Personal Narrative: An Origin Story

Completing her final musical at NorthWood High School just a few weeks ago, Sara Bowling finds herself at an interesting crossroads in terms of her performance career. While she possesses a lifelong history with musical performance, beginning in her earliest memories, she is coming to terms with an understanding of the fleeting nature of the opportunities provided to her throughout her early life. A senior at NorthWood High School, Sara’s eyes are fixed on the murky but exciting adventure that is her future. She intends to pursue her post-secondary education at Ball State University, starting next fall, and aspires to complete all four years there as a member of their honors college. That said, she is clear that while her enjoyment of music remains, her future pursuit of performance is entirely uncertain.

Walking on stage to play our last song there I was waiting for this “surprise”. The next thing you know I see this group of peer females walking on stage, for a second I was like “Who are they?” and as I got closer I seen they were one of my favorite all-female mariachi group! This particular group is a Grammy award-winning group and is considered one of the best all-female mariachi. “What?! This is amazing!” I repeatedly said I couldn’t believe it. So we performed our last song with them and at that very exact moment, it’s when it hit me. I had a clear understanding that both of the mariachi groups were playing the same exact song, with the same rhythm and tempo. I was surprised we could actually catch up to them. The moment was indescribable

Let’s back up, I walked into the BCPA studios with my binder full of the music I was going to sing, and excitement racing through me. BCPA is known for great shows and great performers, and I couldn’t wait to be a part of it. We would be performing a Broadway Revue-two acts with musical sets from different big hit musicals, some from Broadway themselves. Musicals such as Chorus Line, Dear Edwina, Footloose, Heathers/Carrie, Book of Mormon, and more. One of the fun parts about this show is we were to have a live band, and my dad would be the drummer! This would be our first show onstage together, and I couldn’t wait.

The concert that I went to the “Vocal Jazz Ensemble” on the date of May 21. Performance from the Vocal Jazz Ensemble and special guest Final Note-Us, both group performed extremely well and sang great songs. The concert consisted of eight songs, two from Final Note-Us group and six from the main performers Vocal Jazz Ensemble. There were thirteen vocalist in the opening group and a pianist, while the main group had twelve vocalist, one pianist, one bass, and one drum. Before hand going to the concert I thought it would’ve been the same boring concert I been to, but this one opened my eyes, from the very beginning I got hooked into the concert. If I a chance to rewatch the performance I would do it and open me up to not

I arrived early, so I assisted Dr. Hirokawa set up the stage with risers and a grand piano. Dr.Hirokawa conducted a brief dress rehearsal and then lingered and made slight changes to the music. The room was crowded with music posters and pictures of multiple famous composers. Our passion was going to change the world like they did. Anticipating this day for months, at last the time came. We made our way to the auditorium doors, as we entered, the room grew silent. We ambled silently to the stage smiling. Staring into space, standing on the risers, just as rehearsed. The gorgeous sound of the piano suddenly was heard and I felt a chill down my spine. We sang and danced gracefully on the stage. As the first song came to an end, I went to center stage and raised my hands in the air, I was playing the part of Anne, at that moment the rest of the choir followed. I scanned the audience, I saw tears. We continued to sing. Some songs were about joyful experiences, while some were not. At the end of the last song of the composition, I and others who had posed as Anne, went to the front of the stage. We conveyed a deep sadness to the audience through our music, now understanding how Anne felt as well. Then, we sang one last song, “I Choose Love” written by Mark Miller to close our concert. All I could think about is how the people in the audience felt how Anne felt as I exited the stage.

When I was in the third grade and began to take an interest in musicals, my two best friends and I decided we would perform “Popular” from Wicked in our school’s talent show. I was looking forward to having fun with my friends onstage, but secretly I was wondering what I had gotten myself into. I had so many doubts about going onstage in front of my entire school. What if they thought I sang badly? Why didn’t we use backup music? Pink is definitely not my color. It was my first time singing by myself with a large audience watching me, but nonetheless, the three of us went onstage. Regardless of what others may have thought about us, we all felt exhilarated and relieved once we were done.

So, we began our discussion by brainstorming the project’s aim and mission, which was a bit trickier than first envisioned. This process involved lots of revisions and patience, also highlighted the importance of compromising and understanding, as there were ideas I had to let go, while also successfully convincing my friend to align with some of mine. After coming to a satisfactory vision, we began to reach out into our own network of colleagues to form a roster of musicians. We initially thought it would be a bit difficult to bring these rather independent individuals together, but surprisingly, many expressed great interest in the

For the remainder of the month we got together three times a week to write, rehearse and iron out details of the show. That was one of the most stress filled, exciting months of my life. On one hand the pressure of the show gave us motivation to make more progress in music that i feel like i ever had in my entire life, but on the other hand that creeping feeling that we weren't going to be prepared enough by the time the show rolled around was just as constant. After weeks of stress filled practices and promoting the show to our friends and family, and around town, the night was finally

They kept saying, “ It’s one concert , it doesn’t mean anything!” Unfortunately I was so caught up in my grief that I continued whining about how badly I played.

When was the last time you were offered a solo, duet, or even a triplet opportunity? My friends and I wanted to take this opportunity and become the best that we could be. Everyone was there including my parents and all the other parents that were there to see the other kids who were performing. The pressure was building up and I was starting to get nervous.

This year was my last year at The Little Middle School. Even though I’ve had a lot of speed bumps, I’ve accomplished a lot of stuff. From learning new instruments to working on my ability to focus, I’ve grown a lot.

All the judges were going to look at was me and only me, I had nothing to help cover up my mistakes. I took some deep breathes as I was announced, and walked out into my first formation on stage. As the music started I was doing okay, then I looked into one of the judges eyes and I blanked. I could not remember the rest of my choreography. I had let my nerves get the best of me! I had heard enough times from my instructor that the judges do not know our solos so we can improvise something. I did just that, but when I walked off that stage I was disappointed in myself. My whole family had shown up just to see me forget my solo! I could not bare to face my family and see the looks of disappointment on their faces. I went back to the dressing room to get ready for awards, as I was finished I had worked up enough courage to go see my family. As I was walking out the doors I was shocked to see my family standing in the waiting area smiling from ear to ear. I walked up to my mom crying because I thought she would be disappointed in me and her opinion matters the most to me. My mom told me that she was so proud of me because I had the courage to go out on that stage and perform all by

We opened the show with a trio that my friend had been working on since the beginning of year and it was up hill from there. Piece after piece we came on and performed what we had learned and showcased our talents. My friends did a duet rite before I sang my final song. As the bowed I began to get nervous. Hand shaking I walk out on stage with my stool trying to tell myself that this is going to go great. As Mrs. Storti begins to play my intro the piano soothes me a little and I open my mouth to sing and nothing comes out. At this point my voice teacher is replaying the intro and I am staring at all these people I've invited blankly. A minutes goes by and I finally get up the courage to look at Mrs. Storti who tells me to get my she music that I have backstage. Although I got through “Harbenra” it was not as big or dramatic as I had

The group I was in we had took the idea from the acting lessons and we worked around that idea. We done a scene on bullying, when we were devising the storyline, this took up most of rehearsals due to we had took this idea and we were going to have a go at taking domestic violence within a family and in the end it would turn into a death of someone. Within rehearsals up to this point we had got a lot done. I enjoyed working with Whitney, Tia and Abbie because we all have different skills to bring into the group and I didn’t think I would be singing or dancing, but I got a chance to take this on.

The night was filled with fun and laughter, but not the jeering that I had nervously anticipated. Even though the crowd was small, to this day I swear that it was the biggest applause I have ever received. I remember with great clarity the words that I heard as I left that night: “Never stop doing what you are doing.” I did not. Inspired by the performers I had witnessed, I began practicing more and even started to write original music. I continued to learn more things about the powerful art form known as song. From this point, a thought began to crystallize into a dream, and I became more serious about pursuing a career in this field of work. I continued to attend these open mics every available Sunday. I even experiencing new music venues, but none seemed to match the happy and positive energy of “Chaplin’s”. I grew more and more confident while performing and interacting with audience members. One Sunday in mid-December, I saw a flyer for a competition based on open mics. I immediately signed up and auditioned. I was ecstatic when I received the email that I made it to the next round. Ms. Lori guided me along this journey and once again helped me to pick and vigorously practice my set. On the night of the competition in the beginning of January, “Chaplin’s” was more crowded than the typical open mics. After an amazing night of unique and powerful music, the results revealed that I had