It’s Audition Day!
The word audition is usually synonymous with the feelings of fear or nervousness. Combine this with a middle-school girl who is already self-conscious about almost everything in her life, I was bracing for the pre-audition meltdown. We talked about it often throughout the week leading up to the big day and, like most moms would, I reminded her that she has a beautiful voice, she can do hard things, and getting out of her comfort zone is good for her.
I am thrilled to report that Pensacola Children’s Chorus auditions are quite the opposite.
When we decided to embark on this new adventure this year, my first step was visiting their website to gather the information I needed. I found the dates, the rates, the different choirs they offer, the registration form, chose a time and hit submit. I immediately received a confirmation email and we were all set!
The day of the audition I received a friendly text which I shared with our daughter, Kynlee, that simply reminded us of our scheduled time, welcomed us to auditions, told us where to park, where to enter the building, what to wear, what to bring (nothing by the way) AND to ease her nervousness, they let her know that this is more of an ‘evaluation’ than it was an audition. If she wanted to sing, she was in.
That made this mama incredibly happy, and our middle-schooler breathed a sigh of relief.
When we entered, Ms. Heidi welcomed us with a big smile, handed us a short form to complete. Next, she walked Kynlee over to Ms. Juliana for her vocal evaluation. Ms. Juliana walked her into her office, helped her warmup her voice, and gave her a few short songs to sing to evaluate her vocal range while I waited in the main practice room. Lastly, she was handed off to Ms. Lindsay who is the chorus’ choreographer. Ms. Lindsay taught Kynlee a quick dance, they went through it together a couple of times, and that was that!
You may recognize Pensacola Children’s Chorus because of the hugely popular Christmas on the Coast, One World, Many Voices, and Showtime that are performed annually. Fun fact, since PCC began in 1990 under the direction of Susan and Allen Pote, this community-driven 501c3 has grown to include the Neighborhood Choir Program, a network of ensembles throughout communities who have lacked access to the arts; Tri-City Children’s Choir, serving North Escambia County; and the Atmore Area Youth Choir located just across the state line. Each summer also includes Sing in the Summer, a multi-week series of camps where kids can learn the foundations of music and movement. Together these choirs perform nearly 40 times each year. Wow!
After Kynlee’s dance evaluation with Ms. Lindsay, we said our goodbyes, Ms. Heidi told us to expect a welcome email in 30 minutes which we received. This experience could not have gone better, and we are so excited to embark on this new adventure for the 2024-2025 season.
Auditions continue through August 24th so there is still time to get involved. Visit pensacolasings.org for more information.
There is truly a place for everyone at Pensacola Children’ Chorus.
Photo: Pensacola Children’s ChorusKaren Jolly
Local Pulse Staff Writer
