, compensated, and gave their best to remember everything we had learned about this piece from the very beginning. It is so much more rewarding to tackle a hard piece and succeed than sing an easy one and succeed. Many thanks to my students who trusted me and worked together to earn this I rating.
*Outstanding Performances!! After a little visit with the judge in Center 2 after the day was over, I can tell you that all four of the events he was considering for Best of Center (he could only choose one) belonged to CAM High School! What an honor! So cool! In 16 years, these are the 5th and 6th of these coveted honors my students have received. Again- wow!
*Perfect Scores!! The most in any year I've been teaching. We had five!!! Congratulations to Cassidy (solo), Kelsey and Makaye (duet), Cassidy and Colton (duet), Cassidy, Kelsey, Paige (trio), and the Madrigal group (Kelsey, Cassidy, Colton, Dan) who would have had a perfect score except they sang their song so fast that they were penalized for being under time. :)
*Professionalism!! I am so proud of the wonderful stage presence that all performers exhibited. They introduced themselves and their pieces, smiled at the judge, and some people even figured out how to show expression on their faces! We have made so much progress in this area.
*Text Blessing. This text I received is the kind of thing that makes me love my job: "Thanks for encouraging me. I didn't know I could do it."
I feel like a proud mama- WAY TO GO CAM VOCAL STUDENTS!!!!!
PS- Thanks to Michelle Carr for these great pictures.
