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Another Day, Another Concert

This afternoon I'll sing in a (short) concert of South African songs as part of a choral ensemble of twenty-one singers. I've been in concerts several times a year for about fifty-five years now and I'm okay with being in front of an audience. It's easier when I've rehearsed the songs often enough to have them be muscle memory as with today. I won't claim that my pronunciation is perfect but it's not bad and I think I've got the tunes down.

My current choral ensemble is tied to my work (it is a student-group at my university that they kindly allow me to sing with) and with my commute it probably won't continue after retirement. There are some very good local choral ensembles and barring physical infirmity I intend to continue singing as long as I can.

I've never been very athletic, and insofar as I was once in good shape I ran long-distance, by myself and not as part of a team. I started musical ensembles in my childhood and I credit them with whatever teamwork I've picked up a long the way.

In particular I value that the teamwork is not overtly competitive; I can succeed without causing someone to fail. If anything my success depends on the success of those around me, which has been a useful model for my interaction with others.

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