Audition for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir: In person audition - Phase III
I was surprised to receive a letter in the mail on October 29th (Ileina's Birthday) that I had been selected to continue on with the next phase of the audition process. I was so excited. When I say excited I mean I was jumping up an down and giving thanks and just kind of outside of myself. It felt like Christmas to me in so many ways. I just could not stop smiling at all.
Part of me wanted to start telling people about it but there was a part of me that was so scared and nervous about it. I didn't want to say anything until the whole thing was done.
The third phase of the audition process had me scheduled for Wednesday, November 13, 2013 at 5:40 pm. It provide me with all the information related to the audition and what to expect. There was a dress code (nice pants, button up shirt) and it asked that I come early to fill out paperwork.
Eventually the excitement turned into fear and doubt. I'm not sure why it happened but it did. Unfortunately it happened on the day of the audition. I told Liana that I would not go because it would be humiliating to sing in front of Brother Wilberg. It's intimidating. He has an amazing ear and talent for music and to stand in front of him and sing, acapella and sight read music.... absolutely intimidating. Liana, the great wife that she is, continued to encourage me. She was so fantastic. Eventually she did not allow me to wallow in my insecurities for long before she grabbed the keys and took me to the audition herself. She drove me there and we talked about the process and my fears. She was reassuring despite my reservations.
Before I entered the building I ran into Lono. We talked for a bit outside of the Tabernacle about the audition. He made it this far too. After saying a silent prayer (not to do great but to be able to just do it) I entered the building. We were escorted to a room where we had to sign a form. The form was a release form so our likeness could be used without reservation by the choir.
I then had an interview with President Jarrett. He is the President of the Choir. He was such a kind, gentle man. As we entered the usher introduced us but could not pronounce my name so I introduced myself. President Jarrett immediately asked me if I knew a President Kinikini. I thought he meant my cousin so I said, "yes." He then said he knew and had worked with President Kinikini during the formation of the Tongan Stake. Then I knew it was my dad. How amazing was that? After all these years I felt as if my father sent me a lifeline to say, "Son, I'm still here. I want you to know that I'm still here." We chatted for a bit out his familiarity with the Tongans and Polynesians. I really enjoyed our conversation. He was such a kind and wonderful man. He calmed me down.
He asked me why I wanted to join the choir and if this was the right time to do so. I told him about my father bringing me to the Tabernacle when I was young and hearing them. I remembered how beautiful the sound was and that I have always wanted to be a part of it.
I was so grateful to just be in this position even if it did not work out.
President Jarrett said something that still sticks with me. He said that while the in-person audition may be intimidating he said that both Mack and Ryan will know after hearing the first line of my hymn whether I would be a good fit for the choir. I thought to myself, "I better get that first line down right."
After the interview I was escorted to the recording room. I met with Linda Marguettes outside. She asked me what I was going to sing. I told her, "Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy". She asked me in what key. I told her I would sing it the way it was written in the hymnbook. That's the way I practiced it anyway.
We entered and Ryan and Mack welcomed me with a warm smile. They were sitting at a table in the middle of the room. I stood by the piano in the center of the room. Mack invited me to relax but now the nerves were back and they were back with a vengeance. They were pleasant. I began to sing "Brightly Beams" and I tried to focus on the message of the song. I have a long history with this song, specifically with my dad, but I won't go into that now. Anyway, during the middle of the song Mack asked me to sing it louder, which I did. I do remember taking very large breaths so I could support and sustain sound. Probably bigger breaths than I needed. I'm surprised I didn't pass out. Mack asked me to do some other things during the course of the song. I can't remember them all but I followed his instruction as best I could. He was very specific. We then did some sight reading and he asked me some questions. I was so nervous. Palms sweating. I was hot. I had on a blazer and coat that seemed to be squeezing the air out of me.
Despite this Mack and Ryan were very warm and inviting. They even said they understood how nerve wracking this could be. I'm sure after seeing so many others come through feeling the same as I was feeling this was not new to them and they were accommodating to the whole process.
I've had the experience of being in a few acting auditions and while this was an audition I felt like Mack and Ryan were really rooting for me to do well. I need to remember to be this way when I begin casting for video and filming for work.
I noticed a camera on the back wall during my song that I thought was interesting. It was focused right on the center of the room. I don't know if the camera was on or off but I thought that maybe they had us sign the release form because they were filming this audition to review later. I don't know. It was probably my paranoia.
Everything was kind of a blur. I left the audition and walked outside and I felt a great sense of accomplishment. I had done it despite not wanting to do it at all and I felt better for it.
Regardless of the outcome I was happy that I had come this far and tried.
Liana was waiting for me and we drove home, laughing and talking about the experience. I wanted so badly to make it but with these things you just never know.
I was happy to complete this third phase of the audition process for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and things were literally out of my hands.
Part of me wanted to start telling people about it but there was a part of me that was so scared and nervous about it. I didn't want to say anything until the whole thing was done.
The third phase of the audition process had me scheduled for Wednesday, November 13, 2013 at 5:40 pm. It provide me with all the information related to the audition and what to expect. There was a dress code (nice pants, button up shirt) and it asked that I come early to fill out paperwork.
Eventually the excitement turned into fear and doubt. I'm not sure why it happened but it did. Unfortunately it happened on the day of the audition. I told Liana that I would not go because it would be humiliating to sing in front of Brother Wilberg. It's intimidating. He has an amazing ear and talent for music and to stand in front of him and sing, acapella and sight read music.... absolutely intimidating. Liana, the great wife that she is, continued to encourage me. She was so fantastic. Eventually she did not allow me to wallow in my insecurities for long before she grabbed the keys and took me to the audition herself. She drove me there and we talked about the process and my fears. She was reassuring despite my reservations.
Before I entered the building I ran into Lono. We talked for a bit outside of the Tabernacle about the audition. He made it this far too. After saying a silent prayer (not to do great but to be able to just do it) I entered the building. We were escorted to a room where we had to sign a form. The form was a release form so our likeness could be used without reservation by the choir.
I then had an interview with President Jarrett. He is the President of the Choir. He was such a kind, gentle man. As we entered the usher introduced us but could not pronounce my name so I introduced myself. President Jarrett immediately asked me if I knew a President Kinikini. I thought he meant my cousin so I said, "yes." He then said he knew and had worked with President Kinikini during the formation of the Tongan Stake. Then I knew it was my dad. How amazing was that? After all these years I felt as if my father sent me a lifeline to say, "Son, I'm still here. I want you to know that I'm still here." We chatted for a bit out his familiarity with the Tongans and Polynesians. I really enjoyed our conversation. He was such a kind and wonderful man. He calmed me down.
He asked me why I wanted to join the choir and if this was the right time to do so. I told him about my father bringing me to the Tabernacle when I was young and hearing them. I remembered how beautiful the sound was and that I have always wanted to be a part of it.
I was so grateful to just be in this position even if it did not work out.
President Jarrett said something that still sticks with me. He said that while the in-person audition may be intimidating he said that both Mack and Ryan will know after hearing the first line of my hymn whether I would be a good fit for the choir. I thought to myself, "I better get that first line down right."
After the interview I was escorted to the recording room. I met with Linda Marguettes outside. She asked me what I was going to sing. I told her, "Brightly Beams Our Father's Mercy". She asked me in what key. I told her I would sing it the way it was written in the hymnbook. That's the way I practiced it anyway.
We entered and Ryan and Mack welcomed me with a warm smile. They were sitting at a table in the middle of the room. I stood by the piano in the center of the room. Mack invited me to relax but now the nerves were back and they were back with a vengeance. They were pleasant. I began to sing "Brightly Beams" and I tried to focus on the message of the song. I have a long history with this song, specifically with my dad, but I won't go into that now. Anyway, during the middle of the song Mack asked me to sing it louder, which I did. I do remember taking very large breaths so I could support and sustain sound. Probably bigger breaths than I needed. I'm surprised I didn't pass out. Mack asked me to do some other things during the course of the song. I can't remember them all but I followed his instruction as best I could. He was very specific. We then did some sight reading and he asked me some questions. I was so nervous. Palms sweating. I was hot. I had on a blazer and coat that seemed to be squeezing the air out of me.
Despite this Mack and Ryan were very warm and inviting. They even said they understood how nerve wracking this could be. I'm sure after seeing so many others come through feeling the same as I was feeling this was not new to them and they were accommodating to the whole process.
I've had the experience of being in a few acting auditions and while this was an audition I felt like Mack and Ryan were really rooting for me to do well. I need to remember to be this way when I begin casting for video and filming for work.
I noticed a camera on the back wall during my song that I thought was interesting. It was focused right on the center of the room. I don't know if the camera was on or off but I thought that maybe they had us sign the release form because they were filming this audition to review later. I don't know. It was probably my paranoia.
Everything was kind of a blur. I left the audition and walked outside and I felt a great sense of accomplishment. I had done it despite not wanting to do it at all and I felt better for it.
Regardless of the outcome I was happy that I had come this far and tried.
Liana was waiting for me and we drove home, laughing and talking about the experience. I wanted so badly to make it but with these things you just never know.
I was happy to complete this third phase of the audition process for the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and things were literally out of my hands.
