Isn't It Ironic? My first audition experience (that I remember)...

(Why is it I always want to start writing with the word, "so"? Sheesh, haha.)


...SO, My mom is a private brass instructor and the other day we were talking about how she's preparing some of her students for an audition for all-county honor band. She was explaining to them that auditioning is tricky and that everyone, even seasoned professional performers like herself still get nervous. The trick is to work past the nervousness, prepare, and do your best. Anyways, her and one of her musician buddies were reminiscing about their first performances and auditions. It got me thinking about mine. At first, I couldn't even remember mine, but after a while it occurred to me that the only one that mattered is the first one that made a distinct impression on me ('cause I'm sure there were more before this, but I don't remember, and so there you go).


I think I was about 10, and I was auditioning for Dames At Sea with the Children's Musical Theatre of San Jose (fabulous group, by the way, just a smidge expensive, though). And, I distinctly remember what I wore and what I sang. My sister curled my hair, it was quite long then. I wore a red long-sleeved shirt, and overalls. But not just any overalls. These were Winnie the Pooh overalls. And not just Winnie the Pooh overalls, but the whole Hundred Acre gang was present: Piglet, Tigger, Owl, Kanga (possibly Roo), Rabbit, you get the picture. Anyways, I mention the outfit because I sang...wait for it...."Winnie the Pooh"...as in his theme song. Cute, right? Well, yeah, probably. But, I find the whole experience interesting because I distinctly remember blowing the audition. Not like I did poorly, but I remember being embarrassed because of all the people in the room. I did not use vibrato, and I remember singing the song with no "oomph," it was very musically bland. I remember after the audition thinking that had I sung a more mature piece and sung it with the talent and skill I knew I had things might have turned out differently.


All this to say, I think God works in amazing ways. You see, after this audition I don't think I auditioned for a musical for several years. I played volleyball, and played in bands, and sang in choirs...but I don't believe, to my recollection, that I had the nerve to audition for a musical for a while. There have been times throughout my college experience where I regretted some of these extra-curricular choices, that maybe I would be that much closer to fulfilling my dream had I auditioned for stuff in high school. (Actually, I take what I said earlier back, I auditioned for The Music Man in eighth grade, and Footloose sophomore year of high school, and bailed both times. I had maturity and pride issues back then....water under the bridge...) However, recently we lost an uncle of Eric's due to cancer, and I actually felt closer to him than others whom I have known who have passed. So I was thinking about his influence on my life and my life with Eric and it occurred to me that I might not have met Eric without this uncle's financial contribution to Eric's education (Eric wouldn't have gone to Valley...etc.). This kind of snowballed into this whole series of thoughts. Had I performed the Dames at Sea  audition differently I might have done really well early on in theatre....


...but I for sure wouldn't want it all that way now. 'Cause, you see...God has used every opportunity, experience and curve in the road for His plan. I was meant to meet and marry Eric, whom I wouldn't have known if God didn't put me in marching band instead of theatre. I was supposed to play trombone in band, go to CBU for a semester, hate it and then start a different college path. Everything that has happened has led me to where I'm at now has been part of God's plan. I think it was entirely part of His love story for me to have gone to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, study vocal performance, get married, move to Roseville, work as an intern at Music Circus Sacramento and move down to southern California in the near future.


God works in amazing ways, and even though some days I get frustrated that I can't figure out where He's leading me or what His plan is...He still works it all out for good, and gets me past those days to get to the days where I don't so much care that I can't see 50 feet in front of me...it's kind of nice letting someone else take the reigns.


Enjoy :)
Today's food for thought.


Oh, p.s. to answer the question I know is running through your head, yes, yes I was thinking about the Alanis Morissette song "Isn't It Ironic?" when I made this post...I don't know why...the neighbor girls across the street from me growing up were fans, so I knew a couple of her tunes.....whatever...;)