After months of preparation, we got to hold our 2023 Voices Production. It was a fantastic evening of shared community over spoken word pieces regarding themes of gender equality and LGBTQ+ rights. I performed 5 pieces in the show (with one even being a song) and it was an experience I am glad to have been part of. I was incredibly nervous and anxious during the performance but I came out of it with greater confidence and strength in the solidarity I felt with the audience and other cast members. It was a lengthy process which required commitment and resilience, especially when it came to my performing skills; but I do not take it for granted. Ultimately, it gave me a platform to advocate for themes which may otherwise be stigmatized but are deserving of attention. I felt that my voice was heard. I grew in my individuality through this production and I am super grateful that I got to work on it with my cast members and teacher facilitators, Emily and Claire. I stepped out of my comfort zone in an effort to re-explore a passion which I had not gotten much opportunity to return to: spoken word. For that, I feel really lucky. I hope to take this with me as a memory going forward.
On Wednesday, the 8th of February, our group, Bersama, performed during the Wavelengths concert. In spite of some missed rehearsals and some members moving in and out, we successfully completed the performance. We sang 3 songs: one acapella, one with the strings orchestra and one with the pop band. It was really fun and a great opportunity to be all together as musicians. Below is a video of both of our performances and a photo before the concert. I look forward to what is up next for Bersama! We are working on two songs: one called ‘Butterfly’ and the other song named ‘Mountain Nights’.
