A Christmas Choir

I am singing in a choir again. After several years of non-involvement, I decided to join the choir again this year.

I don’t have a heavenly, powerful voice. Even my wife who loves me so much don’t think so too. But I don’t have to, if I’m in a choir. As long as I can sing my part in tune, sing with my diaphragm, follow the conductor’s leading, and blend with the rest of the group to sound not as individual voices but as one, then I should be fine.

I would not sing karaoke, but I would sing in a choir. I joined my first one when I was in grade school, which is a children’s chorus at my home church in Sampaloc, Manila. I continued to sing in a choir all through high school and college. Though I took a sabbatical when I was in medical school. It was not that I don’t like to, it was just I was too busy then.

I know how to read music notes, so singing in a choir is not too hard for me. I can sing either bass or tenor, but I’m more comfortable singing bass even if my voice is not that deep. Plus the bass harmony makes sense to me. I can also discern if I’m ‘sintonado’ or off key, so if I hear that I’m out of tune or if I am not sure of my notes, I will just lip sync. But still do it with confident facial expression, as if I’m really singing.

When I immigrated to the United States, I found myself joining a choir again. When we were living in New Jersey, even though my schedule as a medical resident was hectic, I was still able to sing in a men’s chorus in church. Maybe they were just desperate for members. Our conductor was a seasoned musician from the Philippines. He was able to stretch my voice range to sing second tenor.

Then we moved to New York, as I pursue my medical fellowship training in Pulmonary and Critical Care. Again, even if I was hard-pressed for time, tired and sleepy from my frequent in-hospital calls, I still find an opportunity to be in a choir. It was in New York that I really appreciated singing in a choir. It was not because I was relegated to sing bass again, nor it was due to my voice getting more richer. Far from that. It was due to our choir director that molded our group of amateurs to sound like a “professional” choir.

Our conductor was a gifted, yet humble, but most of all God-fearing musician, who studied at Julliard School in New York. She really taught us how to sing like a choir. Not only in training our voices and teaching the right techniques in singing, but also in harnessing the right attitude and spirit to be in a church choir. I guess you can only sing right when your heart is right.

Our church choir in New York was invited to sing in different churches and even in some social and community events. Including nursing homes where our audience could not hear clearly anymore. It was such a good experience for me and my wife that we were blessed to be a part of that group.

After leaving New York, I did not sing regularly in a choir again. It was not that I lost my voice, nor that there was no opportunity to join one, it was just I don’t feel like being in a choir again.

For the past 8 or 9 years, there is always a Christmas concert in our church here in Iowa, with choir members ranging from high school students to retired folks in their 70’s. This yearly Christmas program is organized by this certain lady that has a passion and an ear for good music. She picks the songs that the choir will sing and also writes the narration in between the songs. The choir conductor is a young lady who just migrated to the US, with a degree in choir conducting from a conservatory of music in Russia.

The first year that the choir conductor was involved in this concert she can barely speak English, and mixed her words with Russian. But somehow the choir gets what she means and follows her lead as she directs with distinct Russian flair. Music definitely transcends different languages and is universally understood and appreciated, whatever tongue we speak.

My wife and my son have joined this Christmas choir. My daughter who was in the university at that time had her own choir, where she was also the pianist. The lady who coordinates these Christmas concerts and the choir conductor, who became our friends, have always approached me to join every year. But I always find a reason not to.

Until this year.

The lady who organizes these events was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years back. She underwent surgery and even chemotherapy and has been doing well. However this year, her cancer came back and even metastasized to her lungs, causing water to build up in her lungs that requires intermittent drainage. Yet she is determined to push through with this Christmas event and even sing in the choir, a testament that whatever state we’re in, music can give us joy. Will it be her last? Only God knows.

As for the Russian choir director, after living in Iowa for several years, she is moving to Chicago with her family to be close with her sister. In fact, I believe she already found a place to move in to after the Christmas season is done. Will this be her last time to conduct the choir here in Iowa? Only God knows as well.

Was this the reason I’m joining the choir this year? Partly. But there are more other reasons, and one of them was I miss singing in the choir. Or maybe it was just time. After practicing with the choir for 3 months, I am ready for the concert.

As I stand in the choir loft, music folder in hand, with the rest of the choir, I am a little nervous, a little excited, but more so just thankful to be here. We are about to sing the classic Christmas carol “Silent Night,” among other songs we have prepared. I hope I don’t serenade myself to sleep as I was on-duty last night in the ICU, which was anything but silent.

Will this be my last opportunity to sing in a choir? I hope not. But only God knows too.

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Bonus:

Here’s a video I took when we watched a Christmas Concert with an orchestra and a choir at Royal Albert Hall a few years back. They asked the audience to participate in singing in some of their songs. I am not suggesting that our choir sound as good as this.

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Post Note:

The lady organizer was not able to sing with the choir. She was not even present in the concert, as she was hospitalized a few days before the event due to cancer-related issues. Though she witnessed the fruit of her labor as she was able to watch the event on-line.