Concert..you should come :)

This Saturday evening, 7:00p.m. at Mount Hamilton Christian Reformed Church will be a choir concert. :) AOC is a weekend where teens from all over Ontario (as well as Michigan) come together to sing, have devotions, sectionals, and have some fun with some rather out of the ordinary activites...from Thursday to Saturday. None of us have seen the music that we'll be singing, so the concert that we put on Saturday evening is a result of two and half days practice! 

So if you have the night free, we'd love to have you join us!

Opinions!..Please!

Ok, I have a HUGE problem!

I just received an email asking me to represent Brantford at the Provincials (Music competition) in June....I was going to do it for sure, until I found out that it's on the same day as my graduation! :(:(:(

So I need some opinions..what do you think I should do???

If only...

Wow!

So as I said in two posts previous, I had several piano competitions this past week. Just as some inside insight as to previous attempts over the last what; 11 years? I have never won more than probably 5 firsts. I always either, place second or third, or tie with someone, or just simply..don't place :P So this year, I wasn't expecting anything different, I was going to play my best, and be happy with what the outcome was. Little did I know...(and much to my own teacher's shock), I won my class: Class 179 - Romantic: Papillons, Opus 2 by Robert Schumann. (aka...dreadfully long and most mentally exhausting composition!) 

   Anyways, I won that class..I thought I was done. I was rather shocked, but extremely happy about it...However, as I was handed my ribbon and critic page, I also received an envelope. In this envelope was an invitation....TO PLAY AT THE TROPHY COMPETITION ON SATURDAY NIGHT!

   " I don't want to do it!" was my super enthusiastic response :D "I'm done with that piece."

"Naomi Ruth Kroesbergen, you're playing." Funny how the same reply came from both my parents mouths...lol. I go to my teacher's house for a lesson on Tuesday..."Naomi, you have to play! And you HAVE to come for an extra lesson before that!" (spoken in thick Russian accent) 

   I was too busy to end up coming for another lesson..much to Olga's dismay :P But, I played anyways...because I had too. As I was sitting there waiting for my turn to come, I was praying 

" Lord, I'm asking you to just let me play my piece through, help me to not get distracted and just guide my fingers."

   "Naomi Kroesbergen." I walk up to the piano, heart pounding like a million and one hammers inside my chest...I bow..I take my place at the piano. I've never ever done something like this before in my entire life, so right at that moment, there's so many thoughts...so many second guesses swirling around inside my head. I need to focus. I take a deep breath and place my fingers on the keys...I start.

   Needless to say, I made it through the WHOLE 2o minutes of my song. Not perfect...there were several mistakes, a few wrong notes here and there...but overall, I was just relieved I made it through :) A silent prayer escaped my lips the second my fingers lifted off that last note, "Thank you Lord!"

   I walked back to my bench, and started to breath again..I didn't realize I had been holding my breath the whole entire time, until I sat down. (word of advice...breathe while you play, it's a whole lot more relaxing that way :D) The competition ended and the judges made their decisions. My name wasn't called that night for the W.Ross MacDonald Trophy...and I was okay with that. God had helped me play well, and that for me was so much more satisfying.

   

   So it's Sunday afternoon, we're all around the table eating soup (typical Dutch Sunday lunch :)..and the phone rings.

 "Hello, Naomi speaking..."

 "Hi Naomi, this is Naomi Morrison" (what a coincidence :P) "I just wanted to let you know that the judges have awarded you the Angus Jewellers Trophy as well as a scholarship, and they have chosen you to perform at the Stars of the Festival on Friday night."

 "WHAT?! Are you sure? I won a trophy?!" Not the most polite way to answer someone who you've never talked to before, let me tell you :P Anyways, as I said goodbye and clicked the 'end call' button on the phone..I just sat there. Five pairs of eyes looking expectingly at me..."I won a trophy...I can't believe it!" I still can't believe it, I'm still in shock. It's one of the most amazing surprise phone calls I have ever received...

   I can't actually perform on Friday, because I would much rather be at AOC enjoying coffee house..no stress added. :) But just the fact that I was given that opportunity...is "Wow!"..that's all I have to say right now.

   Thus ends my most excitingly, stressful and completely surprising week of April. I couldn't have done what I did by myself...so I guess what I'm trying to say is this: use your gifts for God. Don't play for the praise of man, and satisfaction of yourself...He was the one who gave you those talents, so trust Him to help you in using them for the furtherance of His glory. It's an incredible thing let me tell you!

Something to think about...

I need to be free from others...to be free for them.

relief...

So what do you get when you have a Russian music teacher?....competitions :P

I'm not gonna lie, I'm not a big fan of competing. I started playing when I was three, and taking lessons at five, and still to this day, really dislike playing in front of an audience...more specifically an adjudicator :P

I'm not saying I don't like the critic, as a matter of fact, I really enjoy taking "pointers" as to how I can make my music more musical :) It's more the heart murmurs, the sweaty fingers, the panic as you try to play through the music in your head and can't get past the first two bars...that sort of thing. Makes me stressed...

There is a reason for this incredibly random post...it being the fact that I just got home from two Associates classes for piano competition...intense and VERY close competition. All I have to say, is that the one class...I made a fool of poor Mr. Bach :P (never was a big fan anyways :D)

Anyways, enough for now...my brain is fried..enough music for one night :P 

Just because...

These verses have been shared with me by a very special couple...and because it struck me as such a comforting promise, I want to share it with you as well...

Jeremiah 29:11-13

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.

And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

February 7,2009 - Wedding of Wes and Jana Kroesbergen (photos :)