Among the panel I'm serving on today is a former amazing student from California, a member and friend of the Radio City Rockettes, a lady from the national tour of "Cats", one of America's premier arrangers, and 2 of the finest directors of young voices I've ever been privileged to know. The cool thing is that I look at their amazing credentials and realize,...I'm one of them. I say this with no arrogance, but rather with gratitude and thanksgiving to God for the doors he's opened and the ideas he's inspired in my life.
I try to be constructive and give the kids both criticism and inspiration when I judge. Fairness is always paramount, as I've seen scattered examples of cheating and bias over the years. I want to make kids and directors think, push themselves, feel good, and laugh. Yes, I said laugh. In a business where so many just want to be about the nuts and bolts, I sometimes like to get a little silly on my critiques. Maybe it's the gift I give as an teacher and artist, and maybe it's why my phone rings every year. The idea that although we work hard to be great and try to find creative twists and tweaks that nobody's ever done, we still long to just laugh sometimes and feel good about being alive.
Today I want to inspire.
Today I want to teach.
Today I want to have a great time with my friends.
Today I want to learn.
Today I want to make kids laugh and love music.
Thanks, God for today.
