Behind the Stage (Apr 2023)
It’s the night of the performance and we’re all nervous. As the treble group desperately gets our makeup perfected before being called to line up backstage, I take deep breaths. The lineup has to be perfect, otherwise the whole compilation falls apart. I find the people in my row and soon enough we’re quietly ushering others into their places. Jazz at Lincoln Center has always been my favorite venue for YPC performances. It’s big, grand, and beautiful. The stage itself also has incredible acoustics and a lot of space for us to move around when performing with choreography. Despite having sung with this choir since I was 8, I have the same feelings of thrill and nervousness in my gut before every event. I am reassured by the encouragement backstage, and just how many weeks (or months) of relentless preparation has led up to this moment. For a spring gala in March, our rehearsals start as early as December. When I first joined YPC, I started off coming in only once a week. Now, in Chorale, the senior-most group, I have rehearsal three days a week. Take that amount of time and add at least five extra full weekends of practice and that’s about how much time we spend on practice on one single performance. Our repertoire not only requires intense rehearsals to get comfortable with the music itself, but some of them require us to spend time perfecting the choreography. Coming home feeling accomplished but also sweaty, aching, and tired after a long rehearsal day is not an uncommon occurrence.
At the finale of each concert, we end with YPC’s signature song, “Give Us Hope”. It’s a simple melody with only one repeating verse and chorus and it always ends the evening on a positive note. As the curtains close, I look to my left and right, and see all these talented and motivated people around me, laughing and crying together. All the hard work instantly feels worth it as we celebrate the magic, creativity, and beauty on display. I quickly count down the days until the next practice begins for our next big concert.
