How do you start off an entry about this year’s All-State experience? Sometimes you have those experiences where you can’t put down in words how it made you feel. It was one of those experiences. Thursday afternoon, I ran errands and then hurried to get on the bus. I talked to Megan and Allison on the way up. Once we got to the hotel, we put our stuff down hurriedly. I roomed with Ian and Patrick, and we bemoaned the fact that we did not know the music and then I got back on the bus and talked to Michelle. When we got there, we sat in the back in a big clump, and then the announcer lady called us all away to sectionals. Sectionals were COOL. I sat by Ian and Ty (all weekend, it turned out). Last year, I sat between Ian and this guy from Northwestern. It's a lot more fun to sit by both Ian and Ty. Ty was…in one of his moods where he just makes a bunch of comments and Ian and I were actually trying really hard to learn the notes (Ty tried later). The bass section sounded awesome. The tenor section needed some help, though. Then, we headed back to the hotel. Ian talked to his girlfriend, Aaron, on the phone for about an hour and Patrick and I combined heads and ordered a pizza on my cell phone. Then was glorious and much needed sleep. Friday we sang ALL DAY. We started out by meeting Eph Ehly, who is honestly one of the most interesting people I’ve ever met in my life. He has such a love of music and such a desire to share that love with everyone he possibly can. And he was so inspiring. I very much enjoyed him. The songs were like dreams. One experience I would like to share. I went to the bathroom during a break so the girls could practice their all-girl song. When I walked out, they were working a nice phrase. I walked past a guy and we exchanged smiles and he said, “that’s enough to make your heart melt.” I agreed. Ian, Ty, and I walked around to the other end of the building and when I walked back inside, the girls were singing a phrase of “ah, ah,” and I swear it was like walking into heaven. Lunch and dinner made me sad because the food was kind of gross because Winthrop is on Spring Break. Oh, well. Another experience I loved…after lunch, Michelle and I walked back over to Byrnes and noticed a circle full of other Lexingtonians. They were playing a game and it made me happy when people wanted to include me in the game because sometimes I don’t feel like part of the group in group settings like that. It was this really fun circle game that it would take many paragraphs to explain, so let me just say that it was fun. And drew attention toward us. Then, last night, we heard the Winthrop Chamber Singers and Jazz Voices give a concert, and then we went back to the hotel. We ordered more pizza, Ian talked to Aaron, and we watched What Women Want. Peaceful evening. Ian talked coherently in his sleep but I have no idea what he was talking about. Patrick is a quiet sleeper, and I’ve been told I snore on previous trips. Saturday was more singing. And more inspiration. Honestly, I just can’t describe it. But I was nearly moved to tears by some of the things said. And then, later, THE CONCERT. Ian and Ty both nodded off in parts of the SSA portion, but I managed to stay awake. I think Emily was right in saying that the SSA choir sounds so sweet when they sing, that you could go to sleep. We started out with Festival Piece on St. Anne. EVERYONE CAME IN ON TIME which was the only thing I was nervous about. I wasn’t used to hearing the organ and trumpets, which give the song a different feel. I think it went well, though I think some of the girls might not have come in on time on the woman verse. Then…Sanctus. I have not once heard this song and not had it give me chills in places. There are two points where the 1st sopranos went up to a high A that soared above the rest of the choir and it was like…a dream. Then Dr. Ehly told the story about what’s going on Elijah when Thanks Be To God occurs, and then we sang the song. If something was flawless, I think it was that. Next…hee. Imagine…Tres Cantos Nativos. In the first song, the guys hum like warriors, and then the girls shout-sing at each other in terrible tribal woman voices. And then this black guy and girl come out, shout some stuff at each other, and we go into the second song, which I thought was the best of the three. And then we sing the last song and it’s over and hilarious. It included a choir/audience thunderstorm and animal sounds. I was a rattlesnake/squirrel, even though I didn’t raise my hand to volunteer. Then the girls did O Pastorelle Addio, and it was dreamy as usual. The boys did When I Fall In Love, which was gorgeous and wonderful and smarmy and…yay. FINALLY! The Gershwin! Medley. I think it went well, though I didn’t use music and forgot half the words, I think I faked it well enough. Another wonderful experience…most, if not all, of the Chamber Choir people who made SATB came together a bit at a time and we sang some of our songs at the piano. It sounded WONDERFUL. Our Chamber Choir truly includes some of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard. I love it when we sing together outside of rehearsal. Emily and I humorously attempted part of Fire Fire My Heart. I know I was pretty vague on details, but it was such a wonderful experience. It was as phenomenal as I thought it would be. I’m sad I don’t get to have the experience, but I’m glad to have had it. One more wonderful experience…I sat in the back with the wonderful group of Amelia, AF, Marie, Sarah, Kalin, Paddy, and David and we sang songs and laughed at stuff. Kalin and Marie often make an effort to make me feel included, which I appreciate. They also voluntarily ate breakfast with me Saturday morning. Ty was right when he said it was one of the best experiences of his life. Mine, too.