Final Jury!

Earlier this week, Monday, I had my final jury! This jury was to determine if I could do my recital or not. In all honesty, I was feeling quite terrible about it! I've been experiencing allergies for the first time in my life and I had no idea what to do to help my voice. The symptoms had been going since Tuesday night/Wednesday morning. It seemed that no matter what I did I couldn't get my voice to be right. When I went home last weekend I had my Dad give me a blessing to give me extra strength for my jury.

I warmed up Monday morning at about 8:00 and after that warm-up I didn't feel much better about my jury. I felt good about the information that were in the songs, but vocally I didn't feel that great. Sheryl--my accompanist and dear friend--was a great help in helping me feel a bit calmer than I was the days before. We said a prayer together before we went over to Brother Olsen's office. As we waited outside I started saying a prayer, asking that I have extra strength for this jury.

Then, we were called in.

There were three teachers on my jury: Brother Olsen, Brother Peck, and Sister Ashby. I went in, presented Pauline's Aria from Tchaikovsky's opera The Queen of Spades, and I felt okay about it. Because Brother Olsen is my Master Class teacher and Brother Peck is my voice teacher, Sister Ashby got to pick most of the songs. I sang four of my seven songs and I wasn't asked a single question! As I walked out Brother Olsen told me to keep an eye on my e-mail. When the door was closed I looked over at Sheryl and I just shook my head. I felt terribly about the whole performance! I wanted to go in and absolutely blow the jury away. However, because of these silly allergies I couldn't do that! I felt that, because of that, I wasn't going to pass my jury. I felt delated and quite disappointed. I have been working so hard, and I wasn't able to show that to the jury.

A couple of hours later I received an e-mail called "Jury". It took me several minutes to open it, but when I finally did I felt a wave of relief wash over me. It said:

"Sarah,
I am pleased to share that you passed your jury this morning, and you are clear to continue on to your recital on 6/29."

I had passed my last jury!! I couldn't believe it; yet I couldn't feel excited about it because I felt like I had had such a terrible performance (it didn't help that my allergies were really make me feel ill as well). So, as I told people that I had passed, there was no enthusiasm in my voice at all! As I spoke to my Mom and Dad, they both had to ask me several times if I was okay. I just didn't sound excited. Fortunately, later that night it hit me that I had passed . . . my recital is coming up; I have a recital to look forward to! I was ecstatic!

I've been preparing for this recital for five years, and it's now here! A week from tomorrow I have the opportunity to perform for my friends and family and I couldn't be more excited about it! I found a dress yesterday and I'm so excited!!! Now, just to finish posters, programs, and planning refreshments! Almost there! :D