Christmas Singing

It doesn't truly seem like Christmas if I'm not singing in some performance or another. But because the season is so busy, we tried to keep our performance schedule somewhat simple. We sang in a Sacrament Meeting here, a musical number for a Bishop's Storehouse fireside there. Our two big ones where we were able to share our whole program, were at Temple Square and for a Relief Society in Taylorsville...the ward I grew up in, actually. My mother, who was the Relief Society President at the time, booked our group to come sing for their Christmas party way back in March. When my parents decided to move last summer, I asked my mom about the program. "Oh, I'm sure we'll still be around at Christmastime. Houses take a long time to sell, don't they?" Not theirs. It sold the day after they put it on the market. So I worked the details with the new Relief Society president...not a problem in the slightest seeing as I had known this woman since I was very little. If I'm remembering correctly, I think she was even one of my young women leaders when I was a teenager. And though it's been over 20 years since I officially moved out of the ward, I was surprised at how many familiar faces I recognized, and how well they still remembered me. 

Our program wrapped around Mary, the mother of Christ. I especially liked this quote by Bruce R. McConkie that I had the opportunity to share in the program...
"Can we speak to highly of her whom the Lord has blessed above all women? There is only one Christ, and there is only one Mary."

The Joseph Smith Memorial Building on Temple Square is such an amazing place to sing...the acoustics were awesome, and nobody decks the halls for Christmas quite like Temple Square. It's such a beautiful place, the Joseph Smith Memorial Building especially. We also sang at the Church History Library.

-Sarah

Mixer and mics!

With the money we earned from our Veterans Day Deseret Book gig, we bought sound equipment. Here's a few pictures at our rehearsal this morning as we try to learn how to use the mixer. Is it weird if I admit how geekishly excited we all are about each of us owning our own professional microphones? Up till now I personally only had a cheesy little American Idol mic that went to the kids' karaoke machine...

 Catrina did the original research into the various equipment brands. Once we had an idea of what we wanted, Kami made the trip to the store, chatted up the sales guy for info and actually bought the stuff. Julie has been our champion in actually digging into the manual and figuring out how everything actually works! Here she is during one of our songs, listening through headphones as she sings along, trying to make sure the sound levels are right.

 Catrina bought a special stand for her mic so she could be hands free to play the piano for a few of our songs.

The realities of our rehearsals....lots of kids under foot. Between the five of us we have 18 children. And yes, most of them are at school while we rehearse, but the youngest few tag along. Ask them...betcha they know the words and melodies as well as we do!

Cheat sheets as well as microphone in hand! Got the notes down...still fumbling some of the words!

-Sarah