Summer Showcase

It’s that time of year again where our wonderful students show off their skills and hard work to family and friends. This Summer, the talented and very lovely Steph Baker and I brought our singers together to create a show ate the Wetherby Brew Co. We had a fabulous evening eating pizza (we managed to source a pizza van thanks to Steph- woohoo) and singing our cares away…

What I’ve always loved about recitals and showcases is the individual purpose of those that bravely place themselves there. I’m not talking about gaining anything material from standing up and singing to a room of people. It’s about the opportunity it creates for singers to make mistakes and grow in a safe, supportive and welcoming space. There is no pressure, no weight attached.

My own reasons why I’ve put myself on that showcase stage have developed and varied over the years. At first, it was to just get used to opening my mouth in front of people, then, it was to stop the shaking lip, the swinging arm and the racing thoughts of ‘what if I embarrass myself?!’. After some of the stage fright had subsided a bit (only through repeatedly plunging myself into the deep end), the intention evolved. I started trying out new repertoire or a song for a grade I was due to take that term. Eventually, I wanted to perform my own music and even practice playing piano and singing at the same time. Every single goal- no matter how small or incremental- is valid.

Anyway, enough about me. Any one of you that puts yourself out there and feels the fear but does it anyway deserves the euphoria that comes from pushing through the shaky lip and wobbly knees. You are always more capable than you believe.

I’ll leave you with some photos from our event. Every singer conquered that space with professionalism and humility! It is a joy to know (even if they don’t) that once they get a taste for standing on that stage, they’ll want to do it again, and again… and again. Just like I did.