Thursday, 11 July 2013

I Dreamed a Dream....

We all have our dreams, don't we, and mine is to stand on the West End stage and sing 'On My Own' from Les Miserables. Ever since I first heard it, over two decades ago (when Michael Ball was a young and lovely Marius) I've loved the song and I confess that the number of times I have seen the musical is into double figures.

Of course I'm never going to be in a West End musical - I am too old and my voice, though passable, is just that... passable.

As some of you will know, the choir I belong to, Cantatrice, is an 80 strong ladies choir and over the years we have sung a range of songs including the amazing Adiemus. If anyone is interested, you can hear our choir singing  When the Love Comes Tricklin Down by clicking the link. This is a recording on the Banks Music Publications Site made by Arch Gwyn, who arranged this piece.

This time our concert is 'Iconic Songs' and will be such fun - where else would I get to sing 'I Will Survive' very loudly, with all the actions and without a drink in my hand!

Anyway, last month my dream got closer. As part of the concert, we are also singing a 'Les Mis Medley'... oh joy!... and it contains my favourite song. Our musical director asked for volunteers from the choir to sing a solo for the first verse - all we had to do was audition.

And that is as close to my dream as I got. Did I audition? No of course I didn't. Anyone who knows me will know that if put on show, I become a red-faced, gibbering wreck.

It was never going to be, so I will just have to be content with singing into my hairbrush to the CD, in my kitchen... on my own.

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13 comments:

  1. Teresa Ashby11 July 2013 at 15:43

    How lovely - not that you didn't audition for the solo,as a fellow red-faced gibbering wreck I understand that - but that you get to sing the medley :-) x

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    1. Wendy's Writing11 July 2013 at 16:07

      Yes, it's as close as I'll get to pretending I'm in the West End, Teresa. The only thing I'm worried about is remembering the moves AND the words to I Will Survive - I'm not good at multi tasking!

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  2. Sherri11 July 2013 at 16:11

    How lovely.
    I'm in a local RockChoir and also have trouble with the moves! And, yes, I keep telling myself I will get up and audition for the solos but just the thought of it makes me go all wobby, so I don't.
    'On My Own' is clearly not the way for either of us :)

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    1. Wendy's Writing11 July 2013 at 16:47

      But it's so frustrating, isn't it Bernadette. I keep thinking... one day.

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  3. TracyFells12 July 2013 at 11:56

    Would love to have heard your Les Mis medley. Maybe you could try an open mic at WSW to help with nerves. Also Lyn Jennings is doing a talk in 2014 on tips for performing your own work. But I can understand singing a solo takes a bucket load of courage (possibly dutch?).

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    1. Wendy's Writing12 July 2013 at 13:18

      You still can - the concert is on Sunday at the community centre 2-4! (Tickets £8 at the book shop. would you believe the soloist for 'my song' said at our rehearsal that she thinks she's coming down with a sore throat!

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  4. Rosemary Gemmell12 July 2013 at 14:15

    Love your dream, Wendy, and what a shame you didn't audition for that first verse! Would really like to be in a choir again one day. Hope the concert is a great success.

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    1. Wendy's Writing12 July 2013 at 14:25

      I hope that someday I will be brave - the silly thing is that when I was at primary school I often sang a solo. I must have been a whole lot braver then!

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  5. Della G12 July 2013 at 16:55

    I loved reading that post. I love hearing about people going for their dreams. Maybe do the audition next time. What do you have to lose :)
    lots of love

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    1. Wendy's Writing12 July 2013 at 17:39

      Maybe this could be my New Year's Resolution for next year, Della.

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  6. Maggie May13 July 2013 at 12:53

    Choirs are all the rage at the moment, and according to recent surveys, they are extremely good for you. The trouble is the choir doesn't remain isolated and before you know where you are, you are performing for all and sundry. I suppose this doesn't suit my reserved personality. This is also showing itself in my writing. What if I win and have to go to 'so and so', or what if I had to do book signings or (heaven forbid) speak in public. Okay, I know this is a bit tongue in cheek, but I think my fear of publicity is holding me back. Anybody else feel like this?

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    1. Wendy's Writing13 July 2013 at 21:28

      I read that survey about choirs being good for you too, Maggie. If it's only fear of publicity that's holding you back with your writing, that's good.

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    2. Sherri17 July 2013 at 09:41

      If you have a Rock Choir near you, Maggie, don't worry about the peforming part. All the performances are optional and they are quite happy for people to go along and learn the songs and enjoy the rehearshals with no commitment or expectation that you will ever have to perform. If you go to their website you can go for a free taster session to see if you like it. And there are no auditions either!

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