I was always in the school choir when I was young, so I did so frequently, but the question brought to mind one particular time when I had to sing solo in front of the whole school and students' parents.
I was eight years old, I was at junior school and I was crowned Rose Queen.
I was so proud! It was a great honour to be chosen to be Rose Queen, an annual event held in May. I got to wear the Rose Queen Crown, a pink taffeta dress covered in lace and decorated with rosebuds, a satin train embroidered with seed pearls and carry a bouquet of roses. Parents had to provide the dress, everything else was provided by school. Luckily I had recently been a bridesmaid at a family wedding so the dress I'd worn for that was just perfect and of course I had shoes to match.
I had weeks of rehearsals when my four attendants, two page boys and I practised walking along the red carpet to the dias where I was to be crowned. The page boys scattered rose petals in front of me whilst my attendants carried my train. I had to learn the traditional song and a speech, both of which I had to deliver at the closing of the crowning ceremony - I can't remember either of them now but it was a loooooong time ago!
Mum was there to see me (Dad had to work) and as far as I can remember everything went perfectly. The following year I had hand my crown over to the new Rose Queen, so of course I got another fancy dress but thankfully I didn't have to sing solo.
Have you every sung solo in front of an audience?
38 comments:
Hi Akela - I had, in the past...the last time I sang in public was on stage this past August - singing "Sweet Child o' mine" & "Wild World" for a friend's birthday...the wine helped too! ;-)
Please send my love to Queenie.
I was a choirboy at Leeds Grammar School but once my voice broke I couldn't sing for toffee; still can't but have been known to sing in bath...
Ahh you look so cute.
I sang 'Once in Royal David's City' to a packed church at midnight mass when I was 10. It was very scary but I think I did ok.
I do (sort of) twice a week at our Baby Bounce & Rhyme sessions. Trouble is...I can't sing!!
Karaoke- and yes adult beverages were involved...
Oh heavens, NO!!!! Never. Not gonna happen!
It sounds like quite a production to be the Rose Queen! And you look positively THRILLED in the picture! So cute!
Oh well done Bella I can just see you singing those! I'll pass on your good wishes to Queenie.
Ah singing in the bath always sounds good Dumdad! ;)
I'm sure you sang beautifully Jo :)
I bet the children think you sound wonderful CG!
Hehe, Karaoke and alcohol have a lot to answer for Buff!
You don't sing RLL? Not even in the bath? I was thrilled, it was a real honour to be chosen. :)
oh my gosh, you look so beautiful!!! and no, i never have, and you can be glad! ha ha ha
smiles, bee
xxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
What a great picture and memory you've shared with us!
I'd love to be able to sing, in public, in private, anywhere. I'm always asked not to sing, though.
What an honor!
Me sing? LOL .. trust me I cant carry a tune .. not even in a bucket (not that I ever understood what that means)....
I dont even sing Happy Birthday without making people's ears bleed.
I am not exaggerating.
:-Daryl
Aw thanks Bee, I bet you can sing really. :)
Glad you enjoyed the post Nitebyrd. If you like to sing you should - you know the old saying 'Sing like there's nobody's listening!'
Oh Daryl you can't be that bad surely?
never solo! birds would fall from the sky lol
what a lovely memory. I enjoyed picturing you learning to walk the red carpet. you're such a star :)
LOL! Yes, great minds think alike...
You look absolutely bursting with joy to be the Rose Queen. Your dress sounds so beautiful. And the page boys and attendents and rose petals - wow.
I last sang alone in public at my brother-in-law's karaoke show in Toronto. I sang 'Witchcraft' (Frank Sinatra) and 'I Feel Fine' (The Beatles.) My husband sang 'Cat People' (David Bowie) and 'Love Cats' (The Cure.)
If we buy the CD, will you sign it for us?
Please?
OMG, Akelamalu...that photo of you is FABULOUS!!!
DAMN...you REALLY DO look like a QUEEN!
And to think that you got to wear that crown for a whole year!!!
(did you ever shower with it?)
I wish I could have been there, and been one of the page boys scattering rose petals at your feet!
And yes...with my theater background, I have sung solo in front of an audience. But no matter how many times I did it...I STILL got nervous!!!
Thanks so much for sharing this wonderful memory, dear lady!
I mean...dear QUEEN!
What a great picture that is. You were a cutey!
I had to sing with another little girl at church when we were about 6 yrs old. We both got the giggles and couldn't finish the song and our mothers made us just sit down. Later, I was in a triple trio when I was in high school. I think the music teacher put me there just because she needed a body for the right number to complete the triple trio! Space filler. That's me!
Donnetta
What a gorgeous picture!
I used to be in the choir at school and I've embarrassed myself at kareoke, but that's about it.
And still IS a beauty....
I've never heard the music on your blog before....New Lap Top!!
hehehee
I LOVE singing. Unfortunately, no one likes listening to me. Like you, I was always in the choir at school, belting out songs to my heart's content at the back of the chorus. I've never sung solo but I was once one of a trio which sang a harmonising folk song for the school concert - dread to think what it sounded like!
I thought you were going to say 'you're such a diva' Dianne! LOL
I'm sure you have a love voice Julia. We're all singers in our house, except the sewing machine that's a Jones! :)
Of course David ((wink))
LOL It would have been an honour to have you as a page boy Ron! x
Oh a fit of the giggles at the most inappropriate time eh Donnetta - naughty girls. ;)
You had to be good to be in choir Laney, I'd love to hear you doing karaoke. :)
You've never heard my music g-man? Now you know what you've been missing all this time. :)
Hey if you were chosen to do it you must have been good AMKT! Nice to see you back honey. x
What a great picture!
Me, uh, NO never sang solo. I was in a few high school musicals only because they needed bodies to fill the stage. I sang very low or was doing a lip sync most of the time. Otherwise I would have been laughed off the stage. I don't even hum well. :(
'don't even hum well' LOL Crystalchick
Yes--a captive audience. My second-grade class. When the music teacher was trying to figure out where we should stand in the glee club. I sweat that one out and hated every minute of it. My daughter sings in a choir and does solos from time to time. I admire her courage!
I've never sung in public. Ever. Scary prospect, scarier sound. :)
Hmmm … seems like that question might have been posed on Small Reflections recently as part of something else … perhaps Weekend Whimsies? How fun to read of your junior high singing experience … it reminds me of similar moments in my own life, but I’m crunched for time and have no idea where the ‘clippings’ might be at the moment …(though I’m sure they’re here somewhere). I did sing solos, but much preferred singing duets with my sister and with a ‘folk group’ for 15years or so in my 20s and 30s … but eventually gave it up for other interests once some of the members started having children of their own.
Hugs and blessings,
And what a beautiful little Rose Queen you were, too!
hugs
Sandi
I love this picture of you! I enjoyed this walk down memory lane with you. I used to teach first grade so I sang a lot in front of my students but the minute another adult would enter the class I would freeze! I love to sing loudly when I am driving in the car and the radio is blasting. I also sing whenever I come and hang out here - your music is the best!
Oh geeze, not since I was a kid! I keep my singing confined to the shower! hahaha
LOVE the picture! You made a very cute Rose Queen! ;)
Weren't you just a perfectly lovely little rose queen!
The only public singing I do is in my car with the windows rolled up. I don't have a good singing voice.
I admire anyone who has the courage to sing in public Sandy. I was young and naive and thought I could sing! LOL
There's no way I'd sing in public now angie I've realised I can't sing!
I did say I'd seen the question on someone's blog Storyteller it may have been yours. You sang with a folk group? Were you famous?
Aw thanks Sandi, hugs to you too honey. x
I always remember my nursery teacher singing to us - I loved her! So glad you enjoyed my memory and my music Deb x
Me too now This Guy and thanks m'dear. :)
Flattery will get you everywhere Trav thankyou. Ah singing in the car - my favourite!
nope, never had to
was painfully shy - but, strangely, was okay with acting.
that is SUCH a cute picture of you
Those Rose Queen! That's fantastic.
I've NEVER sung in public...and I consider that a random act of kindness. :)
Just linked to you from Angie with Seven Clown Circus!! Love your blog!!
I was painfully shy too when I was young Lettie and it really was an ordeal for me to sing in public I can tell you.
Thanks Citizen x
Welcome Mama'slosinit I'm so happy you enjoyed your visit, please do come back again. :)
What a great story and a fantastic photo. I have also sung in the school choir but otherwise not knowingly in public. Well not in a sober state anyway!! ;)
The last line on your comment made me chuckle Suburbia - stranged how alcohol makes us think we can sing isn't it? LOL
I was also in the school choir. We sang at various concerts in the city. I haven't sang in public since.
Post a Comment