[Sybelle]

This is my first year with Symphony Chorus. Possibly the last, due to funding and the economy.

Since late January, we've been working on our German pronunciation for Beethoven's 9th, "Ode to Joy". Fantastic choral director from a local university came in and worked with us. As a soprano who hasn't been under a director in a while, the vocal range and breathing control increased and improved. And to say that I would need for it to for this particular piece of music? A huge understatement. Also practiced at home, listening to several versions of it, flexing the soprano muscles.

We filed on to the stage. The symphony and our soloists also filed on and the energy began to build. The Maestro took a few moments of silence before beginning, to remember the miners recently killed in Montcoal.

Last night's final performance of this particular work, left me stunned and in tears. It was just ... so much... that beautiful and that wondrous and that uplifting. The instrumental voices combined with the orchestra - blended completely. Everyone was so passionate and consumed in giving everything to this performance. At the end we were all briefly stunned at the sheer magnitude of what had just happened.

The audience in the Clay Center, was stunned as well. But not for as long as we were and the applause was loud, appreciative and went on for a good while.

When we had finally filed off the stage and back into our prep area - I wasn't the only one who had to sit for a few and just enjoy cloud nine.

A few local chorus groups to include ours - will be getting together to do a Mozart sing along this summer. Can't wait!