Chapter 2: The Rehearsals
The following morning, the sunlight streamed through the tall windows of the Notre Dame rehearsal hall, casting colorful patterns on the polished wooden floor. Sariah and Lyon entered the grand hall, their footsteps echoing in the vast space. Despite the previous day's shock, they were determined to make the best of their situation.
Mrs. DiAngelo stood at the front, directing the choir members through warm-up exercises. She spotted Sariah and Lyon and waved them over with a warm smile.
"Good morning, you two! How are you feeling today?" Mrs. DiAngelo asked, her eyes twinkling with encouragement.
"We're ready," Sariah replied, her voice steady despite the flutter of nerves in her stomach. Lyon nodded in agreement, a determined look on his face.
"Excellent! Let's get started then," Mrs. DiAngelo said, clapping her hands to gather the choir's attention.
"Everyone, I’d like you to meet Sariah and Lyon. They'll be joining us as we prepare for our performance in Vatican City."
The choir members greeted them with polite smiles, some more enthusiastic than others. Among them, a tall girl with curly red hair stepped forward, her green eyes sparkling with curiosity.
"Hi, I'm Isabella," she said, extending a hand. "Welcome to the Choir of Notre Dame."
"Nice to meet you, Isabella," Sariah replied, shaking her hand.
"I'm Sariah, and this is Lyon."
Lyon offered a small smile.
"Hey."
As the introductions continued, Sariah couldn't help but notice the slight tension among some of the choir members. They were clearly talented, but there was a lack of harmony in their interactions, which reflected in their singing.
"Alright, let's start with some vocal exercises," Mrs. DiAngelo instructed.
"Sariah, why don't you lead the sopranos today?"
Sariah nodded, stepping forward.
"Sure thing."
The sopranos gathered around her, their faces a mix of eagerness and apprehension. Sariah took a deep breath and began to guide them through a series of scales, her voice strong and clear.
"Remember to support your breath from your diaphragm," Sariah advised, demonstrating with a hand on her stomach.
"Let's try to blend our voices seamlessly."
As the warm-ups progressed, Sariah noticed Isabella struggling with a particular note. She paused the exercise and turned to her.
"Isabella, let's work on that high note together," Sariah said gently.
"Try to relax your throat and push from your diaphragm."
Isabella nodded, her cheeks flushing.
"Okay, I'll try."
Sariah demonstrated the note again, her voice soaring effortlessly. Isabella mimicked her, and though it wasn't perfect, it was a definite improvement.
"Much better!" Sariah praised, smiling.
"Keep practicing, and you'll get it."
Meanwhile, Lyon found himself drawn to the back of the room, where various musical instruments were stored. Among them, he noticed an old keyboard and several electric guitars. His fingers itched to play.
"Hey, Lyon," called Marco, one of the bass singers, who had noticed Lyon's interest. "Why don't you play something for us?"
Lyon grinned.
"Sure, why not?"
He picked up an electric guitar and plugged it into an amp. As he strummed a few chords, the room filled with rich, resonant sound. The choir members turned to listen, captivated by his skillful playing.
Mrs. DiAngelo clapped her hands.
"Beautiful, Lyon! Now, let's see how we can incorporate that into our performance."
As the rehearsal continued, it became clear that while the choir members were individually talented, they struggled to harmonize as a group. Their voices clashed rather than blended, creating a disjointed sound.
During a break, Sariah and Lyon huddled together, discussing the situation.
"They're all amazing singers," Sariah said, frustration lacing her voice. "But there's no harmony. It's like they're all trying to outshine each other."
Lyon nodded, his brow furrowed. "Yeah, I noticed that too. We need to figure out how to bring them together."
Mrs. DiAngelo approached, sensing their concern. "What's on your mind, Sariah? Lyon?"
Sariah hesitated before speaking. "Mrs. DiAngelo, I think the problem is that everyone is singing as individuals. We need to create a sense of unity and harmony."
Mrs. DiAngelo smiled knowingly. "You're absolutely right, Sariah. And I think you and Lyon might be just the people to help with that."
Lyon raised an eyebrow. "Us? How?"
"I've seen the way you both connect through music," Mrs. DiAngelo explained. "Your energy is infectious. Why don't you try leading a team-building exercise to help the choir bond?"
Sariah and Lyon exchanged glances, both intrigued and a little apprehensive. "We'll give it a try," Sariah said, determination in her voice.
After the break, Sariah and Lyon stood before the choir, ready to implement their plan.
"Alright, everyone," Sariah began, "we're going to try something different. We need to learn to listen to each other and blend our voices. Let's form a circle."
The choir members shuffled into a circle, curiosity piqued. Lyon picked up his guitar and strummed a gentle chord progression, setting a relaxed tone.
"We're going to pass a melody around the circle," Sariah explained. "Each person will add their own note, and we'll create a harmony together. The goal is to listen and blend with the person before you."
Isabella started, her voice tentative but clear. As the melody passed around the circle, the choir members began to relax, their voices melding into a cohesive, harmonious sound. By the time it reached the end, there was a noticeable improvement.
"That was beautiful," Sariah said, her eyes shining. "Let's try it again, but this time, focus on matching the tone and volume of the person before you."
They repeated the exercise, and this time, the harmony was even more pronounced. The choir members exchanged smiles, the tension between them easing.
"Much better!" Lyon said, nodding appreciatively. "Now, let's apply that same principle to our song. Listen to each other, support each other."
As they launched into their next piece, the difference was remarkable. The voices blended seamlessly, creating a rich, unified sound that filled the hall. Mrs. DiAngelo beamed with pride, clapping enthusiastically.
"That's what I'm talking about!" she exclaimed. "Fantastic work, everyone!"
After rehearsal, Sariah and Lyon stayed behind to help tidy up. As they packed away sheet music and instruments, they couldn't help but reflect on the day's progress.
"I think we're starting to make a difference," Sariah said, her voice filled with hope.
"Yeah," Lyon agreed, a rare smile on his face. "It feels good to be part of something like this."
Just as they were about to leave, Isabella approached, her expression sincere. "I just wanted to say thank you. For helping me with my note, and for bringing us all together."
Sariah smiled warmly. "You're welcome, Isabella. We're all in this together."
Over the next few weeks, Sariah and Lyon continued to lead team-building exercises and encourage collaboration within the choir. They spent countless hours practicing, fine-tuning their performance for the upcoming event in Vatican City.
One evening, as they were leaving rehearsal, Lyon turned to Sariah. "Hey, do you want to grab a coffee or something? We could use a break."
Sariah's eyes lit up. "I'd love that."
They found a cozy café nearby and settled into a corner booth. As they sipped their drinks, they talked about their lives, their dreams, and their newfound friendship.
"You know, I never expected to end up here," Lyon admitted, staring into his coffee. "But I'm glad I did. Being part of the choir, meeting you—it's changed me."
Sariah smiled softly. "Me too. I always thought singing was just about the music, but it's so much more than that. It's about connection, and finding harmony with others."
Lyon nodded, a thoughtful look on his face. "And we've still got a long way to go. But we'll get there."
As the performance in Vatican City drew closer, the choir's unity and harmony continued to strengthen. Sariah and Lyon's leadership had transformed the group into a cohesive ensemble, ready to showcase their talents on a grand stage.