Simple Gifts

Have few minutes before lunch, wanted to share how our choir concert went last night. We all looked so smart, in white and black outfits, guys were wearing bowties, so cute! Took a lot of pictures, will post them later. Dr. Varqa was at the concert which made it a very special event. The hall was almost full with the exception of few emtly seets in front. Sometimes people are too shy to sit in front and sometimes they prefer to veiw things a bit from a distance. When Theresa (Kipp) announced the Bahai World Centre Choir, the audience started clapping and cheering us by wisteling and hoohing. We came on stage and my heart was trying to jump out of my mouth very badly. I couldn't sing the first song - needed some time to calm myself down, so i just mouthed it out. The atmosphere was great, the audience was so loving and cheering, our conductor, Franco (Aquino), was very encouraging, always smiling and giving us some hints to support us. I coudn't help crying while singing "Dastam Begir Abdul Baha", i love this song so much, and of course, our soloist "Corinne Padilla" did a great job singing it. i heard so many people saying that they cried:) We danced while singing "Bare Necesseties", it was so much fun and absolute surprise for the audience, they were laughing and clapping to the bit of the song. Children joined us for the prayer "O God, my God", they were so cute in their little suits and girls with their little dresses, trying to follow conductor's movements:) Franco's sister Sheila (Aquino-Birung) came to visit her family here and did a solo for two songs, one of which was a finale of the concert, "O, Bahaullah". We did it with the sound track, it sounded very emotional, especially becouse this is her first visit to the Holy Land and first time she performed in front of the Hand of the Cause and Institution members, she cried when we presented a huge, beautiful bouquet of flowers to her. It was a surprise for our soloists Sheila and Corinne and for Franco as well. Everything just worked out so well, we managed ot collect money and keep the flowers away from their eyes. Amirskiy (my zhanym) helped a lot by bringing them back stage before the last song so we could present them at the end of the concert. Our stage and technical crew worked so hard putting things together, i am so amased by their selfless services. We had a 15 minutes slideshow in between of the two parts of the concert, choir members didn't have a chance to see it properly yet due to being occupied with vocalizing and learning lyrics, but Kevin, who put the slides together has said he will show it to us separately. It consisted of some history of the choir, had some videos from defferent concerts and pictures of past and present. People were so uplifted and happy after the show, indeed music has a great efect on human souls.

"...We, verily, have made music as a ladder for your souls, a means whereby they may be lifted up unto the realm on high;..." (Baha'u'llah: The Kitab-i-Aqdas, Page: 38)