Black Pelican

Concert Part 2

The concert was amazing. I was a bit jittery and overwhelmed. So I'll tell you how it went.
The choir was supposed to meet by 12 pm for final rehearsals. But I had to submit the sketch for my latest ceramics project to the lecturer. After trying to get back into his good graces, I was not willing to fall out of it again. So I went to the department to see him. I had only one drawing. Which cane into my head immediately he mentioned the name of our assignment: fecundity.
That's the way I work sometimes. My first idea, the one that formulates in my minds eye is the one I stick with. Any other one may not be as good. The first ideas in my mind are always complex but original. They also come from movies and my dreams. So they definitely take their own shape when they come. I don't play with first ideas. They can be hard for me to execute but they are the original pieces.

So it was the only drawing I had and I showed him. He told me it didn't look realistic or achievable. I'm not surprised. He said this last semester when I made a sketch of composing shapes. But I actually made it at the end. I wasn't ready to change my sketch. I guess he could sense it too. So he told me to do some minor corrections on it. Then he approved it. He still asked how I would be able to achieve it. I told him I could, if I gave myself enough time.

I had tried calling Jumia earlier concerning the money they were supposed to refund to me. But Jumia told me to approach my bank. The guy on the phone seemed sensible so I kind of believed him. But I was tired of being tossed to and fro. I was broke. They had taken all my money. And I was a student for crying out loud!
Someone advised me to send a mail to my bank with the cancellation mail that Jumia sent me. I hoped it would work. They better send my money back or I'm calling CBN on this one.

As Class rep, not a day would go by without a job or the other. I had to send the list of my classmate names to our lecturer and also inquire on our IT procedures. The issues on our portal was not resolved yet and God knew that my classmates were already beginning to ask me about it.
Man, can't wait to leave.

By the time I got to the main auditorium, no choir member was there yet. There's going to be a problem if the choir comes late. For me, since I like being early, i didn't like it one bit.
They were sitting up the stage already. Sound system, wires, microphones and all the likes. It was really exciting. I took pictures around and sat down till like 1. Around 1:15pm, choir members strolled in. When it was 2, they were ready to begin rehearsals. No qualms.
I actually needed to eat so i could take my drugs. Esther helped me with some change, so i was able to buy doughnuts and water. I rushed back up the stairs because they had started rehearsing. I was out of breathe by the time i reached there. I don't know how but i always manage to draw attention to myself. Even in small things. I just ducked my head to avoid their gaze.

When i sat down, i gulped down the doughnuts and tried swallowing my drugs with as much urgency as possible. People were already looking at me with worried eyes. I didn't like that.
We rehearsed two songs before i got a call from Paul that pastor needed to see me. Paul was doing a spoken word decoration which I and sis Tosin wrote. They had rehearsed it but it was just yesterday night i was able to hear it. There was still a lot to change.
Pastor wanted to see the presentation rehearsed on stage so we went to the stage. But they were still setting up. The keyboardist was needed at the rehearsal but we needed him to present the recitation.

It took us a while but he presented it without the keyboardist anyway. There was a lot of corrections to be made. But it was good. He was good. One of the female choirmasters told me to work on light effects with the light master. Everything was going to like a stage play.

Few minutes later, the choir came downstairs to do sound checks. Again, i started doing funny things and making people laugh. Maybe I was so excited! Some people might think I'm too extra and immature. But this is the first time I'm singing in the choir in a concert! Give me a break!
After arranging ourselves, we couldn't rehearse because we came late and it was almost time for our concert. People were already coming in.
Last, last the concert started late. The time on the flyer said 5:30pm. But it's started after 6.

I was kind of worried that our un- professionalism would scare people away. But it was all good. It started with vote of thanks from a lady i didn't know but she had a nice voice. The Vice Chancellor of our school came too! Then it was time for the first presentation which was the prelude. Come and see rushing. Everybody was just rinsing up and down. I was on the edge because i was supposed to be with the light man to control the lighting. After running around to find him, he asked me to go and wait for him. Then he came late too. I was too tired to even begin to scold him. The presentation started late, the light man came late and we were only able to control the lighting when he was about to end the presentation. Nothing sha spoil.

The choir songs were amazing too. I was at the edge for soprano. Yep, i can pitch high too. I've been training my voice on that for two years now. It was dizzy being there. I felt exposed and when lights came on us, it felt like we were the only ones there.
I sang my best.

After 3 songs, we received an applause. Can't tell you how relieved i felt when i heard it! We retreated to backstage. And then Mike Bamiloye came on stage to give a talk. He's handsome. Someone even shouted 'Fine boy' from the audience.
But he's married.

He showed us two short movies that talked about death and doing Gods work while we are still strong. It was so touching. And he led people to pray. After that, our district pastor came too. And he gave the altar call. If felt two things : gratitude and immense recognition of my spiritman.
We went back on stage to sing our final songs. It involved movement and i messed up at one point. Being at the edge is so unnerving.
But we got through it. Honestly at that point, i could only hear the people near me and i thought we all sounded horrible.

The whole night was amazing.
At the end, we sang even when people left and someone (a choirmaster actually) asked me to let my choirmaster hear me. He said I had a good voice! I was literally leaping for joy in my heart. But I'm not a choir member, i wonder when that will happen.
They gave us food after everything. And i walked to the house in my choir uniform. People glanced at me. I should expect that. My feet were worn with pain. But it was worth it. All my efforts for Hallel had paid off.

Now it was time to rest.
And also start follow-up. Something I'm not sure I'm good at.