Yes, I feel more inspired than ever, and it's not just because of the music, but because of the musicians, the people around me, my friends, and everyone involved in these very special musical projects. In the video above, I've included a bit of Venezuelan choral music, but it's just a small sample of everything that happened yesterday in our concert hall. Although this isn't the choir I'm a member of, it's actually a video and footage of the Ángel Sauce Youth Choir, our "children," so to speak. And it wasn't just any concert; this was the graduation recital of a friend who sings in our alto section, earning her Bachelor of Music degree with a specialization in choral conducting.
I think the best part was that I hadn't planned on attending. We, the National Choir, had a rehearsal for the opera Parsifal at another theater, but as soon as the concert ended, one of the husbands in my choir told me we could go to this graduation concert, even though we'd arrive a little late, and I joined the adventure. I only missed the first song they sang, but I was practically there for the entire concert, watching all the young singers from my institution doing a fantastic job, and of course, the conductor who was earning her degree, pouring her heart and soul into it. The other thing I loved most was witnessing the moment when the university jury approved her for the music degree. It was a very emotional moment that summarized so many years of effort and of supporting her along the way.
The only downside to arriving so late is that I couldn't get a seat in the front row, and you know how much I love taking photos and videos. Although, by the time I recorded the video I'm sharing above, I'd already moved down to the front rows of the theater. The first few pictures aren't signed because I took them with a lot of affection for Oriana Martinez, the director, and others were exclusively for some friends of the young choir. Seeing them, so much younger than us—they're in their 20s, while those of us in the national choir are generally in our 30s 😅 makes me very happy and fills me with national pride, because here in Venezuela, singers are popping up everywhere, and it's not just choir members; there are many people here training to be soloists.
There have been many graduations lately. In our group, we're no longer just singers; several of us have earned our university degrees from the conservatory, making our choir a truly professional choir in every sense, beyond just talent. I hope moments like this continue, and that I myself can achieve a new musical milestone and celebrate it with my colleagues. Right now, I feel very inspired to continue on this path. I'll say goodbye now. I hope you enjoyed the music video and the few pictures I managed to capture, even though I was quite far away in the hall. I'll leave you with this selfie with the soon-to-be graduate.