FROM TURTLE CREEK CHORALE BLOG:

Hai Duong, age 18

I almost could not believe the series of events that ultimately brought me to join Dallas Pump! It’s almost too unreal.

Because of the infamous curriculum at Richland Collegiate High School, I wasn’t able to make it to Youth First Texas as often as I would have liked in the first place. One Thursday night during group discussion, Dr. Jonathan Palant announced that a choir was to be organized.

My friends and I were instantly fascinated. It was really exciting, but we feared the worst. We didn’t think we were going to be able to commit the time. This new choir would be a great opportunity for me to make friends and have fun while completing my Service Learning hours.

I impulsively signed up.

I anxiously waited for our first meeting and checked the website and Facebook page to assure I wouldn’t go crazy. Our first rehearsal was too short. There was so much to do—so much that I wanted to do! It was all so nostalgic – the silly warm ups, the beautiful voices and the footprints of notes on our sheet music. I looked forward to Wednesday every week now because of rehearsal. It made “hump day” much more fun for me.

One rehearsal, Dr. Palant paused after one of our songs to tell us how proud our audience would be of us. It was then that everything was clear to me. Everyone giggled it off including me, but doesn’t that just make your heart melt?

Our first performance, at the House of Blues, was such a pleasant start for us. Right before we got on stage, Dr. Palant took us out back to give us our pep talk. I couldn’t help but notice he has been nothing but positive and supportive of us the whole way. I couldn’t believe everything that was done by everybody to make it all happen. Regardless of whatever happened that night, all of my doubts and fears unraveled. Everything we worked for paid off, and it was worth more than anything!

I am now so psyched that I actually get to perform with a professional choir! I see only more great experience for us in the future.

Giancarlo Mossi, age 17

Life is giving me a second chance to fulfill my dreams of being in an advanced and ‘out’ chorus!

I was accepted into varsity choir at Plano Senior High School (with three Grammy awards to its name), but had to drop out in order to join another required class. When I heard about Dallas PUMP! I thought, “Oh snap! Life has given me another chance.” As time when on, I realized I was getting exactly what I was looking for…and I didn’t even have to hide whom I was inside! I could be me! At the same time, we were enjoying something we have in common…music AND the desire to change the world. We became Dallas PUMP!

As for the Turtle Creek Chorale, it is an honor to sing with people who have already begun to alter the future. At the same time I am very nervous and anxious to sing with them, but know we will do great and have a blast singing together.

We are not afraid to be who we are and sing out loud. Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “To believe in your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all of men—that is genius.”