Unlike the alumni of the choir, I was not able to have the honor of graduating as a choir member due to my immigration to Canada. I was, however, able to be a member for two years and I can say that the choir made my high school life a hundred times better than it could have been. I can also say that from my experience with the choir, I have learned a lot of lessons which have helped me change for the better. I learned how to be more responsible and was taught the meaning of sacrifice and how rewarding it can be, I also learned how life does gain a little more “color” through music. Of course, part of being a member is the rehearsals which go on for hours and it can be tiring, of course, but I can definitely say that it was more than worth it. Through those hours of rehearsing songs over and over again, all of us trying to master it, we built bonds with each other – strong bonds, and the result of that was a family; I had gained a family at school and realizing that, work became play and play became work. “Love your craft and your craft will love you,” as our conductor/director Mr. Castillo has taught us. Our rehearsals had become my source of relief after the long, stressful days at school.

 

Before coming to Canada, I was lucky enough to participate in one more event with the choir which was Akademikon: Pagdiriwang Concert Series 1. It was even held the day before my flight which made participating in it all the more important to me. Now, living in Canada, school life is a bit more boring and colorless because I no longer have those rehearsals which relieved me of stress and because it lacks music. Sure, I can go on the internet, search for a song and sing-along to it, but it’s a whole different experience when you’re doing it with a group, pouring so much effort to master it, and later on performing it. I have been able to use my experience in the choir for the benefit of my studies though. Thanks to the lessons that our conductor/director Mr. Castillo has taught us in the choir, I received 99% on my music exam for my vocal class this school year using the knowledge he gave us. It has been more than helpful on numerous occasions. In conclusion, being with the choir was a pleasure, and I do miss it so. So much that if I had the chance, I’d go back to the Philippines right now and rehearse and sing, serve, love, worship, and lead with them again. Joining the choir is definitely a choice I will never regret and being with them was a blessing. It was an honor being able to have such and my short yet also long time with the choir is an experience I will always look back on and treasure.