Concerts this weekend, and big life changes
Concerts this weekend
Locals! Take note! This is the last subscription concert of CMC's 18th season, and it's going to be great. It's a concert of music inspired by Music City (Nashville), and we're doing some great country music (Keith Urban's "Somebody Like You" and Garth Brooks' "Friends In Low Places"), some good old fashioned spiritual music ("Amazing Grace," "Swingin With the Saints"), Josh Groban's "You Raise Me Up," k.d. Lang's "Miss Chatelaine," and a great arrangement of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" (featuring yours truly as soloist).
One of my co-workers -- the only one at my current job that I've ever hung out with socially -- came to our rehearsal last night to "observe" the gheys in their natural environment... part of a sociology class she is taking. She has actually purchased a holiday CD from me before but has never attended a concert. She was SO impressed, thought we sounded great, and was moved to tears a few times. Now that's a great reaction! She taking a date and buying tickets for Saturday night. Then she and I are having lunch on Monday so I can answer some questions for her. I can only imagine what they might be, because although I've been out to her for several years, she doesn't have gay friends and is still uncertain about certain cultural behaviors.
Big life changes
I haven't made a general announcement about this yet, so for those of you in the chorus circle, let's keep it on the d/l.
I'm taking a year off. I will sing at Pride next month, and I will join the chorus to sing at GALA 2009 in Columbus in September, and I have another year of service as President of the Board... but I'm stepping back as a singing member for next season.
So, why? Well, basically, I'm overcommitted. Which doesn't bother me -- I like being busy -- but it's time for me to finally admit that I am spread too thin and everything is suffering. I try to stay social and I do a decent enough job of that, but I would like to see my friends more. The administration of the chorus has suffered tremendously (which isn't even close to 100% my fault, but the buck stops with the Board Prez). I'm also not putting nearly as much effort into my job as I want to be, though I've made a conscious effort over the last several months to improve that. I spend zero time on home improvement stuff. And really, my rehearsal time has suffered. I don't spend enough time outside of our actual rehearsals working on the music, during rehearsals I'm typically distracted and annoyed, and I end up completely stressed out for months, all for a few days of fun and payoff. It's not worth it, and it's time for a change.
This wasn't an easy decision to come to. I love being part of a choir, and our 19th season looks phenomenal (a concert of boy band music! omg!). But truly, something has to give. I will still have a performing outlet in my Sunday morning worship band, and who knows what other little opportunities may arise. But after 8 seasons with CMC, 7 of them also serving on the Board, I need to be realistic about what I can and can't do.
In addition to my "presidential" duties, I also perform functions as the chorus' administrative chair, webmaster and database administrator, roles which the members are used to having readily available at rehearsals. That will have to change, which will be better in the long run if we are to truly move closer to a Board that is not all singing members (and we're doing well on that road). So overall, while I'm disappointed that I can't "do it all," I think this is the "right" decision for the masses, and it's only temporary.