Stake Conference. Are you kidding me?

A couple of weeks ago I received an e-mail from the Stake Committee chair about a meeting for the music of Stake Conference. I guess the tradition here in the Stake is for both Stake Conferences they always do a choir. So a few months before Stake Conference rolls around, people who enjoy being in the choir know it will happen.

Here I was thinking there would be 5-6 people in the meeting and possibly a member of the Stake Presidency there. Looking back I don't know what I was thinking, but like I have ever participated in music at a Stake level (let alone a ward level!). Mom told me I was expecting way to much and she was right (she often is).

It was the Stake Music chair, me, and a 15 year old girl named Rosita who is the other pianist.

So here is how it works. The two sessions of Stake Conference, the choir does two musical numbers. The Stake Music Chair, Hermano Salazar, asked Rosita and I what hymns we thought would be good. Well, we both shared some of our favorites. Then Brother Salazar divided them out. Rosita got assigned two, I got assigned the other two.

I am relieved because I don't want to have to worry about playing four musical numbers. I got assigned "For the Beauty of the Earth" and finding a lyrical arrangement to go with that was a pain in the neck. Not to mention practicing for it.

But here is where things get even more interesting. Hermano Salazar and I met previously to go over the songs and the arrangements. I told him since I'm up there playing the arrangements I might as well play the hymns for Stake Conference. He kind of got a little quiet and then said, "Um, you won't need to. Sister Alison will play them." I gave him this look like, "Are you kidding me?"

Sister Alison is the other pianist in my ward. The one who is a music teacher that nobody can stand to work with. Hence the reason I am so busy and valued. Hermano Salazar told me in the past she had accompanied the choir, but it did not go well. He said fortunately, she had always been pleasant with him. But before he was the director, he was there at rehearsals where she would just be yelling at members of the choir. Like people who were just being goofy and having fun. So I guess there became this new rule that she still plays the hymns for Stake Conference, but she does not work with the choir anymore.

I looked at Brother Salazar and said, "So let me get this straight. She goes up there and plays the opening hymn. Then I go up there and play the first song for the choir. She plays the intermediate hymn, then I go up there to play the last song for the choir, which is also the closing hymn?"

What is this? Musical pianists?

Hermano Salazar, who is on the High Council, said, "Look, Stake President asked me to take care of the choir. Beyond that, I have no say over what else happens."

Whatever.

Don't get me wrong. That's two less hymns I have to worry about playing. Add to that accompanying the Young Women for New Beginnings and also playing for primary, I am plenty occupied.

I'm so glad the school I'll be working at has pianos. Hopefully I can get some practicing in.