On April 18, over 20 choir members from the Chamber Choir and JC Singers Show Choir arrived at the high school a little too eager for the call time of 5:30 in the morning along with four chaperones, including Junction City High School choir director, Michael Brown. Our choir was asked by the choral directors at Kansas State University, Dr. Oppenheim and Dr. Yu, to participate in the National Festival Chorus at Carnegie Hall along with their college students and several other schools. Here is a journal of my experience:

“I have found out that there ain’t no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them.” -Mark Twain

            I definitely agree with Twain there. With over 24 hours on a bus one way breathing everyone’s air (and gas…), early mornings squished in truckstop restrooms bumping elbows applying mascara and primping our hair, long, tiring days of rehearsals and sightseeing, and three nights in a hotel room shared with three other people, personal space was nonexistent. We were constantly together.

Although we got under each other’s skin at some moments, maybe more than some, I feel if I were to have been surrounded by any other group of people, the experience would not have been close to as enjoyable as it was. All of us became extremely close, both emotionally and physically, by the end of the trip. Some of the best memories I made were the ones made with my three best friends that I was paired with as roommates. I do not think there was ever a time that we were not laughing while we were together- maybe it was the lack of sleep, but everything was funny.

The most memorable event was performing at Carnegie Hall. There are no words to describe the feeling of standing on such a huge stage and looking out to five levels of red chairs. You just feel… small. It was such a humbling experience to rehearse and perform with so many talented people on a stage with incredible history. After spending hours learning and rehearsing the pieces, it was such a relief to finally put down that black folder. Even so, I would gladly do it all over again in a heartbeat.

Even though we saw and did really big, exciting things while in New York, I think the memories I will remember the most are the smaller ones that were made between the huge things we did. Something always funny or interesting happened on the way to the “sights of the day” and there was never a dull moment. I missed New York City the minute I got on the bus to leave for Kansas. Leaving New York, I gained so many sights ingrained in my mind and sounds you only hear in the city, a lighter wallet along with a heavier bag, and most importantly, some of the greatest memories and eagerness to go back soon.