The March Volunteer Concert was planned to be held at School of Imagination (https://www.schoolofimagination.org/) on 03/13/2020. However, it was canceled the night before due to the closures and restrictions caused by COVID-19.
By Chloe Jeon
When I first looked at the music, I was going to play for the March performance, I balked. I had expected simple whole note chords to accompany the beautiful melody of “You Raise Me Up”: something I could easily sightread in a day. However, what I got instead was 3-on-2 rhythms and a whole page where I played the melody — meaning that I actually had to practice the music. So I did. By the time Thursday rolled around I was proud of the time and effort I had put in to perfect the music, when that night, I received an email saying that the performance would be cancelled. I had mixed feelings. I was glad /that we wouldn’t have to expose ourselves and the kids to the potential risk of acquiring COVID-19, but at the same time, I was disappointed that we wouldn’t get to perform. However, I am grateful that we are safe and healthy thanks to self-isolation, and I look forward to the day when we can interact normally again (and maybe reschedule our performance for the kids?).
By Andrew Choi
Preparing the music for this performance was a lot of fun because I was playing a lot of stuff I had a played when I was much younger so revisiting those pieces were a lot of fun. When the performance was cancelled, I was a little disappointed but obviously there was nothing we could do about the circumstances but it was still nice to practice and go through the repertoire for the performance.
By Ella Jeon
About a week before the expected volunteer concert of March, we began practicing with high hopes and eager thoughts. I was especially excited, as we would be playing for a very young audience, which is something I’d never done before. However, during the night before our performance, it was announced that due to the wide-spreading coronavirus, we would not be able to play. Despite my disappointment of being unable to meet the little kids, I understand the need to cancel the meeting, as safety should always come first. On the other hand, I hope this world-wide issue will soon get better and that everyone stays healthy. Meanwhile, I look forward to possibly finding a way to reschedule the volunteer concert, and once again be able to play for the kids.
By Lauren Tran
When I first learned about the March volunteer concert for the preschoolers, I was eager to recall my past pieces when I was young. Some of the songs were exciting and nostalgic for me, so I was enthusiastic to perform them. When the March concert for the preschoolers was canceled due to the coronavirus, I was a bit disappointed. I would've loved to play for the preschoolers and share my passion for music with them. I also would have loved to see their reactions and feel the satisfaction and joy that overtakes you after benefitting others. Most importantly, I wanted to play together with my friends as a whole for the preschoolers. Not only would it be fun, but it would also show them that cooperation and harmony pay off after diligent work. Despite this, I still had an enjoyable time working on my pieces. I look forward to our next performance and am hopeful that everyone stays safe during these challenging times.
