Fashion Corner - Concert Dresses

I'm in a choir, so we have lots of concerts. Usually our outfit has to be black and I actually have several options. I'm showing my two favourite dresses here. 

We actually have very strict rules about our concert outfits. The women are not allowed to wear jeans, the dresses or skirt have to be long (maxi), no short sleeves, no striking jewelry, no see through tights. The first dress is a more casual one, but it has these clever details around the middle, which makes it really special. The shoes are my pointed black ballerinas from Pascucci and I added my Phantasya necklace. 

- Dress 1: brand unknown

- Shoes 1: couldn't find similar ones, brand is Pascucci. 

- Necklace: Phantasya (similar)

- Dress 2: Karen Millen (from years ago)

- Shoes 2: Peter Kaiser

I love Singing

 „You sang really well tonight.“

I sing in a choir with 100 members and hearing that sentence from the conductor just felt great.

I have liked singing ever since I can remember, my mum brought me to it. I sang in my high school choir, then joined the uni choir, as well as the choir I sing in now. We are called „Audite Nova Zug“. We sing everything from classical stuff like the Messiah to Rock and Pop Classics.

Hearing that sentence gave me a great feeling, especially since our choir is so big. I have never had big ambitions with singing, that’s why a choir is actually perfect. I dream of singing a little solo once maybe, but I also know that there are better singers out there.

I got to every rehearsal, sit in the front, enjoy it, learn fast, can read music, sing off by heart and it’s just wonderful to get some appreciation for it. Normally, people like me are overshadowed by the talented ones, even though they are never there. I got the chance in high school, where I had solo parts in a musical and I also got the chance in the little choir I was helping out at. However, that chance was taken from me in front of everyone, with the reason that my voice didn’t fit. Of course the explanation is understandable, it might be true that other voices sound better together, but it put me really down. I really needed this and it just makes me even more passionate about music and singing.

I had voice lessons from the start, in high school and then also at uni and I really learned a lot. The more you practice the more you also realize how important the technique of singing is. That actually surprises me when I look at famous singers and stars, especially Adele. She used the wrong technique and even now I still don’t like the way she sings; I still think it’s the wrong technique. It’s not about the strong voice, because a lot of stars just push and press, which is not good. Another thing I have realized is that the key and tones are actually set really low in their songs, which makes it easier for them to reach the high notes and everyone is amazed. In the end the high note is not even that high. Of course not all the singers are doing it, which makes me like all the others even more.

Our next project after the Messiah is going to Musical Classics, which I’m really excited about, because I love musical theatre so much. Singing is one of my biggest hobbies and I wouldn’t want to change it for anything. It brings my joy every day!!!

Things I don’t Understand I: People (Not) Coming to Our Concerts/Performances

Welcome to a new little series on Simona’s Corner of Dreams, there are several things I just don’t understand when it comes to life and people, so let’s talk about them. First up are a few things that are connected to the concerts I sing.

Being part of a choir and a theatre group makes it a given thing that I’m on stage performing or singing quite a lot. The thing that follows after that are friends and family coming to these concerts/performances.

In the theatre group we do musicals and I only do them myself when I like the show and the music. In the choir we mostly do classical thing, mixed with accapella, contemporary or projects like Cinema/Rock & Pop Classics. The classics masses or requiems are not everyone’s taste and I totally understand that. The best example is probably my brother. He only comes tot he concerts when he likes the music. That’s important to him, even though he knows my mum and me and we are both on stage.

I always tell all my friends about the concerts, I usually send them the flyer or give it to them personally. With Chess last year I did a bit more, because the music is just fab (hello the ABBA men wrote it!) and it was huge with projections and more. Of course mum and I did the same with family. Anyway, most people sounded interested and booked immediately. Then there are the others who always tell you that it sounds interesting and that they will book soon. The next time you ask them, they still haven’t booked. Then you tell them that the good seats are gone and they have to hurry up, they don’t though. In the end they don’t show up at all, ask you how it went and said that they just had too much going on. In most cases that’s just not true though. It’s always funny when somebody else comes up and says how great it was, then the ones who didn’t come, come up with excuses.

Then there are the ones who come and afterwards all they can say that it was good. No details, no big words, just “it was good” or “I liked it”. After these comments it’s always great to hear people you barely know say something positive. Sometimes they can’t stop anymore.

I love performing or singing on stage, I love making people happy with it and petting a smile on their faces.

I don’t expect my family and friends to come to every single show or concert, but at least by honest about why you can’t come or about how you liked it. 

A Special Weekend - Choir Concert Version

As most of you probably know I sing in a choir. We are called „Audite Nova Zug“ and sing a mixture of classical things like masses or requiems, but also acapella songs rock/pop or musicals.

A concert weekend with our choir actually starts the Monday before the concert with our last rehearsal in our normal rehearsal place. We usually just do a run through all the pieces we sing.

The next time we me after that is usually a Thursday (if the concerts are on Saturday and Sunday). We usually assemble on stage and place ourselves. Most of the time there are three people per voice group in one group, that can differ though. I like to stand in the first row. First of all because I am small and I want to see something and I just like the first row. It’s funny how some people want to stand in first row, but when they realise that they are not seen there (steps and orchestra in the way) they move to the back. In the soprano section we always have some discussions, because everyone feels like “I have to stand here and I don’t move”. After placing ourselves we do a warm up and then the rehearsal stars. It’s always the first rehearsal with the orchestra. The rehearsals before that are usually done with a pianist, so that our conductor can actually do his job.

So we do a run through, but with stops in between. There our conductor makes some corrections, says a few things and some pieces just have to be done several times, because the timing between orchestra and choir is not accurate or something like that.

In the break we always practice leaving the stage and walking on stage. That might sound stupid, but it’s really important. People look at this and they like having a clear order.

Well, and then we just continue until we’re done.

The day after we have another rehearsal (Friday). There we do a proper run through without any interruptions. Of course we do a warm up first and there are always things to discuss.

Then there is Saturday! The day of the first concert. The concert usually starts at 7.30 pm. We have lots to prepare before, like numbering seats or putting out programs. I always volunteer for jobs like this, because I want to help. Then we have a warm up and about 10 to 15 minutes before the concert starts we stand in our rows, ready to head to the venue and on stage. Then it all stars. Most of the time we have a break in between as well. Before the concert there is always an introduction to the piece and the composer for the audience.

After the concert it’s time to catch up with guests and see if they liked it.

On the Sunday we have a second concert, that one starts at 5.00 pm. Same procedure as Saturday, the only difference is that we have an aperitif for our sponsor after the concert. We all work there and help and it’s also great to have our guests join.

After a week like that I’m just exhausted ;) Using the voice and the long standing are all you need for that. That’s why we usually don’t have a rehearsal the day after.