I am a child of the 80s, and grew up in arguably the most definitive decades of music, the 80s and 90s. I have always loved music, have always loved to sing.
Music is what bonds people together, in joy, in celebration, in praise, in exaltation.
However it wasn’t until I began my semi-professional career with the Sea-to-Sky Singers based in Squamish, that I learned about the technical aspects of music, the way you can dissect a piece of music, the way you can break down a piece of music and build it back up again.
The way you make the dots, and bars and lines on a sheet of paper come alive with harmonies and melody and rhythm. The sense of accomplishment when a choir finally comes together, after stumbling for weeks over one single measure, or a chorus or a sudden change in pitch. The absolute pride you feel at the end of a concert, when you look out into an audience and see faces shining back at you, reflecting happiness and joy.
Most of all, after three seasons with the Sea-to-Sky Singers, I have learned about gratitude and mindfulness. Before Covid-19 shut down all public gatherings, the Sea-to-Sky Singers would meet for two hours every Tuesday at the Squamish Academy of Music.
Those two hours I spent with my choir on Tuesdays were the only times in my week, where I was truly present, in the moment. We were a group of 40 people, but we all would breathe as one. We would sing in one voice.
We would listen to each other, the sopranos and altos listening as the basses and tenors learned their parts and grounded the music. The basses and tenors listening as the sopranos hit notes we only dreamed of. The altos listening to the sopranos and learning how to lull their high notes with our harmonies.
During these 120 minutes, my mind was fully absorbed in my surroundings. I was not thinking of grocery lists, or worrying about uncompleted work tasks, or how long the clothes had sat in the washer. I was present, in the moment, with my choir, focused on the task at hand.
After Covid-19, our Choir Director Veronica McPhee raced to find a way to keep us connected, and to keep music in our lives. We started holding our rehearsals through Zoom. At first, I will be honest, it was very confusing with all of us learning new technologies and the intricacies surrounding the new online format. (The difference between muting and unmuting, for example. Or what exactly, a breakout room is.)
However, we all persevered with this new format, and on Saturday, May 29th, the Sea-to-Sky Singers are pleased to present a new concert, ‘Missing You’. This concert will be presented online, for free, thanks to a generous donation from the United Way Local Love Fun. https://bit.ly/3f5rAJZ I invite you all to join us on Saturday at 7:30pm. Be present. Live in the moment. Sing along if you know the words. And please enjoy our love letter to you.
Stephanie Nand is a local librarian.
