Renee's 1st Solo Performance

Finally, the feeling of a heavy stone is finally relieved today, shortly after 4pm at The Lee Foundation Theatre.

 

At the beginning of this year, we were told that Renee was elected to audition for an opportunity of a soloist performance at Nafa School of Young Talents' annual year end concert.  After a few months of nagged preparation during the 1st semester, she was selected and it was around July or August that they started to prep her on the concert piece.  A few months of tensed/nagged enivornment(due to her laziness to practice!), she finally made it through today!

 

The pre-concert rehearsal began at 1pm and we were set to leave home around 12:30pm BUT, we left her dress at home and had to make a U-turn and thus, we were a little late.. Luckily, the young ones from the Prep Group took a tiny bit more co-ordination/arrangement, so we weren't deemed to be too late(her teacher was just about to ring us when we showed up though, hahaha).

 

As Rachel was not allowed in the concert, we took our helper along so that she could help us look after her when the concert begins.  However, she has to do that even before the concert starts because I was needed at the backstage.

 

We had thought that we could be allowed abit of time for a quick tea break after the 2 hour rehearsal(the whole process run-through), but we were told that the 1st batch of performers are to go to the dressing room straight away and thus, papa had to rush over to the bubble-tea shop to get Renee's/my favourite oreo vanilla shake + chocolate waffle.

 

Having detoured to look for papa, I had to bring Renee to the dressing room myself and had ended up at the 'groups' room but the Dept Head of Junior Music told me that there's another room at the other side for soloists and told us to go over...  However, that room was smaller and not wanting to go in there, I went into the next one(with more toilet cubicles) instead and got her ready there.

 

Her teacher then came by whilst we were munching on our waffle, and told me to get Renee to warm up a couple more times but the latter wasn't quite willing and did only half-heartedly, haiz...

 

When the concert was about to begin, the programme director(I'm not sure if this is her actual job title, hahaha) came to fetch Renee up and her teacher told me to go along with her.  On the way up to the backstage, the lady asked if I've got a seat ticket and if so, then I should go to the audience hall.  So, I went back to the dressing room, pick up the violin case, dress cover, etc etc and rushed back to my seat only to find that my hubby's not there...

 

Soon, my sister Li and good friend Vicky came in with hubby and before we could even say a proper hello to each other, the concert was ready to begin...

 

Sitting there, my heart was in a turmoil - between the want to go check on Rachel and the desire to be with Renee at the backstage, to give her more support if not to keep her warm... But I had to stay put in my seat, if I were to catch my precious girl's very 1st formal concert performance and so I kept telling myself to stay 'calm', hahaha.

 

When it came to Renee's turn to play(she was the 2nd soloist to perform after the prep group's performances), I daren't breathe.  I was secretly praying that she won't trip, make no mistake and a 'smooth' performance.  I'd held my breath til the very last bow she did and finally, I felt sooooo relieved!

 

After her performance, I waited for an opportunity for me to sneak out and straight away, I went to look for her at the dressing room.  I saw her sitting there, alone, looking kinda 'sad' and my heart went to her but she immediately light up the moment she saw me and I quickly gave her a hug.  Told her she did a good job and I'm proud of her.  She said she wasn't sad but felt tired and I guess this is what anxiety(she was really nervous then!) could do to one.

 

Although we felt that some of her home practices(even during rehearsal) had been better but this being her 1st formal performance and that she'd felt really nervous, we think she did not too bad, :).  Hopefully, should she be given another opportunity to perform, she'd do better.  For now, we're happy and glad that the concert's over, so we could concentrate on the next item on the list - Moving home tomorrow!

*Rachel had been good and had slept through the concert(outside the theatre hall, with the maid)...